Black Voices in PR & Communications: 19 Leaders Redefining the Industry

Black culture influences nearly every corner of society. From the way brands market products to the stories that dominate social media, our fingerprints are everywhere. But when it comes to leadership in public relations and communications, Black professionals remain underrepresented in the rooms where the biggest decisions are made.

Black communicators, however, are not waiting around for permission. They are launching agencies, building brands, leading teams, and creating opportunities on their own terms. They are proving that leadership does not always look like climbing someone else's ladder. Sometimes, it looks like building your own.

The value Black professionals bring to this industry goes far beyond representation. We bring lived experience, cultural awareness, and a deep understanding of how people engage with stories, brands, and one another. In a profession built on connection, those perspectives are not just valuable. They are essential.

At The Pink Press Collective, celebrating and amplifying underrepresented voices is at the heart of what we do. That is why we connected with 19 Black leaders across public relations and communications to learn about the careers they have built, the challenges they have overcome, and the legacy they hope to leave behind.

From agency founders and corporate executives to consultants and strategists, each leader featured here shares a different journey. Together, their stories paint a larger picture of an industry being shaped by Black professionals who are not only changing the narrative for brands but also for the next generation of communicators who will follow in their footsteps.

Dr. Brandi Sims

Founder and CEO, Brandinc PR | Austin, Texas

When Dr. Brandi Sims launched Brandinc PR in 2020, it was not simply the beginning of a new business. It was the result of years of experience, careful preparation, and a decision to bet on herself after encountering the gender wage gap in corporate America.

Today, the award-winning boutique agency serves entrepreneurs, entertainers, athletes, and lifestyle

brands through what Sims calls her Visibility Framework, a strategic approach designed to create narratives that lead to long term opportunity rather than temporary attention.

Sims brings nearly two decades of experience to the industry. In addition to leading Brandinc PR, she holds a Ph.D. in Strategic Media Communications, an MBA, serves as Chair of the PRSA Entertainment and Sports Section, and hosts the Brandinc PR Podcast.

Her passion for communications was shaped by both fictional and real-life trailblazers, from Samantha Jones and Olivia Pope to Inez Kaiser and Yvette Noel Schure, women who demonstrated the power of shaping stories behind the scenes. That same passion has also shaped her leadership philosophy.

Early in her entrepreneurial journey, Sims accepted a wide range of clients before realizing that specialization created stronger partnerships and better results. "Niching down wasn't a limitation. It was liberation," she says. Today, she encourages communicators to embrace focus rather than chasing every opportunity that comes their way.

Looking ahead, Sims believes one of the industry's biggest challenges is maintaining the human side of public relations as artificial intelligence continues to evolve. While she sees AI as a valuable tool, she cautions against allowing it to replace the writing, strategic thinking, and relationship building that define the profession.

She also raises concerns about the growing influence of content creators operating without the ethical standards traditionally associated with journalism.

As a Black woman, Sims has never been interested in shrinking herself to fit industry expectations. Early in her career, she was advised to minimize Black representation within her branding in hopes of appealing to a broader audience. She refused.

"I have nothing to hide behind, so I have no choice but to be great." It is a mindset that continues to define both her work and her legacy.

More than anything, Sims hopes future communicators remember that success should be measured by purpose, sustainability, and self-defined excellence rather than outside validation.

Monique Kelley

Founder, Monique Kelley Consulting | Boston, Massachusetts

Monique Kelley's career has never followed a traditional roadmap, and she believes that has become one of her greatest strengths.

After earning her degree from Boston University's College of Communication, she built an impressive career at Weber Shandwick, rising to Senior Vice President and Client Experience Leader before transitioning in-house to Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

There, she led executive communications for the Chief Operating Officer while also overseeing communications for Commercial Operations and Neuroscience and managing multiple agency teams.

Today, she leads Monique Kelley Consulting, advising organizations, including Johnson & Johnson and AbbVie, while also teaching communications at Boston University.

Earlier this year, Kelley added another title to her resume with the release of Redefining Networking: How to Lead with Your Unique Value, a book inspired by the uncertainty she experienced after college while navigating student loan debt, financial hardship, and an unfamiliar industry.

The message behind the book mirrors the lesson that has guided her own career. Relationships matter. "I've learned that networking isn't something you do when you need something. It's something you practice consistently throughout your career."

That philosophy has helped her build lasting client relationships, secure executive leadership positions, and grow an audience of more than 15,000 followers as one of LinkedIn's top two percent of communications creators.

