Millennial On A Mission: Kiersten Kindred

Happy Monday, folks! This week's "Millennial on a Mission" is an author, entrepreneur and branding specialist. Her new book, "Five Steps To Marketing Success: A Small Business Guide" provides tips and tools for small business owners who are looking to enhance their marketing strategies.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Kiersten Kindred.

Hailing from Houston, Texas, Kiersten graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, specializing in Broadcast Journalism. "I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Sam Houston State University," Kiersten says. "It taught me a lot about my field and myself." Currently, she is the founder and CEO of her own media firm, Kindred Communications, which specializes in communications, marketing and branding for medium-sized businesses.

CC: What inspired you to pursue your choice of career? Who are some individuals you admire in and out of your field of work? What challenges have you faced in building your business, and what have you learned from them?

KK: I love everything branding and communications! When I graduated from college, I knew media and communications was going to be the arena for me. LaLa Anthony inspired me to choose my major and carve out my career path. I admire how to has been able to manage her career in entertainment and brand herself very well. When I first launched my Kindred Communications, I was trying to market my business and brand myself simultaneously, which was very difficult. But I had to combined the skills I learned in the classroom with my work experience in order to teach myself the trade. One of the biggest challenges that I have faced in building my business is having to say 'no' to people. I have now learned that to be a business owner, you must understand that you can't do everything. You have to learn what is important for your business and what will help you reach your end goal.

To Kiersten, being a "Millennial on a Mission" means to never give up and strive to achieve your dreams no matter what anyone says. "I strive everyday to build my brand, whether it is networking, seeking new opportunities or attending events- I am constantly branding.  Her advice to fellow young professionals? "It's a quote that is at the end of my book: 'Plan, prepare and grow. Repeat.'"

To learn more about Kiersten and her work, visit the Kindred Communications website and follow the firm on Twitter.

Millennial on a Mission: Tyece Wilkins

This week's Millennial on a Mission is a young woman that is truly passionate about storytelling, and sharing the lessons that life continues to teach her. A corporate communicator by day, she is the creator and editor-in-chief of the millennial blog Twenties Unscripted. Meet Tyece Wilkins.

Originally from the Baltimore, Maryland area, Tyece attended the University of Maryland and studied communications. She started off as a journalism major, and later took some advice from her dad to expand her options and switch to communications instead. "I currently wear two hats," she says. "I work in corporate communications by day and cultivate my blog and brand Twenties Unscripted during my off hours." Tyece likes to think of Twenties Unscripted as her career of choice, even though it is still an infant and she's still building it brick by brick.

CC: What inspired you to pursue your choice of career? Who are some individuals you admire in and out of your field of work? What challenges have you faced in building your business/brand, and what have you learned from them?

TW: Demetria Lucas D'Oyley,  Michael Jones, GG Renee Hill of All The Many Layers, and Erica Nichole are just a few of the writers that in one way or another inspire, uplift and continuously remind me to pursue my passion with energy and bravado. Building Twenties Unscripted has, and continues to be, filled with challenges. Perhaps the biggest challenge is developing a sense and spirit of patience and trusting that all things happen in due time. I keep learning this and seeing this. Sometimes the things I think are missed opportunities are simply delayed opportunities. Building a brand requires you to really tune out the noise, something that is incredibly difficult to do in our social media packed lives. But, I am learning how to better center myself and focus on the different legs of my own journey.

To Tyece, a Millennial on a Mission is someone who climbs the steps of his or hers journey with passion, fire, courage, perspective and grace. "I am very into using the word "journey" now instead of words like goals or objectives," she says. "Words like "goals" or "objectives" feel very finite to me. This wildly beautiful combination of setbacks, failures, successes and mentors felt much more connected."

Tyece doesn't just strive to live and achieve her dreams daily–she DOES live and achieve her dreams daily. "Every day I wake up excited to build Twenties Unscripted, no matter what that means for that day," she says. "Some days, it may just mean writing a blog post, and others it means responding to pitches or preparing for an upcoming event. No matter what it is, every day I get to add one more brick to the empire I'm building, and nothing enlivens me more than that."

If there's a piece of advice she would offer her peers, it would be to not ever see the pursuit of a dream as a risk; see it as a necessity. "Feeding your passion and making your way through this world convicted about and confident in your purpose is necessary for your health, happiness and evolution. " 

To follow more of Tyece's adventures, be sure to visit TwentiesUnscripted.com and following her on Twitter and Instgram. 

