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Thursday, October 18, 2007

Public Relations/Marketing Intern Needed!!!!

Ladybrille is looking for a dynamic public relations and/marketing intern for our dynamic company, http://www.ladybrille.com/. We are looking for YOU if you have a GREAT attitude, are reliable, intelligent, savvy/quick learner, creative, motivated, organized, a self-starter, a strong communicator, a strong writer and know how to take directions well. If you are reading this on our blogazine, then you know that we are an online fashion publisher/publication. So, needless to say, we highly prefer that you love fashion and beauty. A healthy enthusiasm for what we do is also expected. You must also have knowledge of general Microsoft Office programs including Excel, Word, Outlook, and Power Point.

Duration of Internship: 3months or more for work study/credit towards your degree.

Your job description:

  1. Assist in writing and distributing press releases and other company communications
  2. Research speaking engagements and award opportunities
  3. Assist with research generally
  4. Compile Press kits
  5. Assist with compiling advertising kits
  6. Send out marketing campaigns and newsletters
  7. Build and organize media contact databases
  8. Track press features
  9. Assist with events and promotions locally and internationally
    Hours required: Flexible hours but at a minimum, 15 hours per week required. 99% of Job is telecommuting.
    Compensation: This is an unpaid internship.
    To apply, send your resume to ladybrilleinterns@gmail.com with your availability and also what you hope to gain from this internship. Also tell us why you think you would be a good fit for Ladybrille.

    Please be sure to visit the links below to learn about the company before you apply:
    http://www.ladybrille.com/
    www.myspace.com/ladybrille
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Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Nigerian/German Artist, Ayo, Launches Album in USA


Ayo [which means Joy] Olasunmibo Ogunmakin is real, very real. Her music cuts deep into the soul massaging it with her soothing voice and powerful lyrics to release honesty, cleansing, healing, happiness, relaxation and hope. Born in Cologne Germany to a Nigerian father and a gypsy Romanian mother, Ayo learnt quite early how cruel life could be. As a toddler, she visited Nigeria and her battle started when her paternal grandmother insisted, pursuant to tradition, that she remain in Nigeria. Her father went against tradition by taking his daughter back to Germany.

In Germany, Ayo later wrestled identity/cultural issues of being African and European. In the midst of sorting out her identity, Ayo’s mom developed a heroin habit which saw her in and out of Germany's prison system. Needless to say, this had a devastating impact on Ayo. Ayo, through music, chose to acknowlegde the cards life had dealt her but stay positive. Today, unlike most, especially celebrities who give the façade of perfection, Ayo is real; choosing to share her life experiences through music by keeping it as real as real gets both on a personal and universal level.

Recently signed with Jimmy Lovine's Interscope record label in the USA, the label behind Fergie, 50Cents, Eminem, Black eyed Peas, Robin Thicke, Pharell Williams, Timbaland, Daddy Yankee, U2, Dr. Dre, Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige, Gwen Stefani, among many popular artists, Ayo prepares, on November 20th 2007, to take the USA by storm. LADYBRILLE.com is indeed honored to be the platform for this exclusive and indepth interview to the USA fans, which we conducted via phone and IM, as Ayo opens up about everything including her music, family and life. We present to you, AYO!



LADYBRILLE.com: Ayo, I listened to your album and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all 12 tracks! I am now a FAN because it resonates with me and I am sure will resonate with millions in the USA, come [N]ovember, as it already is around the globe.
LADYBRILLE.com: I want to start off talking about four popular tracks on your album but before we do, how would you describe your music and what is the message you want it to convey to your fans?
Ayo: I came up with a name for my music because it is so mixed just like I am.I call it Soregafrofolk. I put together the word from soul-reggae-afro-folk. My music is very personal and very healing to me. For me, it is like a self therapy and hopefully it will be the same for other people. I would never compare myself to any other artists because usually artists do not like that. [Smiles] But, if people want to compare it maybe the closest it gets would be Tracy Chapman because she is a storyteller that goes under the surface and I feel I do to.