While she embraces innovation, Kelley believes communicators cannot afford to lose the human element that makes public relations effective. She worries many professionals have become so focused on artificial intelligence that they risk overlooking the importance of authentic relationships and meaningful conversations.

As a Black and Iranian American woman, Kelley has often found herself navigating spaces where she was one of the few leaders who looked like her. Following the murder of George Floyd, she also experienced the pressure of being viewed as a spokesperson for an entire community, something she actively challenges.

"Black identity is not a monolith." Instead, she encourages people to recognize the diversity that exists within Black communities while embracing every part of their own identity.

Looking back, she hopes her legacy reflects resilience, perspective, and the reminder that setbacks often become the experiences that prepare us for our greatest opportunities.

Meredith LeJeune

Founder and CEO, Amplify Good PR | New York, New York

"Writer at heart. Strategist by trade." That is how Meredith LeJeune describes herself, and after more than two decades in communications, it is a fitting introduction.

Throughout her career, she has worked with more than 50 brands across technology, education, wellness, nonprofit, HR, DEI, and social impact, including early career work tied to Fortune 100 companies such as Toyota, Lexus, and Coca-Cola.

Today, she leads Amplify Good PR, formerly Thought Bubble Communications, a purpose-driven agency she built from the ground up as a solopreneur.

LeJeune's path into entrepreneurship was anything but traditional. After entering the industry without mentors or women of color in leadership to look to for guidance, she prayed about her next steps and felt called to build something of her own. She relocated to Atlanta in 2011 to learn the business of agency ownership, and when she was laid off the following year, she viewed it as confirmation that it was time to launch her firm.

What began as Thought Bubble Communications has since evolved into Amplify Good PR, a name that better reflects her mission of helping organizations communicate with purpose rather than simply promote themselves.

Running an agency has taught LeJeune lessons that extend far beyond public relations. Early in her journey, she believed every client was a good client, only to discover that long term success comes from alignment rather than volume.

She also had to unlearn the belief that asking for help was a weakness, a mindset she says many Black women entrepreneurs often carry. "I've learned that saying no creates space for the right opportunities to say yes."

LeJeune also believes the communications industry should place greater value on strategy, relationships, and measurable business impact rather than impressions alone. While she embraces artificial intelligence as a helpful resource, she cautions against allowing technology to replace cultural understanding, critical thinking, and authentic relationship building.

As a Black woman and an introvert, LeJeune understands what it feels like to be overlooked. That experience now shapes the way she serves clients and tells stories, ensuring voices that have historically been marginalized are seen and heard with intention.

"If she can do it, so can I." That is the feeling she hopes future Black communicators have when they see her journey. More than building a successful agency, LeJeune hopes her legacy is one of visibility, credibility, and creating pathways for others to follow.

Ariane Lovell

Director of PR, Trifecta Media Group | New York, New York

Ariane Lovell's path into public relations began at the University of Virginia, where she competed in track and cross country while developing a passion for advancing women's health.

An internship with Women's Health Virginia introduced her to media relations and the power of storytelling, confirming that public relations was the career she wanted to pursue.

During her senior year, she took a chance by leaving a track meet to interview for a New York internship, ultimately becoming the first intern at the agency to secure a client placement in Seventeen magazine. That opportunity launched what would become a 15 year career in New York communications.

Today, Lovell serves as Director of PR and co founder of Trifecta Media Group, the integrated marketing agency she launched alongside her two sisters.

Before entrepreneurship, she held leadership roles at Weber Shandwick, where she created and led the agency's first multicultural earned media practice, and Finn Partners, building a career defined by healthcare communications, executive visibility, and earned media strategy.

She also writes Ask a Journalist for PR News, a column dedicated to strengthening relationships between communicators and the media.

For Lovell, successful public relations has never been measured by the number of placements secured. It has always been about people. "I've always believed that media relations is a contact sport. The strongest campaigns aren't built on databases. They're built on trust."

That philosophy guides every client relationship and has become the foundation of her approach to leadership. She believes the strongest communicators invest in genuine relationships long before they need a story placed.

Lovell is equally passionate about addressing the lack of Black leadership within communications. While she acknowledges progress in recruiting more diverse entry-level talent, she believes advancement remains the industry's greatest challenge. "The pipeline isn't the problem anymore. The bottleneck is."

Outside of agency life, Lovell serves as Chair of Mentorship Programs for the Black PR Society of New York, where she works to ensure emerging Black professionals have access to the guidance and opportunities she knows are critical for long-term success.

When asked what legacy she hopes to leave behind, her answer has little to do with awards or headlines. "I hope people say Ariane opened doors, she invested in others, and she elevated voices that might otherwise have gone unheard."

