We had the good fortune of connecting with Christy Luxe and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Christy, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
A few short years ago, I believed that the only way to truly be successful was to spend every waking moment of every day “grinding”. Busy and productive were synonyms in my head. After years of this mentality, my body began to physically shut down. I realized I was over worked, and not all of my efforts resulted in revenue. I was exhausted, yet I had still not seen the fruits of my labor. I began to refocus, prioritize and “unclutter” my life. I began to eliminate the projects that did not serve my overall goals, and let go of the things that I felt looked more like my past, and less like my future. I took control of my life, and I began to restructure. I replaced the unnecessary grind with rest. I felt better, I had more time to spend with loved ones, and it made a difference in how I did business. To this day, I understand that balance is a necessity when it comes to success in business and in life.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I entered the Entertainment Industry in 1999 by starting my first talent management company, managing underground hip-hop artists in Brooklyn, NY. After several years and a move to Atlanta later, I began producing events while still managing artists. The passion for management began to fade, but the passion for events grew. in 2008, the market crash forced a move to Dallas, TX, where I hosted events, and met William Young, Publisher of KRAVE Magazine. Our common interests and work ethic led to my joining KRAVE as Brand Manager, and later, Editor in Chief. I was with the magazine for 10 years. It was on a shoot that I met Travis Cure and began my career in talent management once again. His talent and my savvy have worked in our favor, and last year, he landed a principal role on Tyler Perry’s The Oval. I am CEO of Luxe Haus Media & Management Group, where I manage his passion for acting. My own passion has also led me along another path: sports! Growing up the daughter of a basketball legend, Jumpin’ Jackie Jackson of Harlem Globetrotter fame, it’s easy to tell why I love the sport so much. I loved my Daddy even more. His passing in 2019 led me to want to find a way to honor his legacy. It was not by accident that I found the Universal Basketball Association. Last July, I bought the Southern Conference of the UBA, a men’s minor basketball league. My conference consisted of 6 teams, one of which I owner operated, the Atlanta Kings. After a successful first season, I was approached by league owner Jermaine Barnes with an opportunity to purchase the majority rights the the WUBA, the women’s league. I closed on that deal in March of this year, and I am now the President and majority owner of the Women’s Universal Basketball Association. Through my leadership, I intend to create a professional and safe environment for women to advance their careers in professional basketball. My journey has not been an easy one, but it has been necessary. The most important thing for me has been to be passionate about everything I do. A successful career without passion is simply just work.
Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I’m a bit of a homebody, but I do love many things about Atlanta. I love Ponce City Market and City Winery. You can never go wrong at City Market. Thursday nights at BQE are so much fun with R&B karaoke, and the food is delicious! A weekend in the A with me will always include Atlanta Comedy Theater for laughs with my favorite host, Kiana Dancie on Friday night. Saturdays can be spent down town just walking around the city, or at Cigar City Bar in Roswell. Sunday afternoon ends the weekend with a UBA/WUBA basketball game at the Andrew & Walter Young YMCA… of course!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout is for the three people in my professional career that believed in me enough to give me an opportunity to prove myself worthy: William Young, Travis Cure, and Jermaine Barnes. Without their trust and respect, I would not be the business woman I am today.
Website: www.wubalive.com
Instagram: @christyluxe @wubalive @ubasouthofficial @luxehausmmg @krave_magazine
Linkedin: Christy Luxe