The Source

Janita Stewart is no stranger to breaking down barriers. As the state Director of the Small Business Administration (SBA) in Mississippi, she helps aspiring business owners overcome obstacles and break down barriers every single day. As the first African American female to lead a federal government agency in Mississippi, she has much to be proud of and share with other aspiring professional women. We’re incredibly proud to have her as a member of The Source Advisory Panel and share her story with you.    

In our last blog post, we discussed receiving constructive criticism. This week, we’re diving into an even more cringe-worthy topic, giving constructive criticism. I have never encountered one person, no matter the position, who enjoys giving criticism. Even those at the top of the corporate ladder liken the task to walking on a bed of nails. However, in order to be a capable leader, constructive criticism is something you’re going to have to embrace if you want yourself and your business to succeed. How do we make this task more bearable and beneficial to both parties?    

If there was one thing we all hated in school, it was group projects. At the root of this disdain was the fact that we were forced to constantly work through issues with other human beings and couldn’t just solve the assigned project alone. We had to think outside our own bubble. Upon graduation and entering the professional world, you quickly realize that your job is just one continual group project that never ends, and our teachers weren’t wrong to try and prepare us.    

Alyson Jones, a lawyer at Butler Snow and member of The Source Advisory Panel, lays claim to an impressive list of accomplishments and expertise that will quickly leave you wondering where she finds time to juggle her successful career, family, and community involvement.    

Recently it seems work meetings have garnered a bad reputation. It’s difficult to see a meeting request pop up in your inbox without an internal groan or sense of dread. How many meetings in which we’ve sat could the task at hand have been accomplished with an email? As I scrolled through Instagram a few days ago, I read a motivational post from theSkimm that said, “Break up with some of your work meetings…fire yourself from meetings you don’t have to be in. Result: more efficiency and better Mondays.” Sounds great! How do I get started?    

Cold Calling…The phrase says it all. It strikes fear into the hearts of some and annoyance into the hearts of others. Many business professionals dread their cold calling time. However, many leaders understand it is a tried-and-true way to grow business.    

A few years ago, I got a call from my daughter's daycare that she had fallen and hurt her lip. "You don't need to come get her. She's fine. We just wanted you to know." Good, I thought. I shall NOT raise little snowflake babies! No sooner had that thought entered my mind than I was in my car pointed right toward my own little swollen-lipped snowflake.    

Many are calling 2018 the “Year of the Women.” More women are running for office than ever before, we’re out in the streets (literally) advocating for causes we believe in, and just generally demanding our voices and opinions be heard. However, for the seemingly-ordinary women, there can be a sharp discourse between what we see on the news and read on social media about the skyrocketing successes of women and what we see in everyday life.    

As hard as we tried, we simply couldn’t trim Jennifer Emerson’s interview down to one blog post. Every story she shared was intriguing, and every piece of advice she gave was inspiring. If you missed Part 1, start there. Then continue learning more about our Advisory Panel member and hardworking owner of Walker’s Drive-In, CAET, Parlor Market, Local 463, and Capital Club.    

Southerners love our food. We love eating it, reading about it, talking about it, and especially serving it to our friends and family. And when the restaurant business gets in your blood at a young age, turning it into a successful career just makes sense. The Source Advisory Panel member Jennifer Emerson grew up loving her aunt and uncle's restaurant and is now the owner and a driving force behind several of the metro Jackson area's favorite dining spots: Walker's Drive-In, CAET, Parlor Market, Local 463, and Capital Club.