It is a mission that reflects both her career and her belief that Black communicators should never see their lived experiences as barriers."Their perspective isn't something they need to overcome. It's one of their greatest professional advantages."

Nicholas Love

CEO, Kulur Group | Houston, Texas

Nicholas Love has spent more than two decades helping organizations communicate through culture, innovation, and strategy.

His career began at ESPN during the early days of digital content before expanding into leadership roles at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Ohio State University, NC State University, GS Business Communications, and Hotwire Global.

Along the way, he became the first Black vice president in GS Business Communications' 50 year history, growing his team from 15 to 40 people in just 18 months before going on to oversee a global marketing portfolio valued at more than $55 million across 14 countries at Hotwire Global.

Today, Love leads Kulur Group, a full-service marketing and communications agency headquartered in Houston that serves clients across technology, healthcare, higher education, nonprofits, financial services, and veterinary medicine.

Organizations including the Department of Transportation, the American Diabetes Association, Alabama A&M University, and TechnoServe have trusted the agency to tell stories through its proprietary SHADE client engagement framework and DOPE methodology, which centers on using diverse and inclusive intelligence to elevate brands, products, and people.

Entrepreneurship always felt inevitable to Love, but the timing came into focus when he saw an opportunity to bring the leadership he'd long envisioned to an agency already in motion.

That conviction led him to join Kulur Group as a shareholder, helping shape it around the standards he'd carried throughout his career and expanding it from a single agency into a broader portfolio of offerings.

Through Dope Thinkers, the agency's nonprofit arm, Love is creating student-run marketing and communications agencies at HBCUs and minority serving institutions, giving students hands-on agency experience while preparing the next generation of agency owners rather than simply future employees.

When discussing the future of communications, Love believes ownership is one of the industry's biggest missing conversations. "Nobody ever teaches you how to own anything."

That philosophy drives the legacy he hopes to leave behind. More than building a successful agency, Love wants to create sustainable pathways to generational wealth by showing young Black communicators that ownership is not only possible but necessary.

Catharine Montgomery

Founder and CEO, Better Together Agency | Washington, D.C.

Long before launching Better Together Agency, Catharine Montgomery knew exactly where she wanted to begin her career. Fresh out of college with degrees in marketing and public relations, she set her sights on Edelman, the world's largest independent communications agency, and made it happen.

After gaining experience at several major firms and traveling internationally to support crisis communications efforts ranging from elections to organizational preparedness, Montgomery founded Better Together Agency to help organizations create lasting social impact through strategic communications.

Today, the Washington, D.C. based agency partners with corporations, advocacy organizations, startups, and nonprofits whose missions center on making communities stronger.

Whether developing media strategies, leading crisis communications, producing content, or overseeing integrated campaigns, Montgomery tailors every engagement to the unique needs of each client rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

One area she believes deserves far more attention is the intersection of communications and artificial intelligence. Recognizing that many small nonprofits cannot afford agency support, she recently developed Together AI, a communications platform designed to provide affordable strategic resources while intentionally addressing bias within AI generated content.

"You cannot separate diversity from effective communications." Montgomery is equally outspoken about the industry's retreat from diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts following the national response to George Floyd's murder.

She believes many corporate commitments proved performative rather than transformational and argues that authentic representation should never be treated as optional.

For Montgomery, purpose has always mattered more than prestige. She hopes her legacy demonstrates that agencies rooted in social impact can thrive commercially while remaining true to their values.

More importantly, she wants aspiring communicators to trust themselves enough to pursue the work they know they were called to do, even when the path is unconventional.

Jecoby Carter

Founder, Jecoby and Company | Los Angeles, California

Jecoby Carter built his agency by doing what came naturally long before he realized it was a profession.

After graduating from Albany State University and relocating to Los Angeles, he transformed years of helping friends shape their brands into Jecoby and Company, a communications agency dedicated to amplifying Black voices, with a particular focus on Black women and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Inspired by the intentional branding behind Tiffany and Company, Carter chose a name that represented something larger than himself while creating a clear distinction between his personal identity and his professional brand.

Today, his growing client roster includes handbag designer Sonique Saturday, former White House Communications Director Ashley Etienne, content creator Obio Jones, actor Jermelle Simon-Jones, and numerous influencers and creatives connected to projects across television, streaming, and entertainment.

For Carter, publicity begins with purpose rather than headlines. "I don't take on clients who don't have a story worth telling."

