The Friday Girl TV Feature

I was honored to be featured as a Woman 2 Watch on Friday Girl TV.  Check it out below or click on the link above to read it on the site!! 

FG: You have an amazing story: you started as an intern at V103 five years ago and went from an intern to the producer of The Frank and Wanda Morning Show. What was your first day as “the producer” like for you? And how have you changed/grown since then?

Nina: Being a Morning Show Producer is so intense, so it’s hard to remember what the first day was like. I made countless mistakes in the beginning, which brought on a lot of tears and emotions. I am so passionate about everything I do, so I took a lot of things personally. I wanted everything to be perfect and dedicated myself to the process. I had a lot to prove because many people didn’t think I could handle the job. My 1st year would set the tone for the rest, so I went extremely hard to make the doubters, believers. My growth has been so defining because I not only learned who I was because of it, but I learned what God has the power to do. I don’t believe my relationship with God would be as strong if I never went through the career transition. The transition helped me find my own inner peace. My faith played a HUGE part in my growth. At the end of the day, my spirituality has been my saving grace because I knew what God had for me was for me. I also know that I am doing what God assigned me to be doing, so I am confident that everything will always go according to His plan, even when I am not certain of the details.

 FG: Before you began your career in radio you were a Collections Manager. What types of things did you have to adjust/change about your professional demeanor/personality in order to make the transition from the corporate world to the entertainment world?

 Nina: I always considered myself humble, but being in the entertainment industry humbled me to the fullest extent. People want to meet the personality they hear on the radio, and it keeps me humble so people are able to relate and make a connection. Even on bad days, I try to remain positive and focused on the many blessings I have already received… that alone keeps a smile on my face. I have become a role model to young girls and other women, so it’s very important that my actions and my words align with the image that is true to who God created within me. I want to always feel proud of my actions, but also want to feel confident that at any time my Bishop, my Dad, my son, my boyfriend and my mentors will also be proud of my actions. By making this a priority, it has slowed me down and made me more accountable. You would be amazed at the many things you WOULDN’T say/post/tweet because you actually stopped to think first. Working in Corporate America, I had a set schedule; however, nothing is set in the entertainment industry. When news breaks or there’s a big promotion or station event, I have to be available. It’s hard because I have to be flexible even when I am tired. It’s important that I stay organized and constantly prioritize. I can’t do everything and won’t please everyone, so I pick & choose wisely and accept the facts of life… there is only one of me.

 FG: On your website and on the show, you share a lot of your personal life with your fans. In the entertainment business where privacy is often coveted, how do you make the decision to share so much with the audience? And how do you decide what not to share?

 Nina:I consider myself to be pretty transparent, so there isn’t much I won’t share. I enjoy sharing my journey in my career, my spirituality, and my relationship with God and the evolution of it and parenting lessons. I choose to share these things because I believe people are able to benefit, learn and be inspired from my personal experiences and in essence, become better people – if I can change someone’s life for the better, I feel my vulnerability has been worth it. I call myself God’s Girl, because I know He favors me, covers me and loves me unconditionally. As long as I do what’s right & maintain honesty and integrity, God will take care of the rest. I am not as reluctant to share the intricacies of my personal relationship with my boyfriend because we have yet to figure it out yet! LOL. Relationships are hard enough with just the two people involved, no need to add extra confusion to the mix. As soon as I master dating & marriage, I will gladly share my secrets with the world. I have a VERY long way to go still….

FG: What is it like being a single woman in the entertainment industry? Has is it changed your opinion on men and is that where you got the idea to do your Venus vs Mars workshop?

Nina: I am no longer single, but generally speaking, dating in the industry is extremely difficult because it’s such a small circle of people. While it is quite international, it is still a small number of people and double standards seem to be even more prominent in the industry because of a lifestyle based on facades. When our culture is all about being everything you’re not, it’s hard to meet people who have embraced everything they are. Because the entertainment industry is a male-dominated one, women have to be extremely cautious and understand the psyche of men -in & out of the workplace- and how to gain their respect. Again, the double standards are ridiculous, but very much the reality. If you decide to date within the industry, it’s even more important to determine one’s character first. Being involved with a man who won’t respect you or your privacy can easily ruin your reputation and bring three times more challenges in your career. It wasn’t so much my own personal dating experiences within the industry that gave me the concept for Venus vs Mars, but the experiences of others. Being on Twitter, I realized how CLUELESS men & women really are about the opposite sex. I saw the frustrations because neither sex could figure the other one out and they so desperately wanted to. I knew I had the power and influence to bridge the gap because I have a pretty good grasp of both. The biggest problem hindering us all is a lack of communication, so Venus vs Mars was designed to encourage communication between men & women in a comfortable forum. The purpose was to increase dialogue and get men & women talking. If we communicate more open & honestly, we would have healthier relationships with one another, which will ultimately encourage love, friendship and stronger relationships and marriages. Communication is the root to most of our generational & world problems.

FG: You were recently featured in Essence Magazine for their Blackberry Moms story. Do you think the Blackberry Mom is the mom of the future and how do you define the BB moms of today?

