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Meet The Member - Jennie Mustafa-Julock

The "Meet the Member' section is another way for you to connect (albeit virtually) to our incredibly dynamic membership.

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Name: Jennie Mustafa-Julock

Business Name: The Audacity Coach

Business Description: I'm The Audacity Coach -Speaker/Coach/Author/Moxie Ambassador - Challenging GenY to Defy Limits and Tackle Possibilities! 

Start Date: September 2006

Best thing about working for yourself? 
I get to earn a living doing what I love and what I’m really great at! And I get to help my peeps become the most fabulous people they can be. Seriously, it doesn’t get much better than that! 

Worst thing about working for yourself? 
Spending too much time “in my head” and second guessing my business instincts. Tsk, tsk! 

Why did you start your business? 
After getting laid off from my cushy consulting gig, I spent the remainder of 2006 unemployed, broke, and completely freaked out. I had just turned 30, despised my chosen career, and had no idea what I really wanted to do. I reached out to my friends, classmates, PMF colleagues, and others who were all turning 30 that year, too. We had followed all the rules, done the college thing, perhaps the grad school thing, went above and beyond with fellowships and internships, all in pursuit of some fabulous career. But 9 out of 10 of my peeps were absolutely miserable! I began to search for the connection. Why were all these highly competent, super driven people so frustrated? What was it we were feeling? The conclusion: we were all STUCK!

Once I had this mini-epiphany, I went to work looking for solutions. I reached back to the coaching community that I had dipped my toe into years before. There were tons of life coaches who worked with people to get them unstuck, but I struggled to find one that “got me” because they were all my parents’ age or older. There was a huge void of coaches for my age group – people who felt stuck because of what they had chosen in college and completely clueless as to what they really wanted – people who didn’t want to wait until retirement to start answering these major life questions.

That fall, I launched my own life and career coaching practice designed with my age peeps in mind. Nearly four years into my business, I’m also a motivational speaker delivering workshops and keynotes to high schools, colleges, associations, and other organizations on Audacity – the most important quality of fabulously successful people in today’s world. The rest is history…in the making!

When did you start to think of yourself as an entrepreneur?Immediately! I realized that my entrepreneurial spirit had always been brewing and letting it loose made me feel alive!

How do you relax?
I absolutely love attending the theater, biking in Central Park or along the Greenway, going out for brunch, and gazing at water fountains.

 

What is something that you are known for?
I’m known as the poster-child of Audacity! Since birth, I’ve challenged the world around me: I refuse to color within the lines, stay inside the box, or play by the rules. Instead, I’m driven to craft a career and life that suits me and only ME! But I do so in a way that not only leaves room for others to prosper along side me, but encourages them to do so. Basically, I aim to make a big, Moxie-licious splash in everything I do! 

What 5 things would you never like to be without?
My bright orange Electra Townie bike, my iPhone, my cocktail shaker, my unlimited subway pass, and my Barbra Streisand record collection.

What’s a business that you think is interesting or inspiring?Pilates instruction - I just love Pilates!

Who is a person that inspires you?
Maya Angelou - hands down!

MEET THE MEMBER - Lily Iatridis

The "Meet the Member' section is another way for you to connect (albeit virtually) to our incredibly dynamic membership. 

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Name:  Lily Iatridis

Business Name:   Fearless Delivery

Business Description:  We offer solutions in public speaking and show small business owners how to leverage their expertise and reach more people with their own workshops and seminars.

Start Date:  Jan 2008

Contact Info: www.FearlessDelivery.com; Lily@FearlessDelivery.com or support@fearlessdelivery.com

Twitter: @LilyIatridis
Facebook: Fearless Delivery
Linked In:  Lily Iatridis, Fearless Delivery

Best thing about working for yourself? 
I love the challenge of learning how to run my own business, and being my own boss is the best.

Worst thing about working for yourself? 
Sometimes it's isolating, and I believe I work more efficiently when surrounded by others working busily.

Why did you start your business? 
For most of my career, I'd been based in Washington, D.C., and left my job there get married to someone in this area about five years ago.  However, I couldn't find a job in my field without taking a huge cut in pay and seniority, which was unacceptable.  Finally, I decided to start my own coaching/consulting business in my area of expertise.

When did you start to think of yourself as an entrepreneur? 
Since I first began this business on a part-time basis, I would have to say it took me about a year before I got a very clear conception of what entrepreneurs need to know and do and how they should think at all times.

