Contestant's Case to Win

Our motto is Real Women, Real Media, Real Networking. By converging internet, print, radio and eventually television, Empower Me! is the top resource for the discerning upwardly mobile professional woman. We celebrate the diversity of all women of all ethnicities and are sure to keep it fair and balanced showing all of our stories (not forgetting to pay attention to the stories of women of color).

Empower Me! Corporation started as a simple network for Black Women. Over the years I struggled with the right formula for a business model. About two years ago, it finally hit me. Social media was heating up and I needed to take advantage of it and create a space where Women could be engaged. I also needed to refine the message and purpose for this company. Originally born out of my frustration of lack of women of color on boards, creating organizations and proper resources that spoke to women of color, I was forgetting one important thing. I am a product of two heritages. I am African American AND Hispanic. While I saw there was low representation of Black Women, I really noticed there was a lower representation of Latinas. So the wheels began to turn. How do I create a company that can not only bring about unity and a sense of belonging to women of color, educate, entertain and inspire them without alienating anyone?

Enter the rebirth of Empower Me. The company is a source for the upwardly mobile, successful, sophisticated, technologically savvy Professional Woman. Celebrating diversity as its foundation, the company is a (multi)media, publishing and private member-only professional network for Women. The professional networks include Empowered Black Woman, Empowered Latina, Empowered Career Woman and Fearless Networking. Women can collaborate, share, communicate, inspire, help and motivate one another through our private forums, conference calls, networking events and conferences. The ladies feel like it is more of a sisterhood than an "organization".

Through our media division, we have a weekly radio show Views From the Top on Blog Talk Radio, several blogs, and an internet TV channel (launching January 1). Television (cable) projects are in development for 2010. Women are fed up with the mindless entertainment and depiction of young women in the media. Our goal is to bring real content for real women that focuses on empowerment, professional and personal development and educating and inspiring.

Through our coaching/seminar/training division, we provide instruction via boot camps, dvds, cds, webcasts, teleconferences and live events on topics of career management, power networking, leadership, professional development and entrepreneurship.

And through our publishing division we have Fearless Woman Magazine (print & online- launching January 1). We released a book Go Ahead, Talk to Strangers-The Modern Girl's Guide to Fearless Networking (which was the catalyst for the Fearless Networking Without Asking Permission brand) and will be releasing three more books including Power Brok(H)er (the book, the brand & the elite club for high level executive women).

Social media, social networking, the internet and good old fashioned traditional networking (building solid relationships) have been the keys to giving this company a new face, a new dynamic and a new energy. And you ain't seen nothing yet! We have a few tricks up our sleeves to make this a force to be reckoned with through the power of Social Media and technology (and some hard work thrown in for good measure).

I think Empower Me! Corporation should be a winner in this category because I have taken social media and turned it into a pathway for the company to break out of the norm set for associations and organizations. Social media has allowed members to be more involved and not just wonder what they get for the price of a membership card. Constant communication, accessibility and personal interaction with ALL members as well as listening to and bringing the women what THEY want is the key to what keeps this company moving.