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How did 30 emails get cleared, 8 proposals sent, and 2 interviews confirmed in under 3hrs?
If you know me then you know I’m all about working smarter, as I’ve been auditing and reworking our internal workflows and systems I’ve been experimenting with different tools to find the true ride or die AI employee that would be a great fit for our growing team - this has been a pursuit over the last year or so and I still hadn’t found one that I really loved.
At least not all the way, some would be great but cost a small mortgage payment to use after the trial, others almost warranted hiring another person just for the onboarding/setup, and most were just ask and answer models, not actual copilots.
Here’s my must have list;
Not $5k per month.
Doesn’t require a degree in rocket science to set up.
True employee, able to execute seamlessly not just answer questions.
Simple to integrate and connect to our existing workflow.
Native, the last thing we need is another app.
Viktor has been on the team now for a little under a month and he’s been great.
From automatically updating Google Calendar, to flagging emails waiting for responses directly from the inbox, to sending me daily highline briefs of what's happening across each of our channels - while
most AI just tells you what to do, Viktor actually does it.
Simply put? Hire viktor.com for your team.
$100 in credits included, no card. Full link in first comment.
This post is sponsored by Viktor.
#AIemployee #womeninbusiness #worksmarter
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My 4 biggest struggles in building my brand were:
1. What do I talk about?
2. How do I find the time?
3. How do I position myself?
4. Good old fashioned Imposter syndrome.
From the conversations i'm having, my guess is you've probably felt this too?
Here's my advice:
1. Write down a list of all of the questions/challenges you had in your first 12 months in your industry or role. These become your content topics.
2. Habit stack: voice text while you're on a walk, prop up your phone and make a quick video while you're responding to emails, etc. Focus on documenting your process instead of creating.
3. Get crystal clear on your goals; what is your content supposed to do for you, and who needs to see it for that to happen?
4. Keep your receipts, it can be a physical box, or a folder on your phone - this is where you'll keep every accomplishment, every positive acknowledgement of your work, every piece of proof that you are exactly the professional that you think you are - look at it whenever you feel imposter syndrome creeping in.
What else are you struggling with in building your personal brand?
Drop it in the comments and i'll respond with some advice ✨ ✏️
This year I have the honor of curating some incredible conversations for SXSW 2027, now we need YOUR votes to bring them to the big stage.
Take a look at who will have the mic🎤
Jodie and I speak to the power in pivoting as you build a multi chapter portfolio career, how to tell real signal from ordinary doubt, what rebuilding an identity actually costs, and what it would take for modern workplaces to stop rewarding consistency and start making room for people who are becoming something new.
Vivek, Bruce and Glen Proctor , and Olga speak on the intangibles of business, what are commonly referred to as “soft skills”. This conversation will discuss the nuances and strategic applications of charisma, joy, empathy, and finding common ground no matter who you are connecting with.
Brooke , Nina Meyers , Morgan , and @Kennedy R.
speak on the true economics of the creator economy as we dive into negotiation tactics, positioning, as well as savings, and investment insights from multiple sides of the table.
Toni , Nina , Me, and Reshina speak to multiple perspectives across women in sport from journalism, to traditional monetization (athlete endorsements, etc), to investment opportunities for both inside the industry and out (think fan engagement, merch, etc). They will explore the role that storytelling and inclusion plays in creating a more inclusive experience in sports culture, and look at how we can all contribute to making the sports world more inclusive.
Every vote matters, link is in the comments 🗳️
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TLDR: Perspective is everything - how lucky are we to be stressed by the opportunities we once dreamt of.
Last week I got invited to Capitol Hill with less than 24hrs to get from 📍Florida to📍DC, I booked my flight and knew I would have about an hour of wiggle room to still be able to make most of the day.
Started my travel day at 5am, arrived at the airport with perfect timing (hello airport theory), and then halfway through boarding we all get an alert - our flight had been delayed a full hour. Ok, annoying but I can still make it. I’ll be ok, then came the next alert, delayed another 30 minutes.
I’m a seasoned traveler, I know better, and I knew I should’ve flown out the night before but I was still optimistic that I could make it.
In the end? We landed right as I was supposed to be walking into the building for an industry lunch with YouTube, I’m devastated but I can’t help but refocusing on how hard I’ve worked, and how fortunate I am to be disappointed by THIS.
My legacy is something I think about daily, the weight and responsibility I carry as the first in many respects is not something I take lightly (excuse the pun).
I am my grandmothers’ wildest dreams, so I force myself to keep things in perspective. Me, the granddaughter of a former slave was invited to congress to contribute to a conversation on the future of the industry I had the freedom to carve out my own career in.
So yes, flight delays are disappointing - missing parts of this experience is disappointing, but how lucky am I to be disappointed by an opportunity I once only dreamt of having.
There’s been A LOT of chat on Essence fest, just like every event it is what YOU make it.
Here are the reminders I used to carry myself through the weekend and leave with a full cup ✨
What would you add?
#essencefest #conference #createyourownluck