How do you relax? 
Let's see... I go out on dates with my husband, I train aikido, and I love a good movie.  Oh yes, and spending time with friends is also terrific.

What is something that you are known for? 
I'm known for being an instructor and coach, both in business and at the dojo.

What 5 things would you never like to be without? 
Family, health, a comfortable home, friends, and travel.

What’s a business that you think is interesting or inspiring? 
I like Sandi Krakowski's A Real Change LLC.

Who is a person that inspires you?
Mary Ellen Tribby

 

MEET THE MEMBER - Michelle Stern

The "Meet the Member' section is another way for you to connect (albeit virtually) to our incredibly dynamic membership.

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Name:  Michelle Stern


Business Name:  MBc services, inc.

                 
Business Description:  Advertising Cost Consulting - negotiation and management of advertising costs (TV, print, radio, interactive advertising as well as ad agency compensation), ensure industry best practices.  Visit us at mbcsinc.com for complete details.


Start Date:  Business founded in 2006, Start date with IGC 6/15/10


Contact Info: mstern@mbcsinc.com / www.mbcsinc.com / Visit MBc services, inc. on LinkedIn.

Best thing about working for yourself? 
I’d say that being able to control my own schedule (as much as my clients allow…) is a HUGE bonus.  At this point, I don’t know how I’d go back to a corporate structure!  I love the flexibility that comes with scheduling my own day because life is short and there are so many things I want to do in my work week!  I always fully accommodate my clients, but that still leaves enough flexibility for me to schedule my own life too!  

Worst thing about working for yourself?

The answer is two-fold… without a doubt my friends and family would “politely” describe me as “detail orientated” (aka – completely anal!!!) With my personality- working for myself means working many more hours in a day than I think I would if I worked for someone else in a set 9-5 situation.  Being on my own makes me work around the clock perfecting my business.  The second worst thing about working for myself was working from a home office – in the burbs!  After moving to Westchester and setting up a home office – I found it very isolating.  That’s why finding IGC was just perfect!   

Why did you start your business? 

Why else?  Because I worked in the industry for over 7 years and found myself taking on more and more clients, yet working for another firm left me with little growth potential.  I also felt I could better serve clients under my own company with a more modern outlook on the industry and fresh work initiative.     

When did you start to think of yourself as an entrepreneur? 

Well, it took me awhile.  I started my company in late ’06, but really felt like an entrepreneur at the start of 2009 when my business began to really grow.  Having a larger client base did it for me.

How do you relax? 

I’m still trying to figure that out!  Travel abroad and experiencing new cultures is when I’m most relaxed. The rest of the year I try to find relaxation in exercise, good food and sleep!  

What is something that you are known for?

On a professional level I think I’m known to be very committed, hard working and fair.  If I don’t know an answer – I’ll get it for you.  On a personal level – I’m known for my fabulous cooking! J    

What 5 things would you never like to be without? 

That’s easy – my amazing husband, family, my friends, my animals (Belle- my Havanese dog and Abbie - my street cat) and my health.  Without those, nothing else really matters.

What’s a business that you think is interesting or inspiring? 
Oh definitely interior design or possibly a buyer for a fabulous clothing store.  Maybe in my next life… 

Who is a person that inspires you?

I’m a huge Drew Barrymore fan…I was even more inspired by her when I learned of her visit to Kenya in 2005 to get a first-hand look at the impact of hunger on the poor.  The article in Marie Claire about her trip was one of my inspirations to one day travel there myself which I did with my amazing friend Lynn in 2007. 

MEET THE MEMBER - Amy Shapiro

The "Meet the Member' section is another way for you to connect (albeit virtually) to our incredibly dynamic membership.

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Name:  Amy Shapiro

Business Name:  AWS Nutrition

Business Description:  Private nutrition counseling & Nutrition consulting

Start Date:  January 2009

Best thing about working for yourself? 

Being able to balance work and family (well at least trying to)

Worst thing about working for yourself?  
Motivating yourself on sunny days, rainy days, days you just want to be home with your kids and days you feel like staying in bed. 

Why did you start your business?  

After working for other nutritionists I realized I had a different spin/angle I wanted to share with my clients.  I am passionate about what I do and I didn’t want to be limited by the rules or diets other people established for me. 

When did you start to think of yourself as an entrepreneur? 

When I joined In Good Company!  Meeting so many other women in my position helped me not only take myself seriously but made me realize “I’m really doing this!”

