Frantz St. Louis is an actor in Hollywood, but you wouldn’t know it to observe the unaffected way he carries himself. Born in New York, the serious-faced actor is looked up by some as being the epitome of coolness and realness in the face of Hollywood artificiality. Says Alex Kearden, a photographer who has worked with Frantz on photo shoots: “Some of the shoots required Frantz to portray certain emotions and act a certain type. I find him to be a talented actor who approaches the craft enthusiastically and methodically.”

Kearden continues: “He is focused and patient until he knows he has done his personal best. In addition, on set he is friendly, down-to-earth, and supportive of his fellow actors as well as the other crew members like wardrobe and hair and makeup. Frantz always arrives with a smile and leaves with a smile.”

St. Louis has acted in everything from the hit TV series “Law and Order”, to “Third Watch” to stage productions in New York’s famed Triangle theater. Jessalyn Wanlim, whose has worked alongside St Louis, gushes, “He’s pure inspiration.”

Of course, with all these intriguing exclamations from those who have been around the man, it was only natural to get to know the man through a little interview. Won’t you listen in….

What inspired you to become an actor?
As a youth, I was always fascinated with performing and watching actors on television. When family friends would visit, I would put on one man plays to entertain them. As I got older, my love for acting grew deeper by studying the craft and performing on stage. My craft became one of my best friends, is somewhat like a person that wants to be heard, someone that has something to say and because I care about it, I nurture it. I enjoy touching people whether its making them laugh or being part of a project that inspires awareness. My name means “to be free” and this is how I feel when I’m acting.

You were raised by your grandmother and mother. Were you close to your father at all?
I am the third, as I come from a strong long line of Frantz St. Louises. I admire my father but he’s never played an active part in my life.

Do you prefer the theater to the big screen?
I love both mediums because they allow me to create strong characters. When I’m on stage there’s no second takes and I get a rush from that. I’ve worked with some of the best stage directors and they’ve all stressed the importance of studying and working on stage.

Have you seen any Haitian movies?
I’ve seen a few short Haitian films that I thought were beautifully done. I’m very impressed with the way the market is growing and the fact that more Haitian artists are finding their voice in film/TV production.

Despite your hectic schedule, you find time to mentor young kids. Is it hard to stay real in Hollywood?
It’s not hard at all. I believe that everything we do is aligned with our values. My mentor once told me that “If you’re not part of the solution, you may be a part of the problem”. Those words influence the decision making in my life. I put a lot of thought into my actions. “Staying Real” to me also encompasses being around humble people with common values. I’ve been blessed to have a strong circle and the wisdom to identify that you must let go of what doesn’t allow you to grow. My spirituality allows me to stay centered.

Are you pretty close-knit with the Haitian community in California?
I have Haitian friends and family members in LA and we’re looking to build a community. Everyone in La, is pretty spread out and hopefully we can start having functions to bring people together.

As an actor, do you find your self basing your worth as a person on the success of your latest movie or latest review?
Success is life itself. There’s nothing better than life. My experiences in life and my deep faith in God has allowed me to accept that success is in every breath that I take. If I spend too much time focusing on the destination, I’ll miss the journey. Everything else is just part of the story.

How does your family feel about your acting career?
They’ve been very supportive. I feel blessed to have their love and support.

Can you share some childhood memories with us?
My younger sister and I used to have a group called “Mo-town” We imitated every Motown legend there was. Family friends would give us money and we would buy ice cream and toys. I remember getting a $20 bill once and teased her about having more money than her. One day she got a $100 bill for her birthday and she said “I have $100 infinity…you can’t get a bigger bill.

In a place like California, where the Haitian community is so spread-out, do you take any measures to stay connected to the culture?
It’s funny I was talking to a friend of mine from NY and told him to mail me a case of Cola Lacaye (the Haitian soda) because I couldn’t find one. He went online and told me about the only haitian restaurant in Los Angeles. My connecting is now taking shape. I’ll keep you posted.

James Vergneaud’s stage name Rebel Layonn is pronounced Rebel Lion—lion as in the king of the forest. Vergneaud says it’s fitting because the lion is his astrological sign, and his cultural consciousness pushed him to adopt the Creole phonetics for the English version of the word “lion”. Among his friends and family members, he was known as a rebel with a righteous cause. Thus, Rebel Layonn came into being.

The artist, who’s highly influenced by reggae, says he wants to use his music as an ammunition of change for a world community. His debut album, Misyon (Mission) has just been released and features a track entitled “Rejwi” (Rejoice). The song encourages all to continue to smile and exemplify contentment in spite of the hardest-hitting adversity.

Most artists who are into reggae count Bob Marley and pioneers like Lloyd Brevette among their influences. Is that the case with you?

I would say my influences in reggae arises from different figures, [other] than just Marley, but also from different genres of music—from local traditional Haitian roots to world, hip hop of the 90’s, dance hall etc.

What is the music scene like in Haiti?

Well, it’s not an easy road to trod for the genre of music I do particularly. Artists have to struggle to make it on the music scene here in Haiti. As a musician or artist, you work hard daily to feed the public with good music and uplifting messages, but what is being fed to the public through the media is totally the contrary. I ask myself if there’s a music industry really in Haiti. There is so much talent in the country, but yet no structure to assist those talents to get anywhere. It’s always who you know, how much money you’ve got to pay for airplay. In general, without a firm vision and goal as an artist evolving in Haiti, you can easily become hopeless and discouraged with the music scene here.

You actually play the guitar. How did you get interested in playing it? Who taught you?

I got interested in the guitar after I was introduced to it by an older friend and I’ve always thought of the benefits that it would bring to my creativity and my music if I played a musical instrument. After I got introduced to the guitar by that older friend of mine, he taught me the basic major chords. And from there, I took it upon myself to learn further—so I dug into books and researched all [kinds of] documents that I came across to help me with my playing— ’cause I’ve always wanted to accompany myself as I sing. It’s a great feeling to have that extra ability.

