At the inaugural Souler Symposium, and in front of a live audience at the Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana, we tackle a crucial topic: the evolution of social media, and where it's headed -- from the authenticity of influencer marketing to the future of brands. George Manley (CEO/Co-Founder for Souler) leads a discussion with the dynamic duo of Natalie Zfat (contributing writer to several major business publications, and an influencer authority in the social media marketing space -- @nataliezfat) and Jeff Bullas (named the number one business blogger in the world as well as a serial entrepreneur and an investor -- @jeffbullas). Plus, the audience members themselves from the Souler community have something to say as well. Presented by Souler.

Souler Stories

Natalie Zfat and Jeff Bullas - The Evolution of Social Media

For Actor, Model, Director, and Photographer Jonathan Morgan, the word influencer (and he has influence to the tune of for than 66,000 Instagram followers)  isn’t his identity. He prefers to think of himself as an inspirer. And Jon ’s balance of modeling and promotion has allowed him to pick the brands to work with that are authentic to who he is, and  paved the way to an organic audience that responds to his content. Jon shares his story with George Manley (CEO/Co-Founder for Souler) in the MouthMedia Network studios, covering Jon’s start in print modeling; tricky ways one has to benchmark the success of an influencer; the importance of a health relationship between influencer and brand in order for the promotion to be effective; standing up for your personal brand and content, and knowing when to say no to a deal; and, what it means to be a career model versus being an influencer, and the grind it takes to be a professional model in 2019. Presented by Souler.

Actor/Model/Director/Photographer Jonathan Morgan - Inspiration Over Influence

A lifelong dream to become a hairstylist leads to a decision to go to culinary school. Then, fashion school. Then lifestyle blogging. And ultimately, influencing. For Batsheva Weinstein, the journey may have been necessary to get to the destination. Batsheva shares her story with George Manley (CEO/Co-Founder for Souler) in the MouthMedia Network studios, covering why research is such an important factor if you want to take your blogging seriously; the importance of keeping content fresh and to keep your audience engaged; working with brands on your own terms, so that the engagement between your audience and sponsored content doesn’t feel contrived; why it takes a roughly five year grind to build your brand as a influencer into a career you can live off of; and how Batsheva’s religion and cultural background affects how she approaches her blog and personal branding. Presented by Souler.

Sunnies & Sangria Blogger Batsheva Weinstein - The Journey and Destination

For Aissata Diallo, modeling was never a part of the plan. It was medical school, for this Guinea-born American immigrant. Yet when she was discovered through Instagram and went viral in a short period of time, everything changed. Ultimately, modeling would be what leads her to help her country’s troubled healthcare system. Aissata shares her story with George Manley (CEO/Co-Founder for Souler) in the MouthMedia Network studios, covering her  challenges navigating how to approach brands; the common misconceptions and prejudices laid against the Muslim community; why consistency and regular activity are key to building a following and a brand; and, the importance of keeping a finger on the pulse of what’s getting a reaction. Presented by Souler.

Model Aissata Diallo - Modeling and Medicine

Spiderman. A bit of misfortune (being bitten by a spider) gave him a future he couldn’t have possibly imagined, casting a web of influence over many. Much like Spiderman, Trevor Bell -- who works in fashion, fitness, nutrition, and motivation --  has quickly grown a role as an effective and active influencer with more than 170,000 Instagram followers. Trevor shares his story with George Manley (CEO/Co-Founder for Souler) and guest host Christopher Holland in the MouthMedia Network studios, covering how not making it into the NFL may have actually been a good fortune; the moment Trevor turned his life’s passion for athletics and fitness into a revenue stream; reverse-engineering the success of other fitness influencers; how he differentiates his content from the pack through a Spider-Man suit; and, an eye on the emerging social media platforms, such as TikTok. Presented by Souler.

Trevor Bell - From Spidey Sense to Real Influence

Marsha Thompson (@divariashow) is a person of influence. She speaks several languages, travels the world, and champions the movement of a vital art from into the modern cultural landscape. She’s also a formidable opera singer who left college where she had a full scholarship, with just 6 credits to go, to audition for a show. The rest is history. Marsha shares her story with George Manley (CEO/Co-Founder for Souler) and guest host Christopher Holland in the MouthMedia Network studios. She discusses how the landscape of operas are changing to reflect the times; how her bother Christopher Holland helped her utilize social media to connect with her audience and share her gift with the world; how physical techniques separate opera from other forms of singing; and, Marsha offers an exclusive in-studio performance of her remarkable soprano talent. Presented by Souler.

