Lauren Strayhorn, MPS’ Post

Today is the big day! 🎉 Come join me, Jasmine Lewis, LE, Cora Miller, Kristen Dufauchard and be part of an amazing and informative experience at SOKO Market stage at #EssenceFest this afternoon. If you're looking to elevate your business through strategic networking and craft genuine connections, this is the session you don't want to miss. ✨ SOKO Market Panel 📅 DATE: TODAY ⏰ TIME: 2:10 PM CT 📍 LOCATION: SOKO Market, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center This is an incredible opportunity to learn from and network with some of the best in the industry. See you there! ✨

Notedd has officially landed in NOLA! 🌟 A huge shoutout to everyone who is here speaking, moderating panels, showcasing your amazing services and products, covering the event, or simply celebrating Black excellence and joy. I'm thrilled to meet so many incredible sisters in person and honored to moderate a panel tomorrow on strategic networking and crafting genuine connections with the amazing Kristen Dufauchard, Jasmine Lewis, LE, and Cora Miller. Plus, I’ll be demonstrating a special project that is near and dear to me, SheNotedd, on Sunday to help build a stronger network and community for fellow Black women service-based entrepreneurs. I'd be so grateful if you could join us! Please check out the details and DM or find me if you're around. I'd love to meet and connect! 🎉 Here's where you can find us: ✨ SOKO Market Panel 📅 DATE: Saturday, July 6 ⏰ TIME: 2:10 PM CT 📍 LOCATION: SOKO Market, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center 💬 DISCUSSION: Elevate Your Business Through Strategic Networking: Crafting Genuine Connections 👥 PANELISTS & MODERATOR: - Kristen Dufauchard, aKrewe NOLA - Jasmine Lewis, LE, Vie Beauty - Cora Miller, Young King Hair Care - Lauren Strayhorn, MPS, Notedd ✨ Founder Pop-Up Session 📅 DATE: Sunday, July 7 ⏰ TIME: 2 PM CT 📍 LOCATION: New Voices Village Founders’ Pop-Up, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

Who’s going to Essence Fest? Let’s meet up! 💫 Join me at the New Voices Village Founders’ Pop-Up in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on Sunday, July 7 at 2PM. I’m so excited to show SheNotedd - the referral network and community platform uniquely designed for Black women service-based entrepreneurs that cultivates community, growth, and collaboration. This is our amazing chance to meet face-to-face and connect plus I’ll be doing a demo of SheNotedd and taking questions. I can’t wait!

Last night, we had an incredible SheNotedd member mixer! 🎉 We started to reflect and discuss what we wish we would have known and shared advice we'd give our past selves, but also words of wisdom to help us in our current and ongoing journeys as entrepreneurs. For many of us, we know these things, right?, but how often are we reminding ourselves and reminded by those who know exactly what we're going through? Thank you, Bethany Hawkins and Jasmine M. Ellis, for sharing your experiences - both in how you are starting out and navigating the beginnings, Jasmine, and what you've learned over the last five years, Bethany. I also appreciate y'all taking this photo, but your words resonated deeply with me. Here are the words of wisdom and takeaways from our gathering that I'm excited to share, as I'm sure this wisdom can be reminders from us all: - The process of self-acceptance and worthiness is a crucial part of the entrepreneurial journey, especially in the beginning stages when it feels like you are proving who you are to the world. - Prioritize your mental wellness! It is vital across the board. - Set clear expectations with your clients from the start. It’s important to create this foundation for yourself as a leader but overall it reminds people that we are all human beings, not human doings (something that I picked up from Gloria Atanmo's session at Circle's Creator Catalyst Summit). - Remember to have your financial reserves - no matter where you are in your business, rolling in the dough or just starting out - and you might want your first hire to be a good CPA. - Before you consider expanding from a team of 1 to a team of many, understand the roles and responsibilities you want to take and the ones you want delegate, and then make sure that their skills and expectations match accordingly. Being personable with your team and having open and honest communication will go a long way. - This is my favorite that Bethany introduced to me: Identify at least five core values, with one being financially-related, and use them as a guide when evaluating opportunities. If it meets all five values, then it's gold. If not, that's okay too, but it should at least meet three. - "Composure: The Art of Executive Presence" and L'Oreal Thompson Payton's "Stop Waiting For Perfect" are absolute, absolute, absolute must-reads for women of color entrepreneurs. We can't do it all alone, which is why SheNotedd is here as a supportive community and referral network specifically designed for Black women service-based entrepreneurs that cultivates community, growth, and collaboration. Join our next SheNotedd event and sign up for an exclusive intake call to join our empowering community of Black women service-based entrepreneurs. And let's continue to support and uplift each other on our journeys. Who else has words of wisdom or recommendations to share?

I am looking for a videographer based in New Orleans. Bonus points: attending/available to shoot content at Essence Fest. Anyone have a recommendation?

Mental wellness is essential to our success and sustainability. Earlier this week, I tuned into one of my favorite podcasts, Professional Troublemaker with Luvvie Ajayi Jones. In this episode, Luvvie explores the mental load entrepreneurs carry with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, founder of Therapy for Black Girls. And wow, there were so many takeaways from that discussion. It's definitely worth a listen for my fellow entrepreneurs especially those in the services industry! Stepping away and recharging from the grit and grind of entrepreneurship is so critical every now and then. Let's take a moment to relax, relate, and release at our upcoming SheNotedd mixer on Monday at 7 PM ET. Come for an evening of fostering connections and real conversations. Check out the podcast link and RSVP for the mixer in the comments below. Can't wait to see yall there!