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#BlogHer13 Social Media Leadership – Meet Empowerista

Posted by on in Ananda's Speaking Events, BlogHer13, Digital Sisterhood Leadership Archetypes, Digital Sisterhood: Fierce Living Online for 25 Years2 Comments
Photo Credit: BlogHer.com
Photo Credit: BlogHer.com

Calling all BlogHer 13 attendees! Be sure to check out my 30 minute talk on “What Type of Social Media Leader Are You? on July 26 and 27. During my talk, I will introduce the seven Digital Sisterhood Leadership archetypes that have helped me understand the leadership roles women play in social media. Today, I would like to introduce you to the Empowerista, one of the Digital Sisterhood Leadership archetypes.

Meet Empowerista, a Digital Sisterhood Leadership archetype. Photo Credit: Leigh Mosley – http://www.leighmosley.com
Meet Empowerista, a Digital Sisterhood Leadership archetype. Photo Credit: Leigh Mosley – http://www.leighmosley.com

An Empowerista is a woman who creates and curates content, shares information and experiences, connects with others and establishes positive relationships, and builds and participates in communities that empower her and others.

DSoftheyear300

During Digital Sisterhood Month 2012, the women listed below were named Digital Sisters of the Year – Empoweristas. Recognize any familiar names?

Empowerista manifesto collage by Ananda Leeke
Empowerista manifesto collage by Ananda Leeke

While writing my upcoming Digital Sisterhood book, I created manifesto collages to better understand each leadership archetype. Check out the Empowerista’s key phrases.

Do any of the words resonate with you?

Are you an Empowerista?

Happy Internet Geek Tuesday!

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Photo Credit: http://mmtconline.org
Photo Credit: http://mmtconline.org

Happy Internet Geek Tuesday!

This month is filled with social media and tech learning opportunities. On July 10, I’ll be attending the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council’s 11th Annual Access Capital and Telecom Policy Conference  at the Embassy Suites Convention Center and Hotel in Washington, D.C. The theme is “Maximizing Innovation, Inclusion, and Entrepreneurship in a Digital Economy.” I am very excited about two panel discussions.

  • Media Experts Share Their Secrets to Success in a Multi-Platform World featuring Issa Rae of the Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl and ASPiRE TV’s new talk show “Exhale,” Paul Butler of ASPiRE TV, Karen Wishart of Sean Combs’ Revolt TV, William Crowder of Comcast Ventures, and Nathaniel Cotanch of RockthePost.com

 

  • Spurring Innovation:  Tips for Tech Entrepreneurs Who Want to Turn an Idea into a Business featuring Bruce Lincoln of Urban Cyberspace Company, Clayton Banks of Ember Media, York Eggleston of Semantic Labs/YE Ventures, Eric Hamilton of Around the Way, and Lisa Jones Johnson of NextGen Media

For more information about the conference, click here to see the agenda.

I’m Talking About Social Media Leadership at #BlogHer13 – Meet Empirista

Posted by on in Ananda's Speaking Events, archetypes, BlogHer13, Digital Sisterhood Leadership ArchetypesLeave a comment
BlogHer.com
BlogHer.com

In a few weeks, I’ll be talking about social media leadership on July 26 and July 27 at the BlogHer 13 Conference in Chicago, Illinois. “What Type of Social Media Leader Are You? is the title of my 30 minute talk. During my talk, I will introduce the seven Digital Sisterhood Leadership archetypes that have helped me understand the leadership roles women play in social media.

Meet Empirista, a Digital Sisterhood Leadership archetype. Photo Credit: Leigh Mosley – http://www.leighmosley.com
Meet Empirista, a Digital Sisterhood Leadership archetype. Photo Credit: Leigh Mosley – http://www.leighmosley.com

Today, I would like to introduce you to the Empirista, a woman who thinks of herself as CEO of her own corporation, ME, Inc.; maintains an entrepreneurial mindset; and gives birth to ideas and transforms them into businesses, economies, institutions, networks, and organizations that add value to people’s lives.

