November 27, 2015
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
Tiffanie Stanard at the Pipeline coworking space in Center City.
Tiffanie Stanard is known for following all of her passions. As an entrepreneur and mentor, the CEO of brand enhancement firm Prestige Concepts, the co-host and producer of "Philly Speaks" on Old School 100.3 and the CEO of We Are MENT, this Philly influencer certainly isn't limiting herself to one career.
Her team at Prestige Concepts has worked with everyone from tech giants like Comcast and Microsoft to local organizations like the Urban League of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Police Department. Now, with We Are MENT, she's branching out further into the tech space by creating a wearable technology company designed to keep women connected.
We chatted with Stanard about what it's like to be an entrepreneur, who she'd love to have on "Philly Speaks" and what's next for We Are MENT.
If you could change one thing about Philadelphia, what would it be?
That’s an interesting question because as a Philly native, I’ve seen the many changes the city has gone through over the years. The change I have always wanted for Philly was to stop feeling like a small town and feel like a big city.
Finally, the city has grown into the destination for historical conferences, new business and resources for entrepreneurs. As the city continues to attract well-deserved attention, I am delighted to watch as companies start, stay and grow in Philly.
When you have a big day ahead, what do you do for an extra confidence boost?
I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to pick one career path. I feel strongly about turning all of my passions into businesses.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how I start my day, especially as I embark on new opportunities and plan my next five-10 years.
The day before the "big day," I make sure I have a chic but comfortable outfit ready to go, makeup colors selected and six-hour heels (shoes that you have broken-in over time). Fashion is one of the best ways to boost your confidence, especially if the outfit is brand-new … you are excited to take more pictures. My friends joke that I always wear “day-to-night looks!” My motto is, “I stay ready for all occasions."
Then I make sure I am prepared, whether it’s reviewing my PowerPoint slides or scheduling my social media posts to capture the day.
On the big day, I start with a prayer to remove any butterflies or self-doubt I may have for either big meetings or speaking engagements. Then I jam out to a song(s) with empowering lyrics, like Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.” My favorite line: “A normal life is boring … You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.”
Then I am ready to go! You know my big day went well when you see back-to-back social media posts.
What’s the best thing about being an entrepreneur?
You get this question a lot as an entrepreneur, and each time you can give a different answer; the many things you love about being an entrepreneur can also be the things that stress you.
Two of the best things about entrepreneurship I love are creativity and proving a point. My creative juices flow all day long; I can think of a marketing campaign in less than 20 minutes and how to execute the plan. I challenge myself to create opportunities for my clients through my company Prestige Concepts as well as for my own brand.
The second best thing is the ability to change people’s perception about how "this or that" should "be." I’ve been in meetings where I’ve given presentations and you could literally hear a penny drop, as the attendees were so impressed with my ideas and creativity. Those meetings are my favorite because I became their problem-solver … and you repeatedly hire your problem-solver.
When you are a young female entrepreneur, you have to work harder to make people believe that you have the skills and experience to take their projects to the next level. I always do my research and go beyond their expectations.
If you could have any guest, living or dead, on "Philly Speaks," who would it be?
I would love to interview Michael Jackson on "Philly Speaks." I have loved his music since I was a kid and never had the opportunity to attend one of his concerts before he died. MJ’s music helped me tune out difficult situations growing up.
Also, I would love to interview Oprah and Barbara Walters. I am really passionate about growing in the media/entertainment industry as an on-air expert and producer. I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to pick one career path. I feel strongly about turning all of my passions into businesses. Oprah and Barbara have tackled on-air and behind the camera very successfully; I would love to have these women as mentors.
What’s next for We Are MENT?
It’s been a busy year developing We Are MENT. This year was about research, partnerships, investors and building a team. We developed amazing relationships with technology companies, including Microsoft, to discuss and predict the future of wearables.
Our design studio will integrate technology into apparel and hardware, creating beautiful products with useful functionalities for daily life. Next year, we are releasing prototypes that are focused on lifestyle, for example, headphones that keep you aware of your surroundings and apparel that improves your overall health.