Opera Singer Marsha Thompson - The Power of Influence for Performance Art

At age nine, violinist Tai Murray  made her concert debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Social Media Platforms didn’t even yet exist. Before she reached 30, she had been a BBC New Generation Artist for three years. Now,  Tai is a busy working concert violinist of the highest caliber, as well as an influencer.  In fact, being an active listener and musician enhances her relationship with her followers . Tai shares her story with George Manley (Chief Revenue Officer for Souler) in the MouthMedia Network studios. Presented by Souler.

Violinist Tai Murray - Active Listening

She’s been dubbed The Body, and is known for pushing curvy women into mainstream culture and as a winner of Project Runway. But Liris Crosse, model/actress & pioneer in the fashion industry for full-figured women & Black women, and he daughter of preachers who may have unwittingly set her on her unique path, is focused on showing how using the skills she’s honed as a runway model can help others transform in all aspects of their lives. Liris shares her story with George Manley (Chief Revenue Officer for Souler) in the MouthMedia Network studios. Presented by Souler. In this story: Growing up the daughter of preachers in Baltimore, and being encouraged to set out on her own unique path from a young age How a family photoshoot for her father’s campaign for Congress planted the seed in Liris’ mind Why it’s important to invest everything you can into your passion, and how Liris put everything she had into modeling from the moment she knew this was her calling Fighting to fit into what the modeling world told Liris what she should be, and how she decided to fight back and be herself and succeed despite the denial she faced early in her career The differences between the runway modeling world, the commercial/ lifestyle world, and freedoms allowed for personal expression and performance in the latter, compared to the unhealthy standards and rigidity of the former How Liris took it upon herself to show the powers at be how she can challenge standards of beauty and find success as a curvier woman The struggle for plus-size to be accepted as a norm in the fashion world, where many brands will not make and/or advertise plus sizes How Liris is using her platform to show that body diversity and racial diversity is the future for the fashion industry Liris’ upcoming book, Make The World Your Runway, and how the reaction to her Project Runway appearance and runway modeling bootcamp courses inspired her to write about her experience and how she discovered herself so that more women can be inspired and learn from her story Why Liris thinks the skills she’s honed on the runway can be transformative in all facets of someone’s life, from your career to your love life Advice for younger men and women who want to get into the modeling industry who may not know just how ruthless and destructive to one’s ego it can truly be How vital it is to have a “glass half full” mindset in any pursuit in life, but especially in cutthroat industries  The importance of surrounding yourself with people who have your best interests in mind, who aren’t afraid to tell you when they think you’re making a mistake and to dish out tough love when it’s necessary Staying grounded, reliable, personable and polite, because bad news travels faster than good news in life Liris and her brand manager Chris give some tips on how to build your own brand presence, from not buying followers to treating your audience like your closest friends The unglamorous leg work it takes sometimes to put together even a 10 second high quality clip How Liris and Chris came to work together, and how finding a brand manager who accepts you for who you are is incredibly valuable How Chris  came to be a brand manager, and how he tried for years to become anything but 

