Millennial on a Mission: Alyssa Windell

I'm always excited to discover my millennial peers doing what they love while scrolling through my Instagram or Twitter feeds. Today's "Millennial on a Mission" is passionate about personal finance, and empowering her generation to make smart decisions with their money now so that they'll be comfortable in the future. In one of her recent blog posts, she TRIPLE dog dares you not to touch your tax refund, and provides a number of great tips on how you can save and invest such a nice chunk of change. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Alyssa Windell.

Born in California, and raised in Pennsylvania, Alyssa now resides in Oregon. Originally, she started her college career at the University of San Diego, and then transferred to Oregon State University where she received her Bachelor's degree in Speech Communication with a minor in Business and Entrepreneurship. "Throughout my undergraduate experience, I was inspired by many fields of study and it was incredibly difficult for me to settle upon one pathway," Alyssa recalls. "Thankfully, college was a wonderful time to experience many avenues and to gain exposure to everything." Currently, she works for a mid-sized, family-owned company in the city of Eugene called PakTech. "I absolutely love my role and value working for company that supports each of it's employees through their career and professional development."

CC: Who/what inspired you to launch Generation YRA?  How do you hope to inspire your millennial peers to become much more savvy about their financial planning?

AW: After graduating, I became fairly adamant about getting in tune with my personal finances, so most of my mornings were spent reading about money related topics.  I'm going to be honest, it became pretty disheartening to seek out sources of information for the Millennial generation. It seemed as if every article was fairly dismal, that the Millennial generation doesn't know how to save, or the terrible spending habits we all have will not change. I finally stumbled upon an article on Forbes titled “The Recession Generation: How Millennials Are Changing Money Management Forever” written by Samantha Sharf and Janet Novack. Bingo! In comes in the story of Alexa Von Tobel and her wonderful website, LearnVest. I was utterly inspired. With copious amounts of student debt and the fear of another recession, I wanted to create a source where Millennials can come and grow their knowledge of personal finance. From there, the Generation YRA blog was born: A Millennial's Guide to Securing a Strong Financial Present and Future.

My goal is to allow for Millennials to feel empowered and recognize that money is a tool, and not something that should abuse us. I hope to inspire my Millennial peers by being transparent in the fact that I am in no way a certified financial planner, or hold a degree in a financial field. I hope to offer insight, research, and perspective from a recent college graduate who has a goal of reaching her definition of financial freedom – while encouraging other Millennials to reach their financial freedom as well!

CC: What inspires and drives you? Who are some role models that you admire, specifically any women #WhoRunTheWorld?  

AW:  My family and loved ones inspire me and give me incredible drive. I feel beyond grateful to have grown up with such a loving family who has supported me with each and every endeavor I have chosen to take on. Five years ago, my family lost my father to pancreatic cancer. His loving memory and spirit continue to envelop me each day and inspire me to keep pursuing my passions. Whenever I am in doubt, I feel renewed by his loving memory. My wonderful fiancé also inspires me each day. He has been my biggest fan with unwavering support by physically being there cheering me on, and allowing me to mentally find peace of mind. There are a number of women role models in my life #WhoRunTheWorld in my mind, but my mom, former dance teachers and college professors, and of course my career mentors are just a few that continue to inspire and support me always.

I have been blessed to have encountered many role models in life to look up to. There are a many more people I could thank and recognize as women #WhoRunTheWorld. Just know, that if you are out there pursuing what you love – I look up to you, too!

To Alyssa, being a "Millennial on a Mission" means recognizing recognizing and encouraging your peers as they take on their multiple pathways of success. "The competition element in society is eradicated and we reach out to discover ways for each and every one of us to obtain success – in whichever form that may be," Alyssa exclaims. "Our generation is difficult to pinpoint because we are discovering new walks of life that stray away from the “traditional” sense."  On a daily basis, Alyssa strives to live and achieve her dreams by always learning and taking in new perspectives. She recognizes that learning does not just stop at the institution level, and that we each wonderfully have the ability (whether through books, or people) to continue developing our intelligence.  The one piece of advice she has for young entrepreneurs? Take on life with insatiable curiosity! "I guarantee that each learning experience, albeit positive or negative will allow you an opportunity to grow," Alyssa says. "I want you to know that you always have the potential in you, it is just a matter of having the willingness to try. You've got this!"

For more personal finance tips from Alyssa, be sure to visit her blog Generation YRA, and follow her on Twitter! 

