Alumni
Grad Publishes Her First Book Single Mom and The City
Alumna and San Francisco native, Takiyah Smith recently published her first book, "Single Mom and The City," offering information, community, and inspiration to the 10 million moms parenting alone. Smith graduated from FIDM with her Merchandise Product Development degree in 2008 and for the last nine years has been running a beauty supply company, Beautiful You, specializing in natural and organic beauty products for skin and hair. We caught up with her to learn more.
Tell us a little about yourself: I am a city girl, born and raised in San Francisco. As a free, creative soul I love nature, volunteering, basketball, Bikram yoga and high heels. I’ve been blessed with a kind, intelligent, loving daughter. There is also my brother, who I lovingly refer to as my bonus gift. He has special needs along with being happy and full of life.
Tell us about the book you just published: Book one in a series, “Single Mom and The City: Create Time, Money, and a Rich Life" is a foundational guide for moms. You wouldn’t build a house without a foundation. Parenting should be no different. I unlock success secrets. Far from the typical mommy book, my book offers advice that can be implemented immediately. Imagine if “The Secret” and “Think and Grow Rich” had a baby—it would be "Single Mom and The City." The information is transformative, compiled with data-driven facts specifically for moms, like you have never seen. I’ve been told that it is the perfect mommy bible.
Why did you choose FIDM? Divine intervention kind of led me to FIDM. I have always had a passion for fashion and all things beautiful, even at a very young age. As people often do, I veered from what I was destined to do. I was living in Sacramento for several years working for a large hospital. One day I was sitting at home watching television when a commercial advertising a fashion college came on. As I watched the commercial I thought, “That is what I should be doing.” I researched that particular college, however the proximity was not conducive to where I lived. So, I googled fashion schools in California. As luck would have it, The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising appeared in my results. Three months later, I packed my bags and moved back to San Francisco. I listened to my heart.
How do you feel FIDM prepared you for what you are doing now? Everyone has that one teacher while in the moment, that class feels like your biggest nightmare. However, after you’ve long graduated, and reflect back on your experience and growth, you realize you were elevated to awe-inspiring heights and superior standards. I have Paula Mattisonsierra (Marketing Management) to thank for the standard of excellence she set for her students. The teachers at FIDM were simply amazing in general. The Photoshop and design classes were paramount in coming up with my cover and interior designs of my book. The business classes were key because I knew that ultimately I wanted to work for myself. There is no substitute for having teachers and administrators who are actually working in the field they are teaching.
How did you decide on your major? Originally, I was certain that the Fashion Design major was for me. However, after taking the assessment and careful analysis of all that Fashion Design entailed, it was clear that business combined with fashion components is what I really wanted. Merchandise Product Development was the perfect solution.
Any advice for current FIDM Students who are facing challenges in this pandemic? Look for the positive in a challenging situation. Find the silver lining. Have there been things you have been wanting to do but never had time for? Relationships you want to cultivate? You are fashion students, and creativity runs through your veins. The moment may be flawed, but you have the opportunity to make this moment flawless.
What is your biggest goal right now? To help moms all over the world with my book, "Single Mom and The City." I am currently working to publish a children’s coloring book.
Anything else you’d like to share? Do you want to create exponential growth of time? Use your time to generate money. Next, use the money to buy other people’s time. Time is our most precious commodity.
Learn more at singlemomandthecity.com.
Categories: Merchandise Product Development Alumni
