"Mentors have played an important role in my life since my college days. Nothing beats the feeling of having someone you can call during those dark times when you just feel like giving up or during the best of times when you are celebrating a victory. I don't think I would be the woman I am today if it wasn't for certain individuals who believed in me on days when it was hard to believe in myself." - Pauleanna Reid
Ladies, let's step into some facts: the world of business is made for white men.
Which is why it is imperative for us, individually, and in businesses, to seek mentorship. The survival rate of a female entrepreneur declines by 50 percent if she doesn't have a mentor. And even more shocking, according to INC Magazine, 70 percent of mentored businesses survive more than 5 years, essentially doubling the rate for non-mentored small businesses.
And someone who can directly attest to that, is serial entrepreneur, Pauleanna Reid.
Reid, who has been dropping gems each week in our members community to help our xoTribe achieve a mindset equipped for success, has gone from a college dropout with over $50,000 of debt, to running a six-figure high-functioning business. When she's not interviewing some of the nation's most successful entrepreneurs as a Senior Contributor at Forbes, you can catch her ghostwriting books for high-profile celebrities and CEOs, and mentoring hundreds of women as they transition in their careers through her New Girl on the Block mentor program.
She fiercely has the inside scoop on how to get your brand in the right rooms with the right people. Reid has six mentors that guide her in different areas: five being women of color, one being a white man who tells her what happens around the table and in the boardroom.
She knows how to position herself for the right information and she is always looking to share what has taken her years to figure out.
And you know here at xoNecole, we are all about seeing our ladies be the absolute best version of themselves.
Tonight, we will be hosting a special fireside chat and mentor Q&A session featuring xoNecole founder, Necole Kane, and Pauleanna Reid. In this virtual session, you'll learn more about how Pauleanna transitioned out of her 9 to 5, and started her entrepreneurial journey, as well as the best way to craft your elevator pitch, and the best approach to finding a mentor while also making sure that the relationship is mutually beneficial.
RSVP Here
This event is for xoTribe Members only. We are offering 50% off of our annual membership for the month of August. Click here to join.
Featured image via xoNecole
RELATED
Now, when you go to the hair store you are inundated with all kinds of hair textures, colors, and more. That’s why it was so upsetting to read the latest report about synthetic braiding hair.
Delmaine Donson/ Getty Images
A Feb 27 Consumer Reports article revealed that most popular synthetic hair brands that are used for braiding have dangerous chemicals such as carcinogens, lead and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The report stated that 10 of the brands were tested and all 10 had these chemicals. These brands included Shake-N-Go, Sassy Collection, and Sensationnel.
These chemicals include benzene, which is a carcinogen that has been linked to acute myeloid leukemia and unsafe levels of lead, which can cause kidney damage, brain damage, and cardiovascular problems in adults.
In children, it can cause brain and nervous system damage, learning disabilities, behavioral problems and even developmental delays.
James E. Rogers, PhD, director and head of product safety testing led the testing for synthetic braiding hair. “Our exposure and risk analysis found all nine products could expose a regular user of any of these products to a level of lead that could be concerning over time,” he said.
As shocking as this is, it also brought some clarity around why I’ve had issues with wearing braiding hair as of late.
Not only have I dealt with scalp irritation, I’ve even had breakouts on my back from the hair touching. Since then, I’ve started rinsing the hair with apple cider vinegar, and haven’t had that many issues. However, the report stated that ACV isn’t a “cure-all” and can potentially release harmful chemicals when rinsing the hair.
@javonford16 Replying to @Julianna Rebundle vid: @Javon Ford Beauty #blackhairstyles #braidinghair #blackgirlhairstyles @Consumer Reports
While the report sparked some outrage, chemist Javon Ford has a different view. In a TikTok video, he shared that the report was tested for oral exposure and not dermal exposure.
He showed a screenshot of an email he allegedly sent Consumer Reports questioning their decision to test this way. The email said, “the best model to use, in our view, is the ingestion model for the reasons given in the article.”
“While I understand they went with that model, I don’t agree with it because you’re not intentionally ingesting braids,” Javon said. The chemist also said that the amount of chemicals found in the brands is “conservative” compared to other types of products.
So what does this mean for us braid-wearers? If you still want to wear braids, but have some concerns, you can limit how often you wear them. Another option is wearing non-toxic braiding hair or plant-based hair. The only downside is that it's pricier than synthetic hair.
The Consumer Report also suggested checking for recalls, reading labels carefully, and reporting adverse effects. Hair isn’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so it’s best to do your research when making purchases.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by AzmanL/ Getty Images