Millennial on a Mission: Sherry Williams

Happy Friday! As many of you all know, March is Women's History Month and all month long, I'll be spotlight amazing millennial women that are trailblazers and changemakers in their communities. Today's Millennial on a Mission is a young woman that I've admired for such a long time. Not only is she a business woman and mother, but she has created an amazing platform for women, This Is Her Way,  which represents the power of the collective.  On March 14th in Washington, D.C., the event "Leadership Her Way" will bring together 100+ professional women for a remarkable networking experience. (You can register for the conference by clicking here.)

I'd like for you to meet Sherry Williams. 

Hailing from Bronx, New York, Sherry attended a technical college in Manhattan where she obtained a degree in business. While New York City has been a place she's known and loved, her perspective soon began to change. "It wasn't until I became a mom that I began to look at life through a different lens," Sherry says. "There was now a little person depending on me, and what that meant was I needed to get my priorities in order." When she moved to The District, Sherry started redefining her purpose, and asking herself hard questions to ensure she was really ready to take on such a big step.  "I told myself that whatever I decided to do, if I couldn't be myself while doing it, then I’m not going to put forth the effort. If it doesn't reflect me, then whose story am I telling?" 

CC: Who/what inspired "This Is Her Way?" What have been some challenges in launching this awesome movement, and what have you learned from them? What have been the best mediums in order to grow your community so rapidly? 

SW: It was the legacy that I wanted to leave. Not just for other women, who too are thriving in purpose, but for my daughter. It’s an ode to my lineage and all those who came before me. Living in the age of digital media, we are more connected, yet disconnected and I wanted to change the narrative. I wanted to cultivate an opportunity for women to connect in an authentic way. A way that was not just transparent but a way that allowed us to be who we are unapologetically.

The biggest challenge for me personally is work-life, balance. Being a mom and business woman takes a special type of courage and resilience. I’ve learned that making a commitment to invest myself, my time, and my energy, has to be intentional and something will have to suffer. When you are dedicated to a mission that is bigger than yourself, you have to earn your distractions. What I’ve learned though is just because I am great at many things, doesn’t mean I have to do everything. I’ve learned to ask for help. To give myself mental breaks, practice digital wellness, to unplug, and to do it all without regret.

The best mediums has been in authentic relationship building. Making myself available to others…when they need it most. Being unselfish in my own mission that allows me to be there for others.

CC: How does a young woman define her life "Her Way?" What are her dreams and aspirations? How do you hope to inspire other millennial women with this powerful movement? 

SW: When I stopped asking myself, “What would Oprah do?” – that’s when I found me. A woman begins to define her life, Her Way, when she recognizes she has had the power all along. When she knows that public acknowledgment does not validate success. And that everything she is striving for, she is worthy of.

When she steps outside the box and does the unpopular thing, because it’s the thing that she believes in. That’s when she defines her life. When she knows that no matter where life takes her, she is and always will be enough.

My dream and aspiration is to live a life that is fulfilled, and I hope to inspire other women through action.

It’s not enough for us to just speak about change and have creative ideation, but it is in how we choose to show up. Women need that!

To Sherry,  a Millennial On A Mission is someone that is dedicated to their life's agenda. They've not only created a framework for their personal path, but are intentional about the steps they need to take to get there. One common piece of advice Sherry gives to all young entrepreneurs is that 'fear is the one constant in life,' and that it will always be present. "It is about recognizing that it is there and developing a different relationship with it," she says. While striving for greatness isn't meant to be easy, Sherry believes that it is definitely possible. "It takes an uninterrupted flow of determination to get what you want. You also have to be realistic about your process and trust it...all of it!" 

To learn more about Her Way, visit their website, and follow them on Instagram and Twitter at @ThisIsHerWay. 

Millennials On A Mission: The Link Up

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” ― Coco Chanel

This week's "Millennials on a Mission" are doing just that — using the power of their voice to not only speak their minds, but to encourage their peers to do the same. With their podcast based out of the Nation's Capitol, Amber, Jazzmin, and Ka'Lyn discuss social and cultural issues with a unique comedic flare. I had the chance to sit down with the ladies recently to hear more of their story.

Meet the ladies of The Link Up.

CC: Tell me about yourselves: Where are you all from? Discuss you college experience -- where did you complete your undergraduate/graduate degrees? What did you study, and what are you all doing in your careers now?

TLU: We  all attended schools in Virginia, and just happened to cross paths. Amber is from Philadelphia and attended VCU where she studied Fashion Merchandising; Ka'Lyn  is from California and attended Old Dominion where she studied English; and Jazzmin is from Richmond, VA and attended Old Dominion as well and studied Spanish.

Amber is currently building her own personal brand and the beginning stages of her own business. Ka'Lyn is currently a graduate student at Bowie State University and a pre-school teacher at a charter school in DC. Jazzmin is a preschool teacher and spanish language program coordinator at a pre-school in arlington. We all attended PWI's, (predominantly white institutions)  so we all dealt with owning our blackness, learning when our voice was needed, and how to make an impact on campus in our own special way.

