Events

Hosted inside UniWorld Group's Brooklyn headquarters, the night was filled with inspiring insights, valuable lessons and  offered the more than 100 attendees a chance to connect with two of the fashion industry's Game Changers. "I started this series because I'm married to the notion of sharing honest stories of success," explains Marcia Cole (pictured above, center), founder of AMBERmag.com. "The series provides an intimate look at the path African-American women and Latinas blaze and how that enabled them to really make an impact in their respective fields. They are candid discussions that allow the audience to learn from their experiences and assist the next generation of women who want to live out similar dreams and change the game too." 

The series will be held every other month and will feature game changers in beauty, style, media and non-profit sectors. Tyrha Lindsay, Director of Public Relations for UniWorld empowered the attendees by sharing the history of the company as a Black-owned and operated multicultural advertising agency and how its owner, Byron Lewis, Sr.,  changed the game by creating UniWorld 43 years ago. "Uncommon is where genius comes from," she shared, quoting Mr. Lewis from an article that ran in "The New York Times," while encouraging attendees to express their genius to the fullest.

At Tuesday's event, the focus was on Style and featured Rachel Johnson, a former education major at FAMU, who is renowned for transforming today's top athletes—Amar'e Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony—into top style makers. She was interviewed by Daisy Lewellyn, an alum of Howard, who is a former accessories editor for "Glamour" and "Essence" magazine, author of "Never Pay Retail Again: Shop Smart, Spend Less and Look Your Best Ever" and is a sought-after style expert for television shows like Nate Berkus.

Co-sponsors of the series include UniWorld Group, NV Magazine, Dr. Miracles, Abba-Cole Catering, The Fab Network, Michelle O Brunch and The Beautiful Experience.

All photos by Cali York Photography

Turn to read the top 10 Game Changer Survival Secrets we learned from Rachel and Daisy that every fashion stylist should know and see images from the event:

 1. Always get your budget up front.
"I learned this the hard way. Especially if a client calls you for a job and wants you to create magic and deliver the next day. If so then ask them for the money upfront. I know a stylist who works with every one, but if they don't deliver the money he does NOT do any work. He will show up on the video shoot and when they ask for the clothes he tells them no one gave me the money. And they will take care of it and then he will shop. It's funny, but you can get stiffed. The production company might go out of business, the person who hired you might have left the job and you're dealing with someone new, so that will turn into a nightmare of chasing your check. So avoid that by getting your money upfront."—Rachel

2. The intern and assistant's job is way more important than you believe.
"You are the first one to touch the clothing that we borrow or purchase and the last one to send it off. So if you don't "check it in" properly and something goes wrong you will damage the Fashion Stylist's reputation with that designer."—Rachel

3. Never let your employer know how much you don't like what you're doing.
"It's so important to be pleasant to be around. So smile in my face and talk about me afterward, but I don't want to hear or see an attitude on your face."—Rachel

All photos by Cali York Photography

4. Just because we're both ethnic does not mean we're buddies.
"Unfortunately, it's sometimes harder to hire other BGs (black girls) because they can get too familiar. I'm your employer for this particular job, so you shouldn't feel because I am black that it's okay to give me neck roll, or get into the "gurrl," mode. Professional boundaries exist at all times, no matter what the skin color of your employer."—Daisy

5. Don't get crunk at the industry event party.
"One time I went to a release party for Mariah Carey, my favorite artist, and drank a little too much champagne. The music was pumping and I found a straight boy and I lost myself on the dance floor. My girlfriend, who worked for YSL at the time, and who had invited me, had to tell me to stop dancing like that. We had an argument over it, but I later realized how inappropriate I was—especially since my ex boss was there."—Daisy

All photos by Cali York Photography

6. Be well rounded in all things creative.
"It's important that I am able to provide guidance to my clients about all things dealing with creativity, not just what's the newest trend from Milan. As their stylist, I'm also their educator on fine art, theater, trends from all areas. That makes a difference in what I bring to the table."—Rachel

7. Create a strategy for your career. 
"I consider myself to be a style strategist so when I take on a new client, I meet with the publicist, their manager and we craft a full 360 strategy that involves style. Which group do you want to love them, what events should they attend. So do the same for your career."—Rachel 

