Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Phenomenal Woman of the Month: Wranlanda Little

Full name Wranlanda L Little-Yapobi-Attie
Occupation Entrepreneur/Actress/ Opportunist
Education Hill College
 1. What does Phenomenal Woman mean to you? 
 A phenomenal woman is a woman that moves while being pregnant with her visions and goals, her aspirations. If she is pregnant with thoughts, then she jumps into the call of action; she is phenomenal because she moves on faith from the visions of her thoughts. This woman is a farmer, she understands harvest season all too well. So while she is waiting she knows she has to be at peace because God is control of every aspect of the situation, she knows that he does not give vision to people that don’t move;  so she understands that is work within her that must be done during the wait. As she waits, she is contracting and preparing for birth she not only carries her thoughts, her dreams, but she understands her role in the seeds that she is planting is to change and break chains for others. She knows her calling and every move she makes her purpose is rooted in it, so when she births her visions and she contracts through the work she births out nations to be blessed.
 2. What is your brand and how did you get started? 
I have so many brands I’m building, as right now I have the Podcast BlackBusters, and my Financial literacy business; my life gets a little crazy at times while handling two very different brands. I need God and wine to balance it out!  The podcast started because I have a background in music and acting; my husband always did movie reviews, so we collaborated and combined the two. I realized the lack of representation of colored movie reviewers in the industry and bam “BlackBusterz” was created. My financial literacy brand I rather not disclose the name because I'm currently rebranding it, but I can definitely tell you how I was able to get started and “who and what” my brand is for. My brand deals with budgeting and credit building. I was with a big network marketing company that opened my eyes to credit and financial literacy; I honestly didn’t know much about these two valuable cornerstones in adulthood until I was apart of the MLM brand. Soon I started to gain valuable knowledge and empowering clients who trusted me; most who wanted me to fix their credit. I thought, I could truly fix their credit myself, so I did; I decided to walk away from network marketing and challenge my energy into rebuilding a brand that is affordable for the ideal customer: “Black Excellent Millennial”. I know money is not color-blind, but that is who my brand targets.
3. What is your dream goal and how do you plan on achieving it? 
 I have so much that I want to achieve; I want to have many brands, because my biggest goal is to achieve residual income for my family and others for generations. This brand that I’m rebuilding is only scraping the surface. I plan to keep creating, investing, inventing and reinventing myself. I plan to keep working and pulling the faith in myself and in God.  Keeping the core values of helping others and breaking generational curses, that’s how I plan on achieving it.
4. Name a moment that inspired you to feel more confident and inspired you to be comfortable in the skin you are in.   
  I recently had that moment, I just purchased my very first vehicle; even though it was such a big accomplishment; I walked off the lot with this feeling of undeserving because of the type of vehicle. I was crying to my “husbae” that I didn’t deserve it because I don’t have my bachelors yet, and I kept saying this is a car for someone who has a degree; I don’t deserve this. He began to build me up by speaking over and into my life, he had to remind me of the trials that I overcame; he had to remind me we already prayed for this. Once he reminded me who I was, I began to walk in it and accept it, I must be comfortable in my blessing. 
5. Name a person (dead or alive) that you look up to and why?
“ Grame” .. My grandmother “Lauressa Wrenn  Joe”, my mother  is who look up to the most. I adore and cherish her; I carry her within in my spirit. I look up to her and my grandfather too, because they made sacrifices in this country for my family. My grandmother was a multi-dimensional lady; she was the millennial woman before we were even thought of.     “Grame” graduated from PVAMU with  a degree in Performing Arts; she received a full ride to Juilliard for opera singing.  My grandmother became the first Haitian American female Sheriff for Galveston County; she opened the first prison in Galveston. The woman is so great she has her own official day in Galveston on her birthday. She broke barriers and was still a wife, a mother, and a grandmother;  she was everything and still is everything. She never settled, and that’s why I continue to try to exceed what she did and make her proud.
6. When it comes to being a woman, what do you feel should be the three core values that a lady should uphold?  
 1. Trust the God in her, believe in the God that’s on the inside of herself.     
2. Take time for herself, she must hear spiritually, to be aware 
3. She must be willing to give and receive to grow to nurture. 
7. Favorite quote and what it means to you?    
The part in the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley
 “I am the master of my fate and the captain of my soul.” The poem was written in the Elizabethan era, but honestly, I always assumed it was how a former slave felt. What it means to me is; ”I will take my own life before I left anyone else take it away from me, I CONTROL ME & MY DESTINY, I WILL DIE BEFORE I LET ANYONE ELSE CONTROL MY FUTURE OR MY NOW!”
8. Piece of advice that you would give to young girls who aren't confident with themselves? 

