Meet Michelle Y. Talbert | Relationship Marketing Strategist & Founder, Her Power Movement

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Y. Talbert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, is there something you believe many others might not?
The old adage is: “People buy from people who they know, like & trust.” I disagree. I think it’s fair to say we’ve all purchased from people we didn’t know. I didn’t know Ray Kroc and I certainly don’t personally know Taraji P. Henson or Rihanna, but I love their products. Well, not the McDonald’s. But I’ve definitely purchased from them. Happily. And, to take it even further, in some cases we buy from people we actually DISlike. People DESPISE Jeff Bezos, yet you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who has never ordered from Amazon or consumed an Amazon product.

What we require is Trust. That’s what our customers expect. They need to trust that we will deliver the service or product that we’ve promised them and they will get their intended outcome. While it’s great to be liked. I’ve heard that only about 32% of the people we meet actually like us! Whew, I don’t know about you, but that statistic is oddly freeing. Are we really here to be liked or are we here to make an impact? I don’t know about you, but I’m here to, “Put a dent in the Universe.” In the words of the late Steve Jobs…speaking of unlikeable folks. Be AUTHENTIC, and your tribe will find you. But no matter whether you’re known or liked, if you’re trusted, you will succeed–in business and in life.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the Founder and Chief Curator of Her Power Space. We are a woman forward men welcoming coworking, business event venue and podcast studio providing business services from our space in Lauderhill, near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On January 12, 2021 we celebrated our one-year anniversary. I am a recovering attorney and an expert tribe builder that has been featured in Forbes, The Washington Post and other major publications. That’s the official line. The real is that I’m a ‘round the way girl, raised in Queens, New York City.

I’m what many may call a ‘Late Bloomer.’ I took many missteps and after the demise of my first marriage at the age of 22, with my 2 toddlers in tow, I relocated to the Washington, DC area. I attended community college at night and worked as a secretary by day and graduated from Cornell University at 30 and then law school at Penn Law at 33. After practicing corporate law at law firms of every size and the demise of my second marriage just before my 40th birthday I completely pivoted. I returned to the blogging that I’d started in law school, and added podcasting, writing and connecting–with others and honestly, myself. My journey led me to South Florida in 2015 and since then I’ve continued to serve the women entrepreneurs in our community. Her Power Space was a natural extension of our Her Power Moves community, with chapters in Broward, Miami-Dade and Jacksonville. Her Power Moves is focused on helping women solopreneurs and side hustlers, connect, collaborate and create cashflow, unapologetically.

So, in January 2020 I took the money I made from working as a contract lawyer by day, and opened the doors to Her Power Space, a Woman forward, Men welcoming ™ hospitality-driven coworking space, business event venue and podcast studio near Fort Lauderdale, FL. On March 31, 2020 I locked the door to Her Power Space.

In May 2020, in response to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the small business community, I launched the No Small Business Left Behind [Virtual] Summit series as a resource for business owners to get information, resources and forge connections with others to ensure their survival. To date, we’ve highlighted over 50 small businesses. As 2020 unfolded the giants in the coworking space, like WeWork and The Wing (which also focused on women) fell. They closed, they stopped providing services. We, on the other hand, are still here and even expanded offerings to include mail scanning and other virtual services. That is due in part to a very understanding landlord and in large part to our community. Our community has sustained us and continues to reserve space and get their mail and host their podcasts and interviews from our Space. When I talked with ‘experts’ before we opened they told me I was CRAZY for not REQUIRING that our community pay a set monthly membership fee. I know now how right that decision was. It was because our community could pay for our services on an a’la carte, as needed, on-demand basis that they have stayed with us.

Our model is not typical in the coworking space. But it is and was what our community needed. My mission is simple: To eliminate isolation and increase wealth for side hustlers and solopreneurs. If my journey can inspire even one person then my work is done! You can learn more about our journey through our first year at: herpowermoves.com/hpsdocumentary

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would definitely do Saturday night Jazz at Just Spoons and Sunday brunch. NYSW Jazz Lounge for hookah and amazing drinks, music Smitty’s for a stoge aka cigar (don’t smoke if you’re under 18) On the B Side with Ingrid B, hosted at Ginger Bay in Hollywood And Floetry Nights with Quick the Poet at Broward Performing Arts And, this would give me a great excuse Would definitely hit up House of Mac And would definitely have to stop through Shuckin’ and Jivin’ for some tasty soul food Sunday night with my favorite reggae band, Visions Band, at It’s 5 o’clock somewhere on Hollywood Beach or Friday night And we’d have a blast getting our artistic vibes at Nailed It DIY, owned by Yvonne P., in Lauderhill For some exercise we’d hit up Coral Cliffs rock climbing and Yes2Yoga, owned by Denetrya Brookins And end it all with massages and mani/pedis with concierge spa service, Traveling Aura, while nibbling on adult beverage infused cupcakes by Kori of Cake Is Life

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My Tribe is the ONLY reason that we are still here. That I am here, as a business and as a person is attributable to . Huge Thank You to my ‘Sister Power Hustlers’ – Our community of women entrepreneurs, side hustlers, solopreneurs, in our Her Power Moves Community and the Her Power Space community. Lauderhill City Commissioner Melissa P. Dunn is a huge advocate for small business and I appreciate her support immensely.

As a solopreneur, with a brick and mortar coworking space, it’s easy to feel completely overwhelmed and like I can never take a break or work on other projects. I am so thankful to our slate of Concierges-of-the-Day, Corey LeGrand, Dr. Khia Thomas, Monique Williams, Natasha Wright and Kori Gillion, all local small business owners who have loved our Space and served our community when I’m not there. And of course, my family, my children, Javier, Jasmine and Aaron, and my sister, parents, grandmother and cousins who all cheer me on daily. I owe you everything.

And special shout out to @paperbloomsforever, my dear friend Raisa Laburtseva, who recommended me for my first Voyage MIA feature and has been a constant force for good in my corner. Thank you, girl.

Website: http://herpower.space
Instagram: https://instagram.com/herpowermoves
Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/michelleytalbert
Twitter: http://twitter.com/herpowermoves
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/herpowermovesintl
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/her-power-space-fort-lauderdale-2
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZEkCvKoVig
Other: https://www.facebook.com/106079304247579/videos/1069182406866620 Clubhouse: michelletalbert