Can you remember the first time you ever performed for an audience?

As far as I can remember, my first performance for an audience was in the early 90’s. I think I was around 14 years old at that time. It was at a house party and the audience loved it and [ever] since then, that built my confidence in wanting to go further with my music.

Is there a particular message that you try to make come across in your music?

The messages in my music are mainly based on universal love, peace and unity amongst all creation, equal rights and justice, joy and hope for the poor and the downpressors.

Tell us about your latest album.

Misyon has 15 tracks—13 of which are produced by Jimmy Rock—and two other tracks produced by a Russian producer name Ganjet and a Haitian-Swiss producer name Jahnaton, with Raphael Roumain as the executive producer and head of KayPay—the label that the album is released under. Eighty-five percent of the album is in English and the rest is in Creole,[but] mostly English, because I envision my messages[and] my music crossing all borders and English being the most universal language at this time—so I make use of it with some Spanish[-language artist] features. I have different collabos on the album by artists like Jean-Bernard Thomas, Sarah Renelik; a young upcoming female voice, Christella Laguerre; Zikiki, JahBeat—a Dominican reggae artist-musician.

I also have many musicians that have laid their touch on the album like Yohann Dore, Voltaire Gliffood, Daniel Regis—just to name a few.

Is there a special story behind any of the tracks?

There are some stories behind some tracks on the album, but I’m gonna share with you the story about track #13 on the album. “No Discrimination” is a track that I got inspired [to write by what was happening] in the Dominican Republic after I visited some bateys where people of Haitian descent lived and worked. The condition of the environment and the people really touched me and outside of the bateys, the rage and racism I felt coming from the Dominican people towards black-skinned Haitians moved me to write that song “No Discrimination” featuring JahBeat—a Dominican artist who is conscious of the situation and felt the same way as I did.

So, we came together on one track to set the example with lyrics like these and I quote the chorus of that song: “No discrimination. Cease the racism the classicism nation against nation, there’s only one religion that is love for everyone, no discriminacion…no racismo ni clasis mo de nación contra nación hay una sola religión que es amor para toda la creación…”

What’s your creative process like in terms of creating music and writing lyrics?

It really varies. Lots of times, it’s spontaneous. You get inspired by things that sometimes you never thought could inspire you, but normally I’m a nature person. So, being out there in the greenery of the mountains, the valleys and the seas—all that put me in very inspirational moods. I’m very moved by what’s going on around me social, political, economical situations all brings ideas, lyrics, and melodies to me in the process.

What do you parents say about your having a career in music?

Both of my parents are deceased [even] before I got into music. So, I don’t know what would their reaction would be today towards my career in music. But, my dad and mom were always great music lovers from what I can remember. Other family members seem to be very proud of of me [and] what I do—especially my sisters, cousins, etc.

Sorry to hear that your parents have passed. What are you most proud of?

I’m mostly proud that I engage in music for a good cause—more of a revolutionary cause. I feel like I’m not disappointing my ancestors who fought and shed their blood for their offspring [to] be [here] today, and I’m sure I’m affecting and influencing people of all cultural background positively on all levels [and] give thanks and praises to the Most High.

One of your songs “Rejwi” really encourages listeners to be grateful for everything they have, and to be joyful and optimistic. Is there something in particular that inspired this record?

I was inspired to write that tune after the 2010 earthquake happened in Haiti. Living the horrible pain and loss of my nation, I felt I had to bring a psychosocial healing to the people so badly affected by that earthquake. Seen millions of people so [full of] despair [and] down and out. In my heart, I talked to the Divine and asked to be used as a vehicle to bring a message of hope, optimism, and joy that would affect the people in way to [help them] continue to be grateful and embrace life as a blessing despite all the loss. In the mountain heights of Kenskoff, I was inspired [to write] “Rejwi”. The production is [done by] Jonathan Fallet—Jahnaton—and [we] delivered that message to my Haitian people to uplift and reinforce [positivity in] them again in their everyday lives after such tragic disaster.

And what are you personally most grateful for?

I’m so grateful for all the blessings that Jah has rained upon me, by giving me an extraordinary wife and kids. Though I’ve been an orphan [from an] early age, The Most High always keeps me protected and cared for by putting caring and loving people in my route—[so that I’m] able to stand today in health and happiness.

What counsel would you like to give to those who would like to become musical artists?

Like I always say, if Jah blesses you with talents and skills, it’s for a divine reason. [It’s] so that [this] talent and skills [can] be used for a good cause in return. Being a musical artist, you have lots of power and [that] forces [you] to influence the public in whichever way you want. So, when you choose to be an artist, do it with good intentions. Do it to make a difference in people and the universe, and your reward shall be unlimited greatness.

What’s next for you? 

With my debut album released, I plan to push it with no limits, to reach as much borders as possible. We are planning a national tour [and] to follow [up] with an international tour to push the album to the fullest. In the meantime, my social work with kids will continue under the umbrella of Gerye Jwa—-a local organization with a psychosocial program for kid victims of trauma caused by poverty, violence, diseases—for which I am the Creative Director. I’m also looking forward to working with many producers in the reggae industry [who are] known worldwide—for future projects and more.

Come on you guys, let’s do our best to lend our support to these artists. You can purchase Rebel Layonn’s album on iTunes by CLICKING HERE, on CD Baby by CLICKING HERE. Be sure to also connect with the artist on TWITTER.

[All photos provided by subject. Mountain top photo: Courtesy of Christopher L. Mitchell]

Check out other artists who have been covered for the Haiti’s Got Talent segments by CLICKING HERE.

Ever sit there and wonder how the graphic design, social media and event marketing world operate in Haiti? Karl Jean-Jeune—the CEO and Founder of Ayilo, one of the fledging social media marketing firms based in Port-au-Prince—gave Kreyolicious an overview of these two industries.

