Vanessa

Women Talk: Media, music, influence & empowerment

Posted on by Vanessa

Come and join us on Tuesday 5th July at Red Bull Music Studios, London for an evening of insightful, informative and inspiring conversation with influential women in the media and music industry-these women have defied the odds to break boundaries in their careers!

This event is perfect for anyone who wants a career in media and music or for those who want to get some inspiration for their own lives and careers among a group of empowering women.

Our Panel are: 

Jennifer Savin, Junior Features Writer, Cosmopolitan

Jennifer Savin is the Junior Features Writer at Cosmopolitan UK magazine, where she writes about everything from relationships to careers to health. She has previously written for Closer, LOOK and Brighton Fashion Week magazine, and at university hosted a weekly show on Radio Free Brighton.

Coco Khan, Senior Editor, Complex UK

Coco Khan is a journalist focusing on the arts, youth culture and the intersection of pop and politics. She is currently Senior Editor at Complex UK and a regular contributor for The Independent. Her first piece of fiction is out in September.

Natasha Lunn, Features Editor, Red Magazine

Natasha began her career in advertising at Adam & Eve, working on the John Lewis account, before leaving to study an NCTJ journalism diploma. After that she went on to intern at the Sunday Times Style Magazine and the Telegraph’s Stella Magazine, before joining Red Magazine as a features intern three years ago. From there Natasha worked her way up to features writer, then deputy features editor, and recently became features editor in April this year.

Emma Gordon, Project Manager, Complex UK

Emma Gordon works with brands and influencers to create original content and events for Complex UK.  As 1/3 of the collective The 411, she is currently working to create a platform that empowers young black female creative’s across the UK. Providing a space to network, discuss current trends and showcase their talents.

Corinne Redfern, Freelance Features Editor and Writer

Corinne’s first job was at Sugar magazine, where she spent her days pestering Harry Styles and interviewing Taylor Swift from inside a large wardrobe. Since then, she’s worked as Features and Entertainment editor at LOOK magazine, freelanced for the likes of Stylist, Cosmopolitan, Fabulous and Grazia, and most recently spent 12 months as Acting Features Director / Contributing Editor at Marie Claire. There was also a very strange six months spent in Dubai, but we don’t talk about that.

To book your ticket click here

5 reasons why you should start saving today!

Posted on by Vanessa

We are more likely to need an emergency Fund
Women are more likely to face different financial challenges than men. Women get paid less, women are charged more for products and women take more time off when we have a family, so it means we need to prepare for when an unexpected emergency should arise. Also more women than men are likely to work part time too, which means we often have less stocked away for our retirement. Commit to setting aside some time once a week to update your budget, review your accounts and generally see where you could be spending less. Then take action to start saving for your emergency fund.

We get paid less – Gender Pay Gap
In every single industry there is a pay gap favouring men. Last year, Jennifer Lawrence gave a voice to underpaid women everywhere when she penned an open letter asking why her male co-stars earned more than she and Amy Adams did in the film American Hustle. Although the earning gap is slowly closing, women still make on average three quarters of what men do for the same job and that means we suffer financially later on in life-therefore we need to save now.

Women spend more
Ok I know we might bring this on ourselves but women are naturally more likely to impulse buy, meaning we spend more than men. Since we can have anything we want these days with just the click of a button we are even more likely to splurge. If you’re guilty of this you need to find a way to be more mindful with your spending such as waiting 48 hours before you click buy or making sure you only buy things you REALLY want or need. It’s hard to break the habit but you’ll thank yourself for suppressing your urge to spend and teach yourself positive spending habits that will last a lifetime.

We live longer, so focus on your future
Saving for a debt free future is one of the most important financial decisions us women can make. You might not be thinking about your 50s in your 20s but you should, because many women now live 20 or more years after retirement, putting a huge burden on their savings. Set up a monthly direct debit that transfers 10%-15% of your salary into your savings account on pay day, this way you won’t be tempted to spend this money and you will start seeing some serious savings.

We all want to be Independent women… right?
The number one reason to save is so that you can be independent and not rely on anyone else, whether that is your parents or your partner. In fact, the number of female breadwinners has jumped from 26% to 41% in the last three decades so it just goes to show we don’t need to rely on a man for financial independence.

