Hidden Gems: Meet Sue Reynolds of Carmine Media

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sue Reynolds. 

Hi Sue, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As many women were during the 70s and 80s, I was given the career options of secretary or a teacher. But really, women weren’t supposed to have careers. They were supposed to stay home and take care of their families. It never occurred to me that there were other options, and I dutifully pursued an Associate’s degree in what was called secretarial studies then, now known as Business Administration. I became a wife, a mom, and yes, a secretary. 

As my children grew older, I knew I wanted more for myself, for my own intellectual stimulation, as well as to give more of my talents to the world. I had several women tell me, in good faith, that I was capable of more. I decided, with a little push from a mentor, to complete my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Organizational Leadership. That degree took me four years to complete while working full-time as an admin for Ohio State University and with two boys in high school. But I did it. And almost at the very same time, my position at Ohio State University was eliminated because of the economic downturn in 2008. 

For me, this was a blessing in disguise. It gave me the push to find a new, more challenging career. New degree in hand, I took a job as a social media analyst in 2010. This was completely outside my comfort zone. I’d been in marketing-related jobs before, but never at the helm of a company’s strategy. In addition, social media marketing was brand new. No one knew how to do it! The imposter syndrome was real. 

I read everything I could get my hands on, taught myself to use WordPress, and started my own blog to position myself as a thought leader in the industry. This blog would eventually become Carmine Media. 

Today, after more than twelve years as a social media marketing leader, with a team of my own to manage, I’ve grown my business, Carmine Media, into social media management and website development agency and, with a certification as an Executive Coach, as a career coaching service for women. I offer classes on navigating the corporate world as a woman, with all the landmines, with both one-on-one coaching and group and video classes. I realized along the way that if I put my mind to something, I can accomplish it. I realized that overcoming imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you suddenly have all the answers, it means you have the faith in yourself that you will do the work to find the answers. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been a smooth road. As I mentioned, I suffered from imposter syndrome terribly when I first started my new career. It’s no wonder though – no one was doing that job at the time so there was no path to follow. I had to, with the help of my boss and mentor, find my own way. 

I’ve also had to learn to truly listen to the audiences we’ve developed, including my own. I’ve had to learn to forgive myself for not knowing everything there is to know and for making mistakes along the way. I’ve learned persistence and perseverance is often key to success. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My mission is to help businesses succeed using social media marketing and to help women reach their leadership potential through one-on-one coaching and leadership training. 

As an Executive Coach with a degree in Organizational Leadership, I specialize in mentoring and empowering women to succeed in the workplace. I am available for speaking engagements and trainings on both leadership and social media marketing. I’ve also developed a Leadership for Women Course to help women overcome unconscious mistakes you might be making that hold them back at work. 

I am versed in the latest trends on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, with tools such as third-party social media applications, and blog tools and plug-ins including CMS setup. I am Hootsuite, Google Analytics certified, am a certified Executive Coach, and have an inbound marketing certification from Hubspot. I will work with individual clients or teams to provide social media strategic planning, social media consulting, email marketing strategy, leadership coaching, or social media training. 

When I’m not working, you’ll find me singing at local wineries and events as the lead vocalist with my band Strings Attached. 

In my off time, I love to travel and blog about my adventures at Off Duty Traveler too! I just can’t stop creating content I suppose. 

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
The path to success is not always clear or straight. It’s curvy, messy, and often riddled with mistakes. Keep going. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://carminemedia.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/carminemedia
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/carminemedia
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suesreynolds/
• Twitter: @suereynolds
• Other: TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@carminemedia