VE: Who is Allyson Leak?
Ally: Hmmm. Allyson Leak is a humble, sweet, creative person that genuinely wants to give back and help others…I know it’s story book but it’s me lol.
VE: Tell us how your blog she-blogs.com and your jewelry line Ally Marie are an extension of who you are as a person.
Ally: Well I guess I will start with the blog. My blog is dedicated to inspiring women to reach for their dreams and to help guide them to leading a happy life….and that’s me. I adore helping people. If I was rich I would do consulting for free and just help people. The blog makes me happy! My jewelry line is my baby. The line is an eclectic mix of pieces. I use Swarovski crystals, precious stones, wood and glass to create my jewels. I get inspired from nature. I feel like the jewels are a part of me because they are a creative expression I came up with…which is usually inspired by some aspect of nature.
VE: Define your blog for us, and what makes it different from all the other blogs out there?
Ally: My blog is a place of positive energy. Whether you are having a good week or a bad week, the blog is a place where you can find inspirational interviews with female entrepreneurs and artists, beauty and fashion tips, and articles on spiritual awareness and healthy eating. It is like a holistic approach to being happy. I love dong it!
VE: Is this what you envisioned yourself doing since you were younger?
Ally: I have had so many different things I wanted to do over the years but I always figured that I may have a career in writing because as a kid I always wrote short stories, journaled, and made plays that I would perform in front of my grandparents etc.
VE: What’s the most aggravating part of your career?
Ally: Lack of funds… I mean being an entrepreneur is hard in that sense because every extra dime I make I put back into my endeavors. But it’s all good because I figure if I tough it out for a few years then it will all pay off…literally
VE: LOL Don’t I know it! What has been your biggest obstacle so far?
Ally: Hmmmm I have had many. I would say two things. Making the decision a few years ago to leave my 9 to 5 to pursue my jewelry designing and the second is planning my she-blogs launch event.
VE: What was the most rewarding moment in your career so far?
Ally: My most rewarding moment in my career for my blog is my launch party that I had this past July. It was a testament of all of my hard work. But on a smaller (not less important) note I also really appreciate when my she-blogs readers send me encouraging emails. I don’t think they know how much that inspires me to keep going.
My biggest moments for my jewelry are when Alicia Keys wore my necklace and when I was a jewelry sponsor for the 2008 Fashion Rocks awards in NYC.
VE: Your event was at Saks Fifth Ave, not an easy feat. Tell us a little about planning that out, the process, outcome and all.
Ally: Ohhh Boy! It was sooo hard!!! I am not gonna lie. I swear I didn’t sleep and had back pain from stress for like two months but in the end it worked out great! Well I didn’t already know anyone at Saks (people always ask that.) I went to a reception at Saks after I left a summit at the United Nations about a year ago and when I walked in I thought to myself “I am going to have an event here.” I didn’t know how or for what but I just could feel that I would. So fast forward a year later, I knew I wanted to do an official blog launch event so when I started brainstorming about venues I remembered Saks. I literally went to the corporate website and emailed everyone LOL and a woman got back to me. I set up a meeting and basically told them about my site and what it stood for and they were on board and so supportive. The rest was executed perfectly because I had a great team Nicole Newsum (amazing publicist), Chantal DeSoto (marketing genius), and a few other friends and family members that helped along the way. The end result was a true blessing. My site gained more recognition and I got to meet some of the most amazing people and learn some of the best lessons along the way!
VE: You had some big names come out to show support. Name drop a little and how did it feel for them to come out and support your event?
Ally: LOL You are funny. I am not a name dropper but for the sake of the question–Free was the host. The speakers were Beverly Bond (who also DJed that night), Michaela Angela Davis (Cultural Critic), Lauren Lake (HGTV host/Author, and Merble Reagon (Executive Director of the women’s center). I felt absolutely honored that these women believed in what I do enough to share their time and wisdom with me and the people that attended my event. I feel blessed. But to be honest I think what keeps be ridiculously humble is that it never feels real. It might not make any sense but there is something inside me that is so happy about my accomplishments and so thankful for those that help me but everything still feels surreal.
VE: And I noticed you rocked one of your jewelry pieces at the event. You’re a full on branding machine huh? LOL
Ally: LOL you know it boo! I always wear my jewelry unless I have to run out the house real quick or unless I am in sweats and even then I just might LOL.
VE: LOL! You were on an episode of Run’s House correct? What was that experience like?
Ally: It was fun because I got to see what reality TV is all about plus I got to meet some cool people from MTV that I have stayed in touch with.
VE: You’ve had some notable successes, but at what point will you consider yourself successful?
Ally: Hmmmm. I think yesterday I would have said “Well maybe when I own my own boutique” or “When my blog reaches 1 million readers.”
But today I will say that I am already successful. It didn’t hit me until recently. When I started receiving emails and even some voicemails form she-blogs readers about how I (little ole me) inspired them to change their lives or motivated them to be bold and do what they had never done before. It made me realize that success for me means when you get to a point in your life where you are bold enough to reach for your dreams and you can figure out a way, through your creativity to help better the lives of others.
But I do have many more projects I am currently working on/want to achieve in the near future like my book that I am writing.
VE: Nice! We’re moving.
Ally: And I just want to say “Thank you” Rondel for giving me the opportunity to grace the pages of Vitalize Entertainment. Your company, creativity, and drive are definitely a force to be reckoned with.
VE: ALL SMILES
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