Welcome to SpeakUp! International with Rita Burke and Elton Brown!
We would like today to welcome our guest who is none other than Brenda Foreman. Now Brenda is from a long line of strong women in the world of arts and entertainment. Brenda is known as the live wire added to that, Brenda is a certified image consultant and personal brand specialist now before launching her career as an image consultant. Brenda was a top professional in the events management and real estate sectors.
Brenda Foreman is a founder of BStyled, which is a premier styling and professional development company. In addition, Brenda is the director of African Fashion Week Toronto, and last but's, certainly not least, Brenda Foreman is the Honorary Council General for Syn Kits and MES in Toronto and she invests much of her time in her local community in an effort to enrich and to elevate lives! To our audience, help us welcome Brenda Foreman to SpeakUP! International! Welcome Brenda!
Thank you. Thank you so much Rita and Elton for having me on this podcast. I'm so looking forward to this conversation.
Your introduction is so full. You look like you're 20. So to have all of this stuff accomplished in short period of time, I'm just wondering what type of women come to you to discover or fine tune their brand?
Thank you so much for that compliment. I feel like I'm 20, I may not be 20, but I do feel that way still. I get up and I go, right? For the question, the type of women who come to me and not just women, men as well, that come to me, are people who want to elevate their brands. Can take it to the next level. People who wanna climb the corporate. People going back to work after being home on maternity leave and want to get, themselves, their confidence levels up.
Or we've got women who come into the country and want to navigate the system, learn how to dress the part how to, assimilate into our community and to our society. We also have women who may have to start over.
So there are many, many different women that I deal with and we, I deal a lot with corporate wives as well, who their husbands are growing, they're climbing that ladder, but the women have to be able to move along with them cuz they, sometimes they get left behind when they're at home and their housewives, they may not know how certain etiquette the workplace events type of meet and greet, protocol. So I work on all areas of appearance, behavior, and communications.
That sounds enlightening. It sounds like such a fascinating job to have. Of course, I've been in mainstream, my professions, my career has been not as glamorous as yours. Tell us, Brenda, who is the most interesting, fascinating person that you've ever stopped? You don't need to call me.
Oh wow. I have a few and in the different areas. Okay. For me, one of the most fascinating first is a female who was getting ready to launch into this, her career as an entertainer. Beautiful voice. She sings, but she needed to create an image, a public image that was separate to who she was, although she was so amazing, in the studio when she sang in public, she became somebody else. But then she was such an introvert in person that you would never guess that this was this person.
So we had to create an image for her that, had nothing to do with who she really was. That was fascinating because I felt like I was dealing with two totally different people. Yeah, that would be my most fascinating moment. When it came to styling.
Sounds to me as if you had to recreate this person.
That's part of the job. I've often had to do that because like the, we say image, that's exactly what it is an image. Whether it's just a persona or a public image, it's just what it is. When you, for somebody who is an introvert, When extroverted introvert, what I find most public speakers or politicians or presenters outside who go out and do that work, they're introverted at heart, but they put on that cap to do the job and then they leave. So I call that person extroverted. Introvert.
Wonderful.
I love that definition! What does helping people be their best selves mean to the people you help?
Ah, well, my opinion, my humble opinion, it would be helping that person to boost their confidence. We are not trying to change anyone, we want you to accept who you are, appreciate yourself, whether it be physical, mental, emotional.
Appreciate their self and make it better, in terms of speech, for example, you are great at something else, but we can always make it better by maybe enrolling you in a speaking course, like taking you to Toastmasters because you wanna get that confidence dressing the part. Your body is this person, this type of body type. You have to learn that body type and accentuate the beauty of your body instead of hiding it, we all have flaws. None of us. We are all perfectly imperfect.
So what we have to do is appreciate our perfection, and that's what we do. We make the best of who we are instead of creating or trying to be someone else.
I like that To me, that resonates with bringing out the natural beauty, and I don't mean just physical beauty, but the strengths that the person has.
Yes.
I like you to talk a bit about people who come into the country and they need to assimilate, so they would come to you to support and for help. Talk about what that means to you, please.
On many levels it could be.language it could be culture because on, as you're aware, in some parts of the world, a woman has a different place in society. They don't have the confidence level to walk into a room or boardroom full of men, right? They're not even allowed in certain boardrooms in that case. That would be part of the behavioral sessions that we would deal with teaching them how to greet, how to approach, how to navigate and their language barriers.
The other would be appearance would be how they would dress the part, without changing who they are. If you have a certain religion, you still need to be true to yourself, but at least be able to work within the confines of whatever job or career that you've chosen. So we've dealt with the appearance and the behavior and the communications. It's holistic. That's that kind of answer the question?
One of your impressive accolades is being the CEO and founder of BStyle image, which I happen to just take a look at the website. Good looking website. I wonder how does this alignment system help women and will this system help men and how?
