AEF Alumni News

Lauren B. Brown is a senior marketing major at Howard University.

Before starting her collegiate journey, she graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School [now Jackson-Reed High School] where she was an inaugural cohort member of the school’s NAF Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. As a member of the Academy, she learned about the hotel, tourism, and events industries, which allowed her to serve as Director of Creative Provisions for Wilson’s annual senior prom. After high school graduation, she continued to seek out and serve in hospitality roles such as Sales Strategy + Operations Intern for Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants and Front Desk Agent for Marriott International.

Outside of school, Lauren is a beauty content creator and influencer. Using artistry, social media strategy and the construction of genuine online relationships, she has garnered over half a million followers. Consequently, she has collaborated with many brands including Puma, Neutrogena, Pat McGrath, Kohl’s, ELF Cosmetics and Piercing Pagoda.

 

In addition to creating beauty, she recently started a Bucket List series that focuses on trying new activities and cuisines and has received over eight million views. After her graduation in May 2022, she plans to continue creating online content, as well as continue her career path in hospitality.

 

Q: Tacos or Burritos?

A: Burritos, absolutely! They hold more food. 

 

Q: Were you always interested in hospitality and tourism before joining the Academy or was it more of experiencing something new?
A: Back in my day (insert eye roll) we were the inaugural cohort, the first class, so there was no Academy! I was in 8th grade and said, “that looks kind of interesting!” I told my parents about the cohort and they responded with “What?!” I followed up with, “I can always change it.” Years later, now look where it has taken me. 

 

Q: How has your time in the Academy helped you in the long run? As an adult, how do you still use what you've learned?

A: As a result of being in the Academy, I gained a lot of background knowledge that I was able to use during my time at Howard Business School. Going into college, I already had a resume, I knew how to interview, and I had some valuable professional connections. 

 

Q: How’s college?

A: Y’all want the real answer? It is the best of times and worst of times. 

 

Q: What was the biggest academic hurdle you faced?

A: Adjusting from high school grades to college grades. I had a high GPA in high school, and the same grades in college nearly forced me in academic probation. Just do not get attached to that high school GPA because it’s likely going to go down! But it’s ok.

 

Q: How do you study for tests or prepare for upcoming assignments?

A: Through prayer. But assignments aren’t hard to get done if I get to them in advance. When I have the time, I do as much as I can in advance. 

 

Q: How did you choose Howard?

A: My first choice was Cornell, and they accepted me with a one-year transfer option, so I needed a school to go to for a year. At Howard, I got hooked on campus activities and aspirations and never left. 

 

Q: Does your major require an independent study or capstone project?

A: My major does not require an independent study. When I’m not in class, I am working for Raggedy Royal [Lauren’s online social presence] or serving with one of the many on-campus organizations I’ve joined.

 

Q: Apple juice or orange juice?

A: Apple juice.

 

Q: Let’s talk about your business, Raggedy Royal. How long have you been interested in cosmetics?

A: I got my first makeup kit at 3 years old. So, there’s that. 

 

Q: How do you balance a social media platform and school equally without getting sidetracked?

A: There is no perfect balance. You just do things as they come and keep your head above the water. Trying to balance will drive you crazy! 

 

Q: How did you start out promoting your makeup artistry on Instagram? What was your game plan?

A: I didn’t start out trying to be an influencer, I just wanted to post my looks. Eventually, I decided Snapchat wasn’t big enough and I switched to posting on Instagram. Of course, I wanted people to follow me there, but followers weren’t a priority. 

 

Q: What were your main priorities when starting your influencing career?

A: Experimenting with my artistry and connecting with my audience to create a community. 

 

Q: How were you able to gain 500,000 followers? How long did it take? What tips can you share?

A: 1. Consistency: the world moves fast so you have to keep putting yourself out there.

2. Quality content: being proud of everything you put out.

3. Research: study your analytics across your platforms. Know your numbers and care about the people behind the numbers.  

4. Be kind! Be a good shepherd for sheep to follow you. Nobody likes a mean girl on social media.

 

Q: With 500k+ followers how are you maximizing the use of the follower count to benefit a community or yourself?

A: My mission with my influence is to inspire people, especially Black women, who often get ridiculed for expressing themselves. I try to inspire others to experiment with bright colors. I would say I am accomplishing that mission every day. Happy Black History Month!

 

Q: How do you balance your social life, school life, and business life?

A: I make them kiss. I invite my friends to activities that I film for my business. I use the things I learn in my business to apply to college classes. I recently took a social media marketing class and it felt so awkward!

 

Q: What or who do you credit your success to?

A: God and my parents. 

 

Q: What if you know what you want to be in life but not sure how to get there or if you’re not ready for the challenges?

A: Reach out to someone who is doing what you want to do and try to get information and advice from them. Adults love helping younger people just starting their career.

Music is often considered a universal language and plays a pivotal role in most of our daily lives, providing you with stimulation, energy, confidence, consolation, truly whatever you desire. You have probably used music to help you concentrate or get work done. Lucky for you, music is proven to boost productivity.

A research project conducted by the Department of Engineering Production at the University of Birmingham in England tested subjects on their ability to observe the quality of products passing down a conveyer belt. They did this for 30 minutes; one group had no music, one group had five minutes of music between the 15th and 20th minute and the third group had music the entire time. The results showed that the average detection efficiency of poor-quality items passing by was nearly 30 percent higher for the group listening to the music as compared to the group not listening to the music^[1]. The group with the five-minute interval showed increased ability to detect poor quality during the period that the music was playing.

 

The helpful nature of listening to music while working is explained by the fact that music promotes the production of endorphins (the anti-pain chemical), dopamine (the happy chemical) and oxytocin (trust chemical) in your body and the slowing production of cortisol (the stress chemical)^[2].

 

All in all, music has a beneficial impact on your overall productivity, and you should attempt to make it a part of your daily routine with work^[3].

 

Check out the links below to a productivity playlist and give it a try!

1. Productivity Power

2. Final Sunrise (Summer Playlist)