WHO IS SHE: RECAP

This month I decided to do a little recap of all of the wonderful ladies I've had the pleasure of interviewing thus far. The recap will be a special quote/the most eye-catching message I personally received from each interview. Feel free to comment and share with me your most memorable message from any of the interviews. I would love to hear what you think!

DANE BROWNE - FASHION STYLIST

I asked Dane ... What is the biggest mistake women make when they go shopping? 

They tend to shop what they like and never go out of the box. This is how you end up with four pairs of flats that all look the same and no versatility or statement shoes. They also don't buy what they need but what they like. This leaves their wardrobe full of mismatched pieces. I always suggest you go on blogs, magazines and fashion sites. Start to create a collage of what you like most. Then create a list. This will be the items you need to focus on when you shop. It revamps and freshens your style. Also don't shop trend heavy! These pieces become outdated. Your closet should be 70% classic and 30% fashion.

KATHERINE NTIAMOAH - FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER

I asked Katherine ... How do you stay motivated? 

Everyday is different. I try to tell myself that wasting the day is not optional. If at least did something that made me happy or I accomplished some small goal, then I am good.  Some days I just call my parents, siblings, or my partner and talk to them. That is motivation enough for when I cannot motivate myself.

I also asked Katherine .... How has this career changed/molded you?
This career has taught me to be flexible, quick witted, culturally adaptable, among other things. This career has also sped up a lot of life decisions that I think I otherwise would not have been in a rush to face if I stayed in the U.S. It also taught me to grow up very quickly. But I also think this job has taught me to appreciate my relationships with others, to slow down, and to appreciate my culture and the culture of others. 


SIREN - DANCER 

I asked Siren ... What is the most valuable lesson you have learned throughout your journey as a dancer?I've learned to differentiate between business and personal relationships. Often I find myself working with the same people over and over because I'd much rather have a small circle of people I trust and rely on. However, this can be tricky because naturally friendships and relationships are formed and you become really close with these people. With that being said, I've gotten a lot better at establishing with everyone that I work with a mutual understanding. By doing this, we understand that business is business and that if we are indeed friends, that's kept separate from any projects, shows or creative processes we collaborate on. At the end of the day, when we come together to work, it's time to work and when we want to have dinner and share laughs that's separate. 


MOSHOODAT - MAKEUP ARTIST

I asked Moshoodat ... How do you keep a loyal and steady clientele?

Be you! As cliche as that may sound, people love knowing that they aren't dealing with cosmetic robots! I hate going to a makeup counter and hearing too much information! It pushes me away from the product and the artist! 
Also, treat every client like they are Beyoncé! This is very important. You have to make your clients feel like they are queens! Of course things happen but remember they are always right! It takes one bad experience to ruin your name! and reputation. Bite the bullet!


KELLI FLOURNOY - CEO/PUBLICIST

I asked Kelli ...  If you had to name two things that contributed to your success thus far, what would those two things be? 

One of the things that has contributed to my success is my fear of failure which has pushed me out of my comfort zone many times in order to get the job done. The other contributing factor to my success has been an amazing and supportive network. I’ve built very solid and mutually beneficial relationships over the years.

Personally, I learned a lot from interviewing each of these ladies and I hope you all did too! I look forward to more great interviews to come! Feel free to comment or email me about your most valuable lessons from these interviews.


xoxo JO

Who Is She: CEO/Publicist Kelli Flournoy

WHO IS SHE?

She is Kelli Flournoy -- CEO and Co-Founder of Kelli Flournoy PublicRelations. This interview is particularly dear to me because Kelli is my mentor. I had the pleasure of working as an intern under Kelli for a few months at Kelli Flournoy Public Relations -- where I learned all my PR and social media management skills. In 2011, after 10 years of experience in various sectors of the fashion industry, including; public relations, fashion styling, product development and event coordination, Kelli decided to  combine all of her talents and started Kelli Flournoy PR. KFPR is a boutique Public Relations firm that offers a variety of creative services such as, branding, media relations, event coordination and much more! You may also remember Kelli from the hit WeTV show House Of Curves where she starred as a cast member. Check out my interview with Kelli Below!