Millennial on a Mission Presents: #SummerSocial

Happy Thursday!

To my fellow millennials in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, I would like to cordially invite you to Millennial on a Mission's first networking event, #SummerSocial!

I'm so excited to launch this networking series, and to meet all of my amazing millennial peers. June 12th is the first of three events that will take place this summer, and will feature a Millennial on a Mission who will chat about their experiences in making their passion and purpose collide.

For the first installment, I'm happy to have MOAM Sherry Williams, founder of Her Way join us to share how she has used social media to strengthen both her professional and personal brands.

You can RSVP by clicking here, and please spread the word as far and wide as possible!

Any questions or concerns? Tweet me or leave a comment below.

See you on June 12th!

Chasity

Millennial on a Mission: Dashawn Holmes

Happy Monday! Today's "Millennial on a Mission" is the founder of the UrbanFlix, Inc., an online media company that will house classic African-American movies, television shows, documentaries and original content. Launching in August 2015, UrbanFlix looks to become "the number one hub for classic urban content of the past and present."

I'd like for you to meet Dashawn Holmes.

Born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina but raised in the Bronx New York, Dashawn attended Central Christian College of Kansas. While there, he received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice. "Currently, I am pursuing my Masters in Organizational Leadership," Dashawn says, "all the while preparing for the launch of UrbanFlix at the end of this summer."

CC: What has inspired you to pursue your choice of career? What challenges have you faced in building UrbanFlix Online, and what have you learned from them?

DH: The first would be lack of inspirational content for people of color online. Secondly, I'm an extreme movie and content buff. I decided to fill a void in the online streaming media field, which is the urban community. Understanding I don't have millions of dollars to acquire Hollywood blockbusters, I have decided to work on becoming the hub for independent urban content and also create a ton of original content that the urban community can be proud of. I learned early on not to expect too many handouts. I have a dream and without hard work, it will remain just that -- a dream.

To Dashawn, a "Millennial on a Mission" is any young entrepreneur on a mission to be successful and be the very best at what they do. "My advice to any young professional would be to follow your dreams. If not, you'll be hired to follow and build someone else's."

To learn more about UrbanFlix, visit their website and following them on Twitter and Instgram. 

Dear Class of 2015: It's Me, The Real World

To the graduates of the class of 2015, Congratulations! After four LONG years of caffeine-induced all-nighters, team projects, crazy parties and procrastination, you now have a $40,000 piece of paper that is proof that you are indeed smart, kind and important. Now what? 

It's hard to believe that four years ago today, I too was in your shoes walking the aisles of Syracuse University for the final time and thinking to myself, "I have no idea what's happening, but I'm just going to smile to keep from crying."

Truth be told, you're going to have a lot of moments like that now that you're in the real world. Speaking from experience, it is those moments on the struggle bus have made me the bad-ass unicorn that I am today. Don't get it twisted - I've still got a StruggleBus pass, (because it be like that sometimes) but those moments don't last forever.

First things first - take time to BREATHE. After all, you did just finish four years of school. Take the time to read a book, unplug from IG, Snapchat and Facebook or just stare into space. This 'free time' you may have been used to in college doesn't really exist once you start working, paying bills and having to cook dinner for yourself, so cherish it.

Secondly, if you're employed with a job or internship, awesome! If you don't, now is NOT the time to panic. Find some chill and utilize the resources around you. (*cough LinkedIn, Twitter, picking up the telephone, attending alumni receptions cough*) When I moved to DC four years ago, one of the first things I did was look up alumni that either shared my same major or similar career interests. There are people out there willing to help you - but YOU must be willing to help yourself first.

And finally, enjoy the ride! Within the first six months, you're going to experience A LOT of change and you MUST be ready and willing to welcome it with arms wide open. Not only will Sallie Mae hitting you with the #BBHMM, but you're bound to experience some growing pains that only those who have been in your position before will understand. It's okay to get frustrated at times, but keep in mind that Oprah, Beyonce nor First Lady Michelle Obama were built in a day. Have patience with yourself and the process, and you'll start to recognize your true passions will become a lot more clearer with time. So get out there and make a new friend, try a new hobby or travel to a new place. The world is your oyster!

That's all the wisdom I've got today, folks. Again, my most heart-felt congratulations to you on this awesome accomplishment, and I wish you nothing but the best of luck. This blog became my saving grace once I graduated from college, and now I'm just blessed to able to continue sharing my brain bubbles of encouragement to the millennials that come behind me.

Cheers to you!

Chasity