Some say Jacqueline Howell's career has been paved with gold. We at Strive figure she has laid it with gold. Raised in Chicago, educated at Spelman and Georgetown University Law Center then working in some of the most prestigious law firms, Jacqueline is no stranger to hard work. She has represented Matthew Knowles (Beyonce's Father), R & B singer Chris Brown, SwishaHouse Records and Nu America Ad Agency along with many others in the entertainment industry.
We recently took the opportunity to speak with Ms. Howell regarding her new position at AllHipHop.com and about the work ethic and "Strive mentality" it takes to achieve. 
 
STRIVE: Tell me a little about yourself?  Where are you from, Brothers/Sisters, Children, Affiliations, Marital Status or anything else?
 
Jacqueline Howell Esq.:
1 Brother
No Children
Member of Black Entertainment & Sports Lawyers Association (“BESLA&rdquo
 
 
 
STRIVE: How did you get started? Have you always wanted to do this?  Where did the inspiration and passion come from?
 
Jacqueline Howell Esq.:  As far back as I can remember, people always told me that I would make a good lawyer.  (probably because I talked a lot even then!) And it just stuck with me.  In 2002, during my 3rd year at Georgetown Law Center, I attended a BESLA Conference in Cancun, Mexico with several of my law school friends.  Back then , many of my friends wanted to practice entertainment law.  As for me, at that time, I just knew I wanted to be a litigation attorney.  During the conference, I met Darrell Miller, a successful lawyer in California, who introduced me to the idea of “entertainment litigation.”  Even today, most black entertainment lawyers are transactional lawyers.  Transactional lawyers refer their clients’ litigation work to outside counsel.  It clicked….here lies a void.  So over the next four years, I marketed myself as a “Black-female-entertainment-litigation attorney.”  I attended every conference, workshop and luncheon across the country intending to meet entertainment transactional lawyers who could refer me litigation business.  Also, I wrote countless letters and emails to people introducing them to my practice and the law firm.  It worked.  It seemed like overnight, I began to see the fruits of my personal business plan …the entertainment business started pouring in from around the country.
 
 
 
STRIVE: What jobs did you hold before you became successful?
 
Jacqueline Howell Esq.:  Before I became General Counsel, SVP of Business Development & Legal Affairs at AllHipHop.com, I was an associate at Davis & Gilbert LLP, the #1 media and communications law firm in the country.  Pre-law school, I worked at BMW of North America’s national sales & marketing department.
 
STRIVE: Who influenced you the most in your career/life when you were starting out? Is there anyone's path that you particularly admire and would like to emulate?
 
Jacqueline Howell Esq.: My parents taught me that college is a privilege.  But college, alone, does not make a winner or an entrepreneur.  Neither of my parents had the opportunity to attend college.  Yet, it never mattered.  They worked hard and, most importantly, played fair.  Meaning, they treated those around them, both professionally and personally, with respect.  My parents, who each owned their own businesses, always believed in the theory that there was room for everyone at the top.  They also lived by the motto that “its not so much what you know but who you know.”  Looking back, it didn’t matter one iota that they didn’t go to college because they knew how to play the game.  (which is probably why their accomplishments far outnumber most of their college graduate friends.)
 

STRIVE: What signifies a STRIVER to you?

 
Jacqueline Howell Esq.: Someone who pursues their passion with intensity.  One of my favorite quotes is by Marion Anderson, "In my life, if you have a purpose in which you can believe, there's no end to the amount of things you can accomplish."  Life should have a valuable purpose which you relentlessly pursue.   I can immediately tell when someone is still searching for their right path in life…that’s the person in the office who has time to comment on someone else’s clothes or that girlfriend who sits around and criticizes everyone.    A Striver or a person with real purpose has zero time for such nonsense. A Striver does not feel threatened by other’s success.  To the contrary, others’ triumphs merely invigorate a Striver.
 
 
 
STRIVE: What makes you original or sets you apart?  Why are you on top of your game?
 
Jacqueline Howell Esq.: I genuinely want everyone around me to “WIN.”  I have never achieved anything by holding people back or blocking their blessings.  Because I live my life with this “winning” spirit, I focus on taking advantage of every opportunity that comes across my desk. 
Also, I have always had a “personal business plan.”  Understand this, my personal business plan sometimes conflicted with my employer’s plan and even my friends’ plans. But in the end, my business plan wins because, no matter what title I hold or how much money I make, I will always “own” my career and my destiny. 
 
 
 
STRIVE: How do you define success? People often talk about "Making IT", butt when will you consider yourself as having made it?
 