1) What is your definition of public relations and the job of a publicist? 

Throughout my career, I’ve heard several different definitions of public relations. But in my experience, the most applicable definition comes from the PRSA: “Public Relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.” My job as a publicist is to promote my clients to their target audience. This may include positioning the brand to be more valuable in order to gain support.

2) What is your background story as far as Public Relations goes? 

I started as part of the in-house PR team for Wal-Mart brand Faded Glory. I knew absolutely nothing about Public Relations but the current Director of PR took me under her wing and taught me the fundamentals. She eventually left the company at which time I took over the public relations duties.

3) As CEO of Kelli Flournoy PR, what are your essential duties? 

As CEO my essential duties include securing new business, establishing organizational goals, communication with clients and managing my team to ensure a cohesive company culture is communicated to the client.

4) Do you have a set list of morning rituals that you perform when you get into the office on the average day? How do you kickstart your day? 

I like to start my day with a great workout; I usually arrive to the gym by 5am. I also enjoy meditating. I have so much going on in my head all the time, it’s really important for me to have a moment where I release all the responsibility and literally just let my mind go.

5) With a career like yours, I am sure there is not a typical workweek. However, what are some general tasks you can expect out of your week as a PR professional? 

Some of my general tasks include lots and lots of emails. Another common theme is staying abreast via social media. While some people strive to “unplug”, I’m doing just the opposite. No matter how much the workload varies, the one constant is my responsibility to stay up to speed on current affairs and the most efficient way to do this is through social media.

6) Tell me about a project you worked on that you are especially proud of? 

The project that I am most proud of to date would be working with San Francisco 49er, Vernon Davis on a project with campModa here in Atlanta. We had roughly 72 hours to reach out to our contacts and put him on a 48hour media tour. In the end it was an incredible success and the client was happy.

7) What are five essential skills a person would need in order to thrive in PR industry? Ambition, creativity, tenacity, endurance and most importantly patience. We are constantly sowing seeds and no matter how ready we are, we must wait.

8) How does one break into this industry? What kind of education is necessary for this field? While I would advise a basic college education in business and/or marketing more importantly, anyone looking to break into this industry needs to be creative, ambitious and have thick skin. Publicist deal with tons of rejection and must navigate through very uncertain circumstances so it is essential that they can take the “no’s” and be clever enough to figure out a work around.

9) What do you do to keep current in the PR industry? 

I read A LOT. I have a BS in Business Administration and didn’t get my MBA in Marketing until after I’d worked in the industry so it was up to me to educate myself on standard PR terms and practices by reading books and any information I could find online. As the industry continues to change, I continue to educate myself through reading credible sources and attending industry events.

10) When one is looking for an entry-level PR position, what makes a candidate stand out? 

If someone is interested in an entry-level PR position they should really focus on their writing skills because that is likely what you will be required, and trusted, to do starting out. Learn how to pitch, learn how to write a press release. It is unlikely that whatever you write as an entry-level publicist will be ready to go as is, but if you can give your superior something that simply needs to be edited, you are saving them time and contributing. You are making yourself a valuable player, which is important if you want to have a successful career in this business.

11) What are some major challenges do you face as a PR professional and as an entrepreneur? 

As a PR professional, the very core activity of our business is to secure press for our clients. In all actuality we have minimal control of this process. We can prep and pitch a client to our very best friend that works at XYZ Magazine, but if our clients product could still end up not running due to lack of space, it might not be a great fit for the issue…these are situations we have no control over.

12) How would you describe your pitching style? What tips do you have as far as pitching goes? 

My pitching style is to create the story/angle as much as possible so the editor has to do very little work. We pitch the angle based on the editorial calendar and/or current events and we include a press release, fact sheet and a few photos.

13) If you had to name two things that contributed to your success thus far, what would those two things be? 

