Meet Chandler Bishop | Senior Copywriter & Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chandler Bishop and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chandler, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I love taking risks. My ability to decipher between a calculated risk, and an unnecessary one has greatly helped me expedite my career at a young age. It’s true what they say, fortune favors the bold, and I believe that taking risks is an essential component to success. Growing up, my mom would always tell me; “if you don’t ask, then it’s an automatic NO”. This lesson has stuck with me throughout my life and career, and helped me realize that I should never be the only one standing in my way.

When taking risks, it’s inevitable that you may make a mistake. That’s okay. I believe that life’s silver lining lies within the fact that no one is immune to failure. There is no such thing as a perfect life, and in order for us to see what this lifetime truly has in store for us, we must take risks along the journey.

I know that God has chosen me for success because I am bold enough to carry out His assignment, and that requires years of taking calculated risks and trusting the process.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Writing My African American Invention ABC’s is a children’s handwriting book focused on the amazing products that have been created by African American inventors. This handwriting book is educational, inspiring, and a great way to teach young children about Black History year round. My mission for this book is to help support the development of a positive cultural identity for Black children by teaching them about heroes that look just like them! The next generation deserves to know that Black history extends far beyond oppression. The Black community is creative, majestical, resourceful, and innovative- just like the next generation of leaders!

Learning about my history has always been a topic of interest, but one that felt unattainable for me as a Black woman from the South. Growing up, I was always so annoyed at the lack of Black history taught in school, and the annual three days that would be set aside every February to only discuss MLK, Rosa Parks, and Malcom X. The contributions that African Americans have made to society throughout history is nothing short of exceptional, so I created this book to ensure that the next generation of Black children are aware that they come from greatness.

I faced many challenges along the way of creating this book, but just like my ancestors, I persisted.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am blessed to live in New York City, so everything is up for grabs! If my best friend was visiting me, our itinerary would consist of mandatory bottomless brunches, photoshoots at amazing viewpoints in Brooklyn and Midtown, shopping Downtown, niche art classes and exhibits, barbecue chicken pizza slices, and dancing the night away to afrobeats, Beyoncé, and dembow.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I attended many conferences in college. While I was up early in the morning doing my hair and makeup, I would always set an intention for the day, and think about what I wanted to get out of each event. Four conferences in particular undoubtedly shaped my life’s trajectory; The Circle of Change Leadership Conference, The T. Howard Foundation Summit, the Forbes 30 Under 30 Conference, and Global Entrepreneurship Week in Rotterdam.

The Circle of Change Leadership Conference helped me set the building blocks of my confidence and tenacity. The speakers and panelists were real, engaging, and genuinely interested in helping students succeed. This conference is also where I met one of my mentors, Gerald Yarborough. Seeing other creative Black professionals obtain high positions of power really opened my eyes, and his unwavering success is a continuous source of inspiration.

The T. Howard Foundation program and scholar’s summit is where I began to really cultivate my network. I was surrounded by like minded peers that also had high aspirations and knew how to have fun. I have made lifelong friendships and working relationships with people that I met during my time as a T. Howard scholar and intern.

When I became a Forbes 30 Under 30 Scholar, I had my first taste of success. Attending the Forbes 30 Under 30 Conference really amplified the fire within me, and opened my eyes to what is possible. I was surrounded by founders, CEO’s, innovators, change makers, and notorious celebrity speakers. Becoming a Forbes 30 Under 30 Scholar not only opened many doors for me during my collegiate career, but it also validated my hard work and potential.

Traveling to Rotterdam, The Netherlands for the Global Entrepreneurship Week Conference expanded my view on the world and opened my eyes to the importance of technology. During the conference, I kew that the connections that I made would help me for years to come. I have always had a love for traveling, and meeting other young aspiring entrepreneurs from around the world showed me that anything is possible.

Website: https://chandlerbishop.com/black-history-abcs-book/

Instagram: @chandlerbishop

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandlerbishop/

Image Credits
Book Cover and Headshot Credit: Jay Charlie