Wit and wisdom. Grit and grace. Our 2017 FACES of Memphis are some undeniably stellar women, and we are revisiting the best pieces of advice they gave us.
Every Monday, we highlight wise and wonderful women from around the Memphis community and the South as part of our StyleBlueprint FACES series. There is so much we can learn from these incredible individuals, so we are revisiting the best advice our 2017 FACES shared or treasure. Use their words, filled with grit and grace, as inspiration for the new year!
Wit & Wisdom: The Best Advice from Our FACES of 2017
Pin“Surround yourself with good mentors, both professionally and throughout your daily life,” says Dr. Allison Jones of UT Dermatology. Not only is she a practicing dermatologist, but she is also an assistant professor at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Department of Dermatology. Image:Micki MartinPinDiane Kauker, General Manager at Folk’s Folly, won the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association’s 2017 Restaurant Manager of the Year Award. Her advice? “Work hard. That was one of the things my dad instilled in me. He didn’t complete an eighth-grade education, yet by hard work, determination and diligence, he was successful.” Image:Micki MartinPinWith her invention of “yarn bombing,” Textile Artist Magda Sayeg ignited a global movement for knitters. “Life can be so oppressive that people don’t come back. But, that doesn’t have to happen,” Magda says. “You can come from dark places and you can come out shining.” Image: Ben Sayeg. Prop Styling: CJ Dockery
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PinAfter losing her infant son, Brittany Spence wasn’t sure she would survive the pain. Ten years later, her experience has helped thousands through their hardest times with the Forrest Spence Fund. Her advice is “to be kind and uplifting in your words and your actions and the way you treat other people.” Image:Micki MartinPinMemphis native Meg Crosby owns the successful business PeopleCap Advisors and plays a tremendous role in bettering the city and giving back to the community. “Take calculated risks. You can’t win if you don’t enter,” she says. Image:Micki MartinPinSusan Huffman’s route to leading her own financial firm began at the family farm, and that practical work ethic still guides her and Reliant Investment Management. “Always treat your clients, employees and partners fairly and with respect,” says Susan. “This attitude will be reflected in your work and lead to long-term relationships.” Image:Micki MartinPinFACE of the South Fawn Weaver is a respected author and researcher. “If you look for good, you will find it. Focus on the now, and all you need will be found in that present moment,” she says. Image: Keith MilesPinAs co-owner of Royal Studios and program director of Royal Radio, Oona Mitchell is shaping the next generation of Memphis music and sharing it with the world. “Don’t let anybody discourage you from getting to where you want to be. Just keep pushing,” says Oona. “You’re going to get turned down — everybody major has been turned down in their lives. So don’t let anybody or anything discourage you from meeting your goals.” Image:Micki MartinPinStarting with one employee in a male-dominated field, Kim Heathcott has grown Clarion Security to be the largest female-owned company in town. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. I’m a recovering perfectionist, so I’ve heaped a lot of stress on myself to do everything right,” she says. “There are a lot of failures experienced in building a business. The key is to take the lessons from the mistakes and be open to continual improvement.” Image:Micki MartinPinMarti Tippens Murphy was shaped by the stories and choices that form Memphis’ history. Now as director of the Memphis chapter of Facing History and Ourselves, she guides educators and students in seeing how our decisions build the future. Her advice for others: “I try to help people not take things too personally. I think that maybe comes with the hard knocks of having been around for a while, that you learn that you just dust yourself off and be true to yourself. When possible, I try to do that.” Image:Micki MartinRELATED: 30 Pieces of Advice: Memphis FACES of 2016PinKelsey Loebel started a bakery business in her home kitchen called Confections & Connections to provide her customers with irresistible treats and to make a difference in Memphis. Her advice? “Pray. I find the answers to all my tough questions through prayer.” Image:Micki MartinPinFACE of the South Emmylou Harris is world-renowned musician and animal activist. Her advice is “follow your bliss.”PinFACE of the South Melissa Ann Barton is a successful