At the top of his game, Jean-Jeune not only runs Ayilo but heads Partying in Haiti. Partying in Haiti is self-explanatory. It’s an event marketing and promoting firm that reaches out to twenty and thirty-somethings to assure that local events are packed with them. Using his strong network and social media pull, Jean-Jeune is able to bring them in droves to events either promoted by him or his clients. Looking at the photos posted on the site’s galleries, it would seem that Partying in Haiti even has a local tourism aspect to it. Flamboyantly dressed boys and girls look to be having a grand ‘ole time at everything from casual parties to musical concerts and carnival masquerade balls. Oh, my. Partying in Haiti is certainly doing its share in Haiti’s international makeover. Young professional partygoers looking very content and self-satisfied. No burning tires in sight—or trash piles.

Ayilo and Partying in Haiti are both less than five years old, but their CEO clearly wants to build them into something big. With his right hand, Jean-Jeune is pulling the strings to make sure clients are adequately represented on social media, and with his left, he’s using his marketing-know-how to think of the best strategies to bring warm bodies and diversion-searching minds to events all over Port-au-Prince and its surrounding suburbs.

Kreyolicious: How did you initially become interested in marketing?

I was only a graphic design student when I landed an internship at the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority’s office. I was working with community events, promoting and coordinating. From there, my love for marketing grew and I found myself getting involved in all marketing or communication related aspect of the projects I work in.

Kreyolicious: I think the name of your company is cute. Ayilo…Does it have a story behind it?

Actually, I had a previous project which involved blogging and I wanted to call it Alo Ayiti. Someone told me about another company or organization with the same name. Therefore, I decided to combined Alo and Ayiti. I got Ayilo. The project never took off. Loving the name, I decided to use it for my company.

Above: Karl Jean-Jeune, the CEO of Port-au-Prince-based marketing and event company Ayilo.

Kreyolicious: As the CEO of Ayilo, how do your days start and end?

My day usually starts with meetings and putting final touches on projects. I work best at night—therefore you will find me late at night starting on a new project or working on an old one. However, being in that line of work, my days are unpredictable from start to end.

Kreyolicious: What’s the world of social media and marketing like in Haiti from an agency point of view?

It is relatively new. Businesses are starting to seriously pick up on it because of how easy it is to reach their target market. It is also cost-effective. But it is hard to convince “old management” that social medias are great for business.

Kreyolicious: In terms of challenges…what are some that you have faced?

My biggest challenge human resources. In Haiti, freelancers are either too expensive or cheap freelancers are not able to meet standards. I believe in paying for quality work, but I also believe in not tolerating overly-exaggerated prices. I find that proper training to up-and-coming designers are the best way to cope with this situation, and that is what I am starting to do.

Kreyolicious: What advice would you give to a company outside of Haiti who wants to reach out to the masses in Haiti?

Be bold, be innovative and creative in your campaign.

Kreyolicious: Do you think that the fact that Haiti is a small country gives marketers an advantage in terms of reaching out to influencers?

No. I don’t believe so. I think it makes it a little bit harder to keep the hype up for the product you are trying to market. You have to always go the extra mile. Haiti has a very complexed population. What works for one-sixth, the following one-sixth, so on and so forth. And don’t be surprised if what worked this morning for one category doesn’t work in the afternoon. I don’t think it is a small country issue though. It’s a Haiti issue.

Kreyolicious: Reading your bio, you also have an event marketing firm, and other companies. How do all them come together?

I am also the co-founder of Partying In Haiti and HaitiUnder40. I am a party lover and I am fascinated by great events. I believe that they all come together in helping the nightlife in Haiti to grow and showcase itself to the world. HaitiUnder40 is not launched yet and should be soon. It is a networking event for professionals under 40. PartyingInHaiti is an event listing company. It also organizes events at certain periods of the year.

Above: Partygoers in Haiti pose at an event organized by Ayilo’s sister company Partying In Haiti. Photo Credit: Partying in Haiti.

Kreyolicious: And how do you keep yourself sane, while balancing all the responsibilities that come with running multiple companies?

Someone once told that you have to do everything you need to do. I guess I just create a little time for everything. I have also great partners in several of these projects. Responsibilities are shared—and because we have the same visions—I don’t worry about the results.

Photo Credit: Partying in Haiti

Kreyolicious: As for Ayilo, how do you plan on pushing it forward as a firm?

So far we are relying on social media and word of mouth, but most importantly, our work is the biggest client magnet. We keep our prices lower then the competition while providing great services with innovative thinking. We are now exploring other aspect of the industry such as advertising and publishing. We shall see what the future holds. We are very hopeful.

FOLLOW AYILO ON TWITTER | AYILO ON FACEBOOK | FOLLOW AYILO ON INSTAGRAM | CLICK HERE TO VISIT PARTYING IN HAITI

Earlier this month, Miss Boss Entertainment’s Haitian Music Awards was the dominant conversation on #TeamHaiti’s social media radar. One of the topics of chatter from that award show was Kowkow, whose parka-themed outfit was deemed one of the highlights of the event by many observers.

But who’s really the man who calls himself Kowkow? And what is it about him that’s making so many youngins emulate his hefty-leather-belt-on-the-forehead-style? To begin, his real first name is Davidson. Curious about how he got the moniker Kowkow, or about what he has in store for his devoted fans? Catch up with Kowkow!

Kreyolicious: Tell us more about yourself Kowkow.
I’m also known as Bote Lavi—I’m studying Business Administration at Miami-Dade College. A lot of people don’t think I go to school [Laughter]. If only they knew [that] I’m a genius when it comes to education, they would pay me millions to school them. I’m a very intelligent guy. Besides attending school, I’m an entertainer, a poet, and I often rap. No, I don’t rap. I just kowkow on beats, which I call rap. I’m also a stylist and a walking billboard in the Haitian music industry.

With the legendary Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.

