Dr. Trenese Mcnealy is a devoted wife & mother, author, speaker, CEO of LaShay’s Designs, and a nonprofit director of programs & Grants. The Mission of LaShay’s DESIGNS is to provide women with high-quality merchandise at reasonable prices. The Swan within the logo represents elegance and grace, which are characteristics every female should portray.
Dr. Trenese LaShay McNealy, a Riceboro, Georgia native, is a 2006 graduate of Georgia Southern University, in which she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Design, with a Minor in Management. In 2007, Dr. McNealy graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Master of Business Administration degree in Business Administration. In 2017, Dr. McNealy graduated from Walden University with a Doctor of Business Administration degree in Project Management.
Throughout her lifetime, Dr. McNealy has worked for Best Cut Company, Sherwin Williams, Liberty County School System, and Clayton County Public Schools. In 2009, Dr. McNealy began working at 100 Black Men of America, Inc., a nonprofit, mentoring organisation, where she served as the Program Coordinator, Program Manager, Manager of Program Operations, and she currently works as the Director of Programs and Chapter Grants. Dr. McNealy is also the business owner of LaShay’s DESIGNS, an online retail company, and the author of Mommy’s Goals vs. Reality: Managing School, Work, and Family. To learn more about this book, visit, https://lashaysdesigns.com/mommys-goals-vs-reality
Congratulations Dr. Trenese on your bestselling self-help book Mommy’s Goals vs Reality, can you talk us through the writing/thought process?
Thank you so much! Yes, I wrote Mommy’s Goals vs. Reality: Managing School, Work, and Family because as I was going through my doctoral program, so many people kept asking me how was I able to work full-time, be a wife, raise my children, and be a full-time student on top of everything else. So, I wanted to write a book to give mothers the strategies that helped me throughout my doctoral program. I also interviewed other mothers as well who were going through the same process to learn the strategies that helped them to be successful so I could share this information with mothers today.
What have been your distribution methods to generate income and platforms used to promote the sale of this book?
Mommy’s Goals vs. Reality is currently being distributed online through various book outlets such as Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Booksamillion.com, Walmart.com, AAABookfest.com, Booktopia.com, eBay.com, Google Play Books, IndieBound.org, Saxo.com, ThriftBooks.com, and more. I also participate in city/state-wide books events and signings to personally connect with my readers.
As a follow up to the success of your book, you are also offering a beautifully put together mother’s luncheons, what can those who attend expect to take away from your event?
The work of a mother is never done; however, as mothers, we must take time out for ourselves to enjoy our reality when balancing this thing called life. During my 2020 Mommies and Mimosas Mother’s Day Luncheon, mothers will have the opportunity to sit back, relax, and get surrounded by other mothers empowering one another and enjoying life. All mothers in attendance will enjoy a Complimentary Glass of Mimosa, Red Carpet Mixer with CBS46 Reporter & Meteorologist Bobeth Yates, a Three-Course Lunch, Live Jazz Entertainment from the Steven Charles Band, Poetry from Poet Laureate Hank Stewart, Q&A with the Celebrity Keynote Speaker/2020 Exceptional Mother of the Year Award Recipient, a Mother’s Day Swag Bag, and more. Trinetta Love of TStarzz Entertainment will also serve as the Emcee.
How you are balancing the work/life strife?
As quoted within my book, “when balancing life through prioritisation to reach a goal, we cannot take on more than we can handle; therefore, we will have to learn how to make sacrifices. The sacrifices may occur with changing certain aspects of our careers or changing some of the activities we have with our family or friends. Once the sacrifices are made, then time blocking can begin.” After time blocking begins, I am able to set forth time for me to complete the things I need to get done; thus, relieving the strife of work-life balance.
Do you currently use any apps or tools to help the functionality of your business practice?
I use all Microsoft Office products, Project Management tools, Dropbox, and any tools associated with my websites.
Who is the most influential female powerhouse that you admire and why?
The most influential female powerhouse who I admire is Beyoncé because she started her career at a young age and kept working hard and pushing herself to become the world’s most influential woman she is today.
If you could tell your 18-year old self a solid piece of advice, what would it be?
If I could tell my 18-year old self one advice, it would be that no matter how much you plan and set a path on where you are going to go in life and what you expect to accomplish, everything will not work out as planned. When I graduated from high school, I knew I was going to college to become a Fashion Designer and put on numerous Fashion Shows.
I knew I was going to work for a major fashion company. I knew I was going to open up my online company, LaShay’s DESIGNS. I knew I would one day have my own Fashion Boutique. After graduating from college, I did start LaShay’s DESIGNS and conducted a few Fashion Shows; however, my other plans did not work out. As I got older, I changed my path to project management and got on a new road to success.
What does #BEYOUROWN mean to you?
#BEYOUROWN to me means doing whatever it is that you want in life regardless of what anyone says or do. We only have one life to live; thus, we must make our life the best life ever!
What does 2020 look like for you and what are you currently working on?
For 2020, I am working on my next book project, which will also revolve around mothers. I am also planning my inaugural 2020 Mommies and Mimosa Mother’s Day Luncheon, which I would like to be an annual event. The Luncheon will be held at the Atlanta Fish Market in Atlanta, GA from 11:30am-2:30pm. Doors will open at 11:15am with a Red Carpet Opening Mixer. To purchase tickets or for more details, visit here.
Twitter: @/LashaysDesigns
Instagram: @dr.trenesemcnealy
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LaShaysDesigns/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-trenese-mcnealy-40ba1051/
Website: www.lashaysdesigns.com
Image taken by JCPenney Portraits