caterer who is passionate about animal rescue. Her advice? “My momma always told me to be kind, be yourself and like yourself enough to like others, because being those things makes it easy to follow your dreams!”PinPersonal experience led Susan Graf to support families traveling for medical care by founding the FedExFamilyHouse. “It’s from my favorite Bible quote, which is up in the lobby here: Hebrews 13:2, ‘Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’” Image:Micki MartinPinIf you asked Chef Valarie Hall of Ridgeway Country Club, she’d tell you that being a chef is in her DNA. Her advice is “always ask questions if you’re unsure.” Image:Micki MartinPinCheri Leavy and Whitney Wise Long have created a community that offers entrepreneurs and creatives the opportunity to connect, collaborate and create, The Southern Coterie. Cheri’s advice is “hire people smarter than you are,” and Whitney’s comes from a saying her mother always said, “There but for the grace of God, go I.”PinA harrowing experience in Leslie Gattas Coleman‘s youth gave her the heart of a fighter and led her to pursue a career in law. She now runs her law practice Pounders Coleman with her business partner. “The best advice I ever received was from my father after I returned from being held captive. There were many offers for books, movies and talk shows. He said, ‘Let’s not prosper from this misfortune. Let’s make God real proud of us and just move on.’ Best advice ever, and I took it,” she says. Image:Micki MartinPinA pioneer in women’s health, Dr. Susan G. Murrmann of McDonald Murrmann not only takes care of the needs of her patients but she helps empower them to be the best they can be. Her advice: “Always have goals in life, and don’t be afraid to aim high!” Image:Micki MartinPinRabbi Katie Bauman not only cares for and inspires her congregation at Temple Israel, but she is also is helping to foster unity throughout Memphis. “Believe that your voice is unique and beautiful, and use it to bring more healing and hope into the world,” she says. Image:Micki MartinPinA hall-of-famer on the track and in the boardroom, Amy Faulk’s four-decade career shows her amazing drive as both a world champion racer and CEO. “Whether it’s the race track or business, be prepared, learn everything you can, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s truly the way I live my life,” says the race car driver and CEO of automotive technology manufacturer Hypertech. Image:Micki MartinPinJanet Ivey of “Janet’s Planet” is nothing if not driven, passionate and unbelievably enthusiastic about science. Best advice she’s ever been given? “Love God, never take yourself too seriously and always be kind.” Image:Grannis PhotographyPinDorothy Gunther Pugh, CEO and Founding Artistic Director of Ballet Memphis, is passionate about pushing boundaries, artistically and socially, for the good of the community. Her advice is especially profound for women: “It’s still not an easy world if you want to be heard and if you want to accomplish something that’s really yours — and not take something that’s already established by the patriarchy. If you really want to find what you feel is the best way to navigate the world, I think it’s important to find some allies. Generally, women are good communicators, so I think honing those skills is incredibly important, too. It’s not just how you speak, but it’s also how you hear other people and their voices, including your own. Ask yourself, ‘Is this something I’ve been told all my life, or is this something I need to do?’” Image:Micki MartinPinLike fellow Covingtonian Isaac Hayes, Tonya Dyson set out early for Soulsville, USA, where she’s propelling Memphis’ music legacy into the future as the Marketing and Program Manager of the Memphis Slim House. Her favorite piece of advice comes from the late, great musician Nina Simone: “Learn to leave the table when love is no longer being served.” Image: Abbey BratcherPinWhen getting to the heart of the matter, in law and in life, Renee Castle of Pfrommer & Castle delves in with soul, insight and the self-professed tenacity of a “junkyard dog.” She says, “My late mom used to say, ‘Inch by inch, it’s a cinch … yard by yard, it’s hard,’ which I think is excellent advice. I try to follow her advice every day, by tackling one challenge at a time.” Image: Abbey BratcherPinFACE of the South Megan Melgaard combines her talent and passion into one with her company Fix My Swim and Swim Across America, an event designed to raise money for the fight against cancer. Her advice: “You really never know until you try, and if you can use your internal compass to help guide you — I think a lot of us have the answers inside, but we have