I love a vision board.
It’s my favourite thing to do leading up to the new year and it’s usually filled with visual representations of what I wish for myself, words, phrases and pixtures to inspire me.
Vision boards serve two purposes for me:
- That process of thinking about what you want, going to find an image, then the excitement of putting it all together is a joy. They say when you’re aspiring or manifesting something it’s not enough to think about what you want but feel it too. Building a board does both.
- It’s a visual uplift in the days you’re just over it all and as someone who often feels I’m building a business without a blueprint or anyone that understands, I need that reminder to refocus.
As part of my board I like to feature people who inspire me with their work ethic and achievements. In a weird way, I feel a little weird saying I have people I admire? For some reason it feels like it’s not appropriate for a grown ass, late 30something year old to have that but I believe everyone needs a little inspiration. So I thought I’d share the six people who I’m looking to in 2022.
BOZOMA ST JOHN – I love this woman with a passion and feels she’s my twin: Senior marketeer, parent, loves bright colours and big hair. She’s just phenomenal.
Her bio according to Wiki reads as follows: “Bozoma “Boz” Saint John (née Arthur) is an American businessperson and marketing executive who is the chief marketing officer (CMO) at Netflix. Previously, she served as CMO at Endeavor, and chief brand officer (CBO) at Uber until June 2018. Saint John was also a marketing executive at Apple Music until June 2017, after joining the company in its acquisition of Beats Music. From 2005 until 2014 she worked at PepsiCo, eventually serving as the head of music and entertainment marketing. In May 2021, she was named among the Top 50 Most Influential Female Leaders in Africa within the corporate and business sphere by Leading Ladies Africa.“
Bozoma is unapologetically driven, strives for excellence, loves her family, supportive of those beyond her inner circle, is relentless when it comes to her fitness – I’m seriously slacking on that side of things – and most importantly lives her best life! I really enjoy her commitment to just being herself and the best at her craft.
We are obviously are spirit sisters as identified in my Instagram post below.
AKUA AGYEMFRA – Akua isn’t someone who does a lot of press but I have followed her journey for a while. An interview she did with The Times just solidified her as a woman who is not focussed on glory but turning an idea into a reality.
Akua runs agencies bea.london and The Balley and does a lot if work around brand strategy and development. She’s probably best known for being a part of UK Rapper, Stormzy’s team being a key linchpin in creating a scholarship programme at the prestigious Cambridge University on his behalf.
I respect her because she seems to be a woman about her business, always looking to maximise her business opportunities for all of those involved to create new and interesting projects like Stormzy’s collaboration with Penguin to create #Merky Books. It’s a way of working that really resonates.
MELISSA HOLDBROOK-AKPOSOE AKA MELISSA’S WARDROBE – Melissa is a beauty/lifestyle influencer and stylist who also happens to be part of Team Stormzy.
What I respect about Melissa is her honesty, the consistency to her work and her ability to build a movement where one endorsement from her usually leads to a sell-out product. That is not easy to build even with the dawn of social media.
RIHANNA – The way Rihanna has diversified her portfolio into a billion dollar brand is just awe-inspiring. She really doesn’t even have to make music anymore between her lingerie line, Savage Fenty, to her skin and beauty lines to her exploration of clothing and she presents as very involved in the entire ecosystem of her brand.
Supremely confident – at least in the public eye – Rhi Rhi is about her business and her money. I admire her growth and determination. She is a staple on my vision board alongside Bozoma and my next person…
OZWALD BOATENG – whooo this man really is an icon to me. Stylish. Classic. Groundbreaking. Innovative. A pioneer. I remember watching his film, A Man’s Story and I fell in love with his demand for excellence, his creativity, his use of colour and African print, his distinct style.
You can always tell when someone is wearing a Boateng and there’s something so regal about the art he makes with his designs.
He’s created suits for anyone and everyone, working with brands like BA to design their new uniform and even suits for the box office busting film, Black Panther. He really is the coolest guy. I hope to get my own suit one day.
ISSA RAE – Issa is a 2022 addition to my list as she wraps up her award-winning show Insecure. Essentially a creative turned multi media mogul, Issa went from creating content on YouTube to multiple production deals with US broadcaster HBO.
What I really like about her is how incredibly funny she is and the feedback around her about her commitment to uplifting and creating opportunities for those around her and her community. She’s not solely focussed on self – which a lot of artists can do and a lot of people who have worked with her advocate that she really does go hard for them.
