The 2Inspire Academy presents Young, Gifted & Talented - October 10th

2inspire Academy presents Young, Gifted and Talented Musical showcase at the Fashion Meets Music pop-up shop, The Street, Stratford Westfield Shopping Centre on the 10th October 2013 from 7pm. 

Hosted by Deja Vu FM's radio show host, Charley Jai, this event aims to raise awareness of the 2inspire Academy and the amazing performers lined up to perform .  All of the performers are under the age of 30 and are aspiring artists who are actively pursuing a career in music. The event will be a great platform for them to showcase their talents and will provide them with the opportunity to get exposure.

2inspire Academy is a personal development & life skills programme for young men and women, run by a committee of young people who are passionate about empowering their social group. Pebbles Denty, 18 of 2inspire Academy says that “The young, gifted and talented musical showcase was created because one of the key aims of the Academy is to develop activities and events which promote young people in a more positive light and also provide young people with a positive outlet for self-expression.”

The event is being held as part of Fashion Meets Music programme which consists of various workshops, performances and runway shows.  Dennica Abdo of Fashion Meets Music says “We understand the importance of promoting fresh talent. At FMM we work to promote new and up-coming designers and artists”. The Pop-up shop was launched on the 6^th September at Westfield, Stratford and will be there until the 20^th October 2013.

The young gifted and Talented showcase is a free event and will include dynamic performances, a run-way show in the Interval by Smomo Designs, drink, networking and a chance to shop in the FMM Pop-up shop.

For more information:

www.2inspirenetwork/2inspireacademy

Email: 2inspireacademy@gmail.com 

Twitter: @2inspireacademy

Notes to editor:

2inspire Academy which was founded in May 2013, it is a personal development & life skills programme for young  men and women and  is run by a committee of young people. The Academy was set up to address negative stereotypical images of young people and provide access to positive opportunities and role models.  The Academy recently completed a 2 week summer programme titled “Inspire the youth”  in partnership with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust at the Stephen Lawrence Centre in Lewisham. The programme consisted of 5 workshops which covered were Enterprise skills, Multimedia, Music technology and CV writing/Interview techniques. 

2Inspire Profile: Janet Walker - Internet marketing entrepreneur

Mumpreneur Janet Walker originally had a business designing and producing greeting cards. This led her into internet marketing a field in which she has now turned into  a business venture. Her story shows us to take whatever opportunities come your way.

 Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

A typical business day for me is to getting up early, getting the baby and my 9 yr old ready for school. As I work from home which is awesome I hover between looking after the little one and my online businesses. This consists of checking, answering emails and social media communicates. Doing tasks from my to do goal lists, which I prepare weeks or days in advance. After my son comes home, I am just mom and not business mom. I don’t return to business mom until the children are asleep. It’s important for me to give my family my full attention when I am not in business mom mode. This also allows me to think about the productively I have achieved for my business with a calm clear mind.

 What made you start the business and how did you get started?

The reason I started Best2keepitsimple.com was because I was helping other creative business owners via sharing my business experiences and journey from my 1^st and other businesses. I started my 1^st online business 5 years ago designing, and producing greeting cards. My journey I took for that business lead me to venture into internet marketing and I learned a lot, which is not usually learnt via the creative handmade business route. By stepping out the box of growing my businesses a different way it allowed me to gain valuable knowledge which has allowed me to help other creative businesses grow or get started.

 What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

Being able to dream and actually make that dream real. I started small and realised that I can make them happen. Believing in the ideas that come to me and acting upon them.

  What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

Over thinking situations that don’t need it, this is one reason I named my blog Best2KeepitSimple.com, by saying the name it keeps me ground. Having a family and a business does cloud the mind sometimes and tends to make you over think things. Being able to refocus and see what needs to be done to get results is important for me to see progression in my business, which in turn enhances my family life.

 what are your future plans for the business?

Well I don’t want to give too much away because life happens and it could all change. However what I will say is looking after my creative female community is something I want to expand on. I want to create a real sense of trust and support amongst my community so they know that they have support at every hurdle in business and in life. I have created my businesses alone, so I know it can be hard and at times overwhelming. Being able to have a close connection with people you can reply-on is important to me. So watch this space.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

Absolutely nothing, I truly believe things happen for a reason. I know that what I have been through in life and business has been preparing me for this part of my life and business journey now.

 Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

 Inspiring young women is important because they are strong and powerful with awesome gifted talents and skills. These up and rising women can change the world with their ideas and concepts, if nurture and self belief in oneself is instilled in them at early age.

 What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

 The advice I would share for starting a business in any industry is to have a passion for it. If it does not make you happy you’re in the wrong industry. Find a group of people who you can talk to about your business ideas, don’t be afraid to look for support from other like minded people. They will be your support and your strength when needed but most of all they will elevate you to new levels because they think along the same lines as you. Last but no means least, believing in yourself, this is the hardest part but once you do then you have taken great steps to achieve what you set out to do.

 What or who inspires you in business and why?

 Those who have succeeded through adversary inspire me. Those who have made a difference in other peoples life, thus changing their own inspire me. Those who have come from humble beginnings inspire me. To name names I  call upon Oprah, Will Smith, Tyler Perry, Maya Angelou,  Brendon Burchard, my late mother just to name a few.

 What is your favourite inspirational quote?

I have so many so I will choose one I like this week

“Success doesn’t come to you; you go to it.” ~ Marva Collins

Contact

@best2KiS

http://best2keepitsimple.com/

2Inspire profile: Carlie Parkinson, founder of Covet Girl publishing

Carlie Parkinson is the author of Covet Girl, a platform which showcases London's top female entrepreneurs and their businesses.

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

 A typical day for me always begins with emails, but I'm sure most can sympathize with that. I then get to visit inspiring entrepreneurs, hear their stores and find out more about their businesses.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

The project is based on one that I undertook while I lived in Toronto, Canada. I loved exploring the city and meeting amazing entrepreneurs. I was inspired to bring the project to London upon my return last year. To get started I did a lot of research and also used social media including Twitter and LinkedIn to find and connect with the entrepreneurs.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

Discovering my niche. I have decided that my best skill is bringing existing ideas to new markets. Although it's not just one accomplishment, it is great to know what best suites me when looking for new business ideas.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

My biggest challenge has always been not taking rejection personally. This is a challenge that many face and especially when it is your own business it is very difficult to feel like you're being personally attacked when someone doesn't like your idea.

What are your future plans for the business?

We are currently looking for partners to write the books for Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Hong Kong and any other city with a wealth of female entrepreneurs. 

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

Nothing. Every mistake I made was a lesson I had to learn.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

It is important to show young women what they are capable of. Especially in a tough economy, the best way to have a job that you truly love is to create it. I find female entrepreneurs add a lot to the community and everything they do is from the heart. It is important to encourage and support these women so they will thrive and support our communities.

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

The publishing industry is very accessible. If someone is looking to write a book, rather than trying to find a publisher do it yourself. There are endless resources for self-publishing.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

I have been fortunate to meet so many women that inspire me. Each has overcome challenges and found a niche that they have been successful in. When I was young, I was inspired by Martha Stewart. Although she had her struggles in the recent years, before that she did an amazing job of marketing herself and made herself an expert.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

This is from one of the entrepreneurs in my book. "Luck is preparation meets opportunity. If you are prepared and take the opportunities that come your way, your luck will be made." Marcelle Symons of D&Me and One Vintage.

Contact Details

carlie@covetgirl.com

https://twitter.com/covetgirl

https://www.facebook.com/CovetGirl