Corporate Celebrity: Valeisha Butterfield
Corporate Celebrity: Valeisha Butterfield
By Jamie Miller
Valeisha Butterfield: Co-Founder of the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network/Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the International Trade Administration
CPM: Why did you create the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network?
VB: Being a woman in the [entertainment] business you feel the need to take a sense of responsibility. If not you should. You should want to take action. I had this dream of a foundation. I was so sick of being involved in panel discussions talking about it. I called a meeting at my house to talk about the issues. The Meeting went from 20 women to about 120 women. Top women that were so focused and so serious to help create balance. Now 3 yrs later we have over 40,000 members worldwide. [The focus is on] Healthcare, Financial Literacy, Career Development, and Personal Advancement.
CPM: Congratulations on being appointed as part of Obama’s Administration! Explain your position as Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the International Trade Administration.
VB: To be apart of President Obama’s administration is an honor and a job that I take very seriously. Help American companies expand their exports. For a business 95% of their potential consumers are outside of the US. A lot of American companies only sell their goods here in the US. We help American companies expand their exports outside of the US to other markets to create jobs for Americans. This helps me to wake up every morning and love what I do. To be able to say that we help support and create jobs and that will be apart of my legacy to be able to help people become employed and to know that I have a small piece in that large goal ahead of us.
CPM: At this time in the economy would you say we are slowly coming out of the recession and has there been an increase in the job market?
VB: I think we are turning the corner and certainly we are not there yet but we are slowly seeing a turning phase where more companies are becoming stable and more job opportunities are opening up that didn’t exist a year ago and even the housing market is starting to make a turn. It wouldn’t be fair to say that we are out of the recession and until we can employ every person who is willing and able to work. We still have a ways to go.
CPM: How did you get involved with the Hip Hop Summit Action Network and are you still working with the organization?
VB: I emailed Russell Simmons because of someone I knew had his email address and he responded within 5 minutes. I followed up with him to set up a meeting and he brought me on board as an unpaid intern at 24yrs old. Sleeping on a friends couch and I did that for a year unpaid and I figured early that I should carve a niche for myself and to figure out where the holes are to fill those voids so that I could make a difference and an impact in his organization. I spent almost seven years there going from unpaid intern to about 4 different promotions later I ended up as Executive Director and Vice President. My work through Russell included fundraising, voter registration, program development, etc. At the end of the day what motivated me the most was the contribution that I could make to the community. Working with Russell was one of the best experiences of my life. I’m not working directly with the HHSAN but I do keep in touch and I’m very supportive in all that they do.
CPM: Describe a typical day for Valeisha.
VB: Wake up at 6am for a workout and I’m in the office at 8am. I’m hitting the ground running. Preparing talking points or briefing papers. In the office until about 7pm home to work on WEEN work until about 12am and I wake up to do it all over again.
CPM: Ultimate goals in your career?
VB: 1) move the needle in regards to job creations 2) get WEEN to its full potential 1million members worldwide. Also establish WEEN films, documentaries, and TV.
CPM: What are your thoughts on a successful black woman and her career and love?
VB: I don’t believe we have to choose our career or a successful happy marriage. I think we can have both. Our mothers didn’t tell us how difficult it would be. It’s very hard to balance our personal life with our professional life. I would put as much focus on my personal life as I have my career and I think I would have that balance right now. When you are driven and achieving a certain level of success as a woman there are a lot of sacrifices. You have to be willing to put in the work and the time into both. Focus on balance and discipline and happiness and everything will fall into place when it should.
CPM: Are there any upcoming tours/events in the future for WEEN?
VB: The 2nd Annual WEEN Awards was in New York City September this past September. We honor celebrities and people behind the scenes who have contributed to the empowerment of women worldwide. We honored Hill Harper, Marie Davis (HIV Activist), Vivica Fox, Malinda Williams.
CPM: Do you have any closing remarks?
VB: You don’t have to be perfect, willing to admit your flaws, know your weaknesses and grow from it. When I realized that I didn’t have to be all things to everybody that’s when I had a breakthrough in my career and personal life. You don’t have to be perfect to be successful. No when to say no and be comfortable when saying no. Your workload may not be able to handle it or your core values.
For more information on Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network visit www.weenonline.org
