Last week was so exciting for me. I had two speaking engagements, one at LIM College and one at the NYC Department of Probation. I also attended the L.A.C.E. Leading Ladies 2nd Annual Event to Collect of which my non profit Pretty World Inc was a sponsor.

I love speaking at LIM, their students have an amazing energy that motivates me as much as I’m there to motivate them. This is my 3rd year attending their Women’s History Month Event and the 2nd time I’ve been one of the speakers.

In preparation for the co sponsored LIM Student Life and Black Retail Action Group (BRAG) Women’s History Month Event, I was also invited to speak at their chapter meeting a week prior on the value of networking and provide them with tips on not only how to network, but also how to gracefully bow out of unproductive conversation as well as what to do after you land the business card!

Originally  I was only on the roster for the networking workshop and to be an invited guest to their Women’s History Month Event but after the workshop they asked me to participate on the panel as well. What an honor for me as a young entrepreneur being that the panel was a power punched group, including the General Manager & SVP from Barney’s; a LIM Grad who has her own fashion mentoring program for high school students and fashion scholarship program; a fashion designer and musican who had his collection in Target from 2006-2009;  a marketing entrepreneur who worked in corporate for 20 years before branching out on her own.. and then me.

The event was amazing, I’m pretty sure we all learned something new and there were also 2-3 current LIM students acting as vendors at the event who absolutely blew me away, one in particular was Bow Tish, one of the students who I also met at the BRAG chapter meeting. She had all these super cute bow ties laid out which of course I had to pick one up! Here are some pics from her Spring Summer 2012 Collection. If you see anything you like feel free to contact her at bowtish@gmail.com

Speaking at the Department of Probation was tough, the girls there ranged in ages from 12-16 and were closed up like clam shells.

Me with the PO's at the NYC Dept of Probation Event

My topic to them was self esteem and social media  and while I am used to speaking with girls in their age bracket particularly those in alternative schools who are edge drop outs and have no other chances left with the DOE, this group left me with a lot to think about engaging such groups and successful ice breakers. As a take away I created a Cotton Carrie Verbally Sweet Tee for the girls with the slogan “Dare to be YOU!” It’s a fantastic message and you should expect to see more of it on a tee shirt near you!

Then there was the L.A.C.E. Leading Ladies 2nd Annual Event to Collect and these ladies definitely showed out! The venue was beautiful, their ambiance was pristine and they collected so many dresses for young girls. I am sure this years Fashion Collision on May 5th 2012 is going to be a huge success!

I love this organization and am always happy to volunteer and sponsor their philanthropic efforts! I finally met Gwen Beloti at this event as well she is an amazing designer who donated a custom dress last year and will do the same this year. She and I were both Top Ten Finalists at the 2010 WEEN Awards.

Hope you week was just as amazing!

xoxo

Carrie