LADYBRILLE.com: Speaking of self therapy, your album is all about keeping it very real. Let's talk about track #10 “Life is Real." What strikes me is how you sing about not hiding things and keeping it real. Most of us have been programmed from a very early age to be emotionally dishonest and repress our feelings. How is it that you feel so comfortable breaking the walls of silence?
Ayo: When I was a child, I had to tell lies in order to protect my mother and my family.I had to hide basically everything in my life that was real. It took me a long time before I could open up and talk about it, actually I sang about it first...like I said self therapy.I believe that we all need to express our true feelings someday, somehow otherwise we are going to loose ourselves or we may never find out who we really are!
LADYBRILLE.com:Very true. But, did you get actual therapy to allow you to begin talking about your pain, especially since you were raised by a Nigerian father? I find that Nigeria and African [culture in general] do not encourage being as open with your feelings. How does your father feel about you expressing yourself?
Ayo: I never got professional therapy except once when I used to be a bed-wetter. [Smiles].

LADYBRILLE.com: [laughs]
Ayo: [she continues]When I was a teenager and started playing music my father was the one telling me not to talk about my mother and her sickness because people could use it against me. In the beginning, I followed his advice but then I couldn't anymore because I couldn't pretend anymore and I had a strong need to talk about it so I wouldn't be embarrassed about where I'm from.

"Down on My Knees"


LADYBRILLE.com: I will come back to that. [B]ut, let me ask you this, Track #1 "Down on my Knees." Now that is a heart wrenching track. I think that track strikes a chord with your many fans in Europe and I know it will here [USA]; because most of us have been in situations where we are begging a parent, spouse, sibling, lover and/or friend not to leave us, not only from a relationship angle but also death/loss. What was the inspiration behind "Down on My Knees" and have you been able to get past begging that someone not to leave you?
Ayo: The thing with Down on my knees is that I never been down on my knees because I was too proud to really tell how I really felt back then. I was just acting cool and not hurt at all and after, I wrote this song to express my true feelings. This song was actually the beginning of me telling the truth and the beginning of this whole journey because right after, I left Germany to go to London.

LADYBRILLE.com: Who are you [down on your knees] begging? Your mother or lover?
Ayo:It was a lover...I was young. [Smiles]

LADYBRILLE:[Smiles] Got it! [M]ost of us can relate to that on some level. [laughs]
Ayo: But, he never left me for another girl. She could be anyone.

LADYBRILLE.com: If he never left you, why sing down on my knees?
Ayo: He did leave me, just not for another girl. This girl that I'm singing about could be a sister, mother, cousin, or anybody.

LADYBRILLE.com: Got it. Why did you move from Germany to London?
Ayo:Because I was tired of Germany at the time and I didn't feel I could fully unfold myself and express my true feelings...

Help is Coming


LADYBRILLE.com: Let me switch your attention to a different track. I like that you do not do pity parties. “Help is Coming" track #8 is a real cool, funky and upbeat positive track. But, when I heard about the addiction your mother had with heroin I could not help but truly feel for you. As part of my job, I get a chance, almost on a daily basis, to work in the criminal realm with adults and juveniles.

Some of the cases I have had to litigate involve adults with drug issues that were very hard to break. Their children see their parents go in and out of rehab and prisons and it has a huge psychological and emotional effect on these children. Typically, it takes social workers, mental health officials, among many professionals, to get these children to begin releasing the emotional grief and talking about the emotional wounds they experience because of their parents' dramas. Where did “help [c]ome” for you so that you are now at a place where you can comfortably discuss your mom’s heroin addiction?

Ayo:I believe that this was first of all God, and then my father and then of course the music that helped me to open up. It had me work things out on my own and through the music. I had to go for 2 years to visit my mother in prison, and see her in and out rehab. But what was even harder and the hardest for all the kids that experience similar things are the lies and the empty promises that you can't even trust your own mother.

LADYBRILLE.com:How was that experience of visiting your mom in the prison and how is your mom's situation now?
Ayo: My mom is still addicted to heroin after 22 years. I was 11 when I visited my mom in prison. In the beginning, I was happy that she went there because then we knew at least where she was. But then it was painful to have to leave her behind after all the visits. I always wanted to stay there with her. At that time, we wrote each other a lot of letters, and I used to draw her paintings so she could keep it and keep it in her room.


LADYBRILLE.com: That is so tough. So basically you have now learned to cope with it.
Ayo:Yes. I have learned how to deal with separation because of that time. And at that time we were all separated. My father was alone fighting to get us back from foster house and my mother was in prison.

LADYBRILLE.com:How did the family get back together? How did you deal with separation?
Ayo: Foster house after foster house, foster family and then foster house again, I turned 14 and escaped from the foster house for the first time in almost 4 years; and that is when we could stay home because they said we were old enough when I got home! I deal with separation because I always felt close to my parents even if I was not actually with them and thank God that I had my [bi]g brother and sister with me.

