What does it take to make it to the top? Well, just ask Stacy Raphael Stewart because she seems to have all the necessary ingredients. A self-proclaimed workaholic, this Trini girl who continues to climb the corporate ladder has made quite a name for herself in America's fast-paced entertainment industry, rubbing shoulders with the best of 'em–from renowned US producers to songwriters to music executives. Now that she's in high demand, with her very own Raphael Stewart Law Group, LLC, specialising in trademark, copyright, entertainment and sport, this entertainment lawyer's goal is to give back to the country of her birth and let the world know that Trinbagonians can make it amongst the best in the world. "People are always telling me that I'm an ambassador for T&T," she said. I'm always talking about the talent we have here," she asserted.
A promise becomes reality
Raphael Stewart is so good at what she does, it's hard to believe that law was never on her "to do" list. "When I was 13, my grandad, Thomas Boney, called me into his room on his death bed. One of the last things he said to me was that I should enrol in Hugh Wooding Law School. Just to make him happy, I said 'ok granddad. I promise that's what I'll do,'" she recalled. The 2002 graduate of South Carolina State University, who holds a major in Computer Science and a minor in Math and Business, did not know it then but that promise would become reality. An alumni of Howard University School of Law, the former Trincity resident, who said she "fell in love with law," graduated in the top 15 per cent of her class and landed a spot on the prestigious Howard Law Journal.
By her second year, this humble lass was one of the journal's senior editors. Flexing her legal muscles, as a young lawyer, Raphael Stewart was one of the consultants chosen to conduct a fact-gathering exercise on the highly controversial and publicised Enron fiasco in 2002, during a short stint at Alston & Bird, LLP–one of the largest and most prestigious law firms in the US.
The Enron scandal, which broke in October, 2001, involved energy company Enron and the accounting, auditing, and consultancy partnership of Arthur Andersen. The scandal eventually led to Enron's downfall, resulting in the largest bankruptcy in American history at the time. Raphael Stewart also worked at top intellectual property firm Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP.
Passion and determination
While her tale may seem like a Cinderella story, the 29-year-old was quick to point out that her journey to success was not without life's usual hurdles. "There were moments when I've cried because I couldn't see where I was going. It's important to have that passion and determination," she reveals. And determined she was. Vividly remembering the days when she would attend charity shows hosted by big names in US entertainment as a means of making contacts for her budding business, she said "Sometimes I work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But I love what I do and it's very rewarding."
The 5'9" beauty credits her will to succeed to her unwavering faith, family "especially my grandmother, Rose boney,"–and mentors Neil Newman, Warner Lawson Jr, Latees Mtima and W Sherman Rogers.
Busy as a bee
A true Trini to the bone, the co-founder of the recently launched music and sport management company Wish Creative, LLC is busy as a bee these days. Along with multi-platinum, Grammy-Award-winning producer DJ Toomp and US brand manager Kimberly Wilson, she's currently working with two-time Jamaican Olympic medalist and recording artiste Shevon Stoddart, who she dubbed "the next big female Caribbean artiste." Also in the works is a major project with Paul Ring, CEO of Bungalo Records, the details of which she could not let out of the bag just yet. "But it's going to be big!" she promises. "Hopefully, this Carnival, I'll have one of the biggest producers and writers in Trinidad. As my journey continues, I want to let people know about this pool of talent in our music. I want to see more Heather Headleys and Machel Montanos," she said. "We deserve a shot to prove that we have what it takes." Stacy Raphael Stewart is indeed a shining example of what hard work can bring. And she's not even 30 yet. Look out, world!