We had the good fortune of connecting with Ariel Shaw, MBA and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ariel, how do you think about risk?
I have a high tolerance for risk. I do not know any entrepreneur who has had significant or merely significant success without risk. For you to take the leap to go into business for yourself or to start something that doesn’t exist requires a level of courage that many simply do not act on. The role that risk plays in my career is critical. Once strategy and mind mapping occurs for a project, event, or new service, there is always a risk analysis review. My typical response is how do I make this as successful as I can, and then I go all in. To be a person with a high risk tolerance, your team must be just as progressive, with solutions on how to make a project successful, and less reasons why a project cannot happen. For me, I do not accept the word no. Therefore, if a team member only brings me why something cannot happen, they are removed from the team. In my personal life, taking more risks has also bode well for me. However as I have gotten older, I am a lot more cautious when it comes to my personal life because I am a mother first. Therefore my decisions, from personal to career, affect my family- positive or negative. Therefore, I assume more risks in my career, but I am a lot more risk adverse in my personal life.

 

What should our readers know about your business?
I have several businesses. However, I want to highlight award-winning Southern Crescent Women In Business Inc. I am excited that we are coming up on almost 2 years as an organization. An organization that I founded to support and advocate for other women in business. We just hosted our 2nd Annual Funding Pitch to help fund another woman owned business. We have worked with our state legislators to help women gain more access to funding and investments, and have created HB 992, which you can read about here: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20192020/HB/992. We have hosted a large amount of virtual trainings, seminars, and meetings with key leaders and business experts to ensure the ladies were informed and understood how to effectively pivot in their business. We were also recently recognized by the U.S. Congress and was proclaimed a Southern Crescent Women In Business Appreciation Day in Fulton County.   I got where I am today by simply being unapologetic about who I am and moving forward without looking for the support of those who one may have thought should’ve supported me. It was not easy, but the key is to stay focused on the mission and vision, and to shut out the noise. What I have learned is you cannot worry about who is not there on the journey with you and that those that start out on the journey with you, may certainly not be the same people who are with you at the end. I would like the world to know that Southern Crescent Women In Business Inc is just getting started and it is here to stay. We have grown to multiple cities and hope to take it nationally and internationally. Why? Because women need the support, they are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs and as the African proverb states, ‘When you educate a woman- you educate a nation.’

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I would take them to the Southern Crescent! These areas include Henry County, Fayette County, Clayton County, DeKalb County and south of I-20! We have the most unique areas from the Pleasanton Bed and Breakfast in Fayette County owned by my member Ingrid Moore-Barnes, to the most unique artisans market, Magnolia Pink in Henry County owned by my member Tenille Love, to an amazing array of eateries and venue locations such as JW Event Suite, the Latin Dream Event Center, or Venue on the Square. And then we would take some amazing photos at member Gobi Photography and Video.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I will give a shoutout to my organization that I founded, Southern Crescent Women In Business Inc., because they keep me motivated. Also to my daughter, Selah, who motivates me to be the best example as a woman and mother.

Website: www.scwibga.org
Instagram: southerncrescentwomen
Linkedin: Southern Crescent Women In Business
Twitter: @Women Henry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southerncrescentwomen
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgT72R5vnEDt4aPp3YQe1Bw?view_as=subscriber

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Gobi Photography Studio, 23 Eastbrook Bend, Suite 205, Peachtree City, GA 30269

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