DSoftheyear300

During Digital Sisterhood Month 2012, the women listed below were named Digital Sisters of the Year – Empiristas. Recognize any familiar names?

Empirista collage by Ananda Leeke
Empirista collage by Ananda Leeke

While writing my upcoming Digital Sisterhood book, I created manifesto collages to better understand each leadership archetype. Check out the Empirista’s key phrases.

Do any of the words resonate with you?

Are you an Empirista?

Happy Creativity Thursday!

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Happy July 4th and Happy Creativity Thursday!

Guess what I am doing next week? I’m taking artist Tina Lassiter’s “An Evening in the Garden of Goddess Delight” workshop on July 11 at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. Tina describes the workshop as a collage-making “joyshop” that will evoke change, stimulate thinking, and transform the lives of those who accept an invitation for exploration. It’s just what I need to jumpstart my own collage-making painting process.

Tina Lassiter at the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery
Tina Lassiter at the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery

In June, I had a chance to chat with Tina at the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery  opening of the “From the Outside” exhibition. Some of her work is featured in the exhibit. I love her goddess collages!

More About Tina: She is also a writer, photographer, and Director of Creative & Therapeutic Arts Services at Children’s National Medical Center. Last year, She became a Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist in addition to receiving certifications in Reiki and Acupressure. She is currently working to help Children’s National Medical Center establish an integrative medicine program.

What are you doing to celebrate creativity in July?

Happy Internet Geek Tuesday!

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Happy Internet Geek Tuesday!

Guess where I am going in a few weeks?

BlogHer 13, the world’s largest women’s blogging conference.

BlogHer.com
BlogHer.com

My focus for this year’s conference is to learn about lifestyle blogging and branding so  I can improve my Ananda@16thand U: Lifestylista in Love with DC blog and expand my new media business and the Digital Sisterhood Network. To that end, I am planning to attend the Style Mini-Conference track on July 26 (right after I complete my talk on social media leadership). Check out the Style Mini-Conference session descriptions below. They feature some of my favorite bloggers and virtual mentors like “Afrobella” Patrice Yursik, Christina Brown, and Stacy Morrison.

Photo Credit: Afrobella.com
Photo Credit: Afrobella.com
Photo Credit: Afrobella.com
Photo Credit: Afrobella.com
Photo Credit: Lpvebrownsugar.com
Photo Credit: Lpvebrownsugar.com
Photo Credit: Stacy Morrison
Photo Credit: Stacy Morrison
  • The List (and how to get on it): If there is one question we hear from bloggers covering this image- and access-conscious industry, it’s “How do I get on *the* list?”. We’re bringing publishing, PR and brand perspectives to the table to give you an inside look at how it works. BlogHer editor-in-chief (and longtime women’s magazine leader) Stacy Morrison moderates the insightful advice from Adrianna Guilliani from Devries Public Relations, Cristy Turner from Digital Brand Architects, and Genevieve Ascencio from Factory PR.
Photo Credit: JusticeFergie.com
Photo Credit: JusticeFergie.com

Before I attend the Style Mini Conference sessions, I plan to participate in “Justice Fergie” Stacey Ferguson’s Summer Brand-O-Rama, a FREE four-week email workshop that will provide critical tips on how to cultivate brand partnerships that begins on July 5. Click here to sign up.  My goal is to learn how to build brand partnerships that support my blogs and the Digital Sisterhood Network.

Stacey Ferguson a/k/a Justice Fergie and Ananda at BlogHer 12 Brunchalicious Event - Photo Credit ' BlogHer.com
Stacey Ferguson a/k/a Justice Fergie and Ananda at BlogHer 12 Brunchalicious Event – Photo Credit ‘ BlogHer.com

Stacey is the queen of branding and empire building in my book! She is one of my virtual and IRL “Empirista” mentors.

BlogHer.com
BlogHer.com

If you are planning to attend BlogHer 13, check out the questions below.