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In the words of Destiny’s Child “All the women who are independent, throw your hands up at me!”.

(Image Credit: fanpop.com)

Kamal Khurana 

Review: Phone Fancy takes London

Posted on by Vanessa

We had the absolute pleasure on Monday 16th May to attend the pop-up store and official launch of U.S brand-Phone Fancy, hosted by Radiant Hair Salon in Bermondsey, London.

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We had the opportunity to mingle, sample some of the phone fancy phone covers (with wine) and also get to know the GIRLBOSS behind it all.

Jazz is originally from Philadelphia but began her phone fancy dream in New York City. She explained, “I wanted to get into a different niche, and just try something innovative. It was just something I knew I wanted to try out, so I bought jewellery and phone cases- then which ever sold the quickest was what I decided would be my next business.  Prior to that I had a commercial cleaning company which was completely different!”.

Jazz was a woman of her word and clearly had the drive because since starting out in 2013 she currently is the only female phone store owner in Atlanta, and as well as selling fancy phone cases her store is also a repair shop. We asked Jazz about the challenges she faces being a business-woman in her industry, with grace she responded “I’m surrounded by a male dominated industry and it’s so competitive- but you carry on…my mum is my inspiration, she’s independent, creative and a single mother and she always supported me”

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Phone fancy is a business that is definitely leading in a niche industry, but with the U.K being its second biggest market we also asked Jazz what advice she has for women who are thinking about starting their own business. Jazz tells us “Don’t be afraid to go after your goals-just be brave. You may have doubts but remember to follow your dreams and it’s ok if you get it wrong-just keep going”

We loved talking to Jazz and gaining an insight into her world of phone fancy- she told us that she LOVED London and it’s always been a dream of hers to come here and can’t wait to come back already!

We had a blast, and Girls Talk London ambassador Christina was one of the lucky winners in their prize giveaway and got an adorable fur case representing the phone fancy crew.

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What a way to end the night, right?

Thank you for having us!

To purchase accessories from Phone Fancy visit their website here

Shannie Mears @shannieloves

Amaka Uche @epicawesomelife

Christina Okorocha @christinaOK

Depression: The silent battle for entrepreneurs

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1 in 3 entrepreneurs lives with depression.

This was revealed in a recent study by Dr. Michael Freeman, a clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco.

This statistic is even more alarming when you realise that depression is the most common cause of suicide.

Having recently transitioned into running my business full time I understand the immense pressure entrepreneurs face to be successful- it is even worse for start-ups. The odds are already set against you with the fact that 8 in 10 businesses will fail within the first 18 months. You feel that you have to prove everyone wrong-your family, friends, clients and network.

As the Founder and CEO of a business you are ultimately responsible for the success or failure of that business. Not only that, if you have employees, their livelihoods depend on the decisions and choices you make. If you want to take it even further, your effectiveness as a leader impacts on your employees families which could include children or elderly parents. That is a gigantic weight to have on your shoulders!

There may not be many people in your immediate circle who can relate and identify with the pressures you face on a daily basis and the experience of being an entrepreneur can leave you feeling isolated and lonely. You may not have someone who understands the challenges you are facing to share your feelings and frustrations.

L'Wren Scott, the former model turned fashion designer, in New York, Dec. 4, 2012.

 

In unfortunate cases, there are entrepreneurs who could see no way out and took their own lives because they could not deal with the burden-in most cases it was a financial burden. American Fashion Designer L’Wren Scott shocked her family and friends when she committed suicide in 2014. Her business was accumulating debts but her family and friends say that she did not mention this as a stress factor or think it was affecting her because she seemed to have a wealthy lifestyle-paying off the mortgage on her $5.6m New York apartment and sharing properties in Paris and London with her boyfriend Mick Jagger. This shows that we may never know the true challenges entrepreneurs are suffering as they can seem fine on the surface.

In my situation, because we are a start-up the pressure is intensified because I have to do everything-Accounts, Payroll, Marketing, Social Media, Business Development and manage staff as well as actually deliver our contracts and events! I don’t have the luxury that FTSE 100 businesses have when they can create a whole department for these responsibilities. I have to juggle about 10 hats all at the same time. The demands are intense and if you are not careful the stress can cause a breakdown.

