Built In Texas: Recent Episodes
Her Texas Media
Welcome to Built In Texas!
Every Monday we shine a bright light on the inspiring ideas, achievements and life moments of women leaders in Texas. These fearless women represent what we like to call, The New Texas.
Built In Texas also provides Texas women with career and startup advice, local resources and tips on navigating her way around the state.
Follow along for daily updates and exclusive content on Instagram at @ItsBuiltInTexas.
Learn about the Her Texas movement here: www.hertexas.co.
My life experiences, the good, bad and the ugly, are what inspired me to kick off "Coffee With Jasmin" - a weekly mini-episode series featuring practical strategies you can use to navigate the week ahead.
Tune in every Monday!
THIS WEEK: Who You Are Is The Business You Create
Does imposter syndrome really exist?Here’s an overview of the ideas I shared today on Built In Texas:
- Yes, imposter syndrome exists but it is not an official diagnosis and we have more power over it than you think
- Our limiting beliefs about ourselves, our pasts and our flaw often overshadow the success we can truly achieve
- We now have social media platforms and tech tools that give us the ability to control the perception others have
- You can't run a successful company longterm with happy, fulfilled employees if you aren't happy and fulfilled too
- What kind of business or career do I want to create?
- How do I want to be perceived by others?
Read on:What Is Imposter SyndromeStop Telling Women They Have Imposter SyndromeAbout Jasmin BrandJasmin Brand is an award-winning marketer, speaker and serial entrepreneur who’s built a solid reputation as an out-of-the-box innovator and expert at the business of strategic collaboration and partnerships.
In 2009, Jasmin was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and launched her first company - a creative agency (known today as The Start) that specialized in producing culturally rich content and experiential events. In 2017, she got her official introduction to the North Texas startup scene with an opportunity to lead one of the region’s first platforms created for the startup community. In 2019, she founded Her Texas, a community-driven platform created to advance women's entrepreneurship and investment in the state of Texas.
My life experiences, the good, bad and the ugly, are what inspired me to kick off "Coffee With Jasmin" - a weekly mini-episode series featuring practical strategies you can use to navigate the week ahead.
Tune in every Monday!
THIS WEEK: They're Just Not That Into You
How do you know when it's time to leave or move on...professionally?Here’s an overview of the ideas I shared today on Built In Texas:
- There is no confusion on how they feel about you
- They are making plans, talking about the future with you
- You feel good with them
- There is power in accepting your current situation for what it really is, not what you hope it to be
- If you aren't feeling needed, appreciated and valued, why are you staying?
About Jasmin BrandJasmin Brand is an award-winning marketer, speaker and serial entrepreneur who’s built a solid reputation as an out-of-the-box innovator and expert at the business of strategic collaboration and partnerships.
In 2009, Jasmin was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and launched her first company - a creative agency (known today as The Start) that specialized in producing culturally rich content and experiential events. In 2017, she got her official introduction to the North Texas startup scene with an opportunity to lead one of the region’s first platforms created for the startup community. In 2019, she founded Her Texas, a community-driven platform created to advance women's entrepreneurship and investment in the state of Texas.
My life experiences, the good, bad and the ugly, are what inspired me to kick off "Coffee With Jasmin" - a weekly mini-episode series featuring practical strategies you can use to navigate the week ahead.
Tune in every Monday!
THIS WEEK: You can't build anything great without boundaries
How To Build With BoundariesHere’s an overview of the steps I share’d today on Built In Texas:
- Guard Your Time.You can’t take the PTO if you won’t take the PTO. If you’re off you’re off and if you aren’t taking meetings or going to events, stay firm. Setting boundaries with your time is a key ingredient to maintaining your peace and mental health.
- No Means No. Not much to say here. No means no. Period.
- Guard your ideas, vision, goals & dreams. It’s a good thing to think and dream big. It’s awesome to set goals for yourself. It’s important, however, to only share them with individuals and/or groups that will receive them with an open, positive, encouraging mindset.
- Be Selective. The partnerships and collaborations you enter into this year will set the tone for everything.
About Jasmin BrandJasmin Brand is an award-winning marketer, speaker and serial entrepreneur who’s built a solid reputation as an out-of-the-box innovator and expert at the business of strategic collaboration and partnerships.
In 2009, Jasmin was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and launched her first company - a creative agency (known today as The Start) that specialized in producing culturally rich content and experiential events. In 2017, she got her official introduction to the North Texas startup scene with an opportunity to lead one of the region’s first platforms created for the startup community. In 2019, she founded Her Texas, a community-driven platform created to advance women's entrepreneurship and investment in the state of Texas.
Dana White wants every woman to be free when it comes to her hair. She is the founder of Paralee Boyd, a new kind of salon specifically created with textured and curly hair in mind.Born and raised in Michigan, Dana initially founded Paralee Boyd in her hometown to solve a problem women with textured hair were facing everywhere: spending their entire day in the hair salon. Modeling the processes of the automotive industry to increase efficiencies and appointment time, Paralee Boyd offers fast and quality styling and treatments for textured hair, providing women with not just a service, but a lifestyle where haircare is high-quality and efficient. She recently launched the second location in Arlington, Texas with plans to ultimately franchise. She is the first Black woman to do this nationally for a hair salon.