One of the things that has contributed to my success is my fear of failure which has pushed me out of my comfort zone many times in order to get the job done. The other contributing factor to my success has been an amazing and supportive network. I’ve built very solid and mutually beneficial relationships over the years.

14) When it comes to your career do you have any regrets or things you wish you had done differently? If so what could you have done differently for a better outcome? 

If I had to do anything over, it would be coming out of my shell sooner. I’ve always had the desire to succeed and do well in this business but I definitely struggled with self-assuredness early in my career…and as a result I wasted a lot of time.

15) How do you achieve balance in your life with as a CEO. How do you balance your work life and your personal life? 

Balancing my work and personal life is a continuous challenge. On the one hand, socializing is a big part of my job so this allows me to see my friends and colleagues so that’s nice. But on the other hand, I am still working even when it appears I’m not…there are times that I wish I weren’t so accessible for business.

16) How do you stay motivated in the field of public relations? 

Taking moments to remember why I got into this business. That may mean stepping away from an insane work load to pour over the latest issue of Elle. When I see brands that are growing and flourishing in the media, I am instantly renewed and ready to work.

17) What advice would you offer to young girls who are interested starting their own business? 

Entrepreneurship is very exciting and rewarding but it can be very stressful and expensive. So my advice would be to learn as much as possible on someone else’s dime. Work in your field of interest at least 5 years and soak up as much information as possible.

  

18) What advice would you offer to young girls who are interested in entering the field of public relations? 

My advice to young girls who are interested in entering the field of public relations would be to become proactive about learning this business. Get online and research standard procedures. Attend industry events and conferences. Work on your networking skills. This business requires initiative every step of the way…so start early.

She's So Me would like to thank Kelli Flournoy for taking time out of her busy schedule to speak with us! To learn more about Kelli Flournoy Public Relations and the services they have to offer, check them out at www.kelliflournoypr.com. Make sure you also swing by Instagram and follow KFPR @KelliFlournoyPR and then swing by Twitter and follow KFPR @KelliFlournoyPR. In addition to her list of expertise, Kelli also offers consultation and public speaking services! To book Kelli today, shoot an email to bookings@kelliflournoypr.com.

Who Is She: MUA Moshoodat Sanni

WHO IS SHE? 
She is Make Up Artist (MUA) Moshoodat Sanni and she is someone you NEED TO KNOW! Moshoodat embarked on her journey as a Make Up Artist as something she just did for fun. However, over-time she realized that she was blessed with a gift and decided to use her gift to "put a smile on people's faces." Thus far in her career, she has been so fortunate to work with a variety of talented photographers, crews, clients, and agencies. Because of the variety in her exposure, Moshoodat has experience working with clients of all skin tones, skin types, and ages. Her skills have reached many weddings, special events, magazines, celebrities and even music videos. Check out my interview with MUA Moshoodat Sanni below! The interview portrays examples of some of her work.

1) How did you get your start in the make up industry?

I went to a community college and studied advertisement and design. I loved how hands on arts and craft can be, but when it was time to get on the computer I absolutely hated it! I started to do my research for a career that I felt would always be hands and allow me to be creative! That being said, I got my hands on the legendary Kevyn Aucoin's makeup book "FaceForward." After reading that book, I knew that I wanted to be a makeup artist! This realization was kind of weird for me since I was a huge tomboy before makeup came into my life! 

2) What types of occasions and events do you work and why?

I absolutely love doing weddings! It is a blessing to be able to contribute to one of the most important days of someone's life! I love seeing how beautiful the bride looks and feels! I also have a love/hate relationship with fashion shows. The thing about fashion shows is that they are always intense and you have to constantly think on your toes! I always freak out during the process and ask myself " Mo what the hell were you thinking!!'" However, when its all said and done and I witness the finished product,  I have the urge to do it again! 

3) How do you keep a loyal and steady clientele?

Be you! As cliche as that may sound, people love knowing that they aren't dealing with cosmetic robots! I hate going to a makeup counter and hearing too much information! It pushes me away from the product and the artist! 

