By Rakia Reynolds

As the economy continues on its turbulent path, CEO builder Kimberly S. Reed is readying a new crop of entrepreneurs for their turn as gamechangers. With almost 15 years experience in professional and executive development, the managing partner of the Reed Development Group, LLC (RDG) has worked with Fortune 500 companies and top universities, and is an international speaker and lecturer whose passion has earned her a reputation for delivering results for her clients.

Stepping Out

Three years ago, when her firm downsized, Reed accepted a severance package, which she then used to create her own company. “I had great talent, networks, sponsors, and mentors in my career toolbox,” she says. “It was time to package them and develop my own company.”

Trust Factor

Reed insists that character and integrity are integral to earning clients’ trust, which allows her to make the best decisions for them. “I become their advisor and confidant; you can’t earn those titles without strong character. It helps them grow and win.” In addition, she gives her time to multiple nonprofit organizations, including the African American Chamber of Commerce, the Howard University School of Business, and Women’s Way, Inc.

I’m a Boss

More and more people are turning to entrepreneurship as a career change and viable source of income. Reed advises clients to make informed decisions with strategic plans. “You must be willing to reinvent yourself, reinvigorate your service off erings and be extremely knowledgeable in your industry,” says the West Chester University alumna. “Also, network, network, network!”

Forward Thinking

Reed—who also serves as the president of NExT (Network of Extraordinary Talent) Philadelphia—acknowledges that she has a huge responsibility on her shoulders as an entrepreneur. “It challenges your creativity and competitive [nature] because clients expect 150 percent effort, innovation, solutions, and results.” So how does she stay ahead of the curve? “I read about business trends and global leadership and have increased my attention to detail. I always try to lead by example and empower others.”

Courtesy of Ebony

Whether you’re a newlywed or have been married for many years, having a good handle on your finances needs to be a top priority for couples.

Spouses that can make financial decisions together are usually in a better position than those who avoid talking about money or rely on one spouse to handle every aspect of the household finances.

If you and your partner have different money “personalities” – different spending habits, savings goals, or just different philosophies about money – you could have arguments about money and endure financial problems that taint an otherwise happy marital life.

Here are five financial mistakes that could wreck your marriage:

#1: Attempting to Change Your Partner’s Money Personality 

Everyone has their own money personality, a set of habits or concepts about money that guide their purchasing decisions, dictate how much and when they save, and determine their spending comfort level.

If one spouse is very frugal and the other is used to living a lavish lifestyle, you can expect some conflicts to arise. However, trying to change your partner’s money personality – and you insist that your way is the “best” way all the time – that can hurt your marriage.

#2: Having Joint Accounts Before You’re Ready 

Many couples struggle with the idea of having joint accounts when they get married.

If you’re 100 percent sure that both parties are comfortable sharing expenses or seeing how each parties saves, spends and so on, then joint accounts can be just fine. Also, if neither one of you has a problem determining who gets what “share” when each person is earning a different amount of income, you could go ahead and open joint accounts and not experience any real conflict.

Continue reading at Ebony.com

Danny Simmons, Lerone Wilson, Miguel Ovalle and Russell Simmons

Renowned artist Danny Simmons founded Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, along with his famous brothers, Russell Simmons and Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons, in 1995 to give opportunity to underrepresented artists. After the 15 years, the mission has not changed. The 501c3 organization, in partnership with Bombay Sapphire, created the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series, a nationwide search for the next superstars in the art world. This year’s winners were announced at Art Basel Miami last fall: New York artists Miguel Ovalle and Lerone Wilson.

Glory by Lerone Wilson

“Having my work recognized at one of the largest art fairs in the world is truly an incredible honor,” says Ovalle. “This level of exposure is indispensable when you are based in one of the world’s most stimulating art communities,” adds Wilson.

Message to the Gods by Miguel Ovalle

The two winners’ works are on exhibition at the Rush Arts Gallery until March 16th, 2012. 526 W. 26th St. 212- 691-9552. rushartsgallery.org—Isoul H. Harris

The combined company will operate the Vibe, Uptown, and BlackBook media properties. These brands will serve as anchor properties for the Vibe Lifestyle Network (VLN) and BlackBook Media Network affiliates which serve over 18.5 million monthly visitors and will be complemented by VIBE magazine, UPTOWN magazine, and BlackBook magazine. The online and mobile properties across the network will leverage Access Networks’ AccessGeo local content management and distribution technology platform.

“We’re passionate believers in the future of technology-driven media companies and the ability to leverage online, mobile, print and local content through premier brands,” said Earvin “Magic” Johnson. “We’re interested in consolidating great brands that reach a large and attractive audience – specifically those which index well in the online and mobile arena. The technology we acquired as part of the Access Network will serve as a very important piece to enable us to reach consumers.”