LADYBRILLE.com: Phew! Beautiful woman, you are so strong!
Ayo:Thank you!!!

LADYBRILLE.com: Let me transition to a different track. One of the things that you do is give tribute to the parent who stayed to love you, track #2 "Without You." Most children who are raised in single parent homes spend years and sometimes their whole life chasing after the love of the absent parent. You instead pay tribute to the one that was present. That is HUGE on the emotional maturity that you display. How did you develop such maturity?
Ayo:It was not difficult to develop because it was always clear. My father was there, always! When you are a teenager you are not always easy [smiles] but fortunately my father is VERY patient.

LADYBRILLE.com:Ayo, you have said, "even though you've gone through the hardest time, it's important to remember how to enjoy life." Share with us how you have been able to enjoy life?
Ayo: It is easy to enjoy life if you remember where you were yesterday. It even makes you laugh at things because when bad things happen you have been through so much so it is almost not important. Just to be alive is a blessing.

strong>LADYBRILLE.com: [Blessings hmmm . . . ], I understand you are blessed with a beautiful son, Nile, with your husband who is also a talented artist Patrice Bart-Williams. How easy was it for you to open up to be loved? How old is Nile now?
Ayo:We have known each other for a long time and one thing that is not difficult for me is to love and open up to be loved. We are very happy very proud of our 2 year old son! I think it is normal because even after a hard childhood, or a hard time in life we all want to be loved at the end of the day.

LADYBRILLE.com:True. Congratulations sistah. Your insights are so deep! Let’s switch to a much, much lighter note! [laughs] Let's talk about your album launch.

LADYBRILLE.com: Your album has gone platinum in France and Poland and gold in Italy. How successful do you anticipate you will be in the USA?
Ayo: . . . double platinum [Smiles]

LADYBRILLE.com: Confidence, great!
Ayo:I have no expectations. All I'm hoping for is that there will be people listening to my music and it will help them just as it helped me!

LADYBRILLE.com:You have been dividing your time in New York, Paris and London. What projects are you working on in Paris and London?
Ayo:Same as everywhere, my first record, but in France I play a lot new songs because the record has been out there for a while now.

LADYBRILLE.com:You speak what 4 langauges? What are they?
Ayo:German, English, French and still working on my Yoruba!

LADYBRILLE.com:[Laughs ] [Y]oruba?
Ayo:[Smiles]

LADYBRILLE.com:You will have to teach us some Yoruba words before we are done!
Ayo: I would love to!

LADYBRILLE.com:You are signed to Interscope records, how did that come about?
Ayo:I met Jimmy Lovine at a restaurant in Paris, he asked me to play a song, I did it and he decided to work my record! Jimmy requested at my French record label, Universal, that we should meet, and after, we met at the restaurant!

LADYBRILLE.com:That is a miracle how that happened because Jimmy has worked with the best [a]rtists. Any American artist you would like to work with? What about African?

Ayo:I would LOVE to work with 2 Face Idibia and with MOS DEF
LADYBRILLE.com:That would be an awesome collabo!

LADYBRILLE.com:Speaking of 2 Face, Nigeria, in particular, has been expanding its musical wings. Any planned performances there or any of the African countries in the nearest future?
Ayo:Yes. We are planning an African tour, not decided yet when. But I would love to as soon as possible!

LADYBRILLE.com:I understand you visited Nigeria last year. That must have been HUGE for you! What was that like?
Ayo:It was emotionally my highest experience because I saw my father become a child again in the arms of my grandmother, beautiful!

LADYBRILLE.com:[Smiling] Is that where you picked up some Yoruba words to share with us, besides the curse words [laughed]. I noticed the pidgin in "Life is real" "Me I be Ayo". [I am Ayo].
Ayo:Yes, that is where I picked up Yoruba [smiles]. I like Pidgin English because it is very melodic!

LADYBRILLE.com:Teach us one or two words.
Ayo:Waitin na de [smiles]

LADYBRILLE.com:[laughs] do you mean wetin dey happen? [What’s happening?]
Ayo:Yes.

LADYBRILLE.com:[laughs] [N]othing o! Body dey inside cloth. I dey full ground! [laughs]
Ayo:[laughs]

LADYBRILLE.com:Do you know Kilonshele? A Yoruba word?
Ayo:No.

LADYBRILLE.com:It means "What's up?" Are you online now?
Ayo: [gets on line] Yes.

LADYBRILLE.com:Check out You Tube and type in JJC & 419. They have this song called "Kilonshele. "
Ayo:[Follows cue] Interesting. . . I think I heard it at the wedding I went to.