CC: Who/what has inspired you to begin The Link Up? Have you faced any challenges in launching your podcast, and if so, what have you learned from them? What are some of your favorite topics to chat about, and what's the process like for producing each episode?

TLU: The Link Up was born thanks to our good friend Mia J. She said that we always had these very intriguing conversations in our apartment, and that it would make a great podcast. We had a running joke among our girls about "The Bad B*tch Link Up," which was basically when we all hung out together, so we ran with that and came up with The Link Up.  Every time we are around each other, it's a celebration of life, love and lots of laughter.

One of our favorite topics is definitely FEMINISM because we can find a way to bring that into every conversation. We are all very vocal about our feelings towards male entitlement as it relates to feminism, too.

The only challenge we have faced with our podcast is the software. Sometimes it can be very difficult recording, editing and saving all these podcast episodes to one laptop, but we make it work! We record each episode in Ka'Lyn & Jazzmin's dining room with one Samsung mic, wine and our voices. The fruit of our labors is then posted all over the internet!

 

CC: Who is the ideal listener for The Link Up?  How do you hope to inspire other millennials with your podcast, and what can they expect from you ladies and The Link Up in the near future?

TLU: We want to target millennial men and women! Our episodes are not gender specific, but we do talk about a lot of issues that cater to those in our age group. We would love to have listeners from all backgrounds and this is why we work very hard on finding topics that can suit all listeners.

For those who are just tuning in, BRACE YOURSELF. We are RAW, UNCUT and UNAPOLOGETIC! There is not cut card on this show! We say what we feel and do not apologize for those feelings. Also, we love feedback so keeping the conversation on social media by using #WATLU is important. It connects our listeners to use and also helps them meet others like them! Our goal is to be the voice for those who feel voiceless and to push those voiceless kings & queens to speak out and be comfortable with their voice. Millennials have A LOT to say and it needs to be heard!

To the ladies of The Link Up, to be a "Millennial on a Mission" means to live out your dreams, regardless of any financial, social or emotional setbacks you may face. "You are determined to make a difference in your life and the lives of other by doing what you love," the ladies say. "No one can silence you, so be yourself --unapologetically."

For more information on the ladies of The Link Up, visit their website www.wearethelinkup.com, and follow them on Twitter and Instagram, @WeAreTheLinkUp. 

Millennial on a Mission: Damon Lawrence

Today's "Millennial on a Mission" is not only a budding entrepreneur, but he's blazing his own trail in the hospitality industry. Currently, he is working on a project to revive his own culturally rich community, all the while empowering millennials to change the way in which they experience travel. His company, Homage Hotel Group, aims to become the first Black-owned boutique hotel management company in the world. Meet Damon Lawrence.

A native of Pasadena, California, Damon is a graduate of Howard University, where he studied legal communications with hopes of becoming a lawyer. "It wasn't until midway through my senior year that I realized law was not for me," Damon recalls. "I began working in Hospitality my junior year as away to earn extra money." Damon had the opportunity to work at the Donovan House Hotel in Washington, D.C. during its grand opening, an experience that truly inspired him to step into the world of Hospitality.  "During President Obama's first inauguration, The Donovan hosted a party for the Creative Coalition that fostered great networking opportunities. It opened my world up to endless possibilities of where I could go in the field of Hospitality."

CC: Who or what has inspired you to go into the hotel management & hospitality industry?  What have been some challenges in launching your own business, and what have you learned from them?

DL: My biggest inspiration in hospitality came when I decided to leave the Donovan House. I had been given the opportunity to teach a summer school course, and I really wanted to experience what it was like to teach.  When I told my General Manager I was leaving he told me, "You're not cut out for this [hospitality] business." He believed I was on the path to a career in social justice, which might had been true just given the political climate at the time. But it did sting to have someone try and 'predict' my future. That single conversation has stuck with me throughout my career, keeping me focused on advancing my career in this industry. I ended up going back into hospitality right after that summer school course, and here I am today. I look forward to inviting that GM to stay at my property one day. :-)

Through each opportunity I've ever had, I've taken it as a opportunity to learn. Most recently, I started a business called Hausotel in which I managed vacation homes. I started managing a portfolio of vacation homes and now I'm managing hotels. It feels like a natural progression. The biggest challenge has been trying to blaze a new path in a field where I really don't have any predecessors. Trying to leverage the responsibility I have to a community, versus the commitment I have to a business that must appeal to a larger demographic than just minorities is definitely an interesting challenge. I think slowly I'm learning just how important it is to create the BEST product. When you create an amazing product, it will speak for itself.