the tendency to bury them. So I would encourage people to uncover their internal compass and listen to their intuition, and rely on divine intervention, because it will point you the right way.” Image: CatMax PhotographyPinBlackberry Farm Executive Chef Sarah Steffan is one of the two women at the helm of the renowned culinary programs of one of the top resort destinations in the nation and a FACE of the South. Her advice? “Surround yourself with the type of people that you want to be like. Choose your friends wisely. Work really hard, and don’t think other people’s success is your failure. Learn from everything, and see the positive in everything.” Image: Blackberry FarmPinFellow Blackberry Farm Executive Chef Cassidee Dabney and FACE of the South has excellent advice: “Don’t compare yourself to other people. Keep doing what you’re doing, and if it’s not working, then look at yourself and say, ‘Hey, why is this not working for me?’ Look internally first.” Image: Blackberry FarmPinAs a painter, educator and activist, Yancy Villa-Calvo finds commonalities between cultures and builds community through common ground. Her advice? “Borrowing from Ignatius of Loyola, ‘In everything, to love and to serve.’” Image:Micki MartinPinMemphian Babbie Lovett is a bona fide fashion maven. Her rich and fascinating career in modeling, theater and fashion has spanned six decades. Her advice to us is incredibly wise: “You do not change anybody else. You can’t make a whole lot of difference in the way other people think. All you can do is be honest with yourself and share as much as somebody will listen.” Image:Micki MartinPinArtist, entrepreneur and advocate Natasha Sen-Fizdale moved to Memphis when her husband became head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies. During her time in Memphis, Natasha was actively involved in the community as a volunteer, philanthropist and enthusiastic booster. Her advice is “learn to be resourceful.” Image:Micki MartinPinBlogger and author Kristin Schell, FACE of the South, is nurturing relationships and preserving Southern hospitality by simply inviting people to share a spot at her turquoise picnic table. “My mother always said, ‘All you need is one friend.’ So just mention it to somebody. Say, ‘I read this idea. What do you think? Should we try this? Would it be interesting in our neighborhood or our community?’” Image: Kasandra KeyesPinWhen Hollywood A-listers, musicians and public figures need a social media and branding strategist, they turn to FACE of Memphis, Whitney Luckett of Luckett Media. Her advice is “fail fast gracefully.” Image:Micki MartinPinErica Stiff-Coopwood is all about growth, whether intellectual, relational or metropolitan. And she is moving the city forward as the Junior League’s President-Elect. “Don’t tolerate bad habits,” insists Erica. Image:Micki MartinPinFACE of the South Margaret Anne Florence stars in CMT’s “Sun Records” as a dynamic, complex radio personality. Off camera, she is just as captivating, thoughtful and funny. “It takes a lot of guts to have the confidence to just be yourself, that yourself is good enough and great and all you have to be,” she says. Image: Caitlin Mitchell StudioPinSue Layman Lightman quit her PR career and suddenly found happiness in painting. Fast-forward 10 years, and her art career and gallery are thriving. Her most prized piece of advice is straight from the Bible. “Let your light shine before men so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16.” Image:Micki MartinPinThis FACE of the South taught us so much about the education and efforts surrounding fresh food through her organization FoodChain, a nonprofit that connects the local community to fresh food. Becca Self‘s advice is “follow the things you are passionate about. Never lose the ability to laugh (particularly at yourself). Always learn from others.” Image: Stacey Gudeman PhotographyPinFrom her creative magazine work to Grizzlies fandom to jumping horses in Ireland, Melissa Petersen of Edible Memphis is a jack-of-all-trades. Best advice she’s ever received? “Save your steps wherever you can. There are better things to spend that energy on.” Image:Micki Martin