LADYBRILLE.com:What about “nothing spoil?”
Ayo:What does that mean?

LADYBRILLE.com:It is Pidgin. It means everything is cool/okay.
Ayo: I like that! I will note that down.

Ayo:[Jokes that her Yoruba sounds more like Japanese but continues by giving us some Yoruba words]
Ayo:Se alafia ni [Is everything fine/okay]

LADYBRILLE.com:Aaaaaaaah! Alafia ni [mo] wa o! [Be] ni mo dupe. [All is well. I am grateful.]
Ayo:Bawoni? [How are you doing?] Mo se onje to dara [I make food that’s good].

LADYBRILLE.com:[laughs] Bawoni! Onje ti o se [the food you cooked], let's talk about it. I heard you can throw down with some wonderful Nigerian delicacies like egusi, fufu, jellof rice. How come?
Ayo:Well, that's my aunt and my dad showing me.

LADYBRILLE.com: [laughs] I'll have to come over so you can throw down for me. [laughs]
Ayo: [laughs] Sure. My husband is actually the better cook.

LADYBRILLE.com:I noticed that you have some African outfits in your “Life is Real” video which you shot in Nigeria. I also noticed your cute little Yoruba komole [get down] shakara [sort of fancy] dance. [laughs] Thank you for representing African fashion. What designers are you wearing?
Ayo: [Smiles] the “shakara dance,” I love to dance!

LADYBRILLE.com:[laughs] Yes. Shakara dance sisi [young lady]!
Ayo: [laughs] If I couldn't sing I would dance! The [dresses] I'm wearing I designed them myself and then I'm wearing my own everyday-clothes of small French designers.

LADYBRILLE.com: Ah! YOU ARE A DESIGNER? We love you!

LADYBRILLE.com:Still on the “Life is Real” video, you GOT ON THE OKADA [public motorbike transportation used by the poor in Nigeria] LUV that!!!! [laughs] Were you on the Eko bridge? Tough gal! [laughs] I bet the Nigerian folks around were having a good laugh. You do not look scared riding on one of those. [laughs again]
Ayo:[Y]es I was on the Eko bridge. I wasn't scared because I love motorbikes and I think the okada is the fastest way to move from A to B! Some Nigerians were laughing, others were bugging!

LADYBRILLE.com:[I'm laughing but I hear Nile as he begins fussing and crying] Oh oh! Nile is crying so it’s time to go.
Ayo: He is tired, time for a nap.

LADYBRILLE.com: Thanks beautiful for the interview. You have to let us know where, what and how you are doing so we can continue to support you. Keep up the great work and keep reminding us life is real but we should still enjoy it. Congratulations sisi!
Ayo: Bye Uduak and thank you so much, I hope to meet you one day. "Ayo's acclaimed CD "Joyful" will be released on November 20th, 2007 on interscope records." Watch this space for an opportunity to win an autographed CD from Ayo. Meanwhile, to learn more about her, check out www.ayomusic.com.
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Monday, October 15, 2007

TAN Conf 2007: Is Entrepreneurship Teachable?

From L-R: Peter Ojany [Intel], Chinedu Echeruo [Hotstop.com], Gordon Williams [Co-founder & CFO of TAN], Sade Sobande [TAN Con 2007 Chair], Yemi Lalude[Founder and Managing Director Adlevo Capital], Front: Uduak Oduok [Ladybrille.com], Bolaji Olutade [President/CEO of TAN]


Palo Alto –CA, October 16th, 2007, “Is entrepreneurship teachable?" Can we really teach Africans how to manage and run successful companies? This was the provocative question asked by one of TAN Conf 2007’s attendee; who was a former ambassador to the USA for Rwanda during the Clinton administration.

TAN Conf 2007 held at the sleek Four Seasons Hotel in Palo Alto, answered the question via dynamic speakers with a wealth of experience in and out of Africa and a very interactive audience. Kicking things off, in a room full of aspiring, new and established entrepreneurs, was Jack Holden who was the morning’s key note speaker. Holden, a veteran entrepreneur and current Founder/Director of Gold Star, a Biodeisel company head quartered in Ghana, spoke largely about his experiences and doing business in Africa. Holden expressed the difficulty of getting the West to see Africa as a great investment opportunity-- he has spent over 27years trying to do so. Nevertheless, he encouraged all interested in investments in Africa to not give up.