Also, treat every client like they are Beyoncé! This is very important. You have to make your clients feel like they are queens! Of course things happen but remember they are always right! It takes one bad experience to ruin your name! and reputation. Bite the bullet!

4) Describe the process behind working an event. What do you do to prepare for an event? What is your role during an event? 

I think I speak for all artists: makeup artists, apparel stylists, and hair stylists, when I say I play the role of a therapist. For example, when a bride is freaking out on her wedding day, it is my job to constantly remind her of how beautiful she looks and to ease her stress. Also, when my weekly client is having relationship issues, while I am doing her makeup, she is probably going to talk to me about it. It's not only important I leave my client looking great but I think its more important that they also feel great! What's the point of wearing red lipstick is you don't show of your beautiful smile?

5) What qualities do you believe a person who wants to get into a career in the Make Up Industry should possess?
You definitely have to be Resilient. It is a very saturated industry so you have to bounce back through it all.

6) When you work bridal events, what is your main objective as you prepare the bride and/or her bridal party.  
My main objective is to make everyone feel at ease and of course to make them feel fabulous! I also seek to keep the energy positive by cracking some jokes. Oh and of course I aim to do a wonderful job with the makeup.

7) What is a common mistake women make when applying make-up? 
Picking the wrong foundation shade for their face! Too may times women pick the wrong undertone. 

8) Are there any helpful beauty tips you have to offer to women of color? 
Yes! When buying foundation, test it on your neck! It's always important for your face to blend in with your neck. 

10) Today, the average woman is on-the-go and very busy. How would you recommend transitioning a day-time look to one that can be used for a night out? What are the best long-lasting products?

The easiest way to turn a simple and quick day-time look into an evening look would be to either 
1) pick a sexy evening lipstick. Or 
2) Get a little sultry and smoke out your daytime shadow with a dark color on the crease. 

11) Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

 I see myself owning at least one standing store of my own (beauty bar), gaining some fame, and traveling to clients all over the world! 

  

12) Would you ever consider launching a line of cosmetics some day? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes of course! It would probably consist of a very wide range of foundations! I usually can never find my perfect shade and I always have to mix and match different products to get the perfect complexion! I would love to make it easier for the everyday woman to find the right shade for herself.

13) What 3 Make up items should every woman have in her purse? 

Mascara

Lip balm

Gum/candy ( makeup for the breath lol ) 

14) A lot of people think that the make up industry doesn't require any education. Can you help enlighten us on this? Does this field require a certain degree?

Yes and no! You just really need experience! Experience is the best professor on planet earth! You have to enlighten yourself! I read a variety of makeup books and asked a diverse group of other makeup artists around me for advice! Even till now I always ask. You are never too experienced to learn

15) What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your pursuit to become successful in this career thus far? 
Support! This was a huge issue!  Being that I'm Nigerian, my parents weren't too keen on my dropping out of school to become a makeup artist! This took a huge toll on me. With that being said, I thank god I'm a very stubborn in nature because I still continued to follow my dreams. My experiences only made me stronger and I learned to be more independent. All that said, this past summer a lot has changed and my family members are my number one supporters!! 







She's So Me would like to thank Moshoodat for taking time out of her busy schedule to speak with us! Make sure you check Moshoodat out on her website www.moshoodat.com and follow her on  twitter @moshoodat. You can also check out more of her work on Instagram @moshoodat. If you are interested in booking Moshoodat for your event, you can email her at moshoodat.mua@gmail.com. 

Who Is She: Dancer SIREN

WHO IS SHE?
She is Dancer, Siren. Siren was born and raised in the one and only Brooklyn, New York. She discovered her love for dance and the tender age of 4, but didn't start dancing professionally until her senior year of high school. Something a lot of people don't know is that Siren graduated from high school at the age of 16. Now 20, Siren has had the honor of sharing the stage with the likes of Diggy Simmons, Maluca Mala, 2 Chainz and Major Lazer. She is an extremely talented and extremely intelligent young woman who we can all learn a lot from. Check out my interview with Siren below

How long have you been dancing?

