We recently connected with Allison Lee Conner and have shared our conversation below.

Allison Lee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?

The kindest thing every done for me is truly impossible for me to quantify down to a single gesture or just one person or one occurrence. I have a village of beautiful; compassionate; generous; loving and kind souls who truly have gone the immeasurable distance for me as I balance motherhood; following the assignment that God has given me; serving with excellence in my present while keeping the faith in knowing that the best is still yet to come. My village have literally been the hands and feet of Jesus from blessing my children and I with transportation as well as coming alongside me when my paycheck could not make ends meet. My village has refortified my faith.

Allison Lee, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I first envisioned Team B Inspired Agency back in November of 2011. Prior to launching my business, I managed talent; assisted with artist development and wrote songs for myself along with a few independent artists all while working hourly and then salaried jobs. Fun fact: I was even an aspiring singer and rapper many many years ago. I did not pursue those dreams because I succumbed to believing what I allowed others to speak into my life who said that I was not good enough. It was this statement, “Well Allison, that’s great that you have big dreams to perform on a stage but you need to keep your head out of the clouds and be realistic because only one in a million make it.” If you can imagine replaying that statement on a continuum in my head and the feeling of defeat that charted heavy throughout my life. God ALWAYS has a plan! I wrestled with continuing my education to follow a path that appeased others yet knew I was not called to do and that led to one too many schools of me sojourning through majors and disciplines that I enjoyed studying because I love to read and learn; however, I did not hear God say this is what HE graced me to do. My takeaway is simply to follow God and not people because if God gave you a vision; HE will give you provision. That’s not just a cliche. Time is wasted when we meander through life leaning solely to our own understanding and the perspective of others who many of them do have good intentions except God has said differently by placing people in our lives who could help us reach our dreams yet we do not grab ahold of what they are empowering us to do because the naysayers voices reverberate more loudly. I dare say again that it is key to have wise counsel in your life because it takes just one thought that could impact your destiny. Through many trials and storms; I hesitated on writing down my vision which for me was during a time when my faith wavered like never before. This is why it is imperative to have a solid inner circle who are prayer warriors. I stepped out on faith and finally wrote down my vision in 2015 and was still met with many challenges except now I was on a healing journey after an extremely difficult relationship dissolved. I poured myself into learning everything I could about the industry that I had countless dreams of working in and it was then that I was affirmed when one of my most cherished friends and colleagues Linda Delores coached me and she began to help me bring my dream into fruition through prayer and perseverance. My daughter Emani was also extremely instrumental in helping me rebuild my confidence. I share all of this because confidence along with being empowered to walk in the gifts and talents that God has given me are paramount and especially as a Publicist and Brand Manager. How could I possibly pitch a prospective client if I could not authentically pitch myself and the services my business offers. My dear friend Donna Calabrese has also championed me along, inspiring me to step out on faith, extending me many opportunities when working for the Cliffside Park School District and serving as the co-President of the School Three PTO to reach out to businesses for sponsorships and donations as well helping to curate creative content for school events. She gave me the opportunity to curate creative content for the school’s social media platforms with the ability to go LIVE on Instagram throughout the pandemic. It was during the pandemic that my friend Cat Scotto also inspired me to follow my dreams as we went LIVE daily connecting with our school community. This really solidified my passion for connecting with others; the power of social media and how rewarding it was to collaborate organically in such creative formats and my skill set was sharpened in countless ways. I also gleaned the importance of having an impeccable standard of excellence while working with Donna too. It’s important to have people in your life who celebrate you even when you are unsure of yourself. Business mentors have been very instrumental in my professional growth and development. Linda, my daughter Emani, Donna, Krish Gutierrez, Kristen Tansey and my former colleague and friend Mariann Carrieri have all encouraged me to find my niche and go for it with the same intensity that obstacles seemed to find their way into the trajectory of my career path. Having a network of friends who fill in the gap to help you thrive has also been the wind beneath my wings such as Mariann’s talented daughter, Caterina; Linda’s daughters Liv and Sophie; Krish’s daughters Sele and Nyla along with Angela Araujo’s daughters Tasha; Tabitha and Thiffany including my amazing three sons, MJ, Eli and Levi; they have all been a part of the Team B Inspired story over the years too. I am grateful for every opportunity to collaborate. All of this to say, that there is no “I” in Team B Inspired Agency.