He describes his clients as "possibility models," people whose stories inspire others simply because someone, somewhere, has never seen a person who looks like them in that position.

Whether he's developing media strategies, cultivating brand partnerships, or positioning clients for long-term visibility, Carter believes authentic storytelling will always have greater impact than chasing fleeting moments of attention.

Although he did not come through the traditional agency pipeline, Carter says that has become one of his greatest strengths. The relationship-centered values he learned growing up in the South continue to shape the way he approaches business in Los Angeles.

"In Los Angeles, relationships are my superpower." He believes meaningful connections are built between campaigns, not just during them, and credits that mindset with helping him establish lasting relationships with both clients and journalists.

Looking ahead, Carter hopes his legacy is defined by generosity rather than gatekeeping. "When I'm gone, I want the door to already be open for the people coming behind me."

For Carter, success is measured not only by the stories he helps tell, but by the opportunities he creates for the next generation of communicators.

Joseph Williams

Founder, The Carnell Agency | Los Angeles, California

Joseph Williams has built a career around one simple belief: every great story deserves to be told with intention.

A Houston native and graduate of Texas Southern University, where he studied public relations through a journalism program, Williams learned early that understanding how journalists think is one of the greatest advantages a publicist can have.

That perspective has shaped a career spanning professional sports, corporate communications, and some of the entertainment industry's most recognizable television and film campaigns.

Before launching The Carnell Agency, Williams gained experience with the Houston Dynamo, where he managed press operations and media training, before transitioning into oil and gas communications, working on global projects that took him to Brazil and Norway.

He later found his way into entertainment publicity, building campaigns at Nickelodeon, Oprah Winfrey Network, Starz, and agency roles supporting more than 50 television series and films.

His work includes campaigns for Spider Man: Into the Spider Verse, Ted Lasso, When They See Us, Bridgerton, In the Heights, P Valley, BMF, Power Book II: Ghost, and helping actor Michael Rainey Jr. earn his first NAACP Image Award.

The agency Williams founded carries deep personal meaning. Named after both his grandfather and uncle, who shared the name Carnell, the firm represents the integrity and work ethic they instilled in him. "My grandfather taught me that your name is everything. That's what I carry into every client relationship."

Today, The Carnell Agency specializes in narrative strategy, media relations, campaign development, media training, event execution, and brand consulting. For Williams, successful public relations is about connecting a client's story to culture in a way that feels authentic rather than manufactured.

Beyond his agency work, he also shares his perspective on strategic communications, leadership, culture, and authentic storytelling through his Substack, where he regularly writes about the evolving communications industry.

One of the industry's biggest needs, he believes, is greater representation at every level.

"We need more Black women and more people of color in every room where decisions are being made." He credits Black women throughout his career with opening doors, offering mentorship, and helping shape the communicator he is today.

Looking ahead, Williams hopes his legacy reflects a commitment to authentic storytelling while encouraging young professionals to master the fundamentals before relying on technology. "AI can be a tool, but it should never replace your voice."

Angela Betancourt

Founder, Betancourt Group | Miami, Florida

Angela Betancourt's communications career has taken her across industries, continents, and cultures, proving that the most meaningful careers rarely follow a straight line.

Founder of Betancourt Group, a Miami-based communications agency specializing in environmental and social impact, Betancourt has spent more than two decades helping organizations tell stories that drive change.

She began her communications career in hospitality before, years later, transitioning into environmental and social impact. Along the way, her work has spanned agencies, corporate communications, international development, conservation, and climate advocacy, experiences that eventually came together to form the mission behind her agency.

An Afro-Latina and first-generation American born to Cuban parents, Betancourt's professional journey led her to South America, where she worked alongside agricultural scientists, and later to Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis, where she served as a communications manager supporting international development efforts.

Those experiences fundamentally changed the way she viewed storytelling. "I realized communications wasn't just about promoting organizations. It was about helping people understand why the work mattered."

After returning to the United States, Betancourt launched Betancourt Group, focusing exclusively on environmental conservation, climate communications, and social impact.

Today, her clients have included The Nature Conservancy, SeaWorthy Collective, and many other conservation organizations, while her agency continues to support nonprofits and mission-driven organizations committed to protecting both communities and the planet.

Betancourt believes communications should never be treated as the final step of a project. "Communications belongs at the beginning of every initiative, not the end."

She is also passionate about increasing diversity within climate communications, noting that people of color remain significantly underrepresented in conversations about environmental issues despite often being among the communities most impacted.

As she reflects on her career, Betancourt hopes people remember the impact of her work more than the titles she has held. "I want my legacy to be that I made a difference in people's lives and on this planet."

