For 26 years, as president of OWN: Onyx Woman Network, Ola Jackson has been a voice and given a voice to women in business.
It was Mother’s Day 1991, when Ola received a handmade Mother’s Day card from her husband and son and a check that would redirect her path from employee to business owner. Ola created an 8-page local newsletter that grew into a national business magazine called Onyx Woman. She expanded to produce sell-out women’s conferences, a television talk show and began speaking around the country.
Through her encounters with her audience, Ola noticed that women expressed that, although successful on the outside, there was something missing in their desire to thrive for inner-peace and confidence.
At the same time as she was evaluating her own life-lessons, (the mother of an autistic adult son and caregiver to her 80-year old mother), is when she began to appreciate the value of taking care of herself while dealing with the challenges of caring for others. She was encouraged to turn this moment into a message that was needed to complete the missing link to helping other women who asked the question, “What about me?”
So she started a lifestyle blog called Your Stylish Ways (YSW). YSW infused fashion and cooking content, with self-care tips and inspiring profile stories to offer women ideas on how to apply self-care activities into their own lives.
The Robert Morris University graduate found the answer she sought to move on her mission to motivate women wanting direction on how to engage in a self-care lifestyle.
Some of the AWARDS:
• Talk Magazine Woman of Distinction
• Pittsburgh Black Media Federation Legend Award
• SBA Business Champion Award
• The New Pittsburgh Courier Woman of Influence Award
• Robert Morris Alumni Award
• Ebenezer Church Woman of Distinction Award
• Negro Business & Professional Women’s Business of Woman of the Year
My dear friend Ola, has been ‘Our Face’ of Pittsbugh and around the country for years! Her brand is truth, caring, and fabulous, and we love her so much. Her daily encouragements sets the tone and allows for fine tuning throughout our journey in business. We are blessed to have her!
Lynda, Thank you so much. I am honored! My goal has always been to encourage and motivate women; while living through example.
It’s good to see an article recognizing someone who has been and is a pillar for so many women in the Pittsburgh area and beyond. Congrats my friend!