I have been dancing since the young & tender age of 4. My passion for dance thrived from being raised in a household by parents who deeply enjoyed music and kept a large variety of albums. Having constant access to music and the latest music videos, my older sister began teaching me how to dance at a very young age. I haven't stopped since. 

What sparked the interest in dance for you?

As I sort of hinted in the previous question, I owe my passion for dance -- and dedication to it -- solely to my older sister Dana. She was the dancer in my family. She was already making up her own routines and would keep me dancing for hours! I spent most of my summer days and weekends during adolescence learning routines for shows and block parties with her and her friends. 

Do you specialize in a specific style of dance?

I am blessed to say that I am a very versatile dancer and I have so many different styles under my belt. Although my core training was done at Martha Graham in ballet and modern dance during my high school years, I have also trained and perfected many other styles. To name a few; reggae/dancehall, african, hip hop, jazz, vogue, belly dance, salsa, merengue, bachata and so much more. 

What is a typical day of practice like?

A typical day of practice or rehearsal? Hmmm it's never typical hahaha That's actually one of the greatest parts about being a dancer is that one day you can be waitressing part time and the next learning choreography for 8 hours to be flown out to Cali right after. So for me, rehearsals are pretty spontaneous. I've also noticed that at my level of expertise in this field, I've been doing a lot of professional and big shows that I get booked for last minute. This usually means learning a whole show in one long rehearsal and that can range anywhere from 3-8 hours depending on how much choreography I need to learn. 

Do you choreograph or just dance? If you choreograph, how long does it usually take to create a quality routine?

I am a choreographer and instructor. I spend and equal amount of time creating routines and teaching them as I do learning from others. I have become quite great at the choreography process and often when teaching I make it up right on the spot. 

Who are dancers that inspire you?

Through much of my adolescence, I was greatly inspired by Michael & Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, & Laurie Ann Gibson. Over the last decade I've become really inspired by a dancer/choreographer Danielle Polanco, a Bronx native. She has made such a great strides in the industry and has danced and choreographed for some of the hugest recording artists in the music industry. I admire how feminine and sexy she is when she moves. The way she dances has really inspired much of the way I've grown as a dancer in the past few years. 

What kind of emotions do you feel/give off when you dance?

This is a funny question for me because I feel like I have two main emotions when I perform and it's often one or the other depending on the kind of piece. I think most of the time I am very sexy and in the dance world this would be referred to as "femme". This is because most of the time I'm doing reggae/dancehall or voguing which I feel both require a lot or that "femme" persona. Then there is the super serious and sharp side of me which is kind of the exact opposite of the other because it is far more masculine. I would say I have the best of both worlds. 

What does it take to book a gig?

Connects. By far that's the biggest part of booking the important paid gigs. It's not how well you dance, or how great you think you really are. It's really about catching people's eye and creating a lasting impression. I am constantly networking and meeting amazing people through my passion for dance. When I perform I am making sure to deviate from everyone else who performs on the same stage as me. Confidence is key and I believe that most of the times I've felt like I was standing out the most are the times when I've booked my biggest gigs. After a performance, you have to feel confident enough that you've left people asking about you with everlasting curiosity that is so significant they contact you without you even having to chase them around. 

What are some of your future goals for dance?

I want to tour! I want to have a steady gig that allows for me to explore different parts of the world through my passion for dance. I want to share that with people everywhere.

What has been your favorite piece to perform thus far?

My favorite by far was performing with Major Lazer at Coachella Music Festival in California. It was an experience unlike any other and one that I will never forget. I have always had a passion for reggae/dancehall music and Major Lazer has created such a fun, live, and interactive performance that shares this style of music with people world wide -- which to me is huge! Just being a part of it meant the world to me and people are still talking about this particular performance every day. It's breathtaking. (Pictured below is Siren on stage at Coachella performing with rapper 2 Chainz) 

What is your favorite piece you choreographed and why?

