From BlackEnterprise.com, by Janell Hazelwood

For many women, a power look doesn’t just end with the right outfit or shoe. It’s a head-to-toe story of branding that tells who they are, what they do and how well they do it.

Putting that best face forward is important, whether they’re closing deals, working with clients, traveling the world or starting that next venture. In today’s image-conscious business world, make-up is no longer just for movie stars and glamour girls, as many working women recognize the importance of presence, accentuating their best features and embracing the power of femininity.

Frank Guyton, celebrity make-up artist and artistic director at Black Opal, helped four professional women tap into their wow factor, with beauty looks that can go from the office to after hours.

Take a look at these before and after make-up makeover shots from these professional power players at Black Enterprise.com.

More on Madame Noire!

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• Switch Up the Style for the Season: Hair Suggestions for the Spring
• Double Take! Celebs’ Who Look Just Like Their Parents
• Golden Girls! Gorgeous Gold Accessories – EDITOR PICKS
• 7 Things Most Men Learn About Women Eventually
• Black Celebrity Twins Besides Tia & Tamera
• First Look: Fantasia’s Baby Boy Dallas Xavier
• Nothing But Natural! Great Hair Blogs For Natural Sistahs

by Andrea Williams

When it was announced in May that Jonathan Rogers, former President and CEO of TVOne, was retiring, the web was abuzz over whom would replace him. Enter Wonya Lucas, a 17-year industry vet with previous stints at innovative networks including The Weather Channel, TNT and, most recently, The Discovery Channel.

With her multi-faceted background in marketing, branding and programming, Lucas is indeed the ideal candidate to lead TVOne into an exciting new era.  Here, she speaks with Madame Noire about how she landed such a plum position, what she values as a leader and what we can expect from the network in the future.

Did you watch TVOne before you took this position?

I did.  I watched two things: I love “Unsung”, and I’ve always loved that show.  I think it just hits the pulse of who we are as a people, and music is such an important part of who we are.  But also, if you think about it, many of those top artists lived at a time when you didn’t have the internet, and you didn’t have reality shows following them around, so you don’t know their stories.  It’s a classic story arc in almost every case, and I learn something every time I watch those shows.  And I also watched some of the sitcoms that were on the network, like “Martin”, “Living Single”, and “A Different World”.  And those shows all have, inherently through comedy, some type of moral fiber that runs through them.

While you were watching, did you think about how you would do things differently if you were running the network?

No.  In all honesty, I never thought I would be in this position.  Years ago I used to plot and plan every move I had, and I had a mentor who said, “Wonya, you’ll get some opportunities that you never see coming.”  And I never saw this one for me.

So how did you get the job?

I was headed to Atlanta, and I got a call from a headhunter who asked if I would meet with [TVOne Chairman] Alfred Liggins.  And I remember just sitting there at breakfast and thinking about all of the possibilities that this network had.  I got really, really excited because I saw what his vision was and what his objectives were in terms of this network, and they were aligned with what I wanted from a career perspective – which is really to create something that’s meaningful.  I feel like we have been given this gift in terms of the television medium, and there’s a responsibility that goes along with it.  And what you do with that responsibility is something that needs to be very thoughtful.  So we shared that common view about what this network could be, but also we started having fun just brainstorming about show ideas.

by Souleo

Fashion is often unfairly considered primarily a superficial business with minimal substance and notorious fickleness. What that misconception fails to consider is that in order for a brand to thrive you need individuals behind-the-scenes that are savvy, intelligent and that possess vision to forecast the next wave of trends. T’Shurah Dove, vice president of marketing for clothing retailer Jimmy Jazz, exudes those qualities which has helped her ensure that the company remains one of the market’s leading urban retailers.

Dove was previously the marketing coordinator for urban fashion brand, Downtown Locker Room (DTLR). In that position she honed her skills. Today, in her role at Jimmy Jazz she manages the marketing strategies for more than 120 stores throughout the Unites States. We spoke with the ever-busy Dove about staying connected to the needs and desires of consumers, dealing with racism and ageism in her field, the power of networking and her secret to simultaneously working and taking care of her love life.

What has been your career path to get to where you are now?

Well I started out working as a promotions assistant in Baltimore from 2000-2003 at a local radio station. I knew at that moment that marketing and promotions was it for me. Fast forward two years and I ended up at an urban retailer headquarters as a Marketing Assistant and worked my way up to Marketing Coordinator/Manager. This great opportunity became available at Jimmy Jazz and I was offered a VP of Marketing position. That’s a pretty great ending for someone who started out in radio promotions. But it doesn’t end here for me.

What is a typical day like for you? 

Every day is a different day for me. One Monday I may have a day full of meetings and the next Monday I may be working on a sponsorship project that helps brand the company. Every day is a different task.