Nina:The Blackberry Mom is definitely the future. As technology evolves, we must evolve with it and a blackberry or any other kind of smart phone, is a part of the armor that is required to stay ahead of the curve. Because it’s unrealistic that you can be at a desk or in an office for 9hrs or more in a day, you take the job with you as you’re shuffling and juggling while changing one of the many hats you wear throughout the day. The definition of a Blackberry Mom is a mom who has a great grip on juggling family and a demanding career. A Blackberry Mom depends on her blackberry to help keep her organized, on-time & in the loop because it’s almost impossible to remember the many demands of life without it. At any time, a Blackberry Mom can go from a Conference Call with several CEO’s, to a call from her child’s school, to a call from her child without missing a beat. A Blackberry Mom also knows when to POWER OFF. While the job will always be a constant, her title of MOM will always supersede the others. While we hope that balance will come naturally, realistically we know, you will often have to create it.
FG: How many of your business decisions are based on know how vs your intuition?

 Nina: Most of my decisions are probably based on know how, which is the result of intuition leading me through an experience. At one point, I didn’t know how to do many things and had to experience it and depend on my own intuition and advice from peers. Once I went through the experience, I reflected on it and determined how I can do it better the next time. This process is called maturity. Being in the industry for 5 years, there aren’t too many things I haven’t experienced in some form at this point. While the specifics may change, the general experience becomes habitual. Example, I may have a speaking engagement, which is nothing new, but the audience demographics or theme of the engagement may change and it may be a totally new experience at any time. Once I’ve endured the experience, I have matured as an individual. Life is all about maturation.

FG: How has the use of vision boards changed your professional and personal life and how have you been introducing the use of vision boards to the Atlanta?

Nina: Vision Boards have changed every facet of my life. It linked my spirituality, personality and everyday world together and allowed me to find balance between the 3. Vision Boards reinforce my spiritual beliefs and remind me how very important it is to always think positively. Many of the Vision Board & “Secret” principles weren’t new to me, instead reminded me of the many things that are so easy to forget as you go through life. It was an amazing way to introduce positive thinking and the law of attraction to others who may not have had the same foundation as I. In January, I hosted my first Vision Board Brunch with close to 200 people and for 75% of the people in attendance, it was their first time hearing about and creating a Vision Board. It was a life-changing experience for so many. Since being so vocal about the rewards and improvement in the quality of life Vision Boards bring, others have embraced the ideas within their own families, social groups, churches, schools and communities, so the positive vibes are spreading internationally with the use of Twitter and other social media sites. It’s been an amazing domino effect and spiritually fulfilling and rewarding for me.

 FG: What is a spiritual mantra or philosophy that you live by?

Nina: 2 Timothy 1:7, God did not give us the spirit of fear. This scripture has become a way of life for me because I remember being trapped by fear. Fear of failure, death, experience, saying goodbye, etc. Since overcoming those fears, I’ve been able to soar & truly live because I learned how to trust in God’s plan for my life and my divine purpose. When you have true trust in God, you live life as He wanted you to live it because you know He will keep you covered, as long as you have faith. The more your faith grows, the more your blessings grow. I guess you can say, I’m somewhat addicted to faith… God has been so good to me.

FG: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Nina:One of my mentors, JeNika Thomas told me 2 years ago to “Build Your Brand” because tomorrow is never promised. She gave me the momentum to really start thinking of “Nina Brown” as a brand. Since then, iamNinaBrown.com was birthed and signature events like Venus vs. Mars.
FG: What would you tell your younger-self if you knew then what you know now?

Nina: God designed you in His likeness, and He makes no mistakes, so embrace your inner & outer beauty and be confident in who you are, even if you don’t look, dress and think like the others.

FG: Finish this sentence….
Women should stop complaining about______ and start doing _____________

Nina: Women should stop complaining about the way men behave and start taking responsibility for their actions. You can’t change the man he is, but you have total control over the woman you are. Set standards and be strong & confident in them, men will only do what you allow them to do.

FG: If your life came with a soundtrack, what would be the top three songs (and please indicate the singer or band)?

Nina:God in Me, Mary Mary because I believe the God in me was created to inspire the God in everyone else. Unquestionably, it’s my divine purpose. Bonnie & Clyde, Jay-Z & Beyonce because I believe in true love and the sacredness of it. I don’t believe God would create your soul mate and never allow you to meet them. I believe once you find your soul mate, nothing is more important than friendship, loyalty and holding them down no matter what happens in the world. I believe in a “ride or die” kind of love. Daddy, Beyonce because my Father gave me an amazing foundation to build “life” on. As a single parent, my Daddy not only taught me how to survive in a world that won’t always play fair, but also showed me how a real man is supposed to treat women & care for his children. I had the most amazing example of a real man my entire life and because of his example, I was able to set the standard for myself. Nothing makes me happier to know how proud my Dad will be to meet the man I have chosen to give my heart to. It will be further confirmation for my Daddy that he did what he was supposed to do as a man raising a young woman. If a man won’t love, protect and support me the way my father did, he isn’t the man for me.

FG: What project(s) do you have coming up?
• Venus vs Mars 3, April 29th
• Venus vs Mars: On The Road
• Vision Board Picnic in Summer
• The Girl’s Club: Faces in Media (women’s panel), TBD