Kreyolicious: How did you get the name Kowkow?
The name Kowkow was discovered from my writing skills as a poet—K.O.W [standing for] King of Words. A year later, I decided to change K.O.W to Kowkow which became more appealing and unique to myself and [my] fans.

Kreyolicious: Where did you get your sense of style?
I have a love and passion for fashion. Anything that is unusual and unique suits my creative ideas. Honestly, I don’t really look up to anyone for inspiration but myself. I basically put all my imagination in use, and continue to think about what’s next to bring to the plate, that others haven’t invented. Or should I just say reinvent? “Nothing’s new underneath the sun.” In this case, this is how my different ideas come to pass. For example, the watch on my chain and the belt I rock on my head isn’t something easy to be different with, but as for someone like myself that practices “savwa lib”—which means learning how to be free—I love it.

Kreyolicious: Being different is not always celebrated. What gives you the courage to stand out?
I would always remind myself that I live in my own world practicing savwa lib—being free to wear anything that satisfies me. If today I decide to paint my nails, or wear my shirt inside out with tags all around, [or with] fur, or even wear two different types of shoes, that’s just Kowkow. Let me be me and keep it pushing. People don’t get that, but as long as I do, that’s all that matters. I don’t care what others think or say of me. People judge anyways. This is just the beginning, and I will continue to be myself.

This concludes PART I of the interview with Kowkow. Stay tuned for PART II. Meanwhile, stay connected to Kowkow, by FOLLOWING HIS INSTAGRAM HERE!

Daniella Bien-Aime is not only the editor of The Bienaime Post, but also a think-tank blogger whose focus is on marketing, social media, tech and entrepreneurship. Recently, she’s added author on her list of accomplishments. Her timely book Take Haiti to an Emerging Market Position: 61 Business Ideas Haitians Can Profit With Right Now outlines Haiti’s potential as an up-and-coming market.

A graduate of the prestigious Teachers College, Columbia University, it isn’t surprising that Bien-Aime’s digital discourses on business, social media marketing, and emerging technology are filled with insightful knowledge and keen analysis.

Kreyolicious: Tell us more about your work.
First, I want to thank you for inviting me here to share my story with you and with the Kreyolicious family. I’ve been a fan for several years now. And I want you to know that I love the work you’re doing for Haiti and our community.

As for telling you about myself, sure, I’d be happy to share some of the events in my life that led me to write the eBook. I’ve spent about ten years in the corporate space in several industries. I started working in the financial industry supporting Wall Street bankers in various teams.

From that experience, I then moved on to several management roles within the publishing and healthcare sectors, and to education. I’ve been fortunate to work with some bright and generous individuals. I’ve learned so much from them. I like to think that they have also learned from me, as I often bring my own perspectives to whatever environment I am in.

While I was working and completing my graduate degree, the Haiti earthquake hit. That tragedy gave me an opportunity to use my experience to help change Haiti’s dialogue. Right after the earthquake, as a Haitian I understood what it felt like to go through that experience. I think there was an emotional piece that died with each of us as we watched the amount of devastation unfold in the news.

Kreyolicious: Certainly…and thank you.
In essence, that event forced me to shift my priorities in thinking of a creative way to work on behalf of Haiti. I believe that Haiti will change when we focus on developing the people—and one way to do that is to focus on supporting the country’s entrepreneurs. That sense of priorities has been with me since the earthquake, as I build a platform to elevate Haiti.

Kreyolicious: I see…
Unbeknownst to me, as I was sharing about my work in Haiti on social media, the editor from Haiti Business Week reached out to me on LinkedIn. The initial idea with Haiti Business Week was to do an interview to discuss my experience from my recent trip to Haiti. Halfway through the interview, the editor asked me if I would be willing to write a piece for the magazine.

After giving it some thought, I agreed and from there, the work just took off. I started contributing to The Haitian Times, Caribbean Journal, and most recently Caribbean News Now and other niche Caribbean magazines. Now ,my writing has evolved into a full blog to the point of writing this eBook.

Since I am interested in how business and technology can elevate societies, I decided to use my research skills and knowledge of Haiti to start the blog. Part of my work involved telling these innovation and business stories.

But, I think you do the same thing with Kreyolicious, too. To me, when I first started writing about Haiti, it was my way to give back. I knew my obligations here in the U.S. would not allow me to go back, but I still wanted to create change. Now the blog has evolved into a new media venture.

In hindsight, I realize that every experience is valuable. After I left the publishing industry, I didn’t think I would use some of the skill sets, but I’m currently using them to grow Bien-Aime Post.

Kreyolicious: What led you to write your ebook, Take Haiti to an Emerging Market Position: 61 Business Ideas Haitians Can Profit With Right Now?
The one thing that led me to write the book is that I started to see and study patterns that have not worked in Haiti’s development. And unfortunately, because the systemic aid is ingrained in Haiti, most Haitians adopt the same method regardless of whether that aid has been effective.

They focus on establishing non-profits and NGOs. Not that all non-profits are bad, but there should not be so many that the aid hurts the country’s economy. I often wonder, if Haitians grew up seeing foreigners build businesses, would they follow suit? I am hoping the eBook can provide this dialogue and some practical solutions.

I thought about writing the eBook on these business ideas because the topic is one of the most popular topics with my blog audience. Even the business pieces I’ve written for Haitian Times, I am told, have done well. Based on this feedback, I decided to write a more comprehensive piece than just my shorter blog posts. Also in the book, I purposely highlighted some people that my audience may not have heard about. This was to show how important it is as a community to collaborate with others. It builds trust and a spirit of community. My supporting someone’s remarkable work does not negate the value of my work.

In fact, it’s good to be in the company of people who push you to do your best. We often don’t realize the power of collaboration and trust. Successful ideas are rarely implemented in silos, so I’m learning the importance of taking the time to support others. It’s not easy to show up day after day with the possibility that you might be ridiculed for your passion and convictions.