8. Great communication opens doors.
"At my first fashion intern job, I was asked to call showrooms and make appointments. I was doing this while I was an executive assistant to a company so I'm juggling his appointments and calendar while calling the showrooms. When I finished I had 10 appointments booked. The fashion assistant was so shocked. He didn't tell me how difficult it was to get these appointments, and that you would be judged on how you speak, your personality on the phone, and how you write the follow-up email. I didn't know that all of that mattered to gaining entry, but it does." —Rachel

9. Figure out the gap, then fill it.
"When I first started calling the showrooms of designers who would have to make customized outfits for these athletes, the response was "Who-oo?" And it dawned on me that there was a real gap between them and the fashion world. So I decided to fill that gap."—Rachel

10. Your reputation is everything.
"Be honest at all times. Every career relies on relationships. And if you are not honest, if you have not developed trust—whether it's with your client, the stylist you're working for, the showroom, orthe designers—you cannot succeed."—Rachel

Next up? Survival Secrets of Game Changers with Supermodel Beverly Johnson at UCLA on February 29th and Survival Secrets of Game Changers with Kierna Mayo and Lola Ogunnaike in New York on April 3, 2012. Visit Events.Ambermag.com for more information and to rsvp.

All photos by Cali York Photography

Click the next pages to see more images.

The team that helped to make this event happen:
From left to right: Lenina Mortimer (AMBERmag.com volunteer), Daisy Lewellyn, Kesha Franklin (The Beautiful Experience), Marcia Cole (AMBERmag.com), Rachel Johnson, Jessica Styles (The Fab Network), Tyrha Lindsay (UniWorld), Chana Ewing (Michelle O Brunch), Wanda Chritchlow (The Beautiful Experience).

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Floral design for our check-in desk created by Kesha Franklin of The Beautiful Experience.

Decor space with floral design by The Beautiful Experience prior to the event starting.

Menu featuring fare (jerk- and pomagranate-marinated chicken skewers, with assorted cheese plate) from Abba-Cole Catering.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Guests enjoying the pre-discussion fare.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Gift bag table at Survival Secrets of Game Changers.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Gift bag items provided by NV magazine and Dr. Miracles.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Audience members show off their style.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Attendees listen intently to what Rachel and Daisy are saying.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Life coach Sharmayne Jenkins, celebrity crown expert, Hadiyaa Barbel and Marcia Cole.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

A fashionista channels her inner Willow at Survival Secrets of Game Changers.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Attendee Nya Jackson waiting on the event to begin.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

The crowd of fashionistas at Survival Secrets of Game Changers.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Marcia Cole being interviewed by NVmagazine.com's Selina Hill.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Houston Blogger Ashley Small relaxes in the lounge area at Survival Secrets of Game Changers.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Blogger and social media expert Nichelle Stephens (Cupcake Takes the Cake) with friend at Survival Secrets of Game Changers.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Jessica Styles, founder of The FAB Network, at Survival Secrets of Game Changers.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Kesha Franklin and Wanda K. Chrichlow of The Beautiful Experience.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Chana Ewing, founder of Michelle O Brunch, with a guest.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Tyrha Lindsay, Director of Public Relations UniWorld Group, shares a few words with the audience.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Christina McSwain and Imani Daniels at Survival Secrets of Game Changers.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Nicole Marie Melton, beauty editor of Essence.com at Survival Secrets of Game Changers.

Syreta Oglesby, Celebrity publicist, sits in on the discussion at Survival Secrets of Game Changers.

Photograph by Cali York Photography

Karla Border-Pope, founder of Brown Girl Gumbo blog.

Shaniqua White (AMBERmag.com volunteer and founder, WKPR), Keyonna Stewart (AMBERmag.com volunteer), Marcia Cole and Lenina Mortimer (AMBERmag.com volunteer).
 

Follow us at @ambermag, Rachel at @lovingrachel and Daisy @daisylewellyn and register for access to more events at Events.ambermag.com.

Photograph by Cali York Photography