Brittney Oliver is a true connector and believer in the power of asking. From her journey to landing her dream PR job to starting a growing community for women professionals, Lemons 2 Lemonade. If you have not checked out an L2L event, make plans to do so as they are some of the most intentional events for growth and networking in the city right now. Brittney has charted her own course of joy and is continually making lemonade out of lemons. She also dropped a few jewels on Threads for all seeking to find community in their city. Learn more about Brittney!
Brittney Oliver
Company: Lemons 2 Lemonade
Hometown: Clarksville, TN by the way of my dad via the Army
Title: Founder, Content Marketer and Contributing Writer
How many years have you been in Nashville? October makes 4 years
Tell us what you are creating in Nashville?
People know me as the young woman who went on over 100 interviews in an 8-month period to gain a PR job. Since then, I have used my voice and my writing skills to shed light on biases within the job search and what it’s like to navigate corporate America and life as an entrepreneur as a woman, and as a person of color. It led me to create Lemons 2 Lemonade, a platform geared to help motivate and equip professionals and entrepreneurs with career and lifestyle tips to help them achieve their goals and has reached over 5,000 professionals of color and women through my event series. Since then, I’ve been able to host the series in major cities across the country
What’s been special about activating Lemons 2 Lemonade in Nashville is being able to fill a desire for community. I remember hosting my first one in 2018, when I moved back to the area, but Nashville has changed so much since then. The early days of Covid-19 created a silo of loneliness for many. As more people move to the area, they are ready to mix and mingle and make friends. To be honest, Nashville is a hard place to meet new people, make friends and find people with similar interests. The more opportunities to network, and the more existing social groups and networking communities come together to partner the easier it will be to bring people together and get the word out.
L2L is known as a space that is safe for people to come as they are. People who have attended L2L have gotten job opportunities, speaking engagements, met friends, and gained new clients. Real connection is happening through networking and people leave feeling seen after hearing the intentionally curated panel. You also leave with great goodie bags and a complimentary beverage and/or light bites thanks to amazing partners in Nashville and local and national brands who sponsor.
Our time is valuable and I spend a lot of time thinking about the topics and the people who are going to share information with my community. It’s all intentional and it means the world when people tell me that they feel that intention every time they share space with us.
What inspires you?
I’m inspired by people who are tenacious in the face of adversity. I think about my mother, Barbara, and how despite any obstacle that may have come her way, she persisted to the very end. Life is hard, and it’s constantly throwing lemons our way, but quitting is always the easiest part. I’m inspired by anyone who is determined to keep going and can be satisfied in knowing they gave it their best. As I navigate grief, I look to those people to keep me lifted.
Coffee, lunch, brunch, or happy hour? Brunch and I don’t do enough of that. Last year I went to ButterFLY Garden Brunch + Event too many times to count.
Describe Nashville in 3 words?
Nashville’s growth brings opportunity, Nashville native’s have a lot of heart and Nashville can be misunderstood due not being able to own the narrative and the history. The city is marketed in a way that erases so much of what makes this place great.
Favorite Nashville musician, singer or artist? Brassville
What is your favorite Nashville spot you are digging right now? I love Coral Club and Tiger Bar right now. I’m looking forward to Hidden Bar’s new seasonal-themed experience next month.
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