My favorite piece that I have ever choreographed was for a dance competition called World of Dance in San Diego. I feel like it was a mix of every style of dance I have under my belt and it was a favorite to many different audiences. It was fun & combined both my "femme"and masculine side that I was able to choreograph on both males and females.

What was the worst routine you ever had to perform?

Hmm, I can't honestly say I've had to perform a routine that I would consider to have been the worst. Maybe in high school, but I would say that's because we were all amateurs at our craft and collaborating was kind of difficult with all of the different egos. As a result, I had several bad routines I had to perform during that time. 

What is the hardest thing about dance?

The hardest thing about dance for me is that it is super competitive and finding the money in such a competitive field can be stressful and difficult at times. There are so many amazing dancers out there who don't mind dancing for free so when you're a dancer who requires pay sometimes it's harder to find gigs.

Have you ever used your talents for the good of the community?

Yes. I grew up in public housing and by the age of 17 I was already teaching dance at my own cornerstone community center and volunteering my classes free of charge to service my community. I also currently work at a Middle School here in Brooklyn during the  after school hours. I run the Performing Arts program 5 days a week which offers a variety of modern, Latin and hip hop dance classes along with drama and step free of charge to all of the students in the school. 

What did your first dance costume after your performance look like?

That's a tough one because I'm almost sure that I was about 5 years old and I performed in my first Christmas show in kindergarten where all we had to wear we're colored t shirts. Hahaha. 

Have you met new people from dancing?

Dancing has connected me to so many new and amazing people. I can't even begin to put a number in how many people I have met just from shows and auditions alone. It's crazy and honestly makes me feel kind of blessed to have access to so many different people because of my love for dance. 

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned throughout your journey as a dancer?

I've learned to differentiate between business and personal relationships. Often I find myself working with the same people over and over because I'd much rather have a small circle of people I trust and rely on. However, this can be tricky because naturally friendships and relationships are formed and you become really close with these people. With that being said, I've gotten a lot better at establishing with everyone that I work with a mutual understanding. By doing this, we understand that business is business and that if we are indeed friends, that's kept separate from any projects, shows or creative processes we collaborate on. At the end of the day, when we come together to work, it's time to work and when we want to have dinner and share laughs that's separate. 

What piece of advice would you give other young girls out there who are interested in getting their foot into the door of the dance world?

It's a commitment and you have to be hungry for it and love it! You have to love it more than you love sleep or even eating! It sounds dramatic, but sometimes it gets ugly and you feel defeated because you may not find that perfect professional gig for a while. Nonetheless, I am a strong believer in the fact that if you are passionate about what you do and you are dedicated to it more than anything, then everything else will fall into place and your hard work does pay off with time, effort and positive energy. 

She's So Me would like to thank Siren for taking time out of her busy schedule to speak with us. 

Keep up with Siren by following her on Instagram @sirenthedancer. Also, learn more about Siren by checking out her blog and Dansume (Dance Resume) here. Miss Siren also teaches Zumba classes. If you are interested in joining her class, you can contact her at denasiadancer@gmail.com.

Who Is She: Foreign Service Officer Katherine Ntiamoah.

WHO IS SHE?

Currently residing in Mexico, Katherine Ntiamoah serves as a United States Diplomat. Katherine is certainly the definition of the well-rounded career woman who proves that with the right balance you can have it all: Career, Love, and Happiness. Coming from Ghanaian descent, Katherine has traveled and enjoyed the cuisines of many different countries including Mexico, the Netherlands, South Korea, Malaysia, Canada, Puerto Rico, England, and much more. In addition to that, she has experienced at least 20 U.S. States. The world of politics can often be misconstrued  as dull and colorless; however, Katherine demonstrates that this is not the case. Between her dynamic and colorful sense of fashion and her adventurous nature, she brings life to a field that is often misunderstood. Check out my interview with Katherine Ntiamoah, the Stylish Diplomat!