Now, having realized the purpose of each obstacle having all reignited my passion for writing, the power of writing can increase your engagement rate on social media and build as well as strengthen community. Furthermore, Shanda Aleiwe, Designer & Owner of Alley&Rae, was the very first brand to give my company an opportunity for a brand collaboration and Shanda has been a wealth of knowledge throughout my journey. Shand and I connected through an email I sent to her asking for an opportunity to explore ways to collaborate. Similarly, India Williams, Founder and CEO of Rooted Woman was the second brand that gave my team and I the opportunity for a brand collaboration. Soon after, India extended an opportunity for my company to serve as a Brand Manager for her company whose mission and vision inspires me on countless levels. India was extremely supportive as I continued to work with other brands in which I always ensured there would not be a conflict of interest. These experiences were all necessary to my business’s growth. Trust as well as integrity are core principles of Team B Inspired Agency. We are honored when an Influencer/Brand shares his/her/their vision with us because Influencers are brands too. We are honored when a brand shares their vision and we are made privy to their vision. It was also a meeting with Krish Gutierrez, owner of Luxe Beauty Bar and Luxe Beauty Group that impacted my journey profoundly because as a new business, defining my rates seemed incomprehensible. I remember Krish saying to me, “Girl, Boss up, you better know your worth!” Both Linda and my daughter had echoed almost in unison with Krish’s very same sentiment. Krish has been a mentor and friend that I absolutely treasure too. Looking back now, not charging my worth led to stagnation and almost no growth for a very long stretch of time. You must believe that your skills; gifts and talents are valuable because if not, then why be in business is the question we must ask ourselves. I had to grow through not shrinking back, it can be tempting to shrink back when your reach is not as expansive as some others’ or maybe you do not have the extensive contacts as another company but take courage because there is only one you and one me. We are each 1 of 1. I have experienced others take my ideas and pitch the very same brands I had pitched on their behalf and my Company not be compensated but chin up because these were not losses rather expensive lessons for example of not working without a contract. As a new business you may be inclined to be apprehensive about asking your prospective clients to sign a contract. It’s a binding agreement that really does protect your interest along with your prospective client’s interest too. I have gleaned so much having collaborated with Krish and her fabulous team Victoria, Celeste and Liz as well as with Tamika Heard, owner of Truly Regal Spa on previous projects. Moreover, it was a compliment I received from celebrity Publicist, Rose Newlands, that I treasure because Rose is an inspiring Publicist who has a very successful Public Relations firm with many years of experience working with well-known celebrity clients; publications; photographers; stylists and brands. Her integrity is impeccable and she afforded me opportunities along with the clients I was blessed to work with platforms to expand their reach and brand awareness. It was great training for me. Rose has been wonderful to collaborate with and I am forever grateful for her friendship. Celebrating successful women in business is another Team B Inspired Agency core value. I am also extremely grateful to have worked with Dannella Lane and her family down through the years whom I met while working with Rooted Woman. Dannella wrote the most edifying email in response to my initial email to her family on behalf of Rooted Woman and I thank God for HIS divine connections along with the many teachable moments along with treasured experiences with the Lane family. It was through Dannella that I met Carol “CeCe” Combs who has been an amazing friend as well as mentor. Having solid people in your life is critical as well as essential. I am also beyond grateful for my friend and client Julie Hyers, The ASVAB Tutor, who has been an incredible friend to my children and I. It was soon after Krish and I met, that Julie hired Team B Inspired Agency to assist with brand curation for her business as well as to assist with the creative process of curating her book covers; hiring and overseeing the artist for her brand’s logo along with brand strategy; consultation and guidance in book publishing and her book launch as well as social media strategy. Kristen Tansey, owner of Christmas Designers of New Jersey also has extended many opportunities to collaborate such as assisting her business with social media marketing assets; branding for her marketing campaigns as well as pitching collaboration for her brand’s pr and marketing projects. Her friendship has also been a blessing to me down through the years too. Bari and Dilek, Owners of Corner Cafe and Dilek Homes have also extended opportunities in the past to curate creative content and manage their social media handles for their businesses. Most recently, Chef Gary Pyrus owner of B&F Catering & Consulting along with The Southern Affair, an incredible food truck experience, tapped Team B Inspired for our PR and Marketing services too! There are clients who will compensate you for your work, who value your intrinsic gifts and talents that translate into a return on their investment in your company. Monique Ward is another cherished friend and client who believed in Team B Inspired Agency hiring our team for brand consultation; logo and website curation along with marketing and branding assets to include social media development. Team B Inspired Agency specializes in brand curation; rebranding; brand development and brand pairing. The synergy of teamwork is beyond being influential as well as inspiring: We have woven authenticity; transparency; staying organic and true the ethos of one’s vision into our core values and they are the very fabric of who we are here at Team B Inspired Agency. Additionally, Team B Inspired Agency approaches opportunities with a posture of curating content that leaves an imprint on the hearts and minds of those it touches as well as reaches. Everyone has influence to some degree or another yet it’s how we curate and cultivate creative content to inspire and share within as well as beyond the reach of own our circles of influence that permeates the essence of your brand giving it a distinct agility to the ebbs and flows of business; a uniqueness to your brand’s footprint creating space for its evolution.

Moreover, we must be intentional and authentic in our approach along with being transparent in our presentation as we engage with those within our circles of influence knowing the depth and degree of the intrinsic value of our creative content and storytelling.