Well the whole system is geared it is built to assist in any way, cuz every individual is different. So I perform a needs analysis. For example your consultation will be completely different to Rita's because her needs will be different. And what we would do is find out what you want and then gear our program to you.
So if you want to make more money, if you want to get into a certain group expand your network, we try to help you get that way by, once we've done your image, giving you contacts getting you into programs and meeting people on that level, if Rita is to learn to speak better. We get into a different program. If her concerns are nutrition and health, we get her there. There are many, many partners in this industry that of image. And that's, I guess how we would help an individual.
We'd have to meet that person first and get to know them.
Brenda, it sounds to me as if you are a resource person and you direct your clients, is that what you call them?
Yes.
People, to organizations that would help enhance what it is they were wanting to do. That sounds like a fascinating job. And so you obviously kept really busy, aren't you?
Yes, extremely busy. Uh, We create partnerships and a lot of our clients end up being friends because we, we stay in touch. There's partnerships in all areas. It's like a spider web. I think is the best way to explain it. And we build a community that way. We help each other because clients help me as well. Yes,
So Miss Brenda if you're so busy, how do you take care of Brenda?
Wow, that's something that I'm still trying to figure out. My primary way is trying to get sleep. I've learned to sleep because I used to survive on three or four hours sleep at night, and I realized that wasn't doing anyone any favors, especially my children who'd be really miserable around. And then my health was waning. So I scheduled me time, even if it's just to line in the dark and close my eyes away from the screens that the phones, because my phones and screens are always going.
That is a treat that I would give myself is a few minutes of me time during the day, even between lunch and trying to get to bed a little bit earlier in the evenings.
Can you tell our audience how was African Fashion Week and what that is?
Wow. African Fashion Week. I love to talk about African Fashion Week because that is my pet project. That is, I guess what you would call my social enterprise, something that we've created for our community, it's an event that we put on every year, a group of us. It's a very small group. We came together last year was our 10th year anniversary. It was amazing and guess where we had it at Dunes Square in the middle of the city.
Nice!
So the whole world was open! Everybody came to see it and it was, we wanted to get it out to the public people. A lot of people didn't know about this. So it's The best way to describe that is we created this platform because we didn't have a seat at the table in other platforms.
So this platform was created for our community, our entrepreneurs, our stylists, our models, our designers, our makeup artists, our hair artists, to showcase what we had, especially our models who are, as our people have different shapes, sizes, color. Shades and we accept everyone as they are and our designers design for our people. So you are welcome to come to our platform.
You are welcome to come and dine at the table with us, but it is our table cuz we realize we didn't have a seat at others tables. So that is our baby.
Sounds to me is if you got the act together and I was blessed this year to be a minute, a very small part of this African Fashion Week, I promise you that I didn't model, I didn't wear one of the outfits, but Brenda invited me to attend one of the session. It was fantastic and I know that Brenda's been doing this for mighty long time. So Brenda, here is the next question.
Okay.
We all, as human beings, invest time, invest money, invest emotions. Into life, into other people generally. What would you say was the most worthwhile investment that you have ever made?
Oh, that's easy. My children They have many investments that I appreciate, but when I look at my children, I am thankful, scared. Every day because of what I see outside, the society that we are in. I'm afraid that I'm not around to protect them, but I am thankful that God has given me this gift, that given me this chance to bring these two people to the world, and given them the gift of understanding.
Of passion and the great hearts that they have, I think they have the most beautiful hearts and spirit that any human being can ask, remind you. They're teenagers and you know that, what goes with that? But when it all comes around it, that's what put a smile on my face. And that's what keeps me going are the two girls. My babies, no longer babies, but they're my babies.
They're always gonna be babies. You're always gonna see them that way. Even when they're in their late thirties, you're gonna still see them as 12 year old kids.
Yes!
And that's okay. You worked with a renowned designer Adebayo Jones.
Ah yeah!
And I wanna know how that was. How was that experience for you?
First of all, Mr. Adebayo Jones, a male, Nigerian UK British designer. Now, this man is, has become known as a godfather for us because he is one of the most renowned designers in this hemisphere, like he is Nigerian born, but he lives in the UK and his business is Couture. What this means is that he works with the best fabrics. He even creates his fabrics that make his designs unique. When you see his clothing, His brand. This brand is right. This is, you can recognize it a mile away.
He's someone who does not have to advertise because he has clientele who flies them all over the world to design for them. This is how good he is. Yet he chose to work with us as a young group of people. He started with us when we started Fashion Week, years ago. Why? Because we were persistent. We persevered, and he liked what we were doing. We were on the phone calling every day, Mr. Jones, could you get him? We went through all these people trying to get to him. He wouldn't answer the phone.