The salon, which is based in Arlington, Texas, was named for Dana's grandmother, Paralee Boyd.
IN THIS EPISODE
- building a global hair business and brand
- creating the ultimate customer experience
- why Dana is franchising her biz
- balancing love and business
- the FIVE lessons every entrepreneur must learn to achieve success
IN HER WORDS:"You won't be able to bring everyone with you. It's ok to keep evolving."
On The Menu:
Anything Tex Mex! Love Rosa's and Pappasito's.
What's Next:
Paralee Boyd has been contracted by the DOJ to open salons at Fort Bragg and other U.S. military bases around the world to provide the same efficient and high-quality services to servicemen and women. Next Texas location - Plano or Frisco.
Texas Women That Inspire Me:
Barbara Jordan, the first black woman to serve in Congress, iconic businesswoman Mary Kay Ash and Emma Tenayuca, a Mexican American labor organizer and civil rights activist that led a wave of strikes by women workers in Texas in the 1930s.
Connect With Paralee Boyd:
Built In Texas is powered by Her Texas, the first membership organization created to increase community, connectivity and capital for female founders in Texas. www.hertexas.co
Connect with host Jasmin Brand HERE
Learn more about Her Texas HERE
Subscribe to Built in Texas HERE
Sandy Diaz Haley is passionate about creating a sense of belonging for others, but building a community that would ultimately bring thousands of professional women together wasn't something that was ever on her radar.On a mission to find her next career opportunity in PR or Communications after an unexpected layoff, Sandy (who was born in Lima, Peru and moved to the states when she six years old) began posting job opportunities (and even hosted a happy hour) for women in her network who were looking for their next gig too. Organically, a special community of women supporting women began to take shape via a Facebook pagethat truly felt like a safe place. Five years later, the Badass Ladies of DFW has evolved into a trusted network of women (and men) representing a diverse array of industries and professional levels.
Sandy ultimately landed on her current role, Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Mr. Cooper, one of the largest home loan servicers in the country.
IN THIS EPISODE
- why understanding DEI is crucial for your woman-owned business
- the three ingredients every successful community must have
- overcoming the misconceptions people have about you and your career
- the role storytelling plays in building a DEI strategy
- how to find and network with your community
IN HER WORDS:Favorite Quote:
"I can and I will. Watch me."
On The Menu:
Shinsei on Lover's Lane in Dallas. Love the braised pork steam buns and you can't go wrong with any of the sushi on the menu.
What's Next:
I'm launching a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consulting business in January. The opportunity to work with organizations to evaluate their business goals and employee experience through a DE&I lens to create meaningful impact is something I'm extremely passionate about. Our Bada$$ Ladies community is also rebranding. The last five years have been incredible and what we're evolving into will be even more exciting. The best is yet to come in 2023!
Texas Women That Inspire Me:
Ann Richards as Texas' first female governor and Barbara Jordan, the first black woman to serve in Congress. The (Dixie) Chicks are brave and brazen in what they believe in. They have unapologetically been themselves before it was a thing.
Connect With Me and the Badass Ladies:
Sandy’s LinkedIn
Built In Texas is powered by Her Texas, the first membership organization created to increase community, connectivity and capital for female founders in Texas. www.hertexas.co
Connect with host Jasmin Brand HERE
Learn more about Her Texas HERE
Subscribe to Built in Texas HERE
Akellia Stewart is a Dallas native and mom whose passion for creative design, shoes, and art inspired the start of her first business, Customs By AK, nearly 10 years ago. Customs By AK brings creative art and style to the process of shoe customization by allowing clients to design their own themes or most popularly, requesting Akellia to personally create freestyle designs that exude each client’s personality, favorite hobbies, memorable moments, interests, and more.
In 2022, Akellia launched Saving Soles, a nonprofit dedicated to providing fundamental tools to support and inspire children and their future career advancement. Saving Soles' volunteers use the sharing of knowledge and creativity to discover the needs of students and any obstacles that may be hindering them from moving forward. School readiness, art, mental health, and of course, sneakers is its focus. Saving Soles provides a platform that assists in releasing a student’s creative side and ultimately opening a conversation with the next generation.
"I got my first start from a good friend who happened to play for the NFL. He challenged me as an artist to step outside my comfort zone by creating a custom shoe for him. I haven’t stopped since and it’s been 10 years of doing what I love. I’ve traveled to different places and have been featured at various events for my custom shoes designs and labs that I have done for many athletes and celebrities. That one opportunity blessed me and gave me the opportunity to serve a bigger cause, which is helping children express themselves through art.”
IN HER WORDS:Describe Texas in 3 Words:
Big. Adventurous. Opportunity.
Frisco Diner, Red Claws Crab Shack, Tender Smokehouse
What's Next:
Next for me is expanding my nonprofit with other local businesses and companies in DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) and growing internationally. Also I’m working on my shoe line as well.