As you decide to take risks and put your work out there, you’ll find those like-minded peers, where there is a spirit of mutual respect and support with no hidden agenda. Even as a blogger and Haitian contributor to several publications, few people would know my work if I didn’t have the support of others and a willingness to support them, as well.

Kreyolicious: The book is available now. What has been the feedback from your readers regarding it?
You know, it’s interesting. When you create or produce something, you have no idea how others will receive it. I just found this week that the Nassau Guardian newspaper in the Bahamas published my last post about the eBook. I found out through several readers. I was encouraged by the opportunity to reach a larger audience. Yes, the eBook is available, and it’s free, so anyone can register to download it on the site. The feedback has been positive.
I do believe that people have been supportive, based on their social media comments. I’ve received many positive comments.

I’ll share one with you here from a reader on Facebook:

“I am glad someone wrote what I was thinking. The great thing about Haiti is that because it has a lot of problems, it creates an opportunity for a lot different solutions. Haiti has problems that, if viewed in isolation, are simple to solve. But when you look at them as a system, they become complex. As a result, one organism (the government) cannot tackle all these problems simultaneously. The solution is to have many different startups that seek to solve a very specific problem—just pick an industry, then pick a problem within that industry. Then, as a whole they will collectively reduce the complexity of Haiti’s problems”—Richard D Sam

KEEP UP WITH DANIELLA BIEN-AIME BY VISITING HER WEBSITE HERE! | CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW DANIELLA BIEN-AIME ON INSTAGRAM| DANIELLA BIEN-AIME ON TWITTER

Hey there, readers! Be sure to check out the concluding part of my interview with Daniella Bien-Aime, a social media strategist and Haitian-American entrepreneur. She is the editor of The Bien-Aime Post, a digital platform that covers leadership, social media management, and Haiti entrepreneurship. Bien-Aime recently published the book Taking Haiti to an Emerging Market Position. She’s a graduate of Columbia University.

Kreyolicious: What business and personal development books would you recommend as a companion to your own book?
Oh, my! That’s a tough one because I love to read. I hope I can share three that have influenced me to take a leap of faith in starting the blog. The first one is Permission Marketing by Seth Godin—it is a must if you want to understand the new form of business marketing.

The second one is The One Thing: The Surprising Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller. And the last one is The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically by Eric Ries.

Kreyolicious: You attended Teachers College, Columbia University. How did that prepare you for the business and entrepreneurship sector?
It’s interesting. I get asked that question quite a bit. And one thing I always say is, yes, it was a great opportunity to be part of that institution. But I always share when people ask me that I am first a product of the Haitian educational system. I attended Madame Boisson in Haiti, and that set the crucial foundation for me. It was sad to hear some of Madame Boisson’s family and many of the teachers did not survive the earthquake.

I think one of the most rewarding experiences of attending Teachers College, Columbia University was the ability to learn from some of the leading scholars in their field. I also made some great connections, many of whom I am still friends with today. As for being prepared for the business sector, the work experience I’ve gained in the corporate world has helped, not to mention my background working at Columbia Business School.

I think a focal point on developing Haiti’s future business leaders is vital to the country’s economic development. Aid will never help Haiti achieve independence, and
I see business as a vehicle to bring changes to Haiti and to also push the Haitian diaspora to take more chances on becoming entrepreneurs.

Kreyolicious: As a Haitian-American, if you were to land in Haiti right now, of all the business possibilities, which would you personally choose and why?
As a Haitian-American, since I have a passion for Haiti in the context of business, technology and education, I would build a business hub where Haitians can learn about entrepreneurship and technology. I’m working on a few ideas that have the potential to move forward. But like everything else, you need the right team and partners to make things work. Why? I think the need of the hour is to increase the Haitian people’s annual income. And I think entrepreneurship can play a major role in Haiti when it comes to increasing the people’s job prospects.

KEEP UP WITH DANIELLA BIEN-AIME BY VISITING HER WEBSITE HERE! | CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW DANIELLA BIEN-AIME, AUTHOR, CONTENT DEVELOPER AND SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERT ON TWITTER

Christine Souffrant has a quote she lives by: “Life is a promise…fulfill it.” She’s definitely been doing her share of self-fulfillment. As the CEO of Vendedy, an app that digitizes street vending, Christine has not only made her dream of being a successful entrepreneur come true, but she’s helping business men and women around the nation. Vendors from emerging markets upload photos of their wares on their mobile devices, and travelers can purchase them via SMS. Vendedy acts as a sort of mediator and keeps a 20% sales commission. Less than a year old, Vendedy has gotten the attention of the Clinton Global Initiative, and has earned its bold CEO a partnership with IBM. Christine was a finalist for the $1 million Chivas Venture Fund.

When she’s not taking care of Vendedy business, Christine is teaching other women of this generation to empower themselves and to disrupt the world through innovation.

For her, maintaining balance while pursuing a business agenda is of the essence. To her, life isn’t about just business events, meeting investors and flipping through the pages of the latest business wisdom bestseller, it also means traveling to new places and absorbing new cultures. It’s about taking time to enjoy spontaneous things like skydiving, shark diving, scrap-booking, and sometimes taking a simple photograph.

Not that entrepreneur life has been all silk and crystal for her. As the final pieces of Vendedy were coming together, the sassy and adventurous entrepreneur lost her father. The devastating loss made her take an emotional pause, but it hasn’t stopped her…

K. St. Fort: I think the name Vendedy is so cute…creative and the fact that it has the root verb for the word “vending” in it. Was it hard coming up with that name?

Great question. We were originally Vended International when we started as a blog. Once I had to incorporate the company to close a deal with IBM, I realized that Vended International describes what we do, but not the essence of who we are. I spent a week or two looking for inspiration—reading about the new wave of names today: Google, Uber, Hulu, Twitter etc. None of them make sense, but that’s the fun in their names. I wanted our name to be just as fun, but blatantly meaningful. The root “vende” does mean street vendor as you identified in many different languages English, Creole, Portuguese etc. But it also signifies our vendetta for street vendors worldwide. It came to me out of nowhere. I was hovering between Vendy and Vendedy. Vendy was already taken, so Vendedy was the next favorite. When I presented the new name to the team, the reaction wasn’t as excited as I anticipated. They all struggled with just pronouncing it. In the end, it grew on us and it became what it evolved to today. [Smiles]

Above: A street vendor in Haiti, and a beneficiary of Vendedy.

