We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. Cryshaunda Rorie. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. Cryshaunda below.

Dr. Cryshaunda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had started sooner?

If I could go back in time I wouldn’t have started my creative career any sooner than what I did. I started Noelle Model & Talent Group after spending years of doing research, figuring out the do’s and dont’s of the child modeling industry, making plenty of mistakes during the process with the experiences of trying to get my child noticeability and spending a lot of money on what I initially thought was the way to get into the industry. When I started NMTG, career wise I was already a serial entrepreneur who really didn’t need to add on an additional business. I was really stretched thin but couldn’t dismiss the call from God to serve this purpose. I knew that if I were to move forward with the strategic plan, having a dedicated team was priority. This process took me way out of my comfort zone because none of my businesses had teams, none of my endeavors included other individuals and I was not trusting of anyone to move business accordingly without me being in the mix all of the time. I believe that God purposely pushed me into the business because it was my passion and purpose but also because he needed me to get out of my comfort zone, step outside the box, allow genuine people to help and prove to me that I don’t have to burn myself out to have a successful endeavor all while making a difference. Starting sooner than what I did would have just showed my incompetence’s because I wasn’t ready until I knew I was ready and starting later would have been doing a disservice to my true calling. I truly believe I started at the right time, during harvest season and when I got the go from God.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

So I’m Dr. Cryshaunda Rorie by trade but I’m so much more than that day by day. I started my first business, a childrens’ boutique in 2018 called I. Am Blairs Closet named after my then 2 year old Blair Noelle. I started the business solely because I wanted to establish a business and a legacy that could live beyond me. I was diagnosed with cancer when Blair was 6 months old. One thing about cancer, even after the fight has been deemed won you still have plenty of silent days and lingering thoughts about the “what ifs”. I knew that if cancer had ever come back to attack my body and I was not as blessed to be able to win the fight again, I at least wanted something established for my child. So, I birthed the business. My daughter as she grew older got accustomed to the business life. Doing pop up shows, having photoshoots, speaking engagement’s and fashion shows. She grew to love the modeling aspect and dressing in her favorite looks for the camera everyday. Because of this, I started branding her as a child model. She walked on her first runway as a 2 year old and hasn’t stopped since. As the years passed and through research and learning how we could make this a career for her the opportunities just started knocking at our door. My social media followers, family and friends were able to have a close up and personal account of watching us at local events to big shows in New York. They were able to see her grow into a child model and watched as she posed in big name brand ads and commercials’. Because of this, I began to receive daily messages from parents interesting in child modeling. I started teaching series entitled “Raising a Boss”, I would help parents on the side with what I knew and would try my best to be as authentic as possible in my responses. Then God said MORE! I never dreamed of building or owning an agency. If anything, I would run from the thought of it simply because I didn’t care to have the responsibility of others most precious gifts. But, after much thoughts, prayers, strategic planning and building an everlasting team, I was able to lay my worries down and pick up my faith. So, I birthed Noelle Model & Talent Group. We are a model/talent group that caters to children ages 3-17. Our primary focuses are model, talent, pageant, acting and voice over. We are bridging the gap for parents who do not understand the industry, do not know were to start and/or want their childs modeling career to flourish. I’m most proud of the work that we have done in such a little time of existing. Many booked ads, fashion shows, plays, monologues, pageant winners and the list goes on. I couldn’t and wouldn’t be successful without my powerful team and I owe the world to them. Our group focuses on the five points of promises which are DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING, NETWORK, EXECUTION and FINANCE. These are the components we use to foster our child models and to educate their guardians on for a successful and long lasting career.

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

Since starting my journey as a creative, I have been diagnosed with cancer 3x. The last time being a month before I was set to open my doors to a brand new business, Noelle Model & Talent Group. Imagine doing all of this planning, securing a building, buying furniture, having your business plan and just weeks away from a Grand Opening and learning that you have been diagnosed with cancer for a third time. There were plenty of moments were I wanted to back peddle. Plenty of days were I knew I had no choice but to rely on a team to see the vision through and wonder if I would even live to see it through myself. When I finally got back to my purpose and the reason why creating this business was so influential in the first place, I was able to turn doubt into hope. Still being realistic about my health condition but figuring out solutions as they came. I am strong, I am tough and I am a survivor through resilience. Knowing your why and keeping your why at the forefront of your every move, every desire and every decision will not steer you wrong.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The one lesson I had to learn was that I could be humble as a business owner but still know the product and services that I was delivering was needed and wanted and stand on it. As business owners we sometimes down ourselves in different stages of our journey as a creative. We also second guess ourselves if the services doesn’t seem to be producing the return we expected. You need to make a mental shift and unlearn the thought that you are just selling or delivering “stuff”. Your stuff is changing lives, no matter how small of an impact it might be.

I had to change my mindset about my services and the value they brought. Parents need the services I offer and the affordable products I sell. Those parents wanted my products and services in their home for a reason – because it was going to help them in some way.

Your products and services change lives and you have to realize that. If you are just starting out, maybe you aren’t getting that feedback from your customers yet, but I promise you it’s happening. You need to unlearn that you are just selling or servicing stuff.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nmtg.org
• Instagram: @noellemodeltalentgroup
• Facebook: Noelle Model and Talent Group

Image Credits
Suzanne Snuggs Photography Black Print Photography