Today we’d like to introduce you to Palanda Brownlow.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always loved to write, but I was never quite sure how to reconcile my passion for writing with my need to financially support myself and repay my voluminous student loans. It always seemed like an “either/or” proposition. Either I pursue something that I love and struggle financially, or I pursue a “stable” career that’s great at providing for me financially but doesn’t feed me creatively.
And then, I started working in corporate America and discovered the need for something that addresses the very unique position of being a woman of color in institutions that were not built to benefit or advance anyone of color, particularly women. As I struggled to find resources that offered me support, encouragement, and information to help me succeed in these environments, it dawned on me that other women might be struggling with the same issues.
And that brought me back to my love of writing. In starting American Popsy, a lifestyle digital publication for, about, and by professional women of color, I want to empower and equip other women of color with the tools and information that they need to advance, not just in the workplace but in their lives in general.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Starting a venture of any kind takes a lot of grit, a lot of hard work, and a whole lot of faith. Faith that I could actually do this. Faith that other people would actually be interested in reading the content. Faith that this could work and become a viable business.
When I first started, one of my biggest struggles was moving past the idea that I didn’t know enough to start the magazine. I am not a marketing expert. I don’t know SEO. I’m not even that great with social media. But I knew that I loved to write. And I also knew that I was good at it. So, I started leaning into that and began making myself very comfortable with the fact that, while there was plenty that I didn’t know, there was a lot that I did know.
My job as an entrepreneur is to move forward in confidence with the things that I know and surround myself with people who can lead and support me in the areas that I don’t. That has actually been a huge lesson for me. I am someone who loves figuring things out on my own. But a huge part of starting and running a business is asking for help and trusting people to do the jobs that you have entrusted them with.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about American Popsy?
Last summer, before Corona was a thing, I attended the Essence Global Black Economic Summit in New Orleans. One of the statistics that was quoted repeatedly was the fact that single black women between the ages of 36-49 have an average net worth of $5. Meanwhile, white women in the same age group have a net worth of $42,000. I was stunned. I was also livid. Keep in mind, black women are the most educated demographic in this country, and yet our net worth, on average, is the cost of a hamburger. That floored me. And it also drove home the point that, as a black woman, I face drastically different life obstacles than my white peers.
The whole aim of AmPopsy is to provide content to other professional women of color -content that helps us feel seen, heard, and appreciated in a world where we struggle to simply be treated as equals. I want women to come to this site when they want a fresh take on looking for a job in a difficult market or when they’re looking for inspiration to start that business that they’ve always dreamed of. I want AmPopsy to be the place where they can find words of encouragement and stories from women who have walked through the fire and lived to tell the tale. I also want it to be a place where readers can exhale and laugh as they watch videos from black magicians or listen to an honest roundtable talk on putting our mental health first. And, I want AmPopsy to be the site that equips readers with the information and tools that they need to overcome the financial challenges that we’re saddled with solely because of systemic racism.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I am so thankful to my friends who have really stepped up and stepped out to support me in this journey. For example, I have a wonderful college colleague, Khalilah Elliott, who operates Gafford Communications Agency. She graciously agreed to help me with my marketing efforts because she believes in what I’m doing. Another incredible friend of mine, Writer and Producer, Deidra George, has contributed articles to the site and has helped me behind-the-scenes with planning and strategy. Other friends have helped me tremendously by agreeing to be interviewed for articles and have also helped connect me with their contacts for various stories. My amazing friend from middle school, Sonia Panigrahy, offered to conduct my market research for free since she’s also starting her own consulting agency! So, the support from my friend circle has been nothing less than amazing. And I’m so thankful to all of them for their support and encouragement. I also have to mention the friends who visit the site regularly and repost articles on their social media. Starting a business is similar to raising a child, it takes a village!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: ampopsy.com