K. St. Fort: Did you study business?

Yes. I lived business through my upbringing amongst street vendors in Haiti an through managing businesses in New York. Furthermore, I’ve done many business programs from Tuck Bridge MBA summer, to Hult International Business School’s Dubai Master program. I’ve been a student of business and entrepreneurship since birth.

K. St. Fort: I think that it’s cool that you’ve come from several generations of women entrepreneurs. How do they feel about your joining their ranks?

Psychotic—in the beginning. I was the first to know what it means to have a corporate job! I was on my third promotion when I told my family I would quit to move to Dubai and find my dream. It was the stupidest thing they ever heard me do. But as Vendedy exploded on to the scene, my mother in particular became my biggest partner, friend and cheerleader. Now, they refuse to see me go back to normalcy. The entrepreneurial spirit and mission that Vendedy promotes has inspired everyone in my family.

Above: Christine speaking at the Social Hive Summit is Trinidad.

K. St. Fort: Good for you girl. Do you think part of them feels that you should have opted for something more traditional?

In the beginning—yes. Not anymore. What’s more meaningful is not just the reaction of the women in my family, but more so my father who is the ultimate conservative. The last photo I have of my papa before [his] passing away last year is [of] him wearing the Vendedy #Disrupthenorm shirt. That was the biggest moment for me because my papa saw real potential in me to disrupt the typical career verticals available to our generation. Overtime, he told me candidly that he was proud of my convictions behind Vendedy and that my spirit and commitment to Vendedy was his biggest accomplishment. “To father a child who goes beyond normalcy to aim for greatness while uplifting others”.

K. St. Fort: What’s been t he hardest thing about being an entrepreneur?

Mental stability. Quite frankly, building a company is easy—from idea to development to market execution and funding is a process we can all prepare for. But the mental roller coaster of dealing with the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur is one for the books!

K. St. Fort: How do you handle the roughest days?

First, stop taking things personally. Everyone has something to pitch and every entrepreneur will be met with some level of skepticism. No one is saying, “I must destroy your company now!” The more we are able to focus on leveraging the external feedback on our companies—both the good and the bad) for points of learning and development—the higher our chances of success.

Second, quotes are an amazing motivator to define your reality and excite you to recreate it the way you believe it should be. My two favorites for my entrepreneurial journey thus far is as follows: “Entrepreneurship is jumping off a cliff and building a plane on the way down” [from] Reid H founder of LinkedIn whom I’ve met in person. [The other is] “If 99% of people doubt your idea, you are either gravely wrong or about to make history”. Hashtag…truth.

K. St. Fort: Truth…What books have you read that have helped you tremendously in your journey that you’d like to recommend that others read?

For real entrepreneurial disrupters—Bold by Peter Diamondis. Scrapbook Points on Entrepreneurship—randomly just coined by me. What I mean by this is that information and advice is accelerating so fast that there is no one book to guide your entrepreneurial journey. So, I’ve actually catalogued the best mesh of articles, quotes and minutes from great tech events that is personalized for my growth and development as an entrepreneur. It is the best guidebook one can have because it’s updated in real time and includes multiple—often contradictory perspectives—that can really accelerate your progress.

Above: Christine Souffrant, CEO of Vendedy at a press conference in Haiti.

K. St. Fort: Some great selections…no doubt…What advice would you give to someone who’s trying to become an entrepreneur…whether as an app developer…or otherwise?

Your biggest strength to build a great company is the why. I’m not kidding. Ideas come a dime a dozen. Business models will evolve, and teams will mold often to bring any concept to market. But the why of why you started the company, the why of why it’s relevant for your target market and the why behind why you are the right person—and–team to make it happen—will follow you at every turn. And at the end of the day, the why is why you will get funding, customers, employees and market acceptance. The idea of Vendedy fascinates many, but the why of how it was created has inspired thousands.

K. St. Fort: What’s next for you?

Launching Vendedy across the Caribbean market this fall, and being one step closer to digitizing the global street vending Industry to tackle global poverty. More to come!

Visit Vendedy’s Website | Vendedy on Youtube | Vendedy on Instagram

Every blogger wants to be Karen Civil. Why wouldn’t they want to be her? She is an influential new media princess and the head honcho of her own digital media marketing agency, Always Civil Enterprise, and the creator of Living Civil bracelets. And her empire doesn’t stop there. She launched her own clothing company Civil Clothing, already touted as one of the best urban wear brands on the market; and she founded a lifestyle property, Living Civil. Oh, and Karen Civil TV, in which she shares exclusive video interviews—with such rappers as Big Sean, Tyga, Meek Mill, 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa—should also be mentioned. No wonder so many look up to her. They may want her success, but it’s doubtful that they want to put in all the hard work that catapulted her to the highly coveted station where she holds court. Hard work…now that’s something that is in embedded in Ms. Civil—the way hemoglobin lines up blood.

Her hectic work days days consist of one meeting after another, trips to industry events, planning photo shoots, fielding phone calls and emails from industry folks and rappers vying for her attention. She also manages the editorial staff at KarenCivil.com. Based in Los Angeles, the civil-living entrepreneur can minimize the existence and importance of a rapper by ignoring him (or her) on her website Karencivil.com, or make him (or her) an overnight sensation by merely mentioning him or her on the website. Indeed, Karen Civil is that powerful.

