Courtnee Futch proves that entrepreneurship can happen at any age. As a Syracuse University freshmen, Courtnee invested her last 6 dollars into what has now become the ThunderCakes bakery. What we love about her personal brand is how deliberate and visual it is, making your mouth water with every scroll. Her entrepreneurial endeavor to put more money in her pocket has now become a way for her to gain experience in the hospitality field by filling her own orders and providing catering. We are sure that internships, job offers and partnership opportunities will be knocking on her door shortly. Read on to learn about how she took her dorm-room operation to a well-developed brand.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure to connect with Joan Snyder Kuhl, the millennial matchmaker. She is a consultant and author that helps companies attract top millennial talent through her company Why Millennials Matter. I wanted to connect with her to discuss what we, millennials, can do to better adapt to the workplace, since trends have shown that many recent graduates are unhappy with their post-graduate situation. From our conversation and research, it is clear that both organizations and millennials need to do some adapting to the recent shift in workplace trends.

Prior to the era of “content marketing,” the sales process included cold calling, advertisements and other methods that push potential consumers to your site in the hopes that they will buy. Today, relevant and valuable content pull your potential customers to your site to passively learn more about you without the feeling of being “sold to.”  You’re probably wondering, what the heck does this have to do with my personal brand? Well, young grasshopper, content marketing is a tactic that you can use to passively promote yourself, your expertise and your website. I know, you are probably uncomfortable with self-promotion and sharing your accomplishments without the fear of sounding conceited or arrogant. However, the creation of content allows you to share your knowledge without having to speak a single word so that you are able to help others, share insights and bring attention to yourself.


This is where content curation comes in. We all don’t have the time to blog and write articles that are related to our industry, but we still need to show that we are knowledgeable and that we remain on top of the latest news and trends. Content curation is a process that helps you do both.

Brandon Frame is nothing short of a catalyst for his community, changing the way that America perceives black men and boys. His work with The Black Man Can, an organization that he founded to actively promote the black male image, has been featured on segments like Positively Black on NBC and runs workshops to empower the youth across the country. We talked with Brandon about personal branding, a concept that he was very familiar with. He shared with us that he has been deliberately building his brand since he was attending Morehouse College. During his time there, he created student organizations and sent out a monthly newsletter titled “The Chronicles of Brandon Frame,” outlining the lessons he had learned and what his involvement on campus was. He graduated with multiple job offers and went on to become Director of High School, Inc. in Hartford, CT at the age of 23. Read more about how he has created a personal brand that is an inspiration to many.

Determining whether to go back to school for an advanced degree can be a very difficult decision as there is no simple rule to help you make that choice.  Each person’s life, career goals, and situation is different.  That said, this article will help you focus on a few of the main factors that you should think about when considering pursuing a graduate degree. 

Last night, we attended the résumé and cover letter workshop presented by NYC Creative Interns. It was great to see that Emily was teaching attendees how to craft a unique cover letter and resume using the job description provided by the employer. This way, you are sure to demonstrate that you are not only qualified, but truly interested in that position. This is a method that we use when updating resumes and cover letters in the Hired, Happy and Paid course. Below I will share some key takeaways that you can use to create impressive resumes and cover letters when applying for new jobs or internships.

Getting the job is only the first step in a long journey toward career success. You have to do more than just show up every day, do your job and go home. There are many things you can do that can help you start setting yourself apart from your co-workers and start positioning yourself for career advancement right from day one.

Here are some of the first things you need to do at a new job to start defining your personal brand and to foster your success:

Chardelle Moore gained our attention through instagram. The photo-sharing platform is a great way to connect with people, but also a good place to keep up with what your contacts are up to. Through IG, we saw that Chardelle is heavily involved in the entertainment and media industry constantly hosting events, speaking at schools, and modeling. We love her brand because she is a one-woman show! From her we learn about the importance of investing in yourself for future success and how college is pivotal in setting the tone for the rest of your career. Read our interview with her as she describes how she has created her brand.

As a college student or recent grad, it’s sometimes difficult to maneuver into the real world of work. Following people whose expertise is in employment, interviews and resumes can make your transition into the work field an easy one. A lot of these twitter account experts give useful advice that can help you in your future interviews, tweak your resume or maybe even make you aware of  hiring opportunities. You can even ask for help, many of these experts pride themselves on helping those who need it.  Following one is better than following none, hopefully you find these experts useful in your everyday life!

The nightlife industry is one of the most difficult industries to break into because charisma, hustle and preparation must all come together at the right time. Enter Flexxa, an influencer in the DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area. Flexxa has been known to host some of the District’s largest events and most recently was named DC’s Brand Ambassador for Ciroc Ultra Premium Vodka. His job is one that is coveted by many because of his ability to host guests, plan events and interact with celebrities. However, this position was one that took much planning and strategic thinking on the part of Flexxa, who began building his brand while only a sophomore in college. Similar to Diddy, someone who he admires, Flexxa has the ability to make you excited about the brand and down right surprises us with the way he has marketed the product in such a short amount of time. We look forward to seeing how he pushes out Ciroc’s newest flavor, Amaretto. Read on to learn more about The Massive Host.