  • What are your top three to five conference goals?
  • What sessions are you planning to attend? And why?
  • What are you doing to prepare for BlogHer 13?
BlogHer.com
BlogHer.com
BlogHer.com
BlogHer.com

PS: I will be speaking about social media leadership on July 26 (10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.) and July 27 (11:30 a.m. – 12 noon), and co-hosting the Multi-Culti party on July 26 with two amazing digital sisters, Pauline Campos and Dwana De La Cerna. I hope you will be able to join us at the conference and the Multi-Culti party. Click here to register.

Happy Yoga Monday! 7/1

Posted by on in Yoga, Yoga Mondays1 Comment

Happy Yoga Monday!

Listening to sacred music during my yoga practice is one of my favorite things to do. I adore the music of Sista Shree, a yoga teacher and mantra singer who has created a unique rhythm that blends a mélange of Soul, Blues, Jazz, Funk and Gospel music with the beautiful vibrations of ancient Sanskrit mantras. She also has a band based in New York City called Hanuman. Click here to watch a video of her singing at Jivamukti Yoga Center in New York City in 2012.

Photo Credit: http://sistashree.com
Photo Credit: http://sistashree.com

I first discovered Sista Shree’s music during my yoga teacher training at Flow Yoga Center in 2005. Karen Harris, one of my friends who agreed to let me student teach her during my training, gave me copies of Sista Shree’s CDs: “Asatoma” and “Sacred Sound”. We would use them during our yoga sessions. Sista Shree’s music was filled with soulful energy. It had us chanting and dancing in between poses. I still love listening to her music.

Photo Credit: http://sistashree.com
Photo Credit: http://sistashree.com

In 2008, I interviewed her about her yoga practice, music, and commitment to green living on my radio show Go Green Sangha Radio. Click here to listen to the show (includes other guests).

Photo Credit: http://sistashree.com
Photo Credit: http://sistashree.com

To learn more about Sista Shree, visit her web site. Be sure to follow her on Twitter and like her on Facebook. You can buy her music on CDBaby.com.

Photo Credit: http://sistashree.com
Photo Credit: http://sistashree.com

Enjoy your day!

OM #YogaMonday OM!

Photo Credit: "OM" drawing by Ananda Leeke
Photo Credit: “OM” drawing by Ananda Leeke
Photo Credit: “OM” drawing by Ananda Leeke

PS: If you would like to read about my yoga journey, check out my memoir That Which Awakens Me on Amazon.com. It is available on Kindle

My debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One features a main character who works as a yoga teacher in Washington, D.C. Click here to visit the Love’s Troubadours’ Pinterest board which contains some great information about the novel. You can purchase it on Amazon.com.

Happy Creativity Thursday!

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Photo Credit: www.aspire.tv/exhale
Photo Credit: http://www.aspire.tv/exhale

Happy Creativity Thursday!

Today, I am excited about Exhale, a provocative new talk series about African American women on ASPiRE TV that features five of my favorite creative women: Angela Burt-Murray, Comedian Erin Jackson, Issa Rae, Malinda Williams, and Rene Syler. Thank goodness these ladies have been blessed with the gift of gab. Their candid discussions will offer intergenerational commentary on a wide range of topics including family, relationships, money, faith and everything that African American women are talking about. I know the show will influence, inform, and inspire me and my sistalove friends! That’s one of the reasons I am so excited about it!!!! So watch it tonight at 8:00 p.m.

Photo Credit: www.aspire.tv/exhale
Photo Credit: http://www.aspire.tv/exhale

I AM EXCITED ABOUT EXHALE BECAUSE….. 

I AM EXCITED because I am hungry … no starving is a better word. I am starving for positive television programming that features women who look like me and share my interests and concerns.

I AM EXCITED about hearing from Angela Burt-Murray, founder of CocoaFab TV and former Essence editor-in-chief. I miss Angela’s voice. When she was at Essence, I enjoyed reading her letter to the reader each month. Her interviews and articles always informed and inspired me. I need Angela to inform and inspire me each week!