In the late 2000s, most of the popular urban blogs had already been established. It seemed unlikely that there was place for new blood. But either Karen Civil was not dissuaded by this, or thought she could bring something different to the blogging game. Where there’s will, there’s a civil way. She had interned with some of the biggest radio and music brands in New York, and had made more than a handful of connections with talent and shot-callers in the music world. When rapper Lil Wayne went to serve a jail term, Civil teamed up with web designer Karla Moy to create a website to help the star keep in touch with fans.

Civil had assisted Wayne in keeping his brand intact. Now, the Brooklyn-born, Elizabeth, New Jersey-raised gal wanted very much to bring her own venture to life. She knew one of the primary principles of starting a business: start with what you already know and have a passion for. She knew she loved music, especially hip-hop…and she had some contacts. She didn’t want to be a digital sharecropper, as Nicholas Carr would call it…you know one of those types who help big brands build content, but don’t benefit in the long run. No, Karen Civil wanted to build her own brand. There were several highly-trafficked hip-hop blogs, but none were helmed by a female. She turned on the ignition on KarenCivil.com and has been driving on the success highway ever since, landing on Black Enterprise’s Top Blogger list, and being whisked by Dr. Dre to head the social media of his headphone brand. When big conferences want an expert on their panels, Karen Civil is one of the first names that pop into their heads.

Hanging out with Lil Wayne.

K. St. Fort: What are your memories of growing up Haitian?

I guess it would start in Brooklyn when I’d go to family parties and get-togethers. I have a very big family and getting the chance to spend time with them and see my cousins are some of the best memories I have. We had traditional foods and Haitian music playing when we would all come together.

K. St. Fort: Musical memories…?

At family parties, my cousins and uncles were always playing T-Vice’s music.

K. St. Fort: An internship was instrumental in getting you to where you are. When one gets an internship, what is the best way to stand out?

You basically let your grind speak for itself. You have to put in that extra work to show how dedicated up are… You have to stay longer and don’t become a crop watcher, so to speak. Let your grind and ambition show.

K. St. Fort: In the mid-2000s, you gave props to artists like Drake, Nicki Minaj, long before the mainstream knew them. Or rather acknowledged them. Why did you try that approach, when maybe other bloggers weren’t really trying to touch anyone that hadn’t already gotten mainstream validation?

That’s what I built my site—for the purpose to showcase music that I like—not what necessarily has a large following yet.

K. St. Fort: You breathe music. Heck, it’s dripping from your nostrils. But who are your favorite artists. And no girl, this isn’t a trap question.

I mean it’s a variation of music that I listen to…everything and everyone. It’s hard to pick just a few, but I do love Andy Suzuki, Pink, some old school artists, and many many more.

K. St. Fort: What do your parents think about your career in the music world? Are they like, “Se sa Karen, se sa!”

They are proud that I am pursuing my dreams. I came from a family of hard-workers who all have good yet regular professions, so they are glad that my career in music is actually working for me.

K. St. Fort: Were you ever tempted to go the celebrity bashing direction with your blog?

No, because I have been that kid that was picked on. I never want to be that person.

K. St. Fort: So while you’re heading KarenCivil.com, you get tapped to be Social Media Director for Beats by Dre. How did they ever pull you away, chile?

They didn’t pull me away from anything. I am just doing more than one thing. It lets me be creative and I get the best of both worlds.

K. St. Fort: Studying the history of your brand, it surely grew quite fast. And it grew at a time when most thought that music blogs, urban blogs had hit their apogee. What do you attribute that to?

I’ve been doing it for a few years now. I have tried to be consistent, but I still don’t feel like it is where it needs to be. I try to give you a vision of the artist with interviews and new music exclusives.

K. St. Fort: How important do you think image is to a blogger?

I can’t speak for the next blogger, but for myself I take care of my body and mind. I try to get out more often and love to stay in shape. I can’t just throw on sweats if I want to. I have always cared about my appearance, but now I especially take extra care of my personal image.

K. St. Fort: You tend to emphasize a vision board a lot. Out of all the dreams and goals that you had on your board, that you have since accomplished, which one proved to be the most astounding—even to you, who believed so ardently that you would accomplish it?

I think making the Ebony Power 100 list last year with amazing women like Oprah was incredible to me because I wasn’t expecting it at all. I definitely can’t just pin-point one thing, but every day something new is happening for me and I am being acknowledged by my peers which is accomplishing.

Interviewing Wiz Khalifa for Karen Civil TV.

K. St. Fort: You made a statement once about the U.S. music industry: “Everybody got a Haitian on the team. It’s the standard.”

I mean our work ethic is like no other! We are all hard-workers, just think about Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliot had Mona Scott. [Rapper] 50 had Sha Money XL and so on.

K. St. Fort: Do you feel some sort of partisanship with others of Haitian descent in the music industry?

Of course, I love Sha Money XL, and have so much respect for Mona Scott. We all have that bond and it feels like we are family.

K. St. Fort: What Haitian artists and bands do you like?

Rap-wise I like Jeezy and [konpa-wise] T-Vice. Usher—whenever he decides to admit his roots.

K. St. Fort: In web world, there is sometimes slander, and it’s spread like nothing else in the world. How do you handle rumors and online slandering?

I mean—I am human and it does affect me, but I have amazing friends who remind me that certain people don’t matter and you can’t take anything personally.

K. St. Fort: Do you have plans to work with Haitian artists in a genre like konpa?

No, not that I know of—yet.

K. St. Fort: The music industry is known for being fast, and for being artificial. Some might even use the word “plastic” to describe it. How do you keep yourself civil and real?

It comes with any business, and you’re going to have to face the phonies. I come from a well-rounded family—which is why I have remained grounded.

K. St. Fort: Speaking of which…Can you spot a user from a mile away? Or is face contact required?

It takes time to spot a user because they tend to blend in.

K. St. Fort: Out of all the honors you’ve gotten, industry-related or not, which one means the most to you?

My mom’s blessing is what means most to me.

K. St. Fort: You have Civil Clothing and Civil bracelets. At which point did you realize it would be a good idea to expand your brand?