Her advice to future communicators is equally personal: find your North Star, she says, because purpose is what carries you through every setback, career pivot, and unexpected opportunity.

Kim Marshall

Founder, Wilson Marshall PR and Special Events | New York, New York

Kim Marshall did not launch her agency simply to become an entrepreneur. She launched it to create the flexibility to be present for her growing family while continuing to do the work she loved.

Fourteen years later, Wilson Marshall PR and Special Events has become one of New York City's trusted boutique agencies for nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and community-focused brands.

A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Marshall built her career in nonprofit communications before establishing her own agency.

Over the years, she has helped launch organizations such as Sugar Hill Children's Museum while supporting clients including Figure Skating in Harlem, Boys and Girls Club of Harlem, Harlem Shake, ArtsConnection, The Knowledge House, Sweet Catch Brooklyn, and Lost Borough Ice Cream.

Her agency specializes in media relations, strategic partnerships, influencer engagement, event planning, and visibility campaigns designed to build long term community relationships.

Marshall believes one of the biggest misconceptions about entrepreneurship is that success begins with creativity alone. In reality, she says, building a sustainable business requires just as much attention to legal structure, finances, and operations as it does publicity.

"I spend just as much time teaching entrepreneurs how to build businesses as I do teaching them about public relations."

She regularly encourages business owners to establish legal entities, work with accountants and attorneys, understand their business classifications, and take advantage of community resources that can help them grow.

When it comes to client work, Marshall remains selective. "If I can't identify five stories worth telling during our first conversation, we're probably not the right fit."

As a Black woman working in New York public relations, she has also challenged assumptions that Black publicists belong exclusively in entertainment. Her work across nonprofits, food, and community organizations reflects the breadth of stories Black communicators are capable of telling.

Looking ahead, Marshall hopes her legacy is measured not only by the campaigns she has led but by the organizations and entrepreneurs she helped grow.

"I want more Black and Brown communicators to understand that there is room for them in every corner of this industry, and that they deserve to own their space with confidence."

Ebony Porter-Ike

President and CEO, EPI Media Group | Atlanta, Georgia

For Ebony Porter-Ike, public relations has always been about giving a voice to people whose stories might otherwise go unheard.

That mission led her to build EPI Media Group from the ground up without loans or outside funding, creating a global PR and marketing agency specializing in crisis management, branding, media relations, event logistics, marketing, and social media strategy.

Today, her client roster includes Dr. Jamal Bryant, Black Lives Matter, Dr. A.R. Bernard, Christian Cultural Center, David Shands, Hymn 500, and the Braxtons, among others.

Porter-Ike's passion for communications was rooted in advocacy long before she became an entrepreneur.

She wanted to represent the underdog, ensuring people had an opportunity to tell their side of the story before being defined by public perception. That philosophy naturally led her to crisis communications, where she believes every client deserves fairness, strategy, and a chance to rebuild trust.

"My job has always been to be a voice for the voiceless." Rather than reacting to crises after they happen, Porter-Ike focuses on risk mitigation by helping clients identify vulnerabilities before they become headlines. She believes lasting visibility comes from building a strong foundation, not simply generating attention in the moment.

One conversation she believes the communications industry is avoiding is the decline of responsible journalism. As the media continues to prioritize sensational headlines and viral moments, she worries that meaningful stories and everyday changemakers are being overlooked.

"There are so many incredible people doing impactful work every day, but because their stories aren't sensational, they never get told." As a Black woman, Porter-Ike says her lived experiences shape the empathy she brings to every client relationship.

She hopes her legacy demonstrates that success does not require shortcuts or privilege, only integrity, perseverance, and faith. "At the end of the day, all you have is your name and your reputation. Protect both."

Andrea Higgins

Founder, Andrea Higgins PR | New York, New York

Andrea Higgins has built a career by refusing to limit herself to one industry, one niche, or one definition of success.

Today, her independent public relations agency, Andrea Higgins PR, represents emerging music artists, lifestyle brands, nonprofit organizations, filmmakers, thought leaders, and creators across fashion, beauty, gaming, entertainment, and culture.

That versatility is intentional, and it is one of the reasons her business has continued to thrive through industry shifts.

Before launching her own agency, Higgins gained experience at firms including Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis, where she worked across consumer, entertainment, and lifestyle accounts. Those experiences taught her the importance of building a diverse portfolio of expertise.

During the pandemic, while event clients slowed down, music and lifestyle brands continued to move forward. During the writers' strike, gaming clients continued growing. For Higgins, adaptability became one of the greatest advantages an independent publicist could have.