I AM EXCITED about Malinda Williams because she stole my heart when she played the character Bird on the wildly successful Soul Food television series on Showtime years ago. I also adore her down-to-earth personality, passion, and style! I need Malinda to remind me to stay grounded and focused on my passion as I live life with style!

I AM EXCITED about Rene Syler because she speaks her mind and writes with a soulful honesty that makes me say “AMEN.” The first time I learned about Rene was at the Blogalicious Weekend Conference in 2011. She was a luncheon keynote speaker who shared so passionately from her life. I left Blogalicious as a Rene Syler fan. I need to witness Rene’s passionate honesty and humor each week!

Ananda Leeke and Issa Rae at 2012 Minority Media & Telecom Council's 10th Annual Access to Capital and Telecommunications Policy Conference
Ananda Leeke and Issa Rae at 2012 Minority Media & Telecom Council’s 10th Annual Access to Capital and Telecommunications Policy Conference

I AM EXCITED about Issa Rae because she is incredibly gifted as a digital entrepreneur, writer, director, producer, and actress. I fell madly in love with Issa’s webisode series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl a few years ago. Since then, I have followed her online and watched all of the programs she has created and produced. Last year, I met and heard her speak at the Minority Media & Telecom Council’s 10th Annual Access to Capital and Telecommunications Policy Conference. I need to receive a weekly dose of Issa’s creative energy dipped in authentic and awkward humor.

I AM EXCITED about Erin Jackson because she is dangerously funny. I discovered her humor and wit when ASPiRE TV starting promoting Exhale several months ago. She reminds me to laugh and not take myself so seriously. I love her crazy sense of humor. I need to catch Erin’s laughter train on a weekly basis!

Photo Credit: www.aspire.tv/exhale Photo features Exhale hosts and actress Vanessa Bell Calloway
Photo Credit: http://www.aspire.tv/exhale
Photo features Exhale hosts and actress Vanessa Bell Calloway

Creativity Thursday Request

My excitement is so great that I want to see these ladies succeed beyond their wildest imaginations. So I am using my blog and social media platforms to encourage others to watch and support the show. With that said, please take some time to give these five Exhale ladies some social love! Encourage your social network of family, friends, and fans to do the same.

Happy Internet Geek Tuesday!

Posted by on in Internet Geek Tuesday2 Comments

Happy Internet Geek Tuesday!

Guess what I did last weekend? I participated in the Digital Sisterhood Unplugged Weekend (#DSUnplugged).

Ananda's Flowista Manifesto collage dedicating to unplugging
Ananda’s Flowista Manifesto collage dedicating to unplugging

Guess what happened?

I really had a great time unplugging. I was able to chill out, relax, practice yoga, run, sleep in, read some of my favorite magazines like More and Fast Company, attend a fantastic gallery opening (will talk about on my Creativity Thursday blog), complete some of the edits for my Digital Sisterhood book, write my “Unplug” Manifesto as a Flowista (a woman who unplugs from her to-do list and digital life sand practices self-care on a regular basis) with a collage illustration, and reflect on the women in social who have become my virtual mentors. That’s a lot, right?

Photo Credit: FastCompany.com
Photo Credit: FastCompany.com
Photo Credit: More.com
Photo Credit: More.com

While reading the July issue of More, I discovered an article in the Second Acts section that featured a profile about two of my virtual mentors, Stefania Pomponi and Cat Lincoln, co-founders of the Clever Girls Collective, a social media agency.

Photo Credit: Stefania Pomponi
Photo Credit: Stefania Pomponi

 

Photo Credit: Cat Lincoln
Photo Credit: Cat Lincoln

The More article discussed how Stefania and Cat came together as friends to create the Clever Girls Collective and took a road trip to the BlogHer 2009 conference in Chicago, Illinois. I first discovered Stefania at the BlogHer conference and later learned about Cat and the Clever Girls Collective. They impressed the you know what out of me! I loved their community building efforts, commitment to empowering women bloggers, energy, and business savvy. I started following them online and watching them make moves to build their Clever Girls empire and thriving community of bloggers. I also made sure to hear them speak at the various social media conferences I have attended over the years.

