Award-winning entrepreneur, publisher, and business consultant Alesha Brown helps people and organizations find and make the most of their voices. She works with business owners, media outlets and more to help them attract and retain clients with effective brand content; specializing in brand and blog articles, ghostwriting, and web and social media content.
She also hosts “The Entrepreneurs’ Lounge” radio show and podcast, aiming to “expose the myths, pains and struggle of entrepreneurship and interview influential experts to give laser-focused solutions.”
As “The Joy Guru,” Brown also draws on her experience surviving abuse and trauma, sharing her story—and, through her writing and speaking, helping others find the drive and inspiration to “edit” their own lives.
Brown brought her expertise and advice to the “Mompreneurs: Business Advice, Tips, and Tricks” panel at Amplifying Her Voice: In Moms We Trust, and she’s back this time, joining the “Dads Matter” discussion at Amplifying Her Voice: Stronger Together to talk about all aspects of the role fathers play—and why it’s so important.
Before the first summit, Brown shared some of her thoughts on healing, thriving, the pressures women face, her inspirations, and how she works to be an ongoing inspiration to others.
What inspired you to join Amplifying Her Voice?
Healing, restoration, and coping skills for mother and daughter relationships, and challenges.
What most drives and motivates you each day?
Living life on my own terms after surviving child abuse. Serving in my business and nonprofit to help women and communities thrive.
Who is your role model, and why?
There are various business leaders, mentors, and authority figures that are my role models and inspiration. I admire them for their tenacity, servant hearts, perseverance, and journeys to success.
What cause, company, group, or movement are you a part of that you would like to share with us?
I am the chief association executive for Crusading Outreach Ministry Inc., a 501(c)(3) where I spearhead youth and adult programs for underserved populations. I am also a platinum member and former managing director of eWomen Network, the premier success system for women entrepreneurs.
What do you think are some of the most pressing issues facing moms, families, and caregivers today?
Life balance, awareness of available resources, lack of resources, and supportive services including healthcare.
How do you think issues like poverty, violence, racism, oppression, and inequality intersect with motherhood and with being a woman?
Many women come from adverse circumstances including from childhood—which often leaves them more vulnerable and susceptible to poverty, violence, oppression, depression, and other challenges that complicate being a mother and thriving.
How do you feel being a mother is different now than it was in the past? What do you hope will change in the future?
I think women today are under more pressure than women were 50 or 60 plus years ago. The “I am every woman”/superhero complex is normalized; the guilt and stress of being a working mother and/or single mother and trying to balance childcare and quality time spent with your child is surreal. The high divorce rate and gender pay gap present additional challenges in the well-being of mothers and thereby affect the entire family unit. In the future, I hope women will be more comfortable with living lives they desire versus falling prey to societal opinions and the superhero complex.
What is the best advice you’ve received?
Be dependent upon no one for financial stability and be a woman with options. The more options you have, the better your life will be.
What is something you would like to share with the next generation?
Define your own success and work toward that. Set the bar high but do not set the bar so high that you are never fulfilled and are on a never-ending quest for success that keeps you from realizing your value, accomplishments, or success.
Who inspired you as a child or young person, and how do you work to inspire the next generation now?
Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou. I always admired how they triumphed over abuse and adversity to become wildly successful. They were brave and not ashamed to share their truth. I work to inspire the next generation by my transparency of my lived challenges, triumphs, demonstrated thriving, work ethic, and integrity. My quest is to open doors for the next generation to walk through while being a warm shoulder of affirmation and listening ear for release and guidance.
What do you think is the most important thing for women to keep in mind in terms of caring for themselves?
You must care for yourself first before anyone. It is not selfish; you can’t pour from an empty cup.
What are your views on “work-life balance” for women? How should women handle the obligations of both professional and family life, and what messages does it send to the next generation?
I don’t believe that work-life balance is a lofty goal; it’s a continual work in progress. You have to accept that there are times you will be out of balance and you must continually assess your alignment. At the end of the day, every day, you have to make choices and priorities. Some days, work wins. Other days, your children and family win. This is especially true if you don’t have a great support system or a consistent support system. This is the truth that needs to be shared with the next generation. Things that appear easy and effortless are often deceiving because life balance is often desired but not easily acquired.
What advice would you like to share with girls and women looking to achieve their dreams and lift up one another?
Establish your boundaries and deal breakers while making sure that you are the top priority in your life. You do want to lift others up, but not if it means putting yourself down or ignoring your needs for everyone else’s until you are depleted.
Sometimes the best way you can uplift others is by being a shining example and thriving.
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We’re proud to have Brown’s energy, resilience, compassion, and insight with us for another summit. Sign up for Amplifying Her Voice: Stronger Together to catch “Dads Matter” as well as three days of talks on topics ranging from fatherhood during the pandemic and mental health to financial literacy and empowering our youth for the new digital economy. We hope to see you there!