How do you relax? 

Is there such a thing?  Exercise is my form of relaxation and I find time to do it almost every day.  Other than that massage (can’t remember my last one), reading books not related to my job, cooking and laughing with my family.

What is something that you are known for? 

The fact that I actually enjoy waking up at 6 AM.  Morning is my favorite time of day, it is my “me” time. 

What 5 things would you never like to be without? 

My family, Sneakers, Greens, my iPhone (I know, I know) & Water 

Who is a person that inspires you? 

My Grandmother.  She lived a hard life but kept moving forward.  She out-lived her husband and many boyfriends, never acted or told her real age, hit the gym 3x/week in her 90s (including boxing and yoga) drove until the day she died and never failed to make time for her family.

MEET THE MEMBER - Justine Clay

The "Meet the Member' section is another way for you to connect (albeit virtually) to our incredibly dynamic membership.

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Name: Justine Clay

Business Name: Pitch Perfect

Business description: Pitch Perfect equips creative talent and entrepreneurs with the business, interpersonal and project management skills they need to transform their creative ideas into paying projects and lasting professional relationships. We break down the process into simple steps - from the light bulb going off to the client signing on the dotted line. 

Start Date: May 2010

Contact info:  Justine@pitchperfectpresentation.com;

http://www.pitchperfectpresentation.com/; LinkedIn: Justine Clay; Twitter: PitchTips

Best thing about working for yourself? 
While I'm just launching Pitch Perfect, the business idea was born out of my current business Plum Creative, which I started in 2005.  The best thing about working for myself is that I love going to work each day.  Even when things aren't going well, or I have to do something I'm not looking forward to, I never wish I was going to work for someone else.  I enjoy the challenge that the buck stopping with me presents.  If it's going well, I feel great - if it's not, I have the power and the motivation to make changes.

Worst thing about working for yourself?  
It's kind of like New York - the things that I love: the hustle and bustle, the energy, the crazy stuff you'd never see or hear anywhere else are all the things that I hate on another day.  It's the same with the best and worst things about working for yourself.  Accountability's great - it can also weigh on your like a ton of bricks.  Autonomy is great - isolation, not so much.  

Why did you start your business?  

I had worked in talent management for a small firm prior to going out on my own and loved it.  Leaving that job was at just the right time in my life and experience level.  I knew this was my window and if I didn't do it then, I might never do it.

When did you start thinking of yourself as an entrepreneur? 

When I realized I could sustain myself solely on the income from my own business.

How do you relax?  

My fiancée’s a musician so I see a lot of live music. I also love to cook for friends and hang out on the deck. I definitely have a very healthy work/life balance.

What is something that you're known for?  

Working with really high-end talent and being able to assemble the perfect team to meet a client's creative needs within (almost) any timeframe.

What 5 things would you never like to be without:

1) My fiancée

2) My friends & family

3) Interesting and challenging projects

4) Wine

5) My cat

What's a business that you think is interesting or inspiring?

Virgin

Who is a person that inspires you?

Richard Branson

MEET THE MEMBER - Diana Rabin

The "Meet the Member' section is another way for you to connect (albeit virtually) to our incredibly dynamic membership.

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Name: Diana Rabin

Business Name: Diana Rabin Accounting

Business Description: At Diana Rabin Accounting, we specialize in all aspects of financial management. From account analysis to preparation of financial statements, we do it all! Are you looking for financial guidance or management to decrease spending and increase profit? Our areas of expertise are as follows:

• Accounting

• Auditing

• Tax Planning, Consultation, and Preparation

• Business Consulting for Small and Non-Profit Companies

Start Date: 1/2000

Contact Info: WWW.DIANARABINACCOUNTING.COM

Best thing about working for yourself? 

Making my own hours, unlimited potential.

Worst thing about working for yourself? 

Not knowing if there are still clients in the pipeline

Why did you start your business? 

I got tired of working for someone else. I was overworked and underpaid.

When did you start to think of yourself as an entrepreneur? 

Since I got my first job as an accounting associate.  My father and my mother kept telling me that I should be independent.

How do you relax? 

I shot everything off.

What is something that you are known for?

I stand behind the clients I represent. Their best interests are my interests.

What 5 things would you never like to be without? 

Internet, my family, my business, cheese cake, my elliptical machine.

What’s a business that you think is interesting or inspiring? 

I would say marketing and accounting.

Who is a person that inspires you?

My coach.