"I never wanted my business to depend on one industry." Whether supporting independent films from festival premieres through streaming releases or developing campaigns for emerging artists, Higgins believes relationships remain the foundation of effective public relations.

She intentionally stays connected with journalists and clients even when there is no active campaign because trust cannot be built only when someone needs coverage.

She is also concerned about the spread of misinformation and the growing dependence on artificial intelligence, particularly as content creators increasingly become primary news sources."We still need journalists. We still need people who understand how to verify information."

As a Black woman, Higgins says she spent years believing she had to overextend herself to prove she belonged. Over time, she learned that healthy boundaries create stronger work, healthier relationships, and better leadership.

She hopes that every client, colleague, and young professional who crosses her path leaves feeling encouraged. "If people walk away believing in themselves a little more because they met me, that's the legacy I want."

Ayanna Maxwell

Communications Specialist and Publicist | Baltimore, Maryland

Ayanna Maxwell's passion for public relations grew unexpectedly. While studying journalism at Hampton University, she enrolled in an introductory PR course during her sophomore year and immediately realized she had found the career she was meant to pursue.

Nearly a decade later, that discovery has led to roles in corporate communications, agency public relations, government contracting, and the creation of one of the industry's fastest-growing communities for young Black women in communications.

Throughout her career, Maxwell has worked with organizations including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity headquarters, Lincoln Financial, where she supported a financial wellness campaign with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, and UManagement Strategic Communications, a Black woman-owned boutique agency.

She currently specializes in crisis communications while continuing her involvement with PR It Girls, a professional community she co-founded during the pandemic to connect and support young Black women entering the industry.

For Maxwell, authenticity is the foundation of every successful communications strategy. "Authenticity is easy to recognize, and it's even easier to recognize when it's missing."

She also credits much of her professional growth to learning how to advocate for herself.

As a self-described introvert, speaking up did not always come naturally, but she quickly realized that waiting to be noticed rarely leads to opportunity. "Closed mouths don't get fed." That lesson has shaped every promotion, career move, and opportunity she has earned.

Maxwell believes conversations about burnout deserve far more attention within communications. Working in media means constantly consuming news, social platforms, and cultural conversations, making it difficult to separate work from everyday life. She encourages professionals to prioritize boundaries alongside ambition.

As a Black communications professional, Maxwell says representation has deepened her commitment to intentional storytelling.

She hopes her legacy reflects the same mentorship that helped launch her own career. "I want the next generation of Black girls in PR to know they belong in every room they're called to."

Zuri Plair

Senior Manager of PR and Communications, Ergobaby | New York, New York

For more than a decade, Zuri Plair has helped shape the stories behind some of the world's most recognizable consumer brands.

A Syracuse University graduate with a background in Communications and Visual Culture, her career began through internships at Teen Vogue and MTV Networks before expanding into luxury fashion, spirits, and consumer goods.

Along the way, she has led communications efforts connected to brands including Bottega Veneta, Manolo Blahnik, Coach, and Campari Group.

Today, she serves as Senior Manager of PR and Communications at Ergobaby, overseeing strategy and brand visibility for Ergobaby, Baby Tula, and Belly Bandit.

Plair's decision to move in-house came from a desire to influence more than media coverage. She wanted a seat at the table where brand narratives are shaped from the beginning. "I wanted to do more than execute someone else's vision. I wanted to help define it."

Becoming a mother in 2024 also shifted the way she approaches her work, reinforcing her commitment to purposeful storytelling and building brands that genuinely connect with the communities they serve.

One of the biggest leadership lessons she has learned is that effective leadership is not about treating everyone the same. "Leadership isn't about uniformity. It's about knowing when to flex without compromising the standard."

She also believes the industry rarely acknowledges the invisible work communications professionals perform every day. "People see the headline moment, the campaign, the placement. They don't see the constant calibration behind it. Reading the room. Knowing when to push, when to pivot, and when to hold the line."

As a Black communications leader, Plair believes her lived experiences allow her to recognize nuances that often go unnoticed in brand storytelling.

She hopes her legacy is one of meaningful storytelling, intentional leadership, and creating opportunities for future Black communicators to be valued rather than simply included. "I want the next generation to inherit an industry where they never feel like they have to shrink themselves to succeed."

Deven Trowers

Founder and CEO, DT Communications | Atlanta, Georgia

Long before founding DT Communications, Deven Trowers dreamed of becoming the next Oprah. That early fascination with storytelling eventually evolved into a communications career spanning nonprofit organizations, advocacy, higher education, economic development, and corporate communications.