We wanted him to come to Toronto. When we finally got the to him, he said, you know what? These people won't leave me alone. Let me just answer the phone. And when he finally answered the phone and got to know us, he just kept coming. And every year he has been the headliner for our fashion week. And because of him, people come to see what he has next, like he creates for royalty around the world. And his work and workmanship is so amazing. People want to partake in it and he's also an activist.
He gives back to community. Like we have proof of that. He trains young artists, like we have a student designer competition every year, and the winner gets to be mentored by him for that period of time. Mind you, he charges. Way more than most people can afford to have that. But he, for us, and because what he sees, what we do for our community, he gives that year of free mentorship to help build that young designer so they can start their career.
These are little things that he do that are amazing, and we are thankful for every day.
Yes and I hear what you're saying and you're describing quite the person to us in this designer, but you also give back a lot to your community. I know that for a fact, and I know you're humbling enough that you don't want to talk much about it, but just a little bit. Talk about what you give to our community.
African fashion. Meek is one of those things because it's not a money making platform we try to create designers. And when I look back over the past 10 years, the ones that have won this competition and have gone on to build huge careers, people who are making $50,000 a month, building, taking from this trillion dollar. That's one thing, building their confidence, showing them ways to brand themselves and to build their business.
That's one way, another of my passions is working with young women that's why part of the reason I started BStyled young women, because I realized what the media does to them before they get to the point of understanding. So I try to get to them with workshops and self-esteem programs at that age between eight and 11. So that they could start to understand themselves and see that, you know what, just because this person looks that way on TV doesn't mean that this person is real.
We bring models in who say to them you look at that picture is not even me. So don't try to be me. That picture has been changed and blah, blah, blah. I do community programs after school programs. I build building a youth council to help mentor other people. So that's the ones who have come through, come back.
They have to agree to come back and help the next person behind them so that we don't stop, we build a community and it just expands, like that ripple effect because that's the only way I see that we can grow exponentially and without having to think while you do things. I don't even think about what we do. It's just as long as it keeps moving, I'm happy with it. I think,
Hey, it works for me. I'm definitely that type of person. As long as things are moving, I feel in any direction, there is always purpose. Currently, how should a black woman use and display her power?
Oh, that is a tough one. How should the black woman use and display her power? Well, to get right down to the base of everything. I really think that we have to stay humble. Kindness matters. Once we do things from a place of love and from a place of kindness, we will always do the right thing. If we are kind to ourselves and kind to each other, we will find ways to help each other. So a black woman, being kind to herself means taking care of herself before she can take care of her family.
Growing herself mentally, physically, and emotionally. That does not mean that you have to look like as say what the society expects you to look like, but building your knowledge, building your education. This means you build your confidence. This means you educate yourself and once you educate yourself, you build power. You can build your children, you could build your community. Cuz I believe once you educate a black woman or a woman, you educate an entire community.
So that's where my power lies. And from there you can build your eco. So economic power is key for us as a people investing in ourselves mentally, emotionally, and education is all part of that. That is the key for me.
Grounded young woman and so Brenda on SpeakUP! International, we strive to inspire. Strive to educate, we strive to inform and we strive to elevate. Thanks for helping us to meet our goals. Before you go, I want you to share with us a quotation that helps to ground you.
Ah, quotation. That helps to ground me and keep me going because I have so many things like, eggs that are always juggling and I'm afraid to drop them, or I have big plans that I am afraid to start. I think of Martin Luther King. He had a saying that said, you do not have to see the whole staircase. You just have to take the first step. That is something I think about daily. Just start, once you start and you take the second step, before you know it, you will complete it and you can keep going.
You just have to go and that means that you just, you'll fall and you brush those knees off again and you go again. So that is my quote,
That indeed is very inspiring. Thank you for quoting Martin Luther King who says you don't need to see the entire staircase, just take the first step. Brenda It's been a delight to have you on SpeakUp! International. Our last two guests said to us that it was too short, and so I don't know if you've noticed we've extended it somewhat and I trust that you had shared everything that you wanted to share with us today, again, on behalf of Elton and myself SpeakUP!
International, we want to thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Brenda Foreman! Thank you both for having me. This was fun and it did feel short. I didn't even think we talked about it it was, but I'm glad and thank you for doing this. It's not just entertaining, it's, thought provoking and it's fun. So thank you both for having me.
We want to help organizations get the word out or entrepreneurs to get the word out. There are many facets to SpeakUP! International, and this happens to be one of them. And this is my project, is to make sure that we reach communities that need to be uplifted through communication. I'm sure that Rita agrees with me, and I really thank you for your time and your expertise and your communication style it has been appreciated.
Thank you!
Thank you for listening to. SpeakUP! International! For more information about our guest, Brenda Foreman and her professional services. Please send your inquiries to elbrendaforman@gmail.com. If you would like to have a conversation with us, SpeakUP! International. Please drop us a message containing your name, company name, and email address to. info@speakuppodcast.ca. To connect to our podcast using Spotify or your favorite podcast platform, search for SpeakUP! International.
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