Just one small decision can change your life. At least, that’s what Tamara Taylor would tell you if you asked her about her path to success. Like many young women, Taylor got her start in corporate America. Her life, paycheck, and worth were all based on how her company felt about her, but she pushed through in hopes that corporate America would treat her fairly until they laid her off.
What Taylor describes as a beautiful nightmare would be a lot of people’s demise. However, after being let go from her job, Taylor knew it wasn’t the place for her anymore. She recognized that she valued her company more than they valued her. Taylor needed to figure out where to go next, but she was sure that corporate America was no longer an option.
Tamara Taylor’s unexpected meeting turned into a business model.
Although Taylor was uncertain about her next step, she did know it was time to go home to Chicago. This decision would alter her life forever. Had she not decided to travel home, she would not have had the opportunity to meet one of today’s most renowned stylists, Law Roach.
Some way or another, the universe wanted Taylor and Roach to meet, and when they did, it was a positive pivot for the former corporate gal. Their meeting catalyzed the career change as she was added to Roach’s team as a business manager. She used her knowledge from corporate America to assist Roach with their needs, but she saw room for improvement.
According to Taylor, there was a gap in management for Roach. Roach did most of the work to find his clients.
“He should have someone speaking on his behalf, as well,” Taylor exclusively told MEFeater Magazine. “Once I saw that, there was a gap in some artists having that missing voice on their behalf. And simultaneously with how social media was shifting, to where everyone was becoming accessible, I saw a niche for me to be able to provide an alternate option to the traditional representation route.”
Noticing this sparked an idea for Taylor. She continued to work on Roach’s team while forming a business model to provide representation on a higher level for people on her roster. She began showing up for her clients and advocating for them in ways they’d never experienced. Because of this, her name spread like wildfire. She started adding more clients to her roster and founded Mastermind MGMT. From then on, she affectionately became known as the “certified deal closer.”
Taylor’s dreams came true, but that does not mean her experience was without struggle. She was now a Black woman in a male-dominated profession. But again, she persevered. She wielded her feminine power to get ahead.
“Well, it’s interesting how they say women have that gut feeling. They know when someone’s cheating on them, they just want proof,” Taylor shared. “That gut feeling that women have speaks to me a lot. And I learned the hard way what happens when you don’t listen to that gut feeling.”
Like herself, Black talent is often undervalued. Hence, stylists like Law Roach and Zerina Akers have to do the leg work of finding clients. She combined her and her client’s experience of discrimination and used it as a model for her business.
Tamara Taylor uses her experiences to help her clients.
Mastermind MGMT is determined to serve talent from minority groups and foster a relationship where clients can grow. For Taylor, it is more than just representing clients and securing large deals. The CEO told MEFeater Magazine that many of her roster members are first-generation entrepreneurs and the first people in the family to earn six or seven figures. She helps them navigate the transition and run their businesses.
Taylor often uses her story, experiences, and background to relate to her clients and continues to expand upon that. She plans to share the knowledge she has gained with her non-profit, Mastermind Matters. Through Mastermind Matters, she will assist young creative entrepreneurs with foundational business principles. The non-profit will continue to improve diversity in career fields like hers.
Tamara Taylor is more than a success story; she is a testament to innovation, creativity, and inclusivity. She didn’t count herself out after being laid off, leading her to see room for a new level of talent representation.
What part of Tamara Taylor inspired you most? Let us know in the comments below.
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