 

 

MEET THE MEMBER - Dages Juvelier Keates

Name: Dages Juvelier Keates 


Business Name: Delicious Dialogues 


Business Description: Delicious Dialogues helps folks feel and look their very best by offering private nutritional counseling, hands-on cooking workshops and weekend retreats. We believe in an approach to health that reproaches no one and empowers anyone. The Delicious Dialogues program encourages open-mindedness, exploration and precocious dabbling in all sorts of nourishing ways without dishing dogmatic lifestyle advice. 

Delicious Dialogues was founded by Dages Juvelier Keates, who believes that it is possible to deeply enjoy eating, our bodies and each other without willpower, self-punishment or deprivation. A graduate from Bard College and the advanced training program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she has led seminars and groups at venues such as Audible.com and Linden Advisors and taught on retreats from Jackson Hole, Wyoming to Central America and the Middle East. 


Start Date: January, 2006 


Contact Info: www.DeliciousDialogues.com; www.GrowInTheGarden.com 

Delicious Dialogues Facebook page

The Garden Facebook page


Best thing about working for yourself? 

I make my own schedule and am able to make my life a real priority. I am able to run a business that satisfies my desire to give as well as my financial needs while maintaining time for creative/scholarly/personal/spiritual/adventurous/playful endeavors!


Worst thing about working for yourself? 

See above.

Satisfying my own inner boss can be a bit harrowing, especially when business is in one of its slower cycles.

Why did you start your business? 

I started Delicious Dialogues to help empower people to enjoy whole foods outside of the industrial system, to practice radical self care, and to be supported in their honest self-expression. Through experimentation, acceptance and gentle coaching, I knew that people could become jazzed about living an authentic and healthy life, a life that did not revolve around weight loss and restriction. I wanted to create an inclusive space for people to connect with their bodies, their desires, and to be able to start eating well without obsession or self-loathing.

I also believe that by cultivating acceptance and true nourishment of our own bodies and minds we can transform our communities and our world. I believe that we can vote for our future with our forks. 


When did you start to think of yourself as an entrepreneur? 

When I realized that by investing all of this time and energy in my own business made me one! 


How do you relax? 

I love to spend weekends upstate, rummaging around the forest for wild edibles and experimenting with new dishes and cocktail recipes. I also enjoy snuggling. And Spa Castle.

A deep sense of relaxation emerges in me after a couple of weeks traveling and spending time with folks of different backgrounds. I really get recharged by dropping off the grid for pockets of time.


What is something that you are known for? 

My enthusiasm. 


What 5 things would you never like to be without? 

Time, money, food, faith, ambition. 

 
What’s a business that you think is interesting or inspiring? 

KOL Foods. They are emerging now as a glatt kosher, grass-fed, organic response to the need for sustainable, humane, kosher meat. They are a values-based business responding to a very real need, and they operate with a tremendous amount of integrity, while helping to slowly dismantle our reliance on industrial "kosher" products.

Who is a person that inspires you?

Madonna. 

MEET THE MEMBER - Jill Diamond

The "Meet the Member' section is another way for you to connect (albeit virtually) to our incredibly dynamic membership.

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Name: Jill Diamond

Business Name:  Lanartco, Inc.

Business Description: We are a communication performance boutique providing creative training and development services to corporate professionals.


Start Date: 1997


Contact Info:
www.lanartco.com

jdiamond@lanartco.com

www.twitter.com/jilldiamond

www.blog.lanartco.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lanartco-Inc-A-communication-performance-boutique/56997530294

http://linkedin.com/in/jilldiamond


Best thing about working for yourself? 
I have been in business since 1997.  I first had a business partner and I learned a lot, had great fun and grew a successful business.  In 2005 when I bought my partner out, I also learned a tremendous amount.  Now, I can truly say I work for myself.  What I love most is forming the identity of the business.  The more I know myself, the more I see myself showing up in how I interact with my clients, put together my services and sell my ideas.  It is very comforting to know that everything I do stems from my ability and willingness to be authentic.

Worst thing about working for yourself? 
Being the “boss lady” can be lonely.  No matter how many consultants or employees you have, the final decision is yours.  Although being in charge has many positives, it can weigh heavy on me at times.

Why did you start your business? 
I was looking for a new direction and I knew that I never wanted to work for anyone in a 9-5 job.  My father and grandfather were both entrepreneurs and I was always taught that there is nothing like being your own boss.

