At age 19, Lauren Maillian Bias founded a boutique winery that quickly became an internationally recognized award-winning brand. Sugarleaf Vineyards made her the youngest self-made winery owner in the country. She served as the chief operating officer of the company from inception through the brand’s acquisition in 2011. Maillian Bias also was a founding partner at Gen Y Capital Partners, an early stage venture capital firm focused on investments in mobile and consumer facing technology enabled companies. The serial entrepreneur most recently was the founder and CEO of Luxury Market Branding, a strategic marketing company. She has helped companies gain traction and market share and implemented strategic plans to build brand identify and increase revenue.
RELATED: REGISTER TODAY For the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit
Now at age 29, Maillian Bias is sharing her expertise in her book The Path Redefined: Getting To The Top On Your Own Terms, which goes on sale May 20. She will be signing exclusive copies of the book at the 2014 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo (#BEEC2014) in Columbus, Ohio (May 14-17). The angel investor will also be on hand during the opening session of the conference, “Opportunity Up: Accessing Equity Capital,†on Wednesday, May 14, to talk about how startups can raise much needed seed money.
The Path Redefined is intended to be a tool to help individuals maximize their full potential without compromising who they are. “I wrote the book to share my story and the depths of my entrepreneurial journey with a broader audience that I hope to inspire and empower to define and attain success on their own terms,†says Maillian Bias, who is passionate about marrying marketing, branding, and technology. “I’ve had a diverse career fueled by my passions. The Path Redefined not only synthesizes my story, it provides the insight and advice so that the reader can realize their full potential by leveraging what makes them unique.â€
Maillian Bias hopes that her book becomes a “movement of being successful without conforming to what society expects of you or what your degree states you should do.†She adds that one of the biggest compliments she’s received on the book thus far came from a colleague who said that The Path Redefined “gives you permission to dream!”  She wants people to feel empowered after reading the book and armed with the tools “to do just that.â€
There is much that entrepreneurs can learn from The Path Redefined, which provides a wealth of firsthand experience, including how to make success look easy and how to embrace failure; how to build a reputation and find a distinct voice; and how to clearly define goals and leverage uniqueness. Maillian Bias also advises on how to evolve a career with changing passions and what’s really needed to survive being an entrepreneur.
In addition to the firsthand advice, the book is filled with smart lessons learned from influential businessmen and -women.
Join the Small Business Revolution by registering NOW for the 2014 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted by Nationwide Insurance, May 14-17, at the Hyatt Regency Columbus, Ohio — with confirmed speakers including entertainment media mogul T.D. Jakes, CEO of TDJ Enterprises, and Valerie Daniels-Carter, president and CEO of V&J Holding, one of the largest woman- and African American-owned restaurant franchise operators in the U.S. Visit www.blackenterprise.com/ec/