I just love people when people reach for the stars and take risks to achieve their goals. With that in mind, I bring you the latest interview for my #BestLifeSeries. I got the opportunity to connect with Bri’Ann Stephens of Pink Productions and learn more about the upcoming conference her company has coming up. You can check out our chat below.
For those who may not know you, how would you introduce yourself? What do you do? How long have you been in your career field? Where are you from and where do you reside?
My name is Bri’Ann Stephens and I am a woman who has experienced much adversity and triumph. I am 25 years old, born and raised in Houston, Texas. I live at home with my parents while working on expanding my company. I am the Founder and CEO of Pink Productions– a women’s empowerment organization dedicated to building genuine relationships and providing opportunities for women globally. We do this through our one-on-one interviews, events, social media pages, website, and more. I launched Pink Productions in 2016 so I have been doing this for a little over two years. It was the best decision I have ever made.
What made you start Pink Productions? What made you focus on helping women connect?
In 2015 I found myself overdosed on sleeping pills. I decided to move back home with my parents in order to do some well-needed self-discovery. During that time I wrote poetry and even performed at a couple of venues in Houston. Shortly after I found myself having a hard time being given the opportunity to grow, perform, and share my story and gifts. I decided to be the change in the world I wanted to see and I created my own platform. Today, popular platforms focus on clout, social media following, and status. Pink Productions looks far beyond that. We are focused on truly providing women with opportunities for voices to be heard and their passions to be seen. I could have easily created a personal blog, but I wanted to do something that would be bigger than myself. Pink Productions is for all women.
Speaking of connecting women, this summer Pink Productions is hosting a conference. Can you tell us more about that?
Plan HER Conference 2018 is about more than just connecting and mentoring. This year our theme is “Rewriting The Story.” The worlds most inspiring women inspire us to work harder. We see ourselves in their struggle. We empathize with their insecurities. We applaud their success because it brings us hope. If they can overcome obstacles, so can we. The goal for the speakers is not to gain bragging rights, the goal is to leave a positive impact on listeners or readers in order to help change and shape their lives.
The conference will be held in Houston, Texas on July 29 from 1p-5p. It’s a 4-hour conference filled with a dynamic group of speakers, life-changing conversations and discussions. Guest will be able to find mentors, listen to great music, check out amazing vendors, enjoy henna tattoos, photo booths, connect with like-minded driven women, and shape their lives!
Click here to register for the conference.
What are some of the challenges you face as an entrepreneur? How have you been able to combat them?
I could list so many challenges I’ve faced as an entrepreneur. However, the top two challenges I’ve faced are lack of resources and a lack of motivation.
Lacking resources has always been a challenge for me because when I launched I quit my job. I also never finished college so I went into entrepreneurship prematurely. It has always been 10 times harder for me because of minimal resources like no money, no car, and no basic knowledge of the industry. I just had a made up mind and I went for it! Today, I have learned so much from starting from the ground.
Lack of motivation didn’t come until about a year after launching. I had certain goals, plans, and expectations that I didn’t meet and it was discouraging. I accomplished a lot during my first year, but there were also goals I had wish I’d met. It became challenging to want to get out of bed, let alone still run the company.
I actually combated those things by listening and studying other stories of perseverance and faith! That is why the art of storytelling is so important to me. Not only do I read articles, write down affirmations, listen to sermons and study the Bible, but I like hearing similar stories. It is really comforting to know that you are not the only one and if someone else did it, so can I!
My purpose for starting this #LiveYourBestLife series on my blog is so I can shine a light on some of the fabulous people I come across who I believe are living their best life. What do you love most about your life?
What I love most about my life is my support system. I have a supportive family. Although my mom, dad, and I butt heads, they are literally my backbone and so understanding of my journey. In the beginning, they were skeptical and sometimes even judgmental, but I just kept doing my thing and eventually they came around. I also love my ability to learn quickly. I try new things often, so I love the spontaneous parts of my life.
Do you have any advice for folks who are interested in planning an event as fabulous as the Plan HER Conference will be but do not know where to start?
If you want to plan a conference, write down all of your ideas from start to finish. Create concrete ideas, down to where you want to host the conference. Reach out to people who are willing and able to help you and join the committee. Have meetings often and figure out your budget early on. I would start planning 9-12 months in advance. Assign duties and create a checklist. Your marketing strategies will be a major key to the success of the conference.
Lastly, no matter what, plan for a successful turn out. Things will not be perfect and that is okay. Work towards your goals daily and figure out what works best for you and your team.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Shoot your shot unapologetically. We usually think of dating when we hear shoot your shot. I’ve been snatching amazing opportunities just by reaching out to people. Stop waiting for permission, just go for it.