When did you start to think of yourself as an entrepreneur? 
Once I became the sole owner of my company and was running everything according to my ideas, I saw my creativity in a new way.  Outside of business, I am an artist.  I pursued singing and acting in my 20’s and 30’s.  However, when I saw that being an entrepreneur is also creative, I realized my potential.


How do you relax? 
Spend time with the love of my life.  We are both entrepreneurs and I find that we work hard and we rest hard when we are together.  I also like to eat well and exercise.

What is something that you are known for? 
With my clients, I am known for my reliability, creative programming and flexibility.  With my staff, I am known for my fairness, high expectations and looking after their personal growth.

What 5 things would you never like to be without? 
Water, friends, nature, the love of my life, and challenges.

What’s a business that you think is interesting or inspiring? 
Any business or NGO that gives to people in need.

Who is a person that inspires you?

My father

MEET THE MEMBER - Justine Lackey

 

 

The "Meet the Member' section is another way for you to connect (albeit virtually) to our incredibly dynamic membership.

 

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Name: Justine Lackey

Business Name: Good Cents Bookkeeping, Inc.

Business Description: Good Cents Bookkeeping Inc provides professional bookkeeping services to creative professional and service based industries.  

Start Date: Sometime in 1997

Contact Info: 

www.goodcentsbookkeeping.com

justine@goodcentsbookeeping.com

www.facebook.com/itsgoodcents

www.twitter.com/itsgoodcents

 


Best thing about working for yourself? 
I love the flexibility I have with my time and my earning potential. 

 

Worst thing about working for yourself?  

Unpaid vacations suck. 


Why did you start your business? 
Out of desperation. I was broke and jobless in New York City. That is NEVER fun and I am a girl who really, really likes fun. 


When did you start to think of yourself as an entrepreneur? 
About three years ago when I started hiring employees. Before then I was just a freelancer.


How do you relax? 

How do I relax? Let me count the ways....dancing, blasting music in my car or blasting music in general, cooking/playing/hanging with my children and significant other, entertaining friends, gardening, and laughing. Lots and lots of laughing is a life requirement.  


What is something that you are known for? 
My humor and my potty mouth.


What 5 things would you never like to be without? 
My children

My family and friends

A roof over my head

My health

My senses or my sense of humor

 

What’s a business that you think is interesting or inspiring? 
I think almost all social entrepreneurship ventures are inspiring. I love the idea of doing good stuff through doing good work. 

Who is a person that inspires you?
Any person who acts ethically and morally, even when that means sacrificing "getting ahead" or some other gain, is totally inspiring. Acts of kindness, compassion, and love especially when you have no personal connection to a person are also incredibly inspiring. 

 

MEET THE MEMBER - Dana James

The "Meet the Member' section is another way for you to connect (albeit virtually) to our incredibly dynamic membership.

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Name: Dana James

Business Name:  Food Coach NYC

Business Description: Nutrition consulting practice that specializes in weight loss, digestive disorders, female health and anti-aging.  Goes beyond the realm of diet to include food sensitivity testing, stress profiling and other nutritional screening tests to determine the core root of the patient's concern whether it is weight loss, depression, IBS and so forth.  Also includes CBT for those patients that 'know what to eat but not how to do it".

Start Date: 2008


Contact Info: www.foodcoachnyc.com; info@foodcoachnyc.com

Best thing about working for yourself? 
Being able to control when I work - if it's 7am or 2am then so be it.  I like a flexible schedule and if a client cancels and frees up time during the day, I'm like whooa, an hour to myself - I might go for a shop/go to my favorite lunch place etc.

Worst thing about working for yourself?
The same - I'm always working and never turn off, but my work excites me so I have no desire to do so.

When did you start to think of yourself as an entrepreneur? 
I still don't and probably won’t until the $M are rolling in.

How do you relax? 
Hmm, I shut off my lap-top for a start....  Glass of red wine; bath with Jo Malone oils; massage; soul-cycle classes; cook; walk along the beach in Summer; laughing with friends; talking with friends on phone - clearly I need a lot of relaxing!

What is something that you are known for? 
Outside of my work? My dirty sense of humor. 

What 5 things would you never like to be without? 
My lap-top; My iPhone; internet connection; research papers; pens (I see a theme here).  Okay non-work related - my runners; the Korean ladies on 32nd street who help with the most luscious eyelashes in the world; my passport (I love to travel);  better add in my boyfriend and lastly my mind (lost w/o that one)