By the time you arrived at Jimmy Jazz, it was already a leading clothing retailer. How did that impact your strategy since you weren’t building it from the ground level?

Well, just because a company is established doesn’t mean you stop reaching out to your consumer. You still work to stay relevant. You still work to make sure that the customer thinks of your company first when they decide that they want to go purchase goods. You work hard no matter what level you’re at. If the customer forgets about you, you have a serious problem.

Much of marketing boils down to having great ideas. How do you stay inspired to keep fresh ideas flowing?

Attending events to see what our demographic responds to helps me decide on how to approach the customer. I’m a big people watcher and so everywhere I go, I observe. I watch what people wear, what they read, and what technology they are into and I take that information back and turn it into a idea. I pay attention to how national chains market to their customers and turn that into an idea. There’s inspiration around you with every step you take; the key is to pay attention.

What ethical issues in marketing, such as pricing ethics or in your choices of advertising and promotion, do you deal with?

With the economy the way it is, I have to be smart about how funds are spent when it comes to advertising. I have to decide what opportunity will have the greatest effect and how we will get the biggest bang for our buck. We do cross promotions with a number of our vendors, which helps offset costs for projects. In this method, both companies get exposure.

Has being an African-American woman ever been an issue in your field of work?

I deal with issues ever so often with men and women who are uncomfortable with the position I hold and the work that I do. Due to my age and my skin color, I encounter resistance and hostilities but I pay it zero mind. I worked hard to get where I am today and continue to work hard. Those who take issue with it have insecurities that I’d rather not give energy to.

What do you consider to be your secret to success?

I remember to stay focused and humble. People are more inclined to do business with individuals who have pleasant personalities. I make sure to always attend the most influential events and network. It’s very interesting to meet people from different walks of life and talk to them about what they do.

How do you juggle your work and social life in order to keep a healthy balance?

I designate times of the week that I take myself out on a date. I found out that I’m a cheap date, but I also realized that taking this time is essential. I learned how to entertain myself while growing up the only girl. Other times, I may invite my boyfriend to an industry event. This way I kill two birds with one stone. It’s very important to separate work and your personal life and I make sure I put aside enough time to do both effectively.

The Fortune annual ranking of leading businesswomen for 2010 has been released and includes at least 4 women of African-American descent.  The current list was published on the CNN Money website earlier this week.

Individually and collectively, the fabulous 4 are responsible for handling billons in company revenues and have the daunting task of building and sustaining world-famous brands. These women ranked in the overall list at very respectable positions – out of 50 women, they placed at number 6, 9, 33 and 35.

It is not surprising that Oprah Winfrey is on the list.  However, as the most widely recognized African American female listed, it is notable that she is the only entrepreneur.  Her placement on the list at number 6 is a tribute to the personal struggles she has had to overcome in her personal life, and the growth of her HARPO and newly developed Oprah Winfrey Network.  Oprah’s listing contains the greatest amount of personal information, including that she was raised by a single teen mother, was raped in her childhood and gave birth to a son of her own that died in infancy.  No matter how many times we hear Oprah’s story, it remains fresh and relevant in our community.  Ms. Winfrey’s revenues are not disclosed on the list.  Regardless, the dollar amount would pale in comparison to the number of lives she has saved.

The number 9 spot on the Fortune list is occupied by Ursula Burns, Chairwoman and CEO of Xerox.  Ms. Burns elevated herself through the ranks of the Xerox corporation from being an intern, to becoming the Chairwoman and CEO of a now global brand.  In May, Ms. Burns landed a deal with Affiliated Computer Services, making Xerox the world’s largest business process and document management firm.  She became the Chairwoman of the company this past May, and also sits on the board of American Express, another global brand. Ms. Burns is credited with handling $22 billion in renevue.

New to the list is Ms. Lina Gooden, raking at number 33, in her position as EVP, Information Systems and Global Solutions at Lockheed Martin.  The company is the largest information technology provider to the U.S. government.  In 2009, Ms. Gooden produced $12 billion in revenue which accounts for almost 27% of the company’s total revenue.

Another newcomer to the list in the number 35 spot is Ms. Rosalind Brewer, President of Walmart South.  Ms. Brewer was previously a scientist at Kimberly-Clark and had gone from oversight of Wal-Mart’s operations in Georgia to the Southwest region to the entire South. According to Wikipedia, Wal-Mart is the world’s largest retailer.  The revenue in her territory is $85 billion plus.

It is remarkable that 2 newcomers placed on the list.  Each and every position deserves our respect and a “high 5” or a fist –bump if you want to aim for the stars.

Candi Sparks is the author of the “Can I Have Some Money?” books series.