Interview with Professor A’Mera Frieman, BAS, MA, Executive Director
Dallas Women's Success Initiative (DWSI)

Conversation Highlights:
•How/why did you become a business owner?
I became a business owner to have the freedom to change my life, my family's life, and the lives of others who needed help getting to where they wanted to go.

•Tell us about your story, your journey- successes, challenges, lessons learned.
It's been a long road from a small country town girl to the woman that I am today. My successes have been in the endurance of the journey, to stay faithful during the challenges but remember that if no else is for me, God is always there. I am fortunate to hold several degrees, a contract with the state of Texas and DISD, a nonprofit that affects the lives of generations, and a retail product that is making waves in its industry. The lessons that I've learned are: to use my gifts wisely, recognize my support system, and to take a break before my body makes me take one.

•What nuggets you would share with people with dreams and aspirations who are afraid?
Keep moving forward. Fear is natural, but the more you move forward in your Purpose, the more the unknown becomes familiar and the road has smaller obstacles to overcome.

•Tell us about your business
Friedom Innovation is the home of my first invention, the Takedown Tool-E, the Efficient Hair Extension Remover. The Tool-E is currently in the market on Amazon and we have a deal pending with a large retailer for distribution. Our core customers are hair extension consumers and styling professionals.

Frieman Training & Development is a coaching/training firm that allows me to help a spectrum of business owners to develop innovative services and products to increase their earning potential, as well as, create viable solutions to contract with state and federal governments. Some call me an Innovation Specialist because I usually streamline processes and people so that innovation becomes the core value.
Stopping the Madness Antibullying Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation dedicated to providing education, training, and community resources programs to adults, youth, community partners, and corporations to eliminate school, cyber, and workplace bullying. SMAF's initiatives and community assistance programs include the Dallas Women's Success Initiative interactive conference. The primary goal is to increase awareness of bullying, give support to the community, assist families with budgeting, and to refocus educational initiatives for participants to live successful lives.

•What's important to you as a business owner?
It is important to me as a business owner to always be helpful but aware of the value of my services and products. I've learned never to undervalue my brand because at the end of the day, I'm still a small business and my family has to eat.

Upcoming Events:
•SMAF is holding its 4th Annual Dallas Women's Success Initiative, March 13 starting at 1 pm and March 14th starting at 10 am. We're excited to be in our 4th year of enriching, educating, and elevating North Texas Women.
For more information and to secure a ticket, visit website- www.dallaswsi.org
For questions, contact at contact@dallaswsi.org

•Speaker at Richland College Professional Development Day on February 27th
https://go.activecalendar.com/dcccd/event/professional-development-daywork-day-for-employees---day-and-evening-classes-will-not-meet/