Team B Inspired PR is here to guide; inspire along with assist our clients to amplify & elevate their brand. We are dedicated to helping you stay true to the ethos of your brand. Our clients entrust us to curate realistic brand strategies that make sense for their business. Our core values and Company’s posture is to also do the very same for you.

The footprint of Team B Inspired PR includes copy-write written specifically for your brand with each social media post infused with Team B Inspired PR’s organic and original-storytelling anchored to the ethos of your brand, while remaining in alignment with marketing trends unique to your niche implementing your brand’s social media marketing strategy that we have been entrusted to curate as we promote and cross-promote your brand. Team B Inspired has a signature and distinct methodology incurating press kits; social media kits; speaker sheets; private label pitch desks; product line sheets; press releases; social media marketing and digital marketing assets. Our niche is impeccable brand pairing that is purposefully meaningful as well as impactful in order to create measurable returns on your investment along with immeasurable growth too: Let’s collaborate today and collectively experience an expansion of your brand’s footprint on such profound levels. Our Services also include training executive assistants. Having worked with high profile celebrities; successful business owners and dignitaries over the past 20 years, I share with full disclosure that the position of an EA is not for the faint of heart yet one of the most rewarding careers you could ever imagine! Finally, what I am most proud of is that through it all I have maintained my integrity and straightened my crown when it just was not a good fit. Yes, I have experienced profit loss and not being compensated because I did not elect to set my rate at the fair exchange that would have been mutually beneficial for me too. Giving a discount when you have already undervalued your rate is not a good business practice. Finally, learning to keep your private life private while simultaneously being relational and not transactional with your clients are boundaries that should be clear and concise. As a business owner, protect your interest; guard your mission and vision as well as privacy professionally and personally. As a Publicist and Consultant, we encourage our clients to implement the use of a NDA/NDS (non disclosure acknowledgement/non disclosure statement) which should be a standard business practice when onboarding new team members; vendors and services including hiring our company too! And never compromise your integrity.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I experienced two extremely difficult events in my life that placed me in a space of questioning my dream and seemingly shook me to the core yet through leaning into God my road to healing after one two many heartaches opened up areas that God had to get in there and prune. It reminded me of the countless times I would ride my 10 speed down rocky terrain with shorts on and no knee pads; no elbow pads and no helmet somehow expecting that when I fell because the paths I choice to ride on were thrilling yet I was determined to vet them myself to test whether or not they were really not the right road to travel on; this pretty much mimics how I had to learn and grow as an entrepreneur. I had to learn to vet the industry; the relations I would embark on with influencers/brands and learn to navigate them with wisdom and discernment. After the height of the pandemic, I was offered an amazing opportunity to relocate and it seemed ideal because as hard as I worked it was very difficult to surpass the financial goals I set for myself. The opportunity as wonderful as it would have been just was not what God ordained for me and that created a visible fracture to a hairline fracture that I did not want to see was there by way of the opportunity that I prayed through. Things seemed to have went all the way left when I declined the opportunity to relocate. In fact, financially, it seemed impossible to follow my dreams and that was just it; I had a vision and what does God say about a vision, “While standing guard on the watchtower,I waited for the Lord’s answer, before explaining the reason for my complaint. 2Then the Lord told me: “I will give you my message in the form of a vision. Write it clearly enough to be read at a glance.
3 At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time,
but keep on waiting—it will happen!” Habakkuk 2:1-4
My resilience was revealed when I went back to what God said and I will continue to work the vision HE has given me trusting that it will come to pass at HIS appointed time. Waiting is the test and working your vision may seem futile. but do not give up or grow weary in well-doing. Also, do not get distracted either, I have learned to selectively share and led by The Holy Spirit because every I am not assigned to every opportunity. It has to be a God-fit.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission and drive continues to be to assist others amplify their voices; mission and vision using the creative skills and gifts that God has blessed me with to create as well as cultivate a safe space to raise brand awareness; connect others through a footprint that celebrates the process; savoring memorable moments in time; with a footprint that encourages other to take the journey all while celebrating those who have begun the journey and to make the journey accessible to others who need a shoulder to stand on or someone to hold their arms up as they press their way through unimaginable circumstances: Simply to be the hands and feet of Jesus just as others have been for me time and time again.      

Contact Info:

• Website: www.teambinspiredpr.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/teambinspiredpr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teambinspiredpr
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/teambinspiredpr

Image Credits
Graphics and Assets Curated by Team B Inspired Agency, LLC. Levi Blaise Coleman – Primary Kids Christmas Designers of NJ – Event Photograph provided by President, Kristen Tansey Upper Room Full Gospel Church – Pastor Rev. Dr. Bruce M. Williams and Executive Pastor Rev. Phyllis A. Williams Allison’s headshot: Nyla Jones-Gutierrez