Photo Credit: The Clever Girls Collective
Photo Credit: The Clever Girls Collective

They lead and teach by example. They share insights and lessons learned in their online activities. When they speak in public at conferences, they drop “serious knowledge.” That’s why they are two of my virtual mentors.

PS: Virtual mentors are women and men in the digital space who have influenced, informed, and inspired me through their blog, books/e-books, businesses, creative expression, community building efforts, e-books, lessons learned, social good activities, social media engagement, TEDx Talks, thought leadership, videos, webisodes, webinars, and web sites. Many of my virtual mentors are people I have never met online or face-to-face. They may not even be aware of how much they have influenced me. Some are folks I have connected with online and had conversations with via social media. There are others who I have met in person. And then there are a few I have come to know as friends in real life (IRL). All of them add great value to my life!

Happy Yoga Monday! 6/24

Posted by on in Yoga, Yoga MondaysLeave a comment
Photo Credit: Mantra: Sacred Words of Power by Thomas Ashley-Farrand Publisher: Sounds True, Incorporated (December 2004)
Photo Credit: Mantra: Sacred Words of Power by Thomas Ashley-Farrand
Publisher: Sounds True, Incorporated (December 2004)

Happy Yoga Monday!

One of the juiciest parts of my yoga practice is my mantra chanting. Mantra is a sacred word, phrase or sound that is repeated during meditation to deepen your spiritual and/or yoga practice, and transform your spiritual consciousness.

Ganesh
Ganesh

The first mantra I learned and began using was “Om Gum Ganapataye Namaha.” I was introduced to it during a lay leadership training led by Reverend Beverly Biddle at Unity of Washington, D.C. in 2002. During the training, I learned the mantra can help remove obstacles from your life and resolve  problems and difficulties. I also learned it was associated with Ganesh, the Hindu elephant deity who removed obstacles. Click here to watch Deva Premal chant the mantra.

chakrasbook

shaktimantras

healingmantrasbook

After the training, I began using the mantra and reading about other mantras. my favorite mantra books are written by Thomas Ashley-Farrand (a/k/a Namadeva Acharya). They include Chakra Mantras: Liberate Your Spiritual Genius Through Chanting, Shakti Mantras: Tapping into the Great Goddess Energy Within, and Healing Mantras: Using Sound Affirmations for Personal Power, Creativity, and Healing.

Do you chant mantras? What are your favorites?

Enjoy your day!

OM #YogaMonday OM!

Photo Credit: "OM" drawing by Ananda Leeke
Photo Credit: “OM” drawing by Ananda Leeke

PS: If you would like to read about my yoga journey, check out my memoir That Which Awakens Me on Amazon.com. It is available on Kindle

My debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One features a main character who works as a yoga teacher in Washington, D.C. Click here to visit the Love’s Troubadours’ Pinterest board which contains some great information about the novel. You can purchase it on Amazon.com.

Happy Creativity Thursday – 6/20

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Artwork by Lisa Schumaier
Artwork by Lisa Schumaier

Happy Creativity Thursday!

Today, I am celebrating the work of mixed media artist and sculptor Lisa Schumaier, an Alexandria, Virginia native. I met Lisa two weeks ago while visiting her studio at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia. She is a down-to-earth woman with a deep passion. She was happy to explain her art-making process and shared several stories about her artwork.

Artist Lisa Schumaier
Artist Lisa Schumaier
Lisa Schumaier 's artist studio
Lisa Schumaier ‘s artist studio

I was immediately drawn to her mixed media collage sculptures of women dancers.

Artwork by Lisa Schumaier
Artwork by Lisa Schumaier
Artwork by Lisa Schumaier - my favorite piece
Artwork by Lisa Schumaier – my favorite piece

I marveled at how she was able to blend her ceramic work with found objects and recycled materials. Click here to watch a video of Lisa talking about her passion for art and the Torpedo Factory. For more information about her work, visit www.keenthings.com.