Liris Crosse - Transformation

Helping to define and navigate the digital space as a creative force for brands and influencers, while becoming a recognized and sought-after business innovator and global digital architect  —  and balancing that with motherhood… Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, Entrepreneur, Innovator, Transformative Brand Builder, Founder/CEO at BrainTrust, and former Chief Digital Officer at CAA-GBG, shares her story with George Manley (Chief Revenue Officer for Souler) in the MouthMedia Network studios. Presented by Souler. In this story: How Kendra knew she wanted to be in PR from the time she saw the Press Secretary in the 6th grade. Purdue and her internship at FleishmanHillard PR Receiving her Master’s in Sports Management and working with the Indiana Pacers Leaving the Pacers Organization after the “Malice at the Palace” to join FleishmanHillard PR full time Taking Cingular (AT&T) into the social sphere with MySpace Creating a Mobile Music Studio with MySpace and Cingular The birth of Digital PR, before it became Social Media and Digital Marketing How PR Practitioners are always the best storytellers Being a leader in the evolution of social media marketing Leading the Digital and Social teams at FleishmanHillard Landing at Ralph Lauren after realizing her desire to get into fashion and beauty Going from being an “Agency Girl” to the Brand Side of the business Realizing the need to shift advertising budgets into social Looking at social thru the lens of E-commerce Can you get an influencer to bring someone to your website, have them stay long enough to make a purchase, and sign up for an emailer? Starting a business to manage bloggers, DBA Ralph Lauren’s invention of “Merchantainment” Creating a symbiotic relationship between brand and blogger Picking the right influencer based on the ethos of your brand Starting a business without a business plan The first time asking “Am I an entrepreneur?” Launching a new product for bloggers Having blogger parties with Kenneth Cole Leaving DBA to work with brands again. Realizing your flaws and finding your strengths Building brands, connecting people, seeing the future, and being innovative Surrounding yourself with people smarter than you The busy life of PR What is it that drives people to be serial entrepreneurs. Wanting to write a book about being an Intrepreneur vs Entrepreneur Can you hire a COO, to handle things from management on down, and still be a great leader? The humanity of CEOs, from meltdowns to successes. What is it that makes Elon Musk and Steve Jobs so unique? How being an entrepreneur to psychologically damaging, the most positive way. Can anyone be a brand builder, install the infrastructure needed to grow and support a new brand? Having night sweats about being under capitalized. Starting a company young with no “risk” versus starting a company with a family Having a sense of destiny, Preparedness plus opportunity equals success Balancing work life with family life Kendra on being the best role model she can for her daughter and encouraging an entrepreneurial mind How becoming a mom was a bit of a wake up for her health, both physical and mental The best advice for being a successful mother and entrepreneur Creating generational wealth for her family, it should be easier for the next generation. Influencers are the new driver’s of commerce and pop culture trends Her latest company, Talent Venture Fund Bridging brands and influencers. Increasing the valuation of brands to make them more commercially successful, and to help boost their relevance based on the partnership ownership with the talent The post Kendra Bracken-Ferguson – Successful Balance appeared first on Souler Stories.

Kendra Bracken-Ferguson – Successful Balance

If you know anything about Broderick Hunter, you’d think “supermodel who’s expanding into acting”. And with more than a quarter million Instagram followers, you would think influencer as well. You might not guess he grew up riding bulls and had a pet pig. Or that he studied to be an EMT, and had a promising athletic career ahead of him, only to be cut short by an injury just when things were finally getting good. Most of all, you may not know how deep, thoughtful, and driven a human being Broderick is. Broderick (@broderickhunter) shares his story with George Manley (SVP of Sales and Marketing for Souler), along with special guest host Christopher Holland, an intimate conversation recorded a few miles outside Austin Texas during SXSW. We sat near a lake “campfire style.” If you listen closely, you may hear the coyotes howling in the background. Presented by Souler. In this story: A career of fashion 7 years, braced into acting, Being open now, peeling off old skin, trying something new Having two parents with different ways of loving and showing love Not identifying with black friends as much and being seen as a loser, and how he got along with a lot of people but wasn’t popular, just existed, not super deep friendships—yet most popular people peaked in high school How Broderick only started getting a better understanding of himself in recent years Lessons he learned from playing ball, and studying to be an EMT Broderick’s brief college athletic career – not getting recruited by schools he wanted to be seen by because he was overshadowed by coaching decisions,  and how he ultimately didn’t end up withs schools he wanted to go to Getting hurt in a athletic camp that finally was where he wanted to be recruited, and having to ultimately to attend Jr. College A year of finding himself, and a depression Growing up in Houston, riding bulls and a pet pig Those three free-throws that made him realize he. didn’t want to play basketball anymore Getting recruited as a model The initial photos as a model that moved well across the Internet Why his dad didn’t want to support him,   when Broderick got his first magazine cover, and how his parents were hurt he left them out of his journey Deciding he needed agency, how Christopher Holland came into the scene His. early stages of becoming a supermodel, and how Broderick’s original manager died of cancer Promoting how he starts from the inside out, expanding on who he is as a person Being objectified instead of a person while trying to make a good impression Having one shot to make it Coming into the business before social media and having two work harder Being sexually approached in a job situation , and why people will surrender Know yourself, be honest with yourself What the #METOO movement did Always mindful that he possibly doesn’t have as many opportunities as a black man, doesn’t want to do anything to mess that up How influence has translated into Broderick’s success Authenticity and how that connects with Twitter following and his desire for showing different layers off himself The post Broderick Hunter – The One-Shot Journey of a Supermodel: Deep, Thoughtful, and Driven appeared first on Souler Stories.

