Kalen Allen Visits Lansing, Michigan for Entrepreneurship & Innovation Week

Kalen Allen: Hey there, Lansing, Michigan! It’s Kalen Allen. I’m so excited because I am coming to town this week. I am coming to be able to talk about my career and the way that I have been able to navigate this, because I hear there are a lot of talented content creators in Lansing, Michigan, and I just want to be able to come and help in any way that I can. But anyway, make sure you come by and see us, and I think we’re about to throw to my girl Kierra, who is also my makeup artist who made it all happen. Hey, Kierra!

Rachelle Legrand: Well, if that message from entertainment personality Kalen Allen hasn't already made you want to attend the Influencer Lab this week, then I know exactly who will. Hey, Kierra! She's here with us today and she's going to talk about the 517 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Week. My friend, long time no see! It's been a while—it's been two years since you've been last here with us, but that's because you are literally around the world, very busy. But this event is bringing you back home. It's this Thursday and literally in a matter of days—hours, I think—I might be wrong...

Kierra Lanice: Yeah, a few hours actually. This event completely sold out. I had a friend text me really quick and I said, "Oh my gosh, they already say tickets are selling, let me get it out right now." But what does it say about the influencer community of Lansing?

Rachelle Legrand: I think it says that Lansing is hungry. You know, there's always a conversation of Lansing being behind, but I think this proves otherwise—that people are hungry, they're ready, and they're expecting to have deeper conversations about the creator economy and how to use their influence to build their platforms, etc. So I'm excited. I was honestly blown away; literally within a few hours, over 120 RSVPs. Literally! And the fact that you're here, you're doing this with us, everyone is so excited to work with you. And you're hosting the conversation "Content as Innovation." What exactly does that mean when it comes to content?

Kierra Lanice: So many people think that it's just about going viral. And no, we're talking about building sustainable careers. So we don't just want the likes, we don't want virality; we want to be able to build something sustainable. The creator economy is worth over a billion dollars and there's a lot of thriving influencers right here in Lansing. And so I really want to just prove to people that you know, you don't have to move to LA or New York to chase your dreams—you can do it right here at home.

Rachelle Legrand: Okay, and that's what we need to know. And listen, you don't have to go to Grand Rapids, you don't have to go to Detroit or Chicago—right here in Lansing, there's plenty of room for all of us here. So on top of that, especially—I love that you said it's not about always going viral, people think that's the only way to be successful in this industry—but also, what else are you hoping attendees get out of this event?

Kierra Lanice: I want them to get clarity and confidence when it comes to owning their stories and not just aimlessly posting, but really learning how to use their voice to position themselves to really build a sustainable career. You know, content isn't just the posting on social media; there's really a business behind it. And I hope that people take away more than just getting inspired by hearing Kalen, but to really own the power of their own voice and their own story and know that it's worth being told, and there's a community for them.

Rachelle Legrand: And just even getting to know you, you have really reframed the way I even think about social media, so I know there's going to be so much people are going to learn from you. And as somebody who is Lansing born and bred, you've already cultivated a community, but you've done so especially with Cocktails & Coworking. Tell us where that space came from.

Kierra Lanice: Yeah, Cocktails & Coworking was actually birthed when I relocated. I moved to Houston years ago—this was 2013—and I didn't know anyone. Everyone knew me as the girl from Michigan, the girl from up north, and I was repping hard. And so I would use social media and I would post like, "Hey, if you're a creative or an entrepreneur, meet me at such and such coffee shop or this lounge." And that's how I built my community. And so when I moved back to Michigan—to Lansing in 2020 just before the pandemic—my husband was like, "You should bring that back. And how much more fruitful and beneficial will it be to have it here in your hometown and just connect with like-minded creators and entrepreneurs and professionals?" And so it's grown beyond what I could have ever imagined.

Rachelle Legrand: Absolutely! And of course, you're going to have a Cocktails & Coworking session after the event. But you're having this conversation with Kalen, who we just heard from—all the celebrities you worked with, the fact that you're even bringing one for us—why did you choose him?

Kierra Lanice: You know, I adore Kalen. Kalen is a blueprint, honestly, when you really think about it. He got his start creating social media, it went viral, that landed him a spot on Ellen. He got his own segment on the Ellen show, "Kalen Reacts." And since then, I mean, he's really owned using his voice to build a multi-level platform—from Broadway to Netflix. We work on a show together right now on Fox where I serve as his makeup artist, red carpet events... I mean, the list goes on and on. So really just showing people that you have someone who's also from a small town who used his voice and used his platform to create multiple streams of income. And yeah, the fact that we met on social media over 10 years ago and now he's one of my closest friends as well—I had to bring him home!

Rachelle Legrand: But listen, of course, when we get to this event on Thursday, we're going to really learn about the power of social media. This Thursday, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Now, you can't RSVP anymore, but there is standing room. And then remember, on top of that, take a look at the information listed below. You can learn more about Cocktails & Coworking, learn more about Kierra, and remember there's more events happening this week for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Week. But my dear, thank you so much for coming back and hanging out with us today.

Kierra Lanice: Thank you for having me! We're excited for this event on Thursday.