Jacqueline Howell Esq.: Power, money, success means nothing if you aren’t giving back and affecting change.  That’s why I started the Corporate Read-Aloud program at Davis & Gilbert.  Davis & Gilbert lawyers read books to three 2nd grade classes in a Harlem elementary school.  And the lawyers answered the children’s questions about being a lawyer.  Also, the firm bought thousands of books for each child’s personal library.  The program also took Davis & Gilbert’s lawyers, who are predominantly white, out of their comfort zone and placed them in an environment where they were the “minority.” 
I have a long way before I “make it.”  I want to create a legacy where I have the power to affect real change in our community…build schools, create jobs and inspire leaders. 
 
 
 
STRIVE: Do you see any changes or patterns in the industry and what is your opinion of that?  What is the insider perspective on getting ahead in your industry?
Jacqueline Howell Esq.: More than ever before, owning “content” is key.   Mathew Knowles and I had a discussion a few weeks ago about the old, but so true, adage…”he who owns content is king!”  The future entertainment moguls are those who figure out unique ways to distribute content in real time. 
 
 
 
STRIVE: What advice would you give others attempting to make their dreams come true?   What are your 3 lessons for success? Or what is your recipe for success?
 
Jacqueline Howell Esq.: Find your passion…whatever it is…partying, adding numbers, creating strategy. Next, figure out how you can use your passion to fill a void. Then Create a personal business plan and GO for it!
 
 
 
STRIVE: What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning and what is the last thing you think of at night.
 
Jacqueline Howell Esq.:
First thing:  When I am going to the gym today?
Last thing:  How can I take something I am doing to the next level?
 
 
 
STRIVE:What do you know for sure?
 
Jacqueline Howell Esq.: God is guiding my path and allowing me to live my destiny.  I am my worst and best critic. Nobody’s perfect!   
 
 
 
STRIVE: Any last overall advice?
 
Jacqueline Howell Esq.: Surround yourself with smart, innovative and supportive people that will challenge you to grow and be your best.  Don’t spend time worrying about what other people are doing…it’s not productive.  And live life fearlessly. 
 
 
 
STRIVE: For the up and coming Strivers... Name 3-5 things that you'd do if you were new to the industry.
 
Jacqueline Howell's Four Points:
1. Join an organization that allows you to meaningfully network with people who are doing what you want to do.  (for me, that’s BESLA)
2. Make it a goal to go out to lunch, dinner or drinks with established executives and decision makers. Remember, in many instances, it’s who you know so begin creating an address book filled with movers and shakers across many areas.  
3. Always write a handwritten note that says thank you when someone does something nice for you.  Start following up key encounters with “nice to have met you” notes as well. Send congratulations notes to people when something exciting happens in their life.  Work the address book that you are creating in #2.    (ssshhhh….nobody does this so you will stand out immediately!)
4. Everyone should have a personal business plan. The one thing that stops folks is not that they aren’t driven enough.  But rather, instead of people having (and working!) a plan which focuses on how they are going to reach their goals, people spend unnecessary time worried about what other folks are doing. Remember, incredible opportunities come to people all the time but they miss out because their inward focus is not in the right place.

the big question

STRIVE: what are 3 simple ways african american women can wear their hair natural? feel good about their ancestry and attract men?
DIANE: Men like long free flowing hair - regardless if it is yours or not.   So I recommend
The Twist or Twist Out look on your free textured Fro - which will elongate your natural curl.
Texturizing your natural hair - gives you manageability, flexibility and options to wear your hair curly or straight. And finally,
Hair pieces or extensions, give you options to grow your hair out and create long flowing hair whether you want to wear, wavy, curly or straight hair. 
  
Feel the Texture - Men are visual, they like to feel the hair - straight, wavy, curly or coily
  
STRIVE: what about straight hair (of all ethnic backgrounds)... do you have any experience styling these types
DIANE: Yes, I trained with the best in the business and I work with all textures, whether, naturally straight, wavy, relaxed, textured, curly, coily, locs etc.  Hair is Hair Texture...different nationalities or different backgrounds is my specialty, since I am from a multicultural background, Caribbean (Asian & Black).   I work with hair - all hair textures... 
  
STRIVE: what's next for you?
DIANE: Glad you asked.  Just restructured the salon..TAI Texture/Serenity Salon, (a cooperative in soho) - there are two new stylist coming on board in January 2006. One being the talented: Javon Easter, celebrity makeup and hairstylist to artist like Vivica Fox and Amerie. And I have a new collection of styling products launching February 2006 - Tai Texture Hair Care... with 4 unique finishing ,styling and treatment products especially formulated for textured hair - to maintain, control and even create/long lasting straight hold on healthy natural hair .... It's exciting times...Texture & Light.
  
Much Thanks to Diane for taking time out for STRIVE.

check her online at: www.dianedacosta.com