I think there comes a point in every business person’s career when you need to create those tangible items that set you apart.

With rapper Drake. Karen Civil was among one of the first bloggers to give her stamp of approval to Drake before he blew up in the mainstream.

K. St. Fort: Did you have any qualms about having your name as your brand? And putting your face in front of your brand?

No.

K. St. Fort: When was the last time you went to Haiti?

About two-and-a-half years ago, when my aunt graduated from college.

Karen Civil and rapper Nippsey Hussle.

K. St. Fort: It’s no doubt mentally taxing to be at the head of all these brands. How do you make sure you take care of yourself?

I meditate daily. I love to stay in shape and I am into yoga and my daily workouts. Som I make sure I am mentally, spiritually, and physically alive.

K. St. Fort: It would seem to most that the next big step for you would be for you to head a record label division or something along that line.

You never know what the future holds.

K. St. Fort: What’s next for the Civil Brand?

I will continue to look for new ways to grow. I am working on my book that is coming out next year and planning the annual Live Civil Brunch.

Karen Civil kicking it with Rick Ross at an industry event.

Be sure to visit Karen Civil’s flagship site by CLICKING HERE.

This has been another segment of Yap Mennen/They Ballin’—in which overachieving boys and girls of Haitian origin and their accomplishments are highlighted.

He’s a rapper, poet, but most of all Haitian social media sensation Kowkow is a fashion bomb. He had been creating a name for himself in Miami, but he became a huge dot on a lot of folks’ radar after he showcased his unique fashion sense at Miss Boss Entertainment’s Haitian Music Entertainment Awards last month. In Part I of our interview, he gave us an introduction to himself as an artist. But let’s get to know the man behind the zany moniker a bit more!

K. St. Fort: Some folks love advice. What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
“Don’t worry about what haters think about you. You’re an trend, an upcoming legend, you will go very far, and don’t give up.”
Guess where I got that advice from? Me! I sleep with that advice on top of my head. I wake up and I live with it.

K. St. Fort: In your Instagram bio, you make mention of your marital status, which male celebrities seldom do. What advice would you give to men out there who would like to jump the broom…
When it comes to marriage advice, I wouldn’t say I’m the perfect adviser for those who want to jump the broom. But for those who are truly seeking for my advice, there are a lot of pretty girls out there and it is very, very, very hard to find someone that can really stay faithful. So whenever you find a lovely one that cares about you, and love you for who you really are—not because you’re a celebrity—treat her with respect. Create time for her. Girls love that a lot [Laughter], and don’t cheat. Please just don’t. Why bother losing diamond over rocks?

K. St. Fort: Which artists have inspired you?
Eminem and Kowkow. Just us. [Laughter]

K. St. Fort: Finish this sentence for me, Kowkow. My biggest regret is…
I don’t have any regrets. I always stand behind anything and everything I do—no matter what the outcome is.

K. St. Fort: Do you read a lot, Kowkow?
They say the better you read, the better you write. I guess that’s why I stopped writing because I don’t read. Paragraphs give me headaches [Laughter]. That’s just me [Laughter].

K. St. Fort: When was the last time you visited Haiti, KowKow?
The summer of 2015.

Above: Kowkow with fellow rapper Fetty Wap, sporting Kowkow-branded shirts.

K. St. Fort: What can we look forward to from KowKow?
A movement…watch out for my sense of creativity and also my clothing line. I’m also working on a EP that’s supposed to dropped this November, if God willing. Epi, Kowkow nan tet yo. Yo pral di se pa mwen wi. [And Kowkow all up their heads. They’ll swear it’s not me].

This concludes PART II of the interview with Haitian social media sensation Kowkow. CLICK HERE if you missed PART I of the interview with Kowkow. Don’t forget to check out the Kowkow visuals below! |CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW KOWKOW ON INSTAGRAM TO KEEP UP WITH HIS MUSIC, STYLE, AND MORE!

on April 3, 1986, shortly after the end of the Duvalier regime, more than 30,000 women from diverse backgrounds took to the streets of Port-au-Prince to demand to be included in Haiti’s return to democracy. The 1986 march, organized by more than a dozen grassroots groups, called attention to sexual and gender-based violence, women’s financial exclusion, lack of access to health and education, among other issues. The event was well-received and marked the renewal of Haiti’s women’s movement; eventually contributing to the creation of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Women’s Rights. (Source:Perpetua Chery via @WoyMagazine)
–
Le 3 avril 1986, peu après la fin du régime de Duvalier, plus de 30 000 femmes de divers classes sociales sont descendues dans les rues de Port-au-Prince pour demander d’être incluses dans le retour de la démocratie en Haïti. La marche, organisée par plus d’une douzaine de groupes populaires, a attiré l’attention sur la violence sexuelle, le sexisme, l’exclusion financière des femmes, l’accès à la santé et à l’éducation, etc. L’événement a relancé le mouvement des femmes d’Haïti; a contribué à la création du Ministère de la condition de la femme et des droits de la femme.
–
3 avril 1986, on ti tan apre fen rejim Divalye a, plis pase 30,000 fanm ki soti nan divès klas sosyal te pran lari nan Pòtoprens pou mande pou yo te enkli nan retou demokrasi an Ayiti. Màsh nan mwa Mas 1986 la, ki te òganize pa plis pase yon douzèn gwoup popilè, te vle pou yo mét plis atansyon nan zafè vyolans seksyèl, zafè sèksis, zafè esklizyon finansye fanm yo, mank de aksè nan sante ak edikasyon, ak lòt pwoblèm. Evènman an te make renouvèlman mouvman fanm ayisyen an; evantyèlman li kontribiye nan kreyasyon Ministè kondisyon ak Dwa fanm.
.
.
.
.
.
#haiti #hayti #ayiti #women #rights #movement #mouvement #duvalier #protest #grassroots #populaire #femmes #1986 #education #droits #health #exclusion #march #social #sexism