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Whether an
aspiring, newcomer or veteran woman business owner, the 2018
Ready Set Aim Summit was a one-day event that was designed
to help women at any level of business ownership gain
knowledge and wisdom for their personal or corporate
endeavors.
The Summit
was decorated in shades of pink, black and gold, with
beautiful golden swag bags filled to the brim with goodies
from several sponsors including local businesses Sonia
Organics, The Kitchen Salon and Autumn Gineen. The cameras
were clicking, and there was nothing but anticipation as the
day got underway.
Ready Set
Aim’s founder, TiAnna Anderson, brought together the best in
local talent, to serve as her team in the planning and
day-of operations. From cosmetic CEO Camisha Shamaine, who
served as the emcee, to event planning and decor expert Deb
Rayford to brand ambassador Brittany Gray, there were eight
women in all, to form the team behind the scenes for RSA.
“In the
planning process of the inaugural Ready Set AIM Summit, I
was cautiously optimistic and hoped for a nice modest event
for 50 attendees that gave impactful career and business
knowledge. Instead I welcomed 79 attendees, 11 vendors, and
14 sponsors to join me on the journey to their next level of
success.” said Anderson.
This event
also invited several nominees for the Rising Millennial Star
and Supernova of Excellence awards. The winners were
announced during the event and were awarded with a lovely
trophy and gift basket. The Rising Millennial Star was
Precious Tate and the Supernova of Excellence award was
presented to Anita Madison. Further, a check was presented
to the non profit organization, Groomed for Greatness,
dedicated to introducing girls to positive role models, in
the amount of $500 and was received by founder Michelle
McCaster.
The impact
of knowledge was real as the carefully curated lineup of
session leaders and speakers laid their all on the platform
for attendees. The summit opened with fitness motivation
from fitness guru Erika White followed by session one “I’m
Ready! Preparation, Precision and Power” lead by Jayramon
Vice President and L.I.F.T co-organizer Kelli Daniels which
helped women identify their assets and liabilities in
business and dream-building.
Daniels’
session was a deep dive into the importance of discovering
and maximizing strengths in the workplace and community.
It was
session two, “I Am Worthy”, led by Brigette Burnett, that
pulled on heart strings and she shared her journey in
journalism, life lessons and her experience in knowing her
worth, especially as an African-American woman in a
profession that has long been dominated by men and Caucasian
females. She gave attendees a heart shaped gem as a friendly
reminder that they are valuable and printed affirmations
that all stood up and spoke together to close out her
session.
If that
wasn’t enough impact, the summit forged on after a
wonderfully catered lunch, and soundtrack composed by DJ
Retrospec. Then keynote speaker and author of
Inspiration In My Shoes, Diana Patton gave a rousing
testament entitled “We Must Rise” which delved into the
“why” of doing what we do, embracing the challenges and
learning to rise above them, being committed to serving
others with our passion-gifts.
There were
a few “Amens” and “Yassss’s” shouted throughout her session,
as empowered women responded to her. Paula Sharpe, an
attendee commented, “I am
beyond blessed to have been a part of this event! I
connected with amazing women, stepped way out of my comfort
zone and I realized a few things about myself that I wasn't
able to or wasn't trying to connect the dots on. “
In her
first speaking engagement, Ambrea Mikolajczyk shared her
experience with “Stepping Out” from corporate America, to
build a construction and property development business with
her husband. She exchanged passion for a paycheck and
launched a successful endeavor to build and develop the
local community brick by brick. Her session gave many women
hope that they too can pursue their passion and reap
financial benefits that will still provide security for
their families. Many women don’t step out because they feel
that owning a business isn’t stable.
The final
session was led by Josette Lewis who spoke on the roles we
and others play in business and corporate partnerships. Her
session “Mentors, Advocates, Sponsors: Developing and
Leveraging Relationships” touched on the characteristics of
each role and how they work together to create strong
relationships.
After each
session, there was an opportunity for attendees to connect
and also shop with the vendors who brought their
merchandise, products and services to the summit. From
clothiers to authors to jewelry designers, there was
something that everyone could patronize and support. Each
speaker provided educational materials including business
plan outlines and charts to utilize as they reflect on the
event and their status in their profession or passion.
There were
tears and cheers the whole day as Ready Set AIM touched the
lives of women from all walks of life, who were eager to
gain something new to carry them through the next phase in
their careers or businesses. Anderson added, “ Because of
the positive collaborative environment and the information
that was given that day, some women have already started
networking groups, launched businesses, and began planning
their own events.”
When it
comes to leveling up, Ready Set AIM did accomplish that
goal. Anderson continued, “Ready Set AIM is more than an
event, but a movement to empower diverse women to the
forefront of business, government, and entrepreneurship.”
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