Today, through DT Communications, she helps organizations build trust, strengthen brands, and create meaningful impact through media relations, executive visibility, messaging, social media strategy, and strategic communications.

Trowers launched her consultancy because she recognized a need for communications partners who truly understood the communities they served. Her approach is rooted in four principles: authenticity, strategy, purpose, and humanity.

"I've always believed communication should make people feel seen before it asks them to take action." Building a business also challenged many of her assumptions about leadership. Early on, she believed carrying every responsibility herself was a sign of strength. Over time, she realized the opposite was true.

"Asking for support isn't a weakness. It's one of the strongest things a leader can do."

That lesson has shaped both the way she leads clients and the way she mentors others entering the profession.

Trowers believes the communications industry also needs more honest conversations about mentorship, sustainability, burnout, and trust, topics she says often determine whether professionals remain in the industry long term.

As a Black woman, she approaches storytelling with empathy, understanding the importance of ensuring communities are represented with dignity and authenticity.

"I hope people remember that I used communications to make communities stronger."

More than building a successful business, Trowers hopes her work encourages future Black communicators to lead confidently, trust their instincts, and never question whether they belong in spaces where important decisions are being made.

Safhari Dixon

Founder and Executive Brand Strategist, SD Credentials | Atlanta, Georgia

Safhari Dixon has been building brands for as long as she can remember. Long before studying marketing or communications at Clark Atlanta University, she was writing stories, creating businesses, and promoting her own clothing brand.

That entrepreneurial spirit eventually evolved into SD Credentials, a creative strategy firm specializing in brand storytelling, creative direction, and consulting for artists, entrepreneurs, and organizations looking to build meaningful connections with their audiences.

Previously known as Safhari PR, the agency has grown alongside its founder. Today, Dixon works across music, hospitality, politics, and entertainment, most recently leading brand strategy for an independent R&B gospel artist.

For Dixon, strategy always begins with authenticity. "I don't work with clients I don't genuinely believe in."

She believes one of the hardest lessons of entrepreneurship was learning that protecting her capacity was just as important as pursuing new opportunities. "Saying no isn't turning down success. Sometimes it's protecting it."

Dixon also worries that the communications industry has become too focused on visibility at the expense of genuine connection. "We spend so much time talking about going viral that we've stopped talking about how to actually connect with people."

As a young Black woman navigating the male-dominated music industry, Dixon says she learned early that confidence is not something people give you. It is something you choose.

Her vision for the future extends beyond building a successful business." I didn't build one lane. I built a highway, and I want everyone who sees my story to know they have permission to build one too." That legacy, she hopes, reminds the next generation that they never have to limit themselves to a single title, industry, or dream.

Angeliqua McNair

Founder and Principal, We Are AM Agency | New York, New York

For Angeliqua, McNair public relations has always been about creating stories that leave a lasting impression. Founder and Principal of We Are AM Agency, she leads a boutique, full-service PR, marketing, and talent management firm serving clients throughout the New York and New Jersey area and beyond.

Her journey into communications began long before she entered the industry professionally. After studying fashion illustration and advertising in high school, she developed an appreciation for the connection between visual identity, storytelling, and brand perception, ultimately leading her to build a career at the intersection of culture and communications.

Today, We Are AM Agency represents founders, influencers, athletes, musicians, culinary personalities, and consumer brands across fashion, beauty, sports, and entertainment.

Under Angeliqua's leadership, the agency has secured placements in publications including Vogue, Forbes, Essence, Elle, Business Insider, and Black Enterprise.

She describes her approach as strategic, intentional, and culture forward, believing every story should resonate with audiences in ways that create meaningful, lasting impact. "I want to make sure the world hears a story in a way that resonates, converts, and lasts."

Launching her own agency allowed Angeliqua to build the type of client relationships she always envisioned, partnerships rooted in collaboration rather than transactions. Along the way, she discovered that one of the least discussed aspects of agency ownership is the infrastructure required to sustain long term success.

Behind every successful boutique agency are contracts, systems, client management, and team development, responsibilities that often go unnoticed. "Running a boutique agency means you're the strategist, the operator, and the visionary, often all at once. It takes an immense amount of discipline and structure that most people don't see or appreciate until they try to do it themselves."

As a Black woman in communications, Angeliqua believes her lived experiences have given her a perspective that cannot be taught in a classroom. She understands the difference between celebrating culture and appropriating it, and she believes Black communicators possess a unique ability to navigate multiple cultural perspectives with authenticity.