Broderick Hunter – The One-Shot Journey of a Supermodel: Deep, Thoughtful, and Driven

When it comes to actor Obi Nwankwo, it makes sense that the word “actor” comes from the Latin equivalent of “doer”.  His personal philosophy revolves round putting as much positive energy into the world, and his focus on how our focus becomes your reality—and the law of attraction. Obi shares his story with George Manley (SVP of Sales and Marketing for Souler) in the MouthMedia Network studios. Presented by Souler. On Instagram, find Obi at @obi_nwankwo . In this story: How athletics helped Obi overcome his introverted tendencies Obi’s early side hustles in college running an entertainment company Why Obi decided to set out to LA and pursue a career in entertainment and modeling The prominence of social media platforms as the primary way people interact The trial and error approach to building a following on social media Obi’s colorful approach to branding How Obi built a following of 40,000 users in 18 months Ways to use, but not abuse, hashtags and searches in Instagram to gain visibility The company Obi runs with his sister The socially-conscious upcoming films Obie is set to appear in How Obi found the confidence that’s led to his recent film roles The role faith plays in Obi’s life Obi’s life philosophy of putting as much positive energy into the world, and why conversely some people who only put out negative energy still manage to be successful How his father’s departure impacted Obi’s life trajectory starting at age 11 The shift in how faith and organized religion are perceived in light of the current social and political climate in America The post Obi Nwankwo – Good Energy and No “Plan B” appeared first on Souler Stories.

Obi Nwankwo – Good Energy and No “Plan B”

Betsy Pearce is a high-flying “legal eagle” in the fashion industry, and has been called one of Some of her notable work involves big names you likely know. But to know Betsy herself —  she may not may not fit squarely in a box as a”stereotypical” lawyer. She’s much, much more. Fashion’s 50 Most Powerful. Betsy Pearce shares her story with George Manley (SVP of Sales and Marketing for Souler) in the MouthMedia Network studios. Presented by Souler. In this story: Why Betsy is a proud Minnesotan and why values are important to her Growing up during the Nixon administration compared to living through the Trump administration Community versus Tribalism What Betsy believes is her best quality and what that has to do with her successes as a lawyer The struggle to find a career path that is challenging and rewarding Betsy’s early work in entertainment law and doing consultant work How Betsy came to practice transactional law for some of the biggest fashion brands in the world almost by chance The challenges of being a lawyer tasked with keeping a famously rebellious designer and artist to agree to a deal Betsy’s perceptions of Alexander McQueen and Kate Spade professionally and as people Mental health and the lack of proper attention it is paid, culturally The effect social media has for people who operate as figureheads, especially those who battle depression A dramatic story where Betsy gets lost on a mountain in Telluride  The post Betsy Pearce – Her Own Path appeared first on Souler Stories.

Betsy Pearce – Her Own Path

Some people seek influence and succeed. And some stumble upon it, and wield it mightily. Greg Davis Jr. —— known widely as Klarity—(with a K)—never set out to become a global special media heavyweight. But this spoken word artist, actor and comedian has built a powerful following, and true influence, both on Instagram and in entertainment. Klarity shares his story with George Manley (SVP of Sales and Marketing for Souler) and special guest host Christopher Holland in the MouthMedia Network studios. Presented by Souler. In this story: How a crush on Twitter led to Klarity discovering Vine The backstory behind Klarity’s artist name How a hiatus and a need to stretch his creative muscles again led Klarity to using Vine as an exercise The trend of social networks losing their way when their founders step away The differences between race and cultural background, and how that affects someone’s potential in the entertainment industry The Parallels between Spike Lee and Woody Allen The apparent limits on the number of prominent black actors in Hollywood at any one time The issues of accountability and prejudice, and when the wrong people seem to get away with everything Klarity’s childhood in Orlando and how a drug deal gone wrong changed his life trajectory The way the American Dream is marketed and how it affects those who grew up in poverty How people grow through having to live through resistance and adversity Cultural appropriation and how companies attempt to brand people selectively The issues Klarity and his partners, all POC, have faced in trying to raise money starting their fitness/tech company, Novo Fitness Innovations Novo Fitness’ goal to bring EMS equipment to consumers who ordinarily would be unable to afford such equipment The cultural tendency to denigrate the classes or races of people who represent the hardest working communities How Klarity’s own influences have shaped him into someone who has a platform to influence others How the social movements to take down industry heads who break the social contract is a sign of a deeper societal change The post Klarity – Acting with Influence appeared first on Souler Stories.

