Meet Trailblazer Michelle Y. Talbert

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Y. Talbert.

Michelle, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I graduated high school in 1987 when I was 17. I planned to go into the Air Force and while I was waiting for clearance I took a job with the federal government. There I met the man who would become my first husband.

We married when I was 18, had my son, Javier when I was 19, my daughter Jasmine came along when I was 20, and I’m sure you can already guess, by my 22nd birthday, I was a divorced single mom with 2 kids under 2!

I had a high school education and a “good government job” working full-time as a secretary but I wanted more out of my life.

I didn’t know what it was, but I’d started taking evening classes at my local community college while pregnant with my son. As the years progressed, one evening class here, two classes and a weekend there… this was way before online courses and in-home computers (I realize I’m dating myself!), I continued to take classes, not completely sure of where my path would lead.

After taking 10 years to get one credit shy of my 2-year Associate’s degree, I received a recruitment letter from Cornell University. I was shocked! I was honored! I was scared! Nonetheless, I applied and my kids and I headed from DC to Ithaca, New York. From there “we” walked across the stage in 2000 when I was 30 and went on to law school at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

After a few years in corporate law practice in Washington, DC and as the kids got closer to high school graduation, I felt that “I want more” tug again. 

In 2011 I co-wrote a book about online dating and left the full-time practice of law in 2012. I used social media (thankfully, we had computers and online resources by then! LOL) to market our book and EBONY found me on Twitter! I was hooked on the value of social media from that point.

As I gained more social traction more women would inbox me with all kinds of questions about how they could leverage social media, create and build their brands and side hustles, and a plethora of other questions. Those questions spawned the Her Power Hustle Podcast in 2015 and since then, I have curated Her Power Moves events around the country and host an online community of about 2,000 incredible, generous and driven women entrepreneurs. 

We’re based in Broward County and it’s been an incredibly wonderful experience watching women grow their businesses and create fruitful connections with other women entrepreneurs.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If you could hear me right now you’d hear me cackling! NO WAY has the road been easy! And my journey is far from over, so the speed bumps and hurdles and detours continue.

While there are challenges, what I’ve found is that with an amazing squad, a support system, we can overcome anything.

I would say that one of the two most challenging periods along my journey were getting my college and law school education. I was a single mom. The kids were in elementary school and we lived in cities where we didn’t have blood relatives (we created ‘family’ from our community).

There were nights and weekends that I was truly exhausted and frustrated and angry at myself because I believe that my life’s circumstances are my choice. I couldn’t understand why I was choosing such a seemingly difficult path. 

You ever feel that way? Like you’re so different and it’s such a difficult path, but doing anything else would feel even worse?!

I remember sitting in my statistics class 9 months pregnant with my daughter. I couldn’t fit in the desk/chair combo so I sat in a regular chair next to one of those desks and used it to write my notes, with my swollen feet propped up on another chair. I was a sight!

The following week, when I was supposed to be in class, I was in the labor and delivery room of the hospital.

Two weeks later when I returned to class my professor said he’d never had a student call out from class on her way to deliver a baby! Choices. I chose to take classes and I chose to be a mom and I chose to finish strong!

It wasn’t easy. There were many nights of study and homework (both mine and my kids’) and while in the moment I felt frustrated, as I look back on those times I can now speak to other young moms or students and they know that I UNDERSTAND how difficult juggling life’s responsibilities can be.

Building a business is no different. It’s hard and you want to quit and there are setbacks. “Done deals” fall through, clients request refunds. 

The one piece of advice I can give is to go deep, determine if the end you see ahead is what you desire and then make it happen. Put blinders on. Know that every ‘setback can be a setup’ for success. AND FIND YOUR SQUAD. 

My friends and family babysat my kids, cooked us meals, shopped for us during exams. The same with my business besties (as we call each other). Don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for assistance while you climb toward your goal! AND be sure to help others too! Reciprocity is invaluable and there is someone right now wishing she were where YOU are.

Please tell us about Her Power Moves – what should we know?
Her Power Moves, through our #unnetworking events and online community, provides a platform of tools and resources and connections for women with businesses and business ideas. 

My desire was to be able to reach as many women as possible and stretch beyond the one-to-one questions I received in my inbox from women across the country (actually the globe, we have members in parts of Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and Canada).

Her Power Moves supports women business owners as they level up, through forging connections and ramping up their marketing and business relationships, and gaining the necessary information and opportunities for success.

The vast network of industry leaders available to our members are experts in areas from media to technology to startups to finance, in industries ranging from blogging to podcasting to speaking.  We have a community of generous men and women, willing to share and connect and help our members succeed!

Additionally, we have a no-judgment zone approach to communication. Our attendees at our in-person #unnetworking events tell us that they feel comfortable in our curated environments and also in asking questions and sharing frustrations that they may not share in other business groups. We even have Her Power Down areas for our introverted attendees, where they can recharge their emotional batteries without leaving the event!

We are Individualists who have found our Squad. We are women with MDs, Ph.Ds and law degrees, who are side hustlers and listen to Trap music in our cars. 

We’re women who have never gone to college and have thriving brick and mortar businesses. 

We’re independent and yet thrive in a community of others who are purpose-driven and generous of spirit.

We say, “It’s possible to succeed in business alone, but we don’t have to because we have the Her Power Moves Squad!”

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Give yourself GRACE! You may have the career of your dreams and that’s amazing! Congratulations. 

You may also have an internal drive for something else, and others think you’re crazy for leaving a 401(k) or “good government job” to pursue what’s tugging at your heart. You may feel like you’re disappointing others who have invested in you being where you are. None of that matters more than you having a sense of purpose and “the pursuit of happyness” for yourself.

Give yourself the grace to explore what makes your heart sing AND realize that even if you pursue your passion there will be parts that you don’t like or that you didn’t realize were required. Give yourself grace then too! AND hire your weaknesses!

Stay open to the possibilities and be true to yourself. 

Finally, give yourself the GRACE to not have it all figured out. I’m turning 50 this year and I learn something new about my journey and myself frequently. Count it all joy and live your life to the full, out loud and speaking your truth. That’s how #weallwin!

Contact Info:

• Website: herpowermoves.com/about
• Phone: 5169624353
• Email: michelle@michelleytalbert.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herpowermoves/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleYTalbertEsq/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/herpowermoves
• Other: michelleytalbert.com

Image Credit:
Professional Pics (I own rights but want to give credit)
Innovative Arts Photography

Pink dress (in front of fireplace) – Oldine Monestime
Floral dress (in background and took long floral pic) – Joe Wesley Photography

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