Looking ahead, she hopes the industry has more honest conversations about equitable access to major brand budgets and what meaningful representation truly looks like beyond performative diversity.

Her legacy is rooted in ownership and possibility. "I want my legacy to be a road map that says your expertise is enough, your vision is valid, and ownership is within reach."

Loán Lake

Founder, Gobi Marketing Group | Charlotte, North Carolina

Loán Lake has spent her career helping organizations and leaders discover the stories worth telling. Founder of Gobi Marketing Group and Director of Communications and Engagement at University City Partners, Lake brings experience spanning public affairs, nonprofit communications, brand strategy, and community engagement.

Originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, she credits her upbringing with shaping the multicultural perspective that continues to influence both her leadership and her approach to communications.

A journalism and advertising graduate of the University of Maryland, Lake entered public relations through an unexpected opportunity with Congresswoman Donna Christensen, who represented the U.S. Virgin Islands. That role introduced her to strategic communications while allowing her to serve the community she proudly calls home.

Since then, her work has expanded across Capitol Hill, nonprofit organizations, book launch strategy for emerging authors, and communications consulting for business leaders and public speakers.

She also hosts the Going Beyond the Image podcast, where she explores how leaders build authentic brands beyond public perception.

Lake approaches every campaign through the lens of a journalist, asking what makes a story timely, relevant, and meaningful before considering how to pitch it. "New stories come about because somebody like us is in the background figuring out what angle is going to get the audience's attention. There's a lot of behind the scenes steps that have to happen for people to read a news story."

She also believes credibility begins with conviction. "It's very hard for me to pretend that I care about a subject and then go out there and expect other people to believe what I'm saying. If I don't have the heart for what it is, I can't do it."

As someone whose perspective has been shaped by life in a U.S. territory, Lake understands the importance of ensuring overlooked communities are represented in public conversations. She believes Black communicators naturally recognize audiences and perspectives that others may unintentionally overlook, making their contributions invaluable to the profession.

Lake also worries the industry is becoming too dependent on technology while undervaluing relationships and credible journalism. "If you don't have the relationship with the media people, they still may not cover your story anyway."

Looking ahead, she hopes the next generation remembers that technology should strengthen authentic communications rather than replace them. "I really hope the next generation will remember to stick to their morals. If we go in the direction of letting technology do it all, it's going to change the authenticity of the type of work we do."

Brianna Robles

Founder, Full Effect Studios | New York, New York

Brianna Robles believes every successful brand starts with a strong foundation. As the founder of Full Effect Studios, a Brooklyn-based marketing agency, she helps early-stage founders transform ideas into businesses through strategic marketing, content creation, email and SMS marketing, photography, videography, and brand development.

Before launching the agency in 2025, Robles built her career as a wellness journalist and content writer, contributing to publications, covering media trips, and creating content for wellness brands.

It was through that work that she recognized many businesses had compelling ideas but lacked the strategic infrastructure needed to grow, inspiring her to create an agency focused on building brands from the ground up.

Unlike many agencies that primarily work with established companies, Full Effect Studios specializes in supporting founders at the very beginning of their entrepreneurial journey. Whether working with coaches, strategists, wellness professionals, or personal brands, Robles believes the earliest stages of a business are often the most important.

"It's very hard to build a building that is already built." That philosophy has become the cornerstone of her strategy-first approach, ensuring clients establish strong foundations before moving into execution. She believes thoughtful planning creates stronger brands and ultimately leads to more sustainable success.

Launching her own agency also reinforced one of the biggest leadership lessons of her career. "Sometimes you're going to get it wrong. Your job as the leader is to know how to rectify it and when to pivot."

Robles describes her own career as a series of intentional pivots, from journalism to marketing and from employee to entrepreneur. She believes successful leaders balance instinct with data, recognizing that marketing is both an art and a science.

As a Black entrepreneur, Robles is passionate about helping others create opportunities for themselves, particularly at a time when many professionals are rethinking traditional career paths.

She believes entrepreneurship can be a powerful avenue for building financial independence and encourages aspiring founders to pursue the ideas that have been sitting in their notebooks for years.

She also hopes the communications and marketing industry creates more space for talented voices that may not have large followings or traditional visibility. "There are so many skilled people saying important things. We just have to do a better job of making sure those voices are seen and heard."

When reflecting on the legacy she hopes to leave, Robles' answer is rooted in perseverance rather than perfection.

"I want to be the woman who went for it, who encouraged other women to go for it, to try, to try again, and then try a third time. Business has its highs and lows, but I never want people to stop trying."