Magic Johnson, a partner at the Yucaipa Johnson Fund will continue to serve as Chairman of Vibe Holdings. The merged entity will operate under Vibe Media and Ari Horowitz will serve as CEO. Horowitz will also continue to serve as CEO of the Access Network. Len Burnett and Brett Wright will continue to serve Co-CEOs of the Vibe Lifestyle Network.

“Vibe and Uptown, combined with BlackBook, align strong brands that consumers can access online, via mobile applications, and in print.” noted Horowitz. “The Access Network technology platform provides the ability to reach this large and desirable audience through hyper-local digital applications for Vibe, Uptown, and our VLN partners.”

“The merger presents an exciting opportunity for Vibe and Uptown to provide advertisers a much needed voice across multicultural and multiracial platforms,” added Burnett.

Meghan McCain fascinatingly characterized the Republican primaries as akin to dating in that the electorate keeps having one fling after another in the hopes of avoiding the seemingly inevitable marriage to the boringly dependable Mitt Romney. Herman Cain has lasted too long to be called a fling, but the GOP’s ardor for him has blinded it to his obvious ineptness in almost every aspect on which you’d test a candidate (foreign policy, domestic affairs, likeliness to seduce voters outside the party, ability to deal with the media microscope, ability to cope with scandal). The only aspect that he does well is exude charisma, as if he’s the kid who doesn’t study but somehow charms the teacher into passing him.

The party’s love for him has not cooled despite a sexual harassment scandal he continues to handle poorly. (Justin Bieber is handling his nascent paternity scandal with more forthrightness, directness and crisis management wisdom than Cain did.) Cain seems to be surviving the scandal because the GOP truly likes him and because the party really has nowhere else to go but to Romney and because this is a rather tepid scandal compared to what we’ve grown used to from politicians (he abused power but there’s not even allegations of actual sex, so for most people it doesn’t really matter). But there’s also something else. The GOP’s relationship with Cain is more psychologically important than its relationship with any other candidate because Cain is that special thing: the party’s cool new Black friend.

Read more from Touré at Time Ideas

Will Smith

For years, Smith has been in talks to acquire the Philadelphia 76ers and has finally struck a deal. He, along with wife Jada Pinkett Smith and several other investors, were approved of the sale Tuesday morning at a press conference. The deal is reportedly for $280 million.

The ownership is led by multibillionaire Joshua Harris, a co-founder of Apollo Global Management which is a private equity group.

Smith’s acquisition only seems fitting as the actor was born and raised in West Philadelphia.

The NBA is currently under a lockout with the first two weeks of the season being cancelled.

Source

The series features billionaire investor Warren Buffett as he spreads the message  to children of  ”investing in yourself” and shares the basic principles of business in a fun and interactive way.

Jay-Z’s role, while small, teaches the children that success in business can help others (Insert: small plug about the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation, followed by “Empire State of Mind” with Alicia Keys).

The website, a part of AOL Kids, features the webisodes while also providing children with educational games, information on investing, saving money and even a live stream of stock numbers.

Check out the clip of Jay-Z below!

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Winfrey blew out the competition by bringing in $290 million last year alone– that’s $200 million more than her second place competitor, Lady Gaga. From the talk show to the magazine and television network, Winfrey has capitalized in a big way. It’s safe to say that her retirement is set.

Beyonce also scored a spot on the coveted list, bringing in $35 million last year. The singer kept busy with the release of her latest CD 4, clothing line and endorsements. With a baby on the way, she’ll have just enough money to keep him/her in Huggies and onesies.

Forbes Top 10 list includes:

1. Oprah Winfrey, $290 million.
2. Lady Gaga, $90 million.
3. Bethenny Frankel, $55 million.
4. Gisele Bundchen, $45 million.
5. Ellen DeGeneres, $45 million.
6. Judge Judy Sheindlin, $45 million.
7. Taylor Swift, $45 million.
8. Katy Perry, $44 million.
9. Beyonce, $35 million.
10. Danielle Steel, $35 million.

There are a multitude of interpretations regarding what exactly the President meant or who exactly he was targeting at the end of a combative, knuckle-up speech at a recent CBC Annual Legislative Conference dinner.  What was apparent that night was the image of a President not feeling the adulation of his surroundings or the company of the dinner crowd.  Few smiles were found as he worked through his maturation moment: the tone since a fiery “You Should Pass It” jobs bill joint before Congress a few weeks earlier had been angry and exasperated.  There is indication that the President has, perhaps, grown up – not in any way that assumes he was childish beforehand.  But, a sense that the reality of his predicament has set in hard, that desperate times require the aggressive management style of desperate measures.  Forgotten by many swimming in the euphoria of 2008 is that then-Candidate Obama had little, if any, executive background before settling into Oval Office chair.  To a degree, the learning curve has worn rough on the former Senator.