Joey Velez, M.A., M.B.A. When things are going your way, or when you are presented with successful outcomes, it’s not difficult to gain confidence from those situations. When in successful or familiar situations, you don’t have to think about being confident because you just are. But how do you gain confidence when things are not going your way? Or when you are presented with unsuccessful outcomes? Or you are placed in unfamiliar situations? What do you do? This month, we ar

Protein is one of the most common macro-nutrients prescribed to physically active individuals, especially athletes. Protein powder has helped turn the supplement industry into a billion dollar industry. This rapid expansion allowed too many brands in the market place with too little regulation. In fact, the FDA doesn’t regulate the supplement industry at all. Have you ever seen “GMP” labeled on the side of a supplement bottle? GMP means “Good Manufacturing Practices.” This me

Fashion Week descended upon Milan, but prior to that, The Rooftop Guide scouted out the best locations to see and be-seen. CERESIO 7 Ceresio 7 is a stunning rooftop bar in Milan, equipped with a gigantic swimming pool and comfortable lounge chairs and cabanas. Inside, there’s a fine dining restaurant. The roof terrace gives you a stunning 360-degree views of Milan's skyline and surroundings. On the rooftop, Ceresio 7 serves drinks of the highest class and very often organize

A favorite holiday destination of those in the know, craggy, wind-swept Pantelleria sits between Sicily and Tunisia. Known for its shoreline of jagged volcanic cliffs and sea-formed lava inlets, the Italian island of Pantelleria sits southwest of Sicily and just 50 miles east of Tunisia — on a clear day, it’s possible to see across the strait to Kelibia. First inhabited during the Bronze Age, Pantelleria’s 32 square miles were subsequently conquered by the Carthaginians, the

Trendy clothes, this year’s hottest automobiles, the best travel destinations, edgy interior designs, food porn, and yes… “in wine” can originate through calculated design, promotion and advertising; or they can emerge organically and sometimes unpredictably. Remember when Merlot was reduced to an “uncool, unsophisticated wine” by a single line in the movie Sideways? Nearly overnight, Pinot Noir took its place and became an “in wine.” “If anybody orders Merlot, I’m leaving!”

I first heard of Jovana Louis Benoit when interviewing celebrity Chef Cynthia Verna. Having spent eight years of my adult life in Haiti, I was surprised I hadn't run into her. "She lives in Vietnam," Verna explained. "Part of the diplomatic mission from Haiti to Vietnam." That explained it: Vietnam has been and continues to be an important investor in technology and communications in Haiti. When I represented the Center for the Facilitation of Investments, part of the Ministr

Editor’s Note: We first profiled Kerby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss in April when Mystique Boivert covered the fashion show of Haitian and Haitian-American designers hosted by the Ambassador of Haiti in the United States in Washington, D.C. Back then, his collaboration with Reebok was the talk of the town. Emerging from NYFW as one of the top designers and collections, Jean-Raymond is the talk of a whole lot more these days. - JJ. Jean-Raymond gave the following interview with t

Gracing the cover of a fashion magazine is a big deal – and a big risk. A big risk for the editor who picks the cover, never knowing whose face will attract and sell record copies of magazines as the world of mainstream publishing continues to be impacted by the digital age. As the fashion industry itself is based on numbers and profits, choosing the right cover girls and cover boys is crucial. Historically, the fashion industry’s known predilection puts mostly Caucasian face

“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable,” is a quote widely attributed to the elusive street artist and activist, Banksy. It speaks to the power of art’s ability to undermine the status quo, create new and alternative narratives, and challenge deep-rooted notions as well as perceived truths. Today, these words of wisdom are embraced by artists, collectors and enthusiasts alike. However, the concept of art being disruptive, provocative and a respite for t

Fashion weeks are dominated by the large lions. But what of the breakout performers? These unsung heroes typically rely on friends and families to help pull together their collection in hopes of breaking through to take their next steps to fashion stardom and meaningful businesses. Each season we comb the back alleys, climb the stair flights, and weather the weather to see each and every collection shown during fashion week. Along the way, we catch some breakouts that we wish