Today we’d like to introduce you to Michaela Renee.
Hi Michaela, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I moved to Columbus, OH in 2019 from the Deep South of a small town in Mississippi. Being from a smaller town and not traveling a lot, I was always happy to hear about experiences people in my hometown had about other cities and others states, the people they met, and the things they did. I grew up with a love for reading and writing, my favorite authors being Markus Zusak, who wrote of the power of words in one Jewish girl, or J.K. Rowling who has written of one of the best heroines (Hermione Granger). I quickly grew to realize that the stories I was told and the ones I read about had the power to change the way someone looked at themselves and the world. Stories had the power to inspire and impact people for the rest of their lives and to even carry on for generations.
Being from the city who had the largest population of Black people (Jackson, MS is over 80% Black), but also being from the least developed state in the country, I recognized the gaps in my Black community. From dietary habits to financial knowledge and wellness, I engulfed myself in serving my community as much as possible. I fell in love with working with people who had dreams or entrepreneurs. People who were providing services to their community, whether that be nail techs, hairstylists, or the local mom-and-pop store that’s been open for years. I connected with their stories and mission-driven goals. I thought these were the most important stories to tell to get their services and products to the communities who needed them the most. I frequently found that the narratives of these business owners and businesses were often told inaccurately or just completely wrong. From there, I combined my love for storytelling with the want to uplift Black-owned businesses and launched a career in the marketing and PR space.
In 2017, I moved to Naples, FL, where I engaged in community service work with the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County and my local NAACP chapter. I went on to nationally speak at the 2019 NAACP Conventional, an original speech about the power of words and the impact of them.
In 2019, I moved to Columbus, OH, to attend the Ohio State University and begin my marketing career. From working with small businesses to the City of Columbus to even fashion, I’ve been able to tell some of the dopest stories in the city.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road was definitely not easy! There are so, so, so many factors that impact what my journey has been. The intersectionality I experience can be crazy sometimes— being Black, being a woman, AND being from the rural South. Between battling the social standards of being a Black woman and trying to voice my voice in an industry that’s male-dominated, it can be hard. I have to work almost three times as hard to get half of the credit or recognition for the work that I do. But I’m forever appreciative of the struggle for what it’s built me for. In media and PR, you HAVE to have a thick skin! All of my experiences have been able to build me and develop me into the great professional & advocate that I am now.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about IDEA Enterprises?
IDEA (Individual, Dope, Exceptional, & Achievable) is a digital marketing and PR agency dedicated to telling the dopest stories in the most exceptional way possible. We work to service Black & minority brands by amplifying their stories, journeys, and businesses so they can be as impactful as possible. Black-owned and woman-owned, IDEA Enterprises is founded upon a hustler’s mentality and desire to tell as many stories as possible. The business goal that I’m the proudest of is the amount of business owners I’ve met and worked with. Being trusted to tell someone’s story in the best way possible is personal and vulnerable. To be able to be allowed into that process and be a character in their plot line is nothing short of a blessing. IDEA Enterprises can help with an assortment of things in the marketing & PR space: press releases, social media strategy, reputation management, event planning, copywriting, web design & development, and much, much more.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
A piece of advice I’ve received from one of my favorite mentors— keep going. There have been days when I’ve felt burnt out from projects, from school, or even from experiencing life itself. Even if you have to pause for a moment or even slow down, never stop moving forward. For those of us who are purpose and mission-driven, there is a point behind our hustle and grind. Never forget it!
And to my girl-preneurs in Columbus and beyond, always remember that there is always space for you, even if you have to create it yourself!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.IDEAEntp.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/k.aylarenee_?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelarjm
