From Galax, Virginia to Hollywood: How I made my childhood career dreams come true

A little black girl with a dream.

I am proof that dreams do come true. As a little black girl growing up in Galax, VA— I never imagined that I’d have the career experiences and exposure that I have had to date. First of all, I didn’t even know that the jobs that I’ve held to date even existed. And second of all, I once thought that it was nearly impossible for me to get a job at many of the companies that I have been fortunate enough to work at in my career. And truth be told- it IS nearly impossible for someone like me to get a seat at the table at many of the companies that I have had the pleasure of working at. I am proof that if you have vision, a dream, the right strategy, and strong faith in God paired with strong work ethic— that you can accomplish literally anything.

I am the great granddaughter and descendant of Virginia and North Carolina Slaves. I am the daughter of a single mother who lived through Jim Crow South in rural Virginia, and did not have proper access to education. I grew up in a small rural town in Virginia called Galax- which just so happened to be the same town where my mother was born, raised, and denied a proper education. And yes- they tried to systemically deny me the education that got me here too. The majority of people that looked like me were limited to jobs at the local factories, or at the super Wal-Mart, and didn’t go to college due to several factors.

While growing up in Galax, VA in the 90’s and early 00’s, there wasn’t much to do other than go to super Wal-Mart, watch TV, and listen to music. I consumed media and pop culture every chance that I could get. I was obsessed. My grandmother whom I lived with watched CBS from the morning news, to the Price is Right, to the Young and the Restless and the Bold and the Beautiful— all the way to the evening news on CBS WDBJ7. And when my grandmother wasn’t watching TV, I tuned into Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1, and BET every chance that I could get. Like most Americans, I watched the Super Bowl every year for the half time show. And my sister subscribed me and my mother to the prominant black media publications that dominated at the time- Ebony/Jet and Vibe Magazine. I became OBSESSED with media, and I longed for the life that existed on the TV and in the magazines. I have always loved music, and became a fan of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey at a very young age. I fell in love with the beauty and the glamour of celebrity that existed on my TV screen and in my magazines, and it was so far from my reality. I longed for the life that the media fed to me, and living and working in media became my dream before I even knew it was my dream. The celebs, the glitz and glam— that seemed the farthest out of reach for me and I long for it deep inside of me before I could ever put it into words.

Despite my background, I landed my dream job—- a role within Hollywood at one of the most exclusive tables in the world, in one of the most exclusive industries in the world— with zero direct personal connections to the industry. I landed a role in the very industry that I longed to be a part of, and I have had a successful career in Digital Advertising, and have worked in “Hollywood” for nearly a decade. To date, I have worked for CBS Interactive, Paramount Global, Starcom Mediavest Group, The Chicago Sun-Times, Tribune Publishing and Spotify, holding internships at Hewitt Associates (now AON), and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. And I have helped sell and manage Digital Advertising campaigns for The Grammy’s, The MTV Video Music Awards, and The Super Bowl, just to name a few.

As I already mentioned— it IS nearly impossible for someone like me— with zero personal connections, family wealth, or political clout to have the career experience that I have been blessed to have. According to the Association of National Advertisers Diversity report reported in February of 2024, “African American/Black representation in the industry remained steady compared to 2022, but is not proportional to U.S. total population (7.2% in the industry vs. 12.05% of the U.S. population).” And coming from someone who worked at a “Big 3” TV Network for nearly a decade, I can tell you first hand that there were few to none that looked like me, especially when it came to working in Digital Advertising which is the present and the future growth engine of the TV and Advertising Industry. So how did I beat the odds? Insert God, and my faith in God. All things are possible through God.

I may have lost some of you with what I just said and that’s okay—- that just means that my content and my perspective aren’t for you. Yes— I’ve always been intelligent and bit of an over-achiever. Yes- I’ve always been a hard worker, and strategic (sometimes unknowingly)— in my quest for achieveing my dreams. Yes- some (not all) would consider me to be intelligent. And yes- my background and experience has given me what some may call grit. BUT— given my race and background, the odds, and my lack of personal connections to Hollywood and the world of Advertising— it is God, and my faith in God that I attribute to my access, to my success, and to beating the odds.

I never imagined that it’d even be possible to be where I am today and to have had the career experience that I’ve had to date. And truth be told, my presence in the Digital Advertising and Entertainment industry is a miracle. I am a strong believer in the power of God, and my faith has been strong since I was a kid. It is by my faith in God, and by my faith in myself that I have gotten to where I am today. It is because I have been praying and believing since I was about 8 years old. And it is through my strong faith in God and His ability to do the impossible that I attribute all of my career success. Now that I have achieved my childhood dreams, I want to share all of the secrets, tips, and tricks that helped me get there (and stay there)— along the way.