Klarity – Acting with Influence

A consultant who helps small brands build, how her very early connections with social media players led to a successful business, and why with 100k followers within reach, and despite looking and acting like an influencer, she doesn’t see herself as one… Haley Findlay, Travel Entrepreneur, Co-Founder at Exclusively Social, and Founder at Findlay Client Services, shares her story with George Manley (SVP of Sales and Marketing for Souler) in the MouthMedia Network studios. Presented by Souler. In this story: The narrow needs and wants of brands from influencers How do you add impactful followers to your niche Blending physical and digital influence Her background in event planning and its impact on her current endeavours The secret sauce to building your follower base How she does not consider herself an influence but a woman of influence Her custom men’s apparel business and her original dream of schooling in NY for fashion design Her women’s empowerment initiatives and its root in her close group of friends How the loneliness of entrepreneurship lead her to start Exclusively Social Men vs Women, who’s easier to work FOR, who’s easier to work WITH The major differences between Gen Y and Z, and how that will impact brands and influencers How Gen Z is looking to connect with brands and each other in a collective manner Gen Z’s desire to be a part of change The rise of micro and nano influencers: a brand’s cautionary tale – what power do you have to control the message? How and what is genuinely authentic? Her use of her platform to uplift, empower and inspire Shifting her niche away from travel and into business Calling out Spencer at Super Charge Leveraging personal contacts and personal social media to create unique opportunities The Death of the Influencer? The post Haley Findlay – Woman of Influence appeared first on Souler Stories.

Haley Findlay – Woman of Influence

How traditional retail thinking about influencers in the social commerce space, how retail is evolving from brick and mortar into commerce and the future of retail is digital but the future of brand is physical, and how transitioning into advisory and philanthropic roles has provided additional insights… Marigay McKee, CEO and Founder at MM Luxe Consulting, and former President of Saks Fifth Avenue, and Former CMO of Harrods, shares her story with George Manley (SVP of Sales and Marketing for Souler) in the MouthMedia Network studios. Presented by Souler. In this story: The modern transition from brick and mortar stores to online, and the collapse of iconic retailers such as Sears The future of retail is digital but the future of brand is physical, and preparing for the consumers of tomorrow The 3 E’s; Experience, Environment, and Emotion, the 3 H’s; Hard work, Humility, and Humour Marigay on running her two companies, MM Luxe Consulting and Fernbrook Being lost in translation, British humour Mohamed Al-Fayed belief that Theater and Activation of retail is what makes the magic happen The death of the old department store model The U.S. has the highest per capita density of Department Store in the world How do you merchandise 2,500 brands in a meaningful way. Department stores and their future, competing with Amazon China’s 500M millennials and the differences between US and international millennials America’s youth looking towards non branded goods, gift bags, saving the environment, wearing vintage, street wear: How do brands reinvent themselves for a younger consumer? The age gap between average department store consumers vs online Marigay’s vision for luxury retail in the future, catering to best in class, world class experiences. If you’re not focused on service, why bother? Inclusivity is the new exclusivity A mix of humanity and technology is the right equation for the future of the retail experience Showcasing the back of house, behind the scenes, and building a brand’s story, you should fall in love with the story and in doing so love the brand. Buying less while buying better Peter Marino and Michael Burke’s argument over experiential environments Charm and charisma, the two most underutilized instruments in business Marigay’s philanthropic work, and her marriage to an American and what he’s taught her about philanthropy Europe’s inverted philanthropy vs America’s external philanthropy The impact of The Gates Foundation, The Soros Foundation, and The Ford Foundation. The Rockefeller University and its place as a leader in medical research and roster of nobel laureates The Highline and opening The Shed, a new cultural institute which has raised $550 million privately Her role as a consultant for The Hudson Yards Project Investing in brands: what is it going to take to scale, what’s the wow factor, what’s the point of difference, what’s going to help that brand generate more revenue? What does experiential mean? Infrastructure, a way to prepare for the future. China has built 67 new international airports vs US’s 1 in the past 20 years Eyeing the Big 4: Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft – their role in the future of consumerism The need for bipartisanship in dealing with prison reform, healthcare, the environment, and infrastructure Marigay’s father’s efforts to improve the lives of his constituents in his later years From tea to coffee, and Marigay’s love for America Getting out of your bubble and making a difference: how do you effect change? The power of dialogue, the need for proper civil discourse The post Marigay McKee – Influencers in Retail appeared first on Souler Stories.

Marigay McKee – Influencers in Retail

Souler Stories are an in-conversation podcast series with key members of the Souler community, with the discussion focused around the business and art of influencing.

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Souler Stories

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