Tag: Michelle Obama

1. What were your biggest takeaways from the AfroTech 2018 conference?

Overall, my biggest takeaway from AfroTech 2018 conference was gaining tools to continue to work one’s plan. Learning more about prototyping tools for apps and web-based applications that founders use was a key part of learning how one can continue to work their plan. Also, connecting with people was another key factor.

In addition to meeting others, I think it is very important for one to see how they can genuinely serve the other person who they are connecting with and vice-versa. Key questions to ask oneself as they challenge themselves to have this mindset are: how can I solve the other person’s problems with the gifts and talents that I have? What does the other person really want? What other ideas and other new things can I bring to the table? What does this specifically look like? I believe all of these questions will help one see how they can overall better help the other person with your goals in mind.

2. What inspired you to pursue this career path and what is the most exciting thing about what you do (besides meeting Michelle Obama)? Why is it important for us (African-Americans) to tell our own stories and control our narratives?

What inspired me to pursue this career path as a media journalist, on-air media personality and network producer, is being able to continue to entertain, engage and inspire people through the video and other creative content that I produce. Not only on television, but also on social media channels and OTT networks. The most exciting thing that I do every single day is create content. The second thing, of course, would be meeting the former First Lady of the United States, Ms. Michelle Obama. I worked for her and her White House staffers during the Obama Administration, working on her Let Girls Learn Initiative and Leadership and Mentorship program. It is important as Blacks to tell our own stories and control our narratives because who else would be better to tell it? We are continuing to make a change in the social, political, economic and many other spaces. My goal is to continue to tell these stores in the technology, entertainment, and lifestyle space.

3. What’s your next milestone or goal that excites you the most and why is it important that you hit that milestone?

The next goal that excites me that most are continuing to produce work as an on-air host and video content producer for technology and lifestyle brands. I strongly believe brands within this space have an opportunity to expand and grow their brands in this capacity. I’m already in conversation with some media and news companies within the digital, TV network and OTT space. If you are reading this and are interested in learning more about bringing me on to help expand and grow your technology app, web-based platform, media and news company and or lifestyle brand, I would also be happy to talk more about what this looks like. It is important that I hit this milestone so that I continue to produce intimate and organic experiences for viewers that allow them to be engaged, entertained and educated by the content that they consume.

4. As a journalist covering a variety of stories, what is the most heartwarming or moving story you’ve covere?

As a media journalist, on-air media personality and network producer, I focus on covering stories in technology, entertainment, and lifestyle. The most moving story that I’ve covered was through a bite-sized segment and report that I produced. It was on a young motivational speaker and trainer who was also officially named as the former assistant coach to rapper Drake during the NBA All-Star game, who goes by the name Demarjay Smith.  

I continue to produce bite-size segments and reports for television networks, social media platforms, technology app, and web-based companies, OTT networks and more.

I also had the pleasure to produce in-the-field shoots at events such as the AfroTech 2018 summit:

5. What is the best piece of actionable advice you’ve received that continue to be a source of inspiration in good times and challenging times?

The best piece of actionable advice is to study your craft and be ready so that you don’t have to get ready! When preparation meets opportunity. In other words, when that opportunity does come, you are ready. So many people are so quick to say this but don’t expand on what this mindset really means. I would encourage professionals in all industries to ask themselves: what do you want to do? What are three goals that you want to accomplish to reach that main thing that you want to do? How are you going to achieve each of these goals? What do those steps look like? Set deadlines for each of your steps. These will look different for everyone, but at the core, these questions are essential. For me, I’m reading and writing every day, connecting with people on and offline, editing and posting videos, doing voice exercises, praying, getting to know myself more in the process, and doing it all over again.