Jack Holden with TAN Conf 2007 guest


END THE 9-5
Following Holden was what would be intermittent breaks and networking opportunities sprinkled throughout the duration of the conference. Shortly after one of such breaks, a panel consisting of Chinedu Echeruo [Hotstop.com], Nosa Omogui [Director of Strategic investments with Intel Capital [ICap], Ike Eze [Entrepreneur and Private Investor] and Yemi Lalude [Founder and Managing Director of Adlevo Capital] convened to discuss how aspiring entrepreneurs could transition from their 9-5 to full fledged entrepreneurs. All emphasized it began with the idea. “Most people have the ideas but [d]o not believe in their ideas enough to quit their 9-5
jobs,” said Eze. “[B]elief is important,” said Echeruo. “Added to belief is research and the time to research because only at that point is where you are able to process whether it is a full time job,” added Echeruo. Echeruo provided even more pragmatic steps. He suggested budding entrepreneurs put their ideas on paper, create a 20 page slide, if possible, for presenting to team of investors and get the word out via a clear marketing plan.

Lalude offered his take on doing business in Africa explaining that actual formal market research process might not necessarily work. “I had a hypothesis, went to Africa and confirmed it with the people,” said Lalude. “There are things we take for granted that we can not do the same in Africa [e.g.] infrastructure, resources and human resources and these things must be considered if you decide to start your new venture in Africa,” said Eze. “In Africa, it is tougher to find people who can invest in your projects or venture.”

Eze stated that in case you just decided to quit your big firm in the USA to move to Africa to start your business, there are some key things you needed to do. First, evaluate the industry you are in. Second, understand that if it is an industry that requires capital, you might need to be there locally on the ground. Third, he further advised the need for sincerity and honesty with self. Ask, is there a market? Is there a product? Do I have a good team?


SHOW ME THE MONEY
Needless to say, after you quit your job to become an entrepreneur, it is only a matter of time before you start screaming Jerry Maguire’s “Show me the Money!” Moderated by Doug Kelly, Partner at Alloy Ventures, the panel on “Raising Capital” explained you could find money from family, friends, banks or a Venture Capitalist. “Go to a Venture Capitalist with the idea that he/she is looking for a reason not to invest,” said Eghosa Omoigui, one of the panelist. You should be prepared to truly say, “I have a product that matches the problem, it is a big problem, I have the right people to execute the vision, my product can be differentiated in the market place and I can make you lots of money.” The panel also stressed the importance of due diligence, especially when it came to finding the right investors and their motives for investing in your business.

THE LEGALESE
Of course whenever there is cash-money discussions, lawyers are a necessity. As such, the panel consisting of Olatunde Simoyan [Associate at Wilson Sonsini, LLP], Barry Kraemer [Partner at Fenwick & West, LLP]and Khoa D. Do [Partner at DLA Piper] got together as they picked up from the previous panel to discuss legalese. Keeping it lively with a skit, sorry there was no dancing, Kramer along with Bisi Akinola [Associate at Fenwick & West, LLP who played the role of a soon to be entrepreneur], addressed intellectual property issues—making sure you own your work and not soliciting current employees of your ex-employer for your new venture [depending on employment agreement in place]. Like an engagement that has been called off, they stressed that you are expected to give the ring back! So, do not take the business customer list, list of employees, technical information, laptops keys and phones of your ex-employer. The panel also touched on the right legal structure for your new venture [C Corp, LLC and S Corps], allocating shares, termination clauses, roles/expectation of the founders among the many issues they covered to avoid landing in murky legal waters.


CUSTOMER IS THE DECISION MAKER
With all that legal drama and issues to ponder, it was time for lunch, provided by TAN, and more networking! After lunch, the event resumed with an inspiring speech from another key note speaker Kenneth Coleman, Chairman of Accelry’s. "Understand you [a]re in the people business and that no matter how great a vision you have, you will not understand it till it is in the hands of the customer,” said Coleman. “Talk less and listen to the marketplace, [the]consumer.” Coleman encouraged TAN Conf 2007 attendees to have strong work ethic, “self confidence and the ability to stare down the possibility of failure.” He concluded his speech by saying, “[While] you work hard [and] have achievements, it is important to make time for family, friends and community.

TAN Conf. 2007 concluded with Holden and his team at Gold Star sharing their success stories in Africa and other success stories such as Kunle Olukotun [Professor at Stanford Univeristy] and Abi Adeoti [Director of Finance and Startegy at Intuit Inc]Matt Flannery, co-founder and CEO of KIVA.org. also sharing their success stories.
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