Name: Rae Holliday
Age: 35
Profession: Special Projects Producer, Editor & Host
Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @raeholliday
One Word That Describes You: Resilient
How HE Extraordinarily Impacts: As a cultural expositor of everything urban, award-winning media personality Rae Holliday has captured our black lives and presented them in publications like The Source, Russell Simmons’ GlobalGrind.com, HelloBeautiful.com, NecoleBitchie.com, and his style site StuffFlyPeopleLike.com. Resilience and perseverance, wrought by an unconventional childhood, have fueled Holliday’s commitment to mentoring and coaching his audience—including his 35K Instagram followers—on how to effectively live the lives they were meant to lead.
What does being one of the BEMM 100 Men of Distinction mean to you?
It truly means a lot to me to be one of the BEMM 100 Men of Distinction. I’ve worked really hard to implement a genuine level of integrity into my brand, and this honor means I’m on the right track. Not to mention, I use to purchase BE magazine right before my transition into entrepreneurship to take note of the wonderful heights people of color were reaching in the category of business and entrepreneurship.
What are you doing as an Ambassador to help support black male achievement now or in the future?
A few years ago I started the InspiRAEtion Workshops, aimed at helping brilliant people who needed an extra push to succeed in their respective fields. I always said that once I reached a point of adequate experience, that I would give back in a meaningful way to those who needed a push because, honestly, I wish I had that push when I was starting out. My two most popular workshops are The Art Of Effective Networking and The InspiRAEtion Vision Board Workshop. To date I’ve had over 300 attendees, many of which are young men of color, and to date over 50 of those young men have returned for one-on-one mentorship.
What are some examples of how you turned struggle into success?
About five years ago I found myself at an awful crossroad. Because of the mismanagement of my personal funds and after being laid off from my last corporate job (ever), I found myself broke and on the brink of homelessness. Weeks away from eviction, I needed to turn things around pretty quickly. With prayer and determination, I used my struggle to propel my motivation to not only never be in that position again, but to inspire others who may be in the midst of a struggle they need help getting out of mentally.
What is an important quality you look for in your relationships with others?
Honesty and clear communication are extremely important to me in a relationship with others. I’ve learned that when communication is crystal clear and honest, we can soar to the highest heights imaginable. When we can freely communicate without fear of judgment, the scope of creativity is higher and more successful.
What are some immediate projects you are working on?
I’m the special projects producer for an amazing new brand named CASSIUS, which just had launch parties in NYC and ATL. I’m pretty excited to be a part of this new master brand comprised of stellar award-winning editors and writers of color, with a niche for reporting brown culture effectively and entertainingly.
What is the best advice you ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever was received was a consistent brand can only be built off of consistent actions. This motivates me to always be consistent with my actions.
What is some advice you have for other men who want to make a difference?
My advice for men who want to make a difference is to outline your plan and execute as much as you can without the dependency of outside factors that are not available. We often wait to save money, gain investors, and seek approval from so many people, when the first step should be to do what you can with your immediate resources.
How do you prep for an important business meeting and/or event?
Research, research, research! All of my meetings go much smoother and are way more effective when I am briefed well on the subject. I spend lot of time diving into the brands and people I want to connect with, which not only makes them feel more comfortable, but gives a clear understanding of the goals that can be achieved as a result of a great meeting.
As a busy Modern Man, how do you unwind on vacation?
Because I work so much, I’ve learned the importance of taking time off to recharge. Just like our phones and computers need to be rebooted, so do we. So each week I take half a day off of social media, and make sure to do some reading or watch a good movie without interruption. While I’m on vacation, I take one full day away from anything social media so I can enjoy each moment and memory.
If you could travel and stay anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I’ve not yet been to Paris or Cuba, and because both places are rich in beauty and culture, I’d love to partake in the riches of the land. I think it’s really important to visit locations that are rich in history and create memories that you will never forget. My favorite place to visit is Barbados; the country is simply beautiful and the peace is amazing.
Anything else you’d like to say?
In life you get out what you put in. Don’t be afraid to do the work, be ready to do the work, and enjoy doing the work because the results will mirror the work and your brand will thank you in the end!
It’s our normal to be extraordinary. Follow @BEModernMan and join the conversation using #BEModernMan.
Come celebrate the BE Modern Man 100 Men of Distinction at the first-ever Black Men XCEL Summit, Aug. 30 – Sept. 3, at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.