CC: Who is the ideal consumer for Homage Hotel Group? What other cities do you hope to launch your company in?

DL: Interestingly, we want to appeal to the Millennial Traveler.  The reality is that the millennial traveler is the largest growing member of the travel sector. We (millennials) are always looking for a new, unique travel experience, and we consider the cost later.  Recently, there's been a trend of all these companies shifting to new business models to cater to the growing millennial demographic. New lifestyle brands are popping up as hotel companies scramble to get their foothold on this market. I feel that we have an edge over all of them because the Homage Hotel Group team is comprised of millennials.

I see Homage Hotels heading to historically Black cities like Philly, DC, Brooklyn, Harlem, Detroit and Atlanta. But I really look forward to expanding the vision internationally. I would love to see people experience our resorts in other parts of the world even in Asia. The Ivory Coast, Thailand, Brazil and South Africa are all as places I would love to venture to as well.

To Damon, being a "Millennial on a Mission" means not wasting your youth, but making sure your youth and ambition drive you. "Each day, I'm working to make sure that accomplish something meaningful to the purpose I have set forth for myself," Damon says. His one piece of advice to his millennial peers? Keep in mind what you want your legacy to be. "What do you want people to say when you expire? Write it out if you need to. When you reflect on the end result, it starts to open up a path for you to get there."

To learn more about the Homage Hotel Group, you can visit their website, like their Facebook page, and follow them on Twitter.

Breathe, Stretch, Shake: 5 Ways To De-Stress After Work

Happy Wednesday, Friends! It's been absolutely way too long since my last installment, and I promise I'll get better with that! But yesterday, I took a trip to the dentist (one of my favorite things to do, actually) and while everything was in pretty excellent shape, my dentist noticed that there was evidence of me grinding my teeth.

Now, I'm sure some of you are wondering, "Why on Earth is Chasity sharing with us her tales of dental hygiene?"  Well friend, because the grinding of teeth is usually directly connected to stress.

We love it, we hate it and some of us even thrive off of it — but the truth of the matter is that stress is unhealthy and can impact us in more ways than one. In that moment, sitting in the dentist chair, I had to sincerely think about the things that could (or do) mildly stress me out from time to time. The first thing that came to mind? Work.

Don't get me wrong -- I absolutely enjoy the work that I do. But as many social media strategists can tell you, our work does require us to be connected and "on" constantly. Interestingly enough, there was a recent study released that stated social media has more of an effect on women than men. Because so many of us stay glued to our iPhones, iPads and laptops, there's so surprise that we have the ability to internalize the things that we see as we scroll. And while I love my millennial generation dearly, we can sometimes have the tendency to jump to quickly to conclusions based on something we see on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. The second connection I made is that while I do work in social media, my primary field is public relations — which was listed as the 6th most stressful job in America by Forbes in 2014.

Some would think I'm doomed, but being the optimist that I am, I've come up with five ways you can de-stress after a long day of work:

1. Kick off your shoes and relax your feet — literally. I find myself heading straight to my computer as soon as I walk in my door, but there's so relieving about snatching off your shoes, throwing on some sweatpants and just sitting for a moment. I'm sure for many of us commuting to and from work is an adventure, so just take this personal moment to inhale and exhale.

2. Phone a friend or a family member. Once I've had a minute to catch up with myself, I always pick up the phone to chat with my mom, dad, and/or sisters. It's comforting to hear their voices, crack jokes and get the 4-1-1 on what happening in their lives. After chatting with them, I always feel re-energized and a bit calmer.

3. Read a book! Pour yourself a cup of tea (or in my case, a nice glass of wine) and pull out your favorite book. While it's tempting to watch TV for hours on end, we stare at screens all day and that's even more tiring for our eyes. Need suggestions for books to read? Peep my list of 15 Books For Millennials on 2015.

4. Write down your thoughts. I absolutely love to journal, and have been doing it since I was younger. I've collected so many cute notebooks over the years and just filled them with my thoughts, ideas and dreams. It's totally possible to get lost in yours thoughts by writing, and you'll be surprised how much better you feel once you've put everything on paper.

5. Exercise. Got a gym membership? Great! A favorite class to take at your local community center or dance studio? Even better. But because sometimes those things may be out of the way, I have learned to turn to YouTube for my daily workout. Cassey Ho of Blogilates as an encyclopedia of great workouts that range from 5 to 20 minutes. Not only is she encouraging, but she challenges you to push yourself in order to get the body you want! There's nothing like getting in a good work out before hitting the bed, and you'll sleep even better too!

So there you have it! How do you unwind after a long day at the office? Tweet me your methods, or leave a comment below!

— Chasity