Pay It Fwd Podcast

Kene Uwajeh joins this episode of Pay It Fwd. Kene is a student at UNC-Chapel Hill where she studies industrial-organizational psychology and entrepreneurship. Kene has a wide range of experience with internships, nonprofits, and organizations she's helped launch. 

In this episode, Anthony Smith talks about being young in the industry, trying new things, and the art of resilience. 

Anthony is a team-oriented and creative leader, project manager, and innovator. He’s passionate about new technologies, business development, and consumer behavior. 

Anthony graduated with his B.A. in 2018 but he’s already built up an impressive resume, with positions ranging from marketing coordinator to project manager, and most recently to human resources planner.

In this episode, Gavin Guidry talks about hypercreativity -- having lots of creative passions and pursuits, why we should shift to community relevance over cultural relevance and his winding path of various creative jobs throughout the industry. 

Gavin is an Associate Creative Director at Havas/The Annex in Atlanta, where he leads a team of creatives to produce content on social platforms for brands like Sprite and Fanta. Outside of the office, he works with a variety of other brands and publications doing photography, videography, and graphic design.

Gavin started out as a content creator focused on streetwear, and worked for a boutique called Wish Atlanta before contributing at places like Hypebeast, Complex, and Nike. 

In this episode, Alex Grant joins to talk about content and media production, sports communications, and how to turn passions and internships into careers.

As of this week, Alex has accepted the role of Creative Director for the University of Maryland Football.

Alex has held a range of production positions at various organizations alongside his freelance work. He’s also volunteered for a handful of amazing organizations. Tune in to hear us catch up!

Briona Brooks joins this episode of Pay It Fwd to talk about being a Black woman in corporate environments; education, professionalism, and professional development; getting an MBA; and taking the time to plan a career. 

Briona is an accomplished marketer spanning several industries and areas of marketing and communications. She’s held various marketing management roles, has her MBA from the University of Georgia, and recently started her journey at Amazon. 

*This is highly suggested listening for Black students who want to work in creative strategy.*

In this episode, Donovan Triplett joins to talk about the abstract idea of professionalism and presenting yourself as a Black person at work; strategy, branding, and diversity efforts; the realities of agency life; and progressing and building confidence as a strategist. 

In this episode, Charnita Mack talks about turning journalism experience into social and PR skills, the importance of taking care of yourself, and deciding to start your own creative venture. 

Charnita is an experienced writer, journalist, and marketer. She has broad experience ranging from reporting at a newspaper in Aiken, SC, to handling social and PR at an agency and at a university. Just this week, she took on a new position at Associate Digital Director at Rhodes Branding. Charnita launched her own entrepreneurial social media strategy venture called # Communication Goals. Thanks for tuning in.

In this episode, Destiny Davis joins to talk about her newest initiative, Hire Black Marketers, freelancing, representation & diversity, speaking up at work, and social listening. 

In this episode, we talk to Zeldrick Martin about pivoting, charting new paths, and piecing together the career you want. 

 

Zeldrick has worked with several agencies, and he's done freelance and consulting work in marketing, but specifically digital marketing and media. 

 

Some list items on Zeldrick's resume include: owning his own business where he uses his marketing expertise with clients; managing and overseeing sports marketing for a university; and working in the marketing department of an NBA team.

In the first episode of Pay It Fwd, Jonathan Franklin talks about journalism, getting diverse experiences, navigating rejection, and choosing the right moves. 

 

Jonathan Franklin is a Digital Multimedia Journalist at WUSA-TV in Washington D.C., where he develops ideas, writes, shoots, and edits stories for both digital and on-air platforms. 

 

He is an award-winning journalist with demonstrated talents in the fields of digital and broadcast journalism. Outside journalism and communications, he’s had experience working in higher and secondary education, consulting, and non-profit organizations. 

 

He has a Masters in Journalism from Georgetown University, along with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English, Humanities, and African/African American Studies from Wofford College.