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PinEmily Harris Halpern of Crosstown Arts is breathing new life into the cultural fabric of Crosstown and beyond, one artist and one creative project at a time. Her advice is to the point. “Do the hardest thing first.” Image:Micki MartinPinFrom teaching to painting to candlestick-making, Mary Claire White has done it all. But everything truly fell into place when she became a shop owner with Falling Into Place. “Write down your goals,” says Mary Claire, “because that’s the first step in achieving them. In order to meet your goals, you have to focus on them. To even begin focusing on them, you have to write them down.” Image:Micki MartinPinWhen she’s not teaching English, this dynamo Sandie Whittington of Miss Sandie’s Gluten-Free Baked Goods is whipping up gluten-free baked goods and winning over the taste buds of Memphians. Her advice is tried and true. “Be steadfast and always hold fast to your dreams!” Image:Micki MartinPinUrsula Madden is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, current Chief Communications Officer for the City of Memphis and a self-professed sci-fi “nerd.” Her advice? “Don’t try to imitate anyone else, because the only person you can be is you. And walk the path that God has put in front of you, no matter how scary!” Image:Micki MartinPinGlennon Doyle Melton, FACE of the South, is a blogger, author and philanthropist. She is a wealth of wisdom and advice, but she shared a great piece of advice from a friend: “She said, ‘Your family is in an airplane and there is a lot of turbulence right now. What do we do when there is a lot of turbulence? We look to the flight attendant. And if they are freaking out, we start to freak out, but if they look calm, you feel calm. So your kids are looking at you on the plane right now. You need to keep smiling and serve some freaking peanuts.’ Since I have been steady throughout this time, my kids believe that despite the turbulence, we will all be okay.” Image: Allison SchottRELATED: The Morning Routines of 4 Successful Memphis WomenPinJudy McLellan of Crye-Leike is a powerhouse Memphis realtor, whose winning personality puts smiles on her clients’ faces. “My mother always tells me to work hard, but to work hard with your heart,” she says, adding, “‘Hustle and heart sets us apart.’” Image:Micki MartinPinClaudia Towell’s work with Latino Memphis contributes to the empowerment of thousands of individuals, families and communities throughout the Bluff City. Claudia feels like she’s gleaned her best advice from the loved ones around her. “Stick to what is important to you, stand by your values, live with integrity and be kind, honest and true to yourself. Be passionate about what you do, and put your heart and soul into everything you do,” she says. Image:Micki MartinPinDr. Wendy Likes has many degrees, and she puts them to good use on behalf of Memphians as Dean of the College of Nursing at UTHSC. “When I first became Dean, I received a card from a faculty member that reminded me to make notes of the good days to sustain me through the bad ones,” she says. “Basically, try to stay positive. Not every day is going to be wonderful, but focus on the good you’re doing and the good you’ve done, and that can really sustain you.” Image:Micki MartinPinThrough yoga and entrepreneurship, Olivia Lomax of Delta Groove Yoga inspires her students and other Memphians to not only breathe a little deeper, but also to realize their dreams. “Everything happens for a reason. Learn from it, and grow stronger from it. Never repeat the same mistake twice.” Image:Micki MartinPinJessica Corley of the Ronald McDonald House has an altruistic spirit and fundraising prowess that have led to the expansion of services for families battling devastating childhood illnesses. Jessica has a Dr. Seuss quote that has always stuck with her: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.” Image:Micki MartinPinAs Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Chief of Social and Community Psychiatry at UTHSC,Dr. Altha Stewart brings a singular passion to her work: finding solutions to reduce the impact of violence on children. She says to pick and choose your battles, adding, “You cannot be outraged by everything. Sometimes you’ve gotta be like a duck, and let it roll off like water on a duck’s back. And I think being back in Memphis, where we have the Peabody ducks, it’s kind of come back and resonated with me lately that there is a time and place for everything, and sometimes you just gotta be the duck.” Image:Micki MartinPinFACE of the South Danielle Busby of TLC’s “Outdaughtered” is a mom of six daughters — five of whom are quintuplets. Her life can be a little hectic, which makes her advice all the more appropriate: “There is always tomorrow.” Image: Bennett Brown Photography
We hope you start the new year feeling a little wiser from hearing from these spectacular women — we know we do!
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Thanks to Micki Martin, who was the principal photographer for our FACES of Memphis.Subscribe to StyleBlueprint to meet many more fascinating Memphis women in the coming year!
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