Same advice I give my baby sister; Be you! There is only one you. You were created for a purpose, you have heavy value, you were made in likeness; everything you’ve been through has not broke you SO FAR SO THAT’S YOUR SIGN TO KEEP GOING. You are strong, there is an endless future for you, focus and make your ancestors proud they’re rooting for you, we all are, you are your ancestors’ wildest dreams! You got this lil sis!

Monday, November 4, 2019

Distinguished Gentleman of the Month: Michael Lyle, Jr.


Name: Michael T. Lyle, Jr.



Education: Howard University (BA, 2003) and Quinnipiac University (MS, 2008)



Social Media: 

@LyleMultimedia on Twitter/IG

Michael Lyle, Jr. on LinkedIn/Facebook 






  1. What does "Distinguished Gentleman" mean to you?

Q: To me, a “Distinguished Gentleman” means being successful, achieving great things in life and showing dignity in a manner.





      2. What is your brand and how did you get started?


Q: Currently, I serve as a News Anchor/Host for a pair of radio stations in New England --- New England Public Radio in Springfield, Massachusetts and WTIC-AM 1080 in Hartford, Connecticut. Combined, I’ve served a little over 20 years in the journalism industry. My first break came in 2003 when I landed a job as a Production Assistant at ESPN Radio from the network’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. I spent six years there and during my time, I ventured out from doing behind-the-scenes work to covering local news and sports on-air in the Constitution State. A good chunk of that time, 12 years to be exact, was spent at AM 1220 WQUN in Hamden, Connecticut. It was there where I learned more about the radio industry, along with winning four AP Awards for some solid sports reporting and covering some notable events, including former President Barack Obama’s first Inauguration in 2009.



This is a passion I’ve had since my junior year of high school and although my roles may have changed over the years, my eagerness and enthusiasm for the work I’m doing the industry has not wavered.


My work has allowed me to help young black professionals who have aspirations of working in the media through my involvement with the National Association of Black Journalists. I’m also serving as a college professor this year, so that is another way I’m giving back to the industry itself.


                 







                  3. What is your dream goal and how do you plan on achieving it?

Q: My dream goal is to cover the Super Bowl as a Sideline Reporter or helping to broadcast the game on a local or national radio outlet. Of all the events I’ve covered in my career, this one would be the ultimate accomplishment.



4. Name a moment that you feel helped shape you into the young man that you are today.


Q: There were several, but I think the moment that shaped me into the person I am today was overcoming my early struggles in the media industry. I’ve dealt with setbacks and tough times, but was able to grow stronger through perseverance and not giving up on my passion.





5. Name a person (dead or alive) that you look up to & why?



Q: I look up to both of my parents who are still going strong today. They helped raise me and worked tirelessly to assure that I could live a great, healthy lifestyle, along with molding me to become a man of integrity.






6. When it comes to being a man, what do you feel should be the three core values that a gentleman should uphold?


Q: The three core values are love, loyalty and truth. They correlate with who you really are as a gentleman and as a person.



               

7.        What is a quote that you live by and how do you live up to it?



“Never let yesterday’s disappointments overshadow tomorrow’s dreams.”  We are constantly challenged in life and it has a way of either making or breaking you.  Despite my setbacks, this quote serves as a reminder of why I need to continue onward and not let anything or obstacles derail me from staying on the right path.




  8. Piece of advice that you would give to young men of color who do not believe in themselves or lack role models?




Q: Work hard, be aggressive and grind it out. There is never a substitute for hard work when you want to be successful. You have to have a will to work for whatever it is you want in life. More often than not, you have to work twice as hard to achieve that specific level. As you succeed, your confidence level goes up and you gain a broader perspective on life itself. Also, while role models are good to have, the key is to maintain a great support system -- one where folks will celebrate your achievements, set the record straight whenever you make mistakes and will stand with you when you experience setbacks. You may find a system or a circle to be small, but, to me, it’s about quality over quantity. Authenticity matters greatly when you have big plans for your future endeavors.