Can you describe what exactly it is a foreign service officer does?

A FSO (aka Diplomat) is a commissioned member of the United States Foreign Service. As diplomats, Foreign Service Officers formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States.

What would someone interested in this career major in in college?

You can major in any kind of major that you want. I have colleagues who majored in law, social work, culinary arts, etc. 

Aside from education, what other ways can someone prepare for a career in foreign services?

You can intern at the Department of State, live overseas, study a foreign language, or live in a different culture.

What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities of your career?

It really depends. Everyday in this career is different. I work as a Consular Officer right now at a U.S. Consulate in Mexico. But my next posting in Brussels, is going to be completely different. For a better explanation of the possible responsibilities would be to read this book: http://www.afsa.org/OutreachPrograms/InsideaUSEmbassy.aspx

Describe the extent to which your career deals with communication and interaction with the public?

Again, it depends. In my current assignment I interact with people of every single day for hours. I communicate in Spanish 95% of my day. 

Is this a career you see yourself doing longterm? If so, why?

I will do this career as long as I am happy and still like what I do. 

What do you love about what you do?

I love that I get to interact with new people, learn different languages, and do something different each day. 

What do you find the hardest about what you do?

The moving. Moving is hard enough, but every 2-3 years is dreadful. I also cannot always be in the U.S. for family get togethers or important milestones in other friend's lives. 

What hobbies do you partake in outside of work?

I love blogging (http://healthyglows.tumblr.com), I also go to Crossfit, run, cook, and paint.

As a woman, are there any challenges and obstacles you have been faced with in this field? If so, what are they and how did you overcome them?

There are not very many women of color in the Foreign Service so I feel the pressure to always be the best. When I am living in a different culture I have to demonstrate U.S. culture, my African culture, the U.S. black culture, and womanhood in the U.S. Sometimes it is a lot to bear but I love presenting my cultures and being exposed to others. 

Since you started working in this field, have there been any changes to the career?

There has not been any significant changes.

How much of your career involves traveling? If you have to travel a lot, how does this affect your personal life? I.e. family, dating, friends etc.

My day-to-day work does not involve much traveling. There was a time that I had a month long temporary job in another part of Mexico. My partner was excited and even came to visit me. However, I do travel a lot in my personal time. Every month (sometimes twice a month), I try to go some where new. 

What is the most exciting/interesting thing you have witnessed during your time as a foreign service officer?

The most exciting thing I have seen was the overturn of DOMA and how it positively affected my GLBTQ colleagues. Since a big part of my work is immigration related, I am excited to learn about all of the possible changes to immigration law in the U.S. 

How has this career changed/molded you?

This career has taught me to be flexible, quick witted, culturally adaptable, among other things. This career has also sped up a lot of life decisions that I think I otherwise would not have been in a rush to face if I stayed in the U.S. It also taught me to grow up very quickly. But I also think this job has taught me to appreciate my relationships with others, to slow down, and to appreciate my culture and the culture of others. 

How do you stay motivated?

Everyday is different. I try to tell myself that wasting the day is not optional. If at least did something that made me happy or I accomplished some small goal, then I am good.  Some days I just call my parents, siblings, or my partner and talk to them. That is motivation enough for when I cannot motivate myself.

How does one know if the foreign service is the right career for them? What are some personality traits common to those who thrive in this field?

I think that is a personal decision. It is great life but it is not always the glam diplomatic life stereotype that most people have about this career. I would suggest a person to look at the foreign service self-assessment here: http://careers.state.gov/officer/is-the-foreign-service-right-for-you. But you have to be flexible, a hard worker, willing to push yourself, and willing to make hard decisions quickly. 

If there is one piece of advice you could offer other young women interested in entering this field, what would it be?

FLEXIBILITY above all other things. 

She's So Me would like to thank Katherine for taking time out of her busy schedule to speak with us! Follow Katherine on twitter @HealthyGlowBlog and Check out her blog Healthy Glow Blog