On May 4, 2018 I was interviewed by Sakita Holley for ‘One to Know’ a new mini-interview series profiling the multicultural communications professionals you should know every week.
Check out the recap below!
Area(s) of Expertise: Brand Management, Operations, Supply Chain, Social Media and Digital Strategies, Brand Strategy and Retailer Readiness.
How would you describe what you do to someone outside of the industry? [I call myself] the #BrandFixerUpper. In other words, I work with brands to prepare them for growth; starting from concept to consumer, progressing onto retail shelves and beyond.
What do you love most about the work that you do? I find delight in watching strategies improve and grow brands; giving entrepreneurs the tools to succeed.
What have you found to be one of your greatest challenges in this business? In the particular space I work in (Black-owned brands) lacks an organization developed to support and represent the collective multicultural marketplace. Having a collective voice in the industry, representing the diverse talents and passions would be an asset to further foster inclusion
Describe a current or recent project you enjoyed working on. I was hired to organize a vendor marketplace in support of a documentary driving the awareness of female-owned brands.
The marketplace was curated to showcase powerhouse brands, along with start-ups in a co-working space, further driving the need to collaborate together and bring like minds (including shoppers) together to support the dreams, passions, and products of women of color.
What kind of work would you like to do more of if given the opportunity? Brand building.
Describe a career milestone or personal win that meant a lot to you and why. I was selected to sit on a board of a private professional beauty brand within my first 2 years in the industry.
This appointment led to my first feature in a major publication (Black Enterprise). This was confirmation that doing what you love opens doors to do more of what you enjoy daily.
Name a dream job or client. Dream client = Oprah; Dream role = leading (or sitting on) her strategy team to launch a beauty product.
Name an app or piece of software that helps you do your job better. My iPhone.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps? Work hard and smart — be the person who, if you left a job you would be missed. Hire talent (they help you work smarter, not harder). Be teachable (open) – continuous learning is key to sustainability. Relationships are like gold – cherish them as invaluable assets.