I was delighted to speak with the CEO of BHOR Media, Antoinette Warren, about the event and pick her brain a little. Learn more about Brand Noir and one of the women behind the event below.
Tahyira: The event being held this upcoming Tuesday is intended to help others. Do you find it important to build a community in your niche market?
Antoinette: It’s absolutely important to build community. Black and brown people still struggle to catch up with our white counterparts, so it’s important. It’s the main reason my event partner, Karyne Tinord, and I created Brand Noir (aka Black Brand), to help Black and minority small business owners get the tools to scale their businesses, to build a network of resources and professionals to help make it possible. We often lack proper training, funding, and infrastructure to conduct and build sustainable businesses. So yes, building a community is important.
Tahyira: Do you think Instagram and Facebook has changed the word “professionalism”?
Antoinette: I think social media has changed the way people do business, because digital media makes it easier to speak directly to consumers, and it’s just as easy for anyone to start a brand and business and give themselves a professional title. I don’t knock anyone’s hustle though. There are professional and unprofessional people in every setting, even corporate. People just get their messages out a lot sooner and are more reactive, but social media is what you make it. It’s how you choose to use it and what you pay attention to. As long as you focus on your goals and your professionalism, you won’t have time to worry about another. And people will conduct business with YOU based on that.
Tahyira: Is it difficult planning events in Brooklyn?
Antoinette: Event planning is stressful anywhere, lol. It’s been named one of the most stressful jobs by Forbes. It really is. From conceiving the idea to implementing it, finding a venue, bringing the right people together, it’s quite a bit of work. It’s not only time consuming, but costly if you’re not getting sponsors and/or people aren’t attending if it’s a ticketed event. There are lots of moving parts.
Tahyira: With so many boutique agencies around, how do you market yourself to find new clients and projects?
Antoinette: Honestly, mainly word of mouth. It’s truly still the best form of marketing. If you do good work and people respect you, they’ll tell their friends and other business associates, and you can really grow from there. Social media is an amplifier and a brand building tool. Getting that referral or scheduling a phone call can seal the deal and often does.
Tahyira: Did you go to school or attend classes to help launch your LLC? Do you value education over experience or vice versa?
Antoinette: I went to college and knew the basics of starting a business, but when it was time to actually do it, I researched a lot. Google really is your friend. Setting up your business entity may be different from state to state, so it’s important to research and consult with industry professionals depending on what kind of business you want to start. Consulting with a business attorney and tax accountant is important too, especially early on in your business. People often miss these steps, because of consultation costs, but there are programs and institutions that provide tips and advice for minimal costs, if any. One such institution is SBA (Small Business Administration). They also hold workshops all the time, sometimes free of cost.
Tayhira: I love the Oprah quote on your website, which other entrepreneur inspires you to keep grinding?
Antoinette: Thanks and great question. I LOVE Oprah, who doesn’t?! I follow several influencers online; too many to name. I find inspiration everywhere. From random quotes to just memories of when I wasn’t doing so good and being determined to do better. Carbi B’s story inspires me too. I love an underdog who surpasses expectations and that’s truly the heart of her story. She blossomed from a rough past just being her authentic and unapologetic self. I love that.
Tahyira: If you could have any celebrity guest attend the event on Tuesday to speak, who would it be?
Antoinette: Hmmm…that’s a tough one. I think I’d go with an online influencer instead. Supa Cent, Founder and CEO of The Crayon Case, has an amazing story as well. She started off doing videos sharing her life stories and giving people advice. She grew her audience organically to millions of followers and founded a makeup line meant to help those who are amateurs at applying makeup. She appealed to everyday women. The New Orleans native built her brand from scratch to making millions in hours during Black Friday 2018. Now that’s inspiration. She’s one of the influencers I mentioned above.
Tahyira: What’s your favorite rap song currently?
Antoinette: Funny enough, my favorite genre of music is RnB. I’m also digging Afrobeats a lot right now. But if I had to choose, it would be “Everybody Mad” by O.T. Genasis.
Tahyira: What business books can you suggest to our professional hat wearing readers?
Antoinette: I recently read Shonda Rhimes’ ‘Year of Yes’. It’s about being fearless in your life, both personally and professionally. I’m currently reading Michelle Obama’s ‘Becoming.’
I have a growing collection that also includes ‘The 48 Laws of Power,’ by Robert Greene and ‘Successful Women Think Differently,” by Valerie Burton but haven’t read those yet.
Tahyira: Tell us your war story… Why is it you do what you do?
Antoinette: My “why” changes from time to time, but the one thing that remains constant is my resilience. I want to be a woman whose achievements can only be measured by hard work and dedication to being my best self, my authentic self- especially as a woman of color. Being a success story opens doors for those coming behind us when we’re better able to pull them along, because we’ve put ourselves in positions to win. I want that…to be a Black success story. There has to be more of us, so that collectively we’re better as a people.
To learn more about Antoinette and BHOR Media visit:
Website: http://www.bhormedia.com
Instagram: @bhormedia
Twitter: bhormedia
To learn more about Access Branded visit:
Instagram: @accessbrandllc
Twitter: @access_branded
