We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Al Bowman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Al below.
Al, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I overcame imposter syndrome by building confidence in my work as well as myself. When I put myself out there and became open to critique, it made it a lot easier to accept the positive along with the negative. Often times, we don’t want to hear the negatives or the cons associated with our product when that’s actually what we need to grow and overcome obstacles. When I stopped being afraid of thoughts and opinions, I became more comfortable with putting myself out there and since then, I can’t be told I don’t belong in any space that I care to occupy.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a military veteran and proud graduate of Fayetteville State University and Queens University of Charlotte.
I am also a freelance big and tall model as well as a big and tall fashion content creator. I have been featured/published in over 12 publications and have worked on campaigns with companies such as Coach and Champion.
Outside of fashion, I have a heavy heart for arts and black culture.
I am the founder of AL BOWMAN CREATIVE CO. which is a creative platform for artists, creators, and everyday visionaries. We curate a series of events spanning from creative markets to live dj sets, to creative meet ups.
We also design clothing through our lifestyle brand TEN TWENTY ONE that reflects the mindset of the modern creative — thoughtful, expressive, and intentional. Alongside that, we also offer creative services for individuals and brands looking to bring their ideas to life with clarity and style.
At the heart of everything we do is a belief that creativity and well-being go hand in hand.
Whether you’re wearing one of our pieces or reading something from the journal, we’re here to support the full creative experience — not just the highlight reel.
Clean. Intentional. Rooted in real life.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think the three skills that have been most impactful in my journey are communication, strategic partnerships, and tenacity.
The best advice that I can give in these areas is to never dream too small. The best way to grow in these areas is to shoot your shot, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable at times. Collaboration is the best way to grow and you need all the skills to collaborate at a high level to get the most out of your opportunities.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was not tell me who I should be or dictate the life I was going to live. I was raised to be a kind, practical, hardworking person. These qualities provided me the solid foundation I’d need to do anything else with my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://albowmancreative.co
- Instagram: albowmanofficial
Image Credits
Croo Studios, Mela Jay Photography, J Low Visionz
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