If you are an entrepreneur and struggling to balance all your responsibilities and the pressures of running a business, I have some tips that have helped me navigate this emotional journey.

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TALK to other entrepreneurs. I would recommend joining a local business group in your area or online. There are lots of groups for entrepreneurs on Facebook where members share their experiences and offer advice, encouragement and support. Nothing beats a good face-to-face chat-try meetup.com and have a look for groups in your area. Having the chance to form your own support network will help you improve on ways to run your business but give you an outlet to vent your frustrations with people who actually understand! Ahhhh, refreshing!

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Get a HOBBY. An article published on shape.com revealed that people who engaged in leisure activities were 34% less stressed and 18% less sad during the activities. Not only did they report feeling happier, but their heart rates were lower—and the calming effect lasted for hours. I believe that every single person should have a hobby and it doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical one. It could be reading, travelling, painting, knitting, jewellery making, singing or playing an instrument. If you can get creative it will help you to de-stress and take your mind off work.

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SWITCH OFF all electronic devices at a certain time every day and do not respond to any calls or emails until the next day. I try and switch off from work by 8pm every day and respond to work emails the next day unless it is really urgent. I do work at the weekends because quite simply as a start-up it is the nature of the job but every Sunday, without fail is my day where I switch off and do absolutely no work. If you can manage to have one day at the weekend for yourself I would urge you to do that.

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READ as many books as possible to help re-new your mind and creativity. Books provide an escape from the stress of the world and the variety means there is a genre to suit pretty much everyone. Try and read every day for 30 minutes, I promise, you won’t regret it.

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MEDITATION has multiple benefits which can help you reach a deeper level of relaxation. It is great for people who suffer from anxiety attacks and decreases muscle tension and headaches. A good starting point would be to try and meditate for 15-20 minutes a day. If you are new to practising meditation, I would recommend signing up to the Oprah and Deepak Chopra 21 day online meditation courses  They have an app which you can download and every day there is a 20 minute recording where Deepak Chopra coaches you through each meditation. It is amazing!

Most importantly, if you are really struggling with depression, I would urge you to please get medical attention and speak to your GP who will be able to refer you to a specialist or provide alternative methods to treating this condition. Remember you are not alone, and there is no shame AT ALL in seeking help.

Vanessa Sanyauke

@vanessasanyauke

 

5 ways to fall back in love with the gym

Posted on by Vanessa

Spring is officially here and the beach holiday countdown begins. Now is the perfect time to get your beach body ready, but  if you are anything like me it can be really hard to get over the hump of going to the gym. I recently managed to fall back in love with the gym and have some tips to share that worked for me.

Location, Location, Location – choosing the right location can help take the chore out of going to the gym. Try and pick one that is close to your nearest train station at home or one that is near your work place. You can then visit the gym during your lunch break or after work which makes it easier to develop a weekday routine, and then the weekends are yours!

Embrace being the new kid in class – now that you have chosen a gym, we now need to get over the newbie hump. Joining a new gym is a bit like your first day of school. You need some time to get to know your new environment and start making friends. Most gyms will offer group classes for members at all levels, so utilise this! Join in and get to know other members and you will be surprised to find out that you are not the only newbie around. Another great way is to take advantage of  any free personal training sessions-this is a great way to set your targets and put a plan in place for your workouts. Your personal trainer will also show you how to use the equipment properly so you can make the most out of what your gym has to offer.

GOALS – set yourself up for success! Remember there is no such thing as a quick fix, so set out a clear and achievable target and stick to it. Consistency is the best way to achieve your goal.

New gear –  Throw away those oversized T-shirts and ill-fitting bottoms and treat yourself to some new gym clothes. Looking good and feeling good will help to keep you motivated.

Mix it up and have fun – rotate your routine every couple of months as this will help make your workouts more effective. There are plenty of Instagram fitness pages that offer videos on different exercises for you to try that target specific areas. Have a browse and build your own exercise library.

Come on girls, we can do this!

Written by Joanne Green

Follow Jo on Twitter @justask_jojo