Gisele Haralson is a writer, film producer, educator, activist, radio personality, CEO of Follow Dreams Productions, and Executive Director of Child Development Institute.  Based in Baton Rouge, LA., she received her B.S. in Child Development and M.A. in Sociology from Southern University.

Gisele is the author of three books, and has written, produced, and directed the documentary film entitled, Who Said You Can’t: African American Women in Science and has begun production on a romantic comedy– The Art of the Chase.  The majority of her professional career has been spent inspiring and encouraging women to follow their dreams.

Gisele’s work has given her a platform to continue to motivate women to understand that if you believe it; you can achieve it; and to always remember to keep God first.   It is that feeling that anything is possible, that she transmits to her audience, with her over the top personality and dare to dream attitude.  Her lectures and events have connected her with many extraordinary people with amazing talents and skills. She has studied and researched issues that relate to women and children and these issues have been the driving force behind her work.

As the creator of A Celebration of Women, it was her desire to bring together women of all walks of life to celebrate each other.  Her experiences and connections have revealed the strong resilience of women of all races and backgrounds and how they have emerged as leaders and catalysts for change in their communities, work place, and government. This event is held annually in the month of March during Women’s History month.  In addition to celebrating women her goal is to help children to use the arts as a way to express themselves.

Gisele is an effective communicator, creative networker and is very service oriented, she was a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children who have been abused; as well as a graduate of the Baton Rouge Area Chambers Leadership Program.   She works with community leaders and families to improve the quality of life for the children in the state of Louisiana.  Through her work in the community and child development she received the National Association for Family Childcare Leadership Award, the Angel Heart Award and the Joe Biden’s Lifetime Presidential Volunteer Service Awards.