Texas Woman That Inspire Me:
A woman that inspires me daily is my mother. To see what she has done for the Dallas metroplex as a young woman working in the District Attorney's office then pivoting into another role in the medical field and now being retired and still helping in the community is so inspiring. Her love of helping others and children has been passed down to me and it’s an amazing feeling to have a front row seat.
Connect With Me:
Nonprofit Instagram
IN THIS EPISODE
- making the leap; turning side hustle into a full-time business
- why a good mentor matters
- LinkedIn for leads and business advice
- Akellia's strategy for securing community-driven, sustainable partnerships (and how to activate them!)
- Finding success in a male-dominated industry
- making time for business, family and yourself
- helping students explore future career paths through creativity and designing sneakers
Built In Texas is powered by Her Texas, the first membership organization created to increase community, connectivity and capital for female founders in Texas. www.hertexas.co
Connect with host Jasmin Brand HERE
Learn more about Her Texas HERE
Subscribe to Built in Texas HERE
Sports executive turned fashion entrepreneur, Alana Matthews, knows the power of self-confidence and being well-suited. After working for years as a lawyer and executive with the Dallas Stars, Alana recognized that most custom suiting companies only served men. But suiting herself in the morning was always a way for Alana to power her mindset to tackle the day and Alana felt women should have this experience. Alautus was established to fill this void.
A color-loving abstract artist who creates vibrant, joy-filled art to elevate beautiful spaces, Roma was born in the British Virgin Islands and graduated from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Marketing. After a twelve year hiatus, Roma returned to her true love of painting in January of 2017. Her studio is located in North Texas.
Roma shares her journey as an artist and businesswoman and provides the lessons and strategies that have led to her success.
How to reinvent your professional journey Landing big partnerships & collabs (and how you can do it too!) Step out of your comfort zone when it comes to building your network of friends, colleagues and mentors Overcoming rejection by knowing where you stand Finding your way in Texas The next big industry Roma wants to break in to
Roma recently announced her featured collection with Target. Check it out here.
Marian Mekhail's mission as an artist is to inspire her audience to use the gifts they’ve been given, live fully in their purpose and to seek beauty in all things, all people and all colors. Her Egyptian heritage influences much of her work, subject matter and creative process.
In today's episode, we discuss:
the business of art and being a creative protecting yourself, mentally, creatively and legally scared money doesn't make money - be strategic good things take time, especially the return on your investment the role Marian's culture has played in her art and her experiences living in Texas the women that inspire Marian personally (and have helped her business grow to the next level) Why Beyonce is still Queen (and King)!
We thought there was no better way to bring the month of February to a close than with our special guest this week, Christina A. Brooks, Chief Equity Officer, City of Fort Worth.
Christina joins to discuss:
IN THIS EPISODE:
Why CDFI Friendly Fort Worth is a game changer Being the first and not the last Intentional leadership & the power of being fearless Creating opportunities for communities of color in Fort Worth Why Barbara Jordan is EVERYTHING Your new women's empowerment hashtag for 2022
Her Texas founder (and the host of Built In Texas) Jasmin Brand joins us this week to send some love to the community and give a sneak peek of something special headed to Texas this May.
Did you know that 43% of women in the U.S. are currently dealing with sexual health and wellness concerns? We didn't either so let's talk about it!
Lyndsey Harper, MD is the Founder and CEO of Rosy. Dr. Harper created the first-of-its-kind platform out of frustration, when she couldn’t find a modern and accessible resource to help her patients. Rosy is a resource to connect the 84 million women in the US with sexual problems with hope, community, and research-backed solutions to improve their lives.
Gabriella is a (p)retired venture capitalist who founded one of the world’s first tech accelerators where she was fortunate to mentor and fund hundreds of founders whose ideas previously only existed as science fiction.
Fast Company named her as one of its Most Creative People. She's currently pursuing a Master's in Creative Writing at Harvard University Extension while living on St. Croix with her husband and their zealous Great Dane. She's releasing her very first book, The Sound of Creation, on 2.2.22, a sci-fi thriller that we can't wait to tell you about.
What happens when wellness, culture and design come together? You get the dynamic sister duo behind Beyond Interior Design, a full-service, modern luxury interior design firm progressively infused with innovation and Brazilian flavor, based in Dallas, Texas.
We're introducing you to three fabulous Texas makers who are making things happen by creating and making beautiful things for others.
We're kicking off 2022 with the women leading the charge at one of the country's hottest new hotels, Hotel Dryce in Fort Worth, Texas.
Five business lessons and strategies you need to catapult your growth and perspectives forward with special guest, nonprofit leader and CEO, Giving Blueprint, Kimberly O'Neil.
Say hello to the Texas women behind a new project, Color Catalog, a collection of real-world images of popular paint colors, created to help you find the right paint color for your space.
Join us this week on Built In Texas as we explore what's next for Latina entrepreneurship in the state, how it impacts you right now and resources to help all female founders grow and thrive in the state of Texas.
We'll also introduce you to Brianna Gonzales, a young, talented, Dallas-based entrepreneur who's on a mission to amplify Latina small business owners with her curated pop up events, Social Chica.