Meet RENIKA SMILEY

We recently connected with RENIKA SMILEY and have shared our conversation below.

RENIKA, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
I had to be okay at being the only one in the room who may not had a car, my own place, a career job, a degree, to be able to work the room to be able to become that particular person in the room. Being a young black woman was just a added barrier to many barriers I already had to overcome. But I refused to be stuck in poverty, at a dead end job, without financial freedom and growth. If I would of allowed society to detected my future I would still be living below average of my goals for me. But my mother and father taught us to live boldly, dream big, and have courage to overcome to achieve your wildiest dreams. So I had faith to leap. To leap for me so I can go back to the same neighborhoods I came from to be able to help others and open up more doors for people who look like me so they can stand in those rooms too.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Renika J. Smiley, I am the Founder of Generation NOW. Generation NOW is a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization. Are mission is to provide world class networking, mentorship, and career training for all young professionals. Generation NOW is a membership base organization for young professionals Headquarter in Cincinnati, Ohio. Generation NOW is a United Way Funded Nonprofit. Founder Renika J. Smiley first launched Generation NOW as a LinkedIn Networking Happy Hour Event, hosted at local bars. Her first events featured a diverse speaking panel and began with an audience of 40-75 young professionals in Igby’s private second floor. Fortune 500 corporate offices soon replaced Igby’s when attendance grew to 200+.

Renika’s tenacity proves that it’s not about the start, it’s about how you finish! Generation NOW has highlighted 200+ local businesses. We’ve honored 150+ young professionals with awards and plaques for career achievement. The organization has locked in community partnerships and sponsorships with companies like RDI, Nielsen, P&G, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, and more. The success of this program has won loyal followers by offering job opportunities, building business clientele, developing professional growth for young professionals, strengthening panelists’ speaking skills, and promoting inclusion to grow our community.

I’m also the Owner of Lusheous Collection Inc. a Plus Size Clothing Boutique that I was able to jumpstart with a $17,000 inhertience from the passing of my mother and her sister. Lusheous Collection Inc has been featured in magazines across the country, fashion shows such as Atlanta Fashion Week, NY Fashion Week Festival and many more.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three skills that took me far in life is education, hard work, and self care. Self-Care and how we chose to care for ourselves prepares us to take care of others and our communities but we can’t help anyone until we take care of ourselves first. Education has allowed me options to open up more career opportunities and life changing moments opportunities for myself be allowing me to walk into rooms where I shouldn’t of been due to how well I articulated and educated I spoke. It’s not alwayys about having it all together, its about knowing how to play your part to fit the square in the rooms to be able to work the rooms, to your advantage so you can achieve your goal. The skill of consistent hard work is what’s going to help you grow. Don’t allow yourself to sit in those moments of failure and forget that tomorrow is a new day and more hard work will lead to the win!

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My parents has been the most helpful in helping me overcome challenges in life by watching them overcome there own barriers. My parents may didn’t have much but the values of hard work, dedication, leadership, and giving back. Those princples along has open up new doors for myself and my silbings as well. I remember my father buulding those skills into my brother and I by the way of coaching us through our school sports careers. My father wanted us to be the best at what we do, so we could have a chance to overcome poverty. Well, we may have not made it to obtain huge sports careers, but we won in the game of life with my father essential tools of overcoming, having courage, and self disclpince and constant development of your craft so you can become the best you can be. The knowledge and getting up to try again mentality of my mother is the reason I am the woman I am today. I have followed in my mother’s footsteps through her community development journey to help others achieve economic development, so they can thrive in the workforce and ecomically. I have also followed in my mother’s journey in education as a late bloomer career educator while studying for my Master’s degree in Human Resource. Unfortunely both of my parents have passed. I missed my parents, and it’s diffcult to live without them physically at 34 years old, but I will never forget the life they taught us to live and lead. And as I continue on my journey I will continue lead through there teachings.

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