EST.

2011

THE MINDS BEHIND THE BUSINESS TOUR

(L to R) BET 106th & Park host, Rocsi, Valeisha Butterfield, Kim Coles, SVP of Marketing for Atlantic Records, Joi Brown-Pitts, and Lil Waynes Publicist, Richelle Cross

ABOUT MBTB...
career paths. Both women were equipped with entertainment industry experience early on and have gained many valuable resources. With their combined efforts and a vigorous work ethic, the event entitled: Women In Entertainment: The Minds Behind the Business was brought to life. The events primary focus was to utilize the power of phenomenal women in entertainment as an educational tool to help empower students, allow panelist to give back and educate, build character, and ultimately further develop the minds of students.

The original concept was the brainchild of Christina Gaspard. After having conversations with several of her friends at Howard University she realized that there was not equitable exposure in terms of connecting with entertainment professionals. Especially the people that worked behind the scenes such as managers, attorneys, accountants etc. Gaspard approached fellow Howard University student, Kiki Ayers with an event that would showcase the careers of prominent women in the entertainment industry to come to Howard University and speak to students about their various

Sacrifices have to be made, but you have to stand up for something.- Joi Brown-Pitts (Left)

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HOWARD UNIVERSITY
APRIL 28, 2011

WOMEN IN ENTERTAINMENT: THE MINDS BEHIND THE BUSINESS (HOWARD UNIVERSITY STUDENTS LISTEN TO PANELISTS SPEAK) After receiving a great response from faculty, panelists, and most importantly students, they realized that entertainment truly bridges the gap with education. Entertainers, and the people who represent them, are a significant influential source in the development of young men and women everywhere. What we see, hear, and talk about is a direct influence of what we get through the media, entertainment, and the entertainers careers that we choose to follow. Our hopes are to bring an incredible event to your school with the intention to captivate the minds of those who attend and also to promote the picture of entertainers using their celebrity to be youth education activist! Gaspard and Ayers have now teamed up with IOP Media Group to create, Minds Behind the Business Tour for the Fall 2011 semester! We have furthered this vision into additional events such as: Men In Entertainment: The Minds Behind the Business and Talent In Entertainment: The Minds Behind the Craft, as well as the original event, Women In Entertainment: The Minds Behind the Business.

EMPOWER.

DISCUSSION TOPICS:

WORK ETHIC

ESTABLISHING KEY RELATIONSHIPS

How to maintain personal and business relationships?

IMAGE: BUILDING YOUR BRAND

How to market yourself to attain your goals?

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

What does it take to make it? what is a typical working day like? where do people make the most mistakes?

What would be the best response to an uncomfortable harassment situation?

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INSPIRE.
Our mission for these three events is to educate young people who aspire to be in the entertainment industry, or any other demanding industry, of what to do in tough situations, how to grow from them, learn from them, etc. We strategically choose individuals who represent various positions who have had to deal with similar situations. We want the right questions asked, the hard questions challenged, so at the end of the event, we leave students with a new sense of self worth, promise, and inspiration. What we want to accomplish through these events, is to finally have a voice from industry professionals who know what it takes and also have an incredible background of hard work and determination that has led them into the positions they are in today. - MBTBTOUR.ORG

EDUCATE.

Passion should be something that you would do for free. Sometimes you have to complete unpaid internships before expecting to receive a position in any industry. -Richelle Cross

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