How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield Dreena Whitfield

In this episode of How I Got Here, Dreena welcomes Shelby Larkin-Reid, an Emmy-nominated television producer and entertainment executive with over 20 years of production experience in non-scripted content. Shelby is also the Director of Global Partnership Development at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park.  


Starting as a high school intern at her local CBS affiliate in Nashville, TN, Shelby grew to become an associate producer by the age of 23. After realizing that majoring and working in economics wasn’t the path for her, she was driven to revisit her passion of television production. Listen in as she tells the story of how she became the confident, powerful, Black female producer she is today while sharing expert advice for those of you who want to follow a similar career path in entertainment.


“It’s so important to know… what sort of environment you thrive in. If you don’t thrive in that type of environment, it’s definitely not the place for you.”-  Shelby Larkin-Reid


You’ll hear about the impacts going to Spelman College in Atlanta had on Shelby’s career trajectory and how she dealt with her family’s disapproval of her career choice, as well as how branded content and brand partnerships are developed. Plus, she describes what a day in her life looks like as the Director of SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park!


 “When you start and you go with the passion, your career will grow exponentially.”-  Shelby Larkin-Reid


Connect with Shelby:
Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelbylarkinreid 
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshelbyrenee 


Resources Mentioned:
SoFi Stadium: https://www.sofistadium.com 


About the Host:
Dreena Whitfield has a proven ability to create tangible outcomes that helps clients exceed expectations. Her diverse career has led her to spearhead the communications and marketing efforts for leaders in the nonprofit, corporate and political sectors, as well as small businesses internationally.


With more than a decade of experience, Dreena and the WhitPR team have a proven ability to spot opportunities for our clients to grow their brand recognition in saturated markets that are in alignment with their overall objectives.


The Huffington Post listed Dreena as one of their “Top 25 African American Millennials in PR to Watch.”


Follow Dreena & WhitPR on all the socials:
@Dreenawhitpr & @whitpr


Join The WhitPR Collective: www.whitprcollective.com

Have you ever thought of buying a one way ticket to follow your dreams? Just like today’s guest, that could be the move that launches your career to new heights! In this episode of How I Got Here, Dreena welcomes Sandra Lajoie, the Vice President of Communications at NBC, Bravo, and Oxygen. If you love reality TV shows, Sandra is most likely the powerhouse behind your all-time favorites. 


As an immigrant from Port Au Prince, Haiti, who grew up in New York and Massachusetts, Sandra sheds light on the impacts of the devastating accident that left her blind in one eye and caused her family to immigrate to the US. She talks about what The American Dream means to her and her family, the challenges she went through as a young girl, and how that led to her building a successful career in communications and media relations.


“Where I started is definitely not where I ended. I think that’s a lesson in life in itself because it is okay pivot, it is okay to change directions, but you have to listen to your spirit and know what’s right for you and what isn’t.”-  Sandra Lajoie


You’ll gain insight into Sandra’s experience as a temp worker, how she got promoted from executive assistant to publicist at Warner Bros., and her top recommendations for people who want to break into the communications industry (+ tips for growing and learning FAST!).


Plus… What does a day in the life of Sandra Lajoie, the VP of Communications, look like? How many fires did she have to put out while working with The Real Housewives? What role does social media play in a strong PR strategy? Tune in to find out!


“If you’re going to go after your dreams, don’t go in with a Plan B, go in with a Plan A and stick to the Plan A.”-  Sandra Lajoie


Connect with Sandra:
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lajoiesandra 
Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-lajoie-9b429214 


About the Host:
Dreena Whitfield has a proven ability to create tangible outcomes that helps clients exceed expectations. Her diverse career has led her to spearhead the communications and marketing efforts for leaders in the nonprofit, corporate and political sectors, as well as small businesses internationally.


With more than a decade of experience, Dreena and the WhitPR team have a proven ability to spot opportunities for our clients to grow their brand recognition in saturated markets that are in alignment with their overall objectives.


The Huffington Post listed Dreena as one of their “Top 25 African American Millennials in PR to Watch.”


Follow Dreena & WhitPR on all the socials:
@Dreenawhitpr & @whitpr


Join The WhitPR Collective: www.whitprcollective.com

What is it like to work alongside President Obama in The White House, you ask? Tune in to find out! In this episode of How I Got Here, Dreena welcomes Stephanie L. Young, a Social Impact Strategist and Executive Director of When We All Vote, a non-partisan voting initiative created by Michelle Obama. Stephanie is on a mission is to change the culture of voting and to increase participation in each and every election to close the race and age gaps among voters. 


From The White House to NBC Universal to BET Networks, Stephanie has succeeded in various communications roles for the past 12 years. Listen in a she sheds light on the most pivotal moments in her career, how she started working on political campaigns, what it’s been like to be a Black woman in politics.


“You can be a 20-something year old person and go work on a campaign. They are consistently looking for good talent, you just gotta know somebody... I just thought I didn’t have any experience but that’s what campaigns love, they love people with no experience to come on and do a lot of work.”-  Stephanie Young


You’ll gain insight into Stephanie’s experience working for the Obama Administration, how she maintains a work/life balance in her political communications career, and what empowers and fuels her to continue building her career despite the challenges of this field. She emphasizes the importance of taking risks in your career, trusting yourself, and diversifying your work experience. Plus, Stephanie shares exciting details on the upcoming Culture of Democracy Summit in June!




Connect with Stephanie & When We All Vote:
Visit her website: www.stephlyoung.com
Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/slynnyoung 
Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/stephlyoung 
Connect with her on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/slynnyoung 
Visit When We All Vote’s website: www.whenweallvote.org 
Follow When We All Vote on Instagram: www.instagram.com/whenweallvote
Follow When We All Vote on Twitter: www.twitter.com/whenweallvote 
Connect with When We All Vote on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenWeAllVote 


Resources Mentioned:
Rock the Vote: www.rockthevote.org
Learn more about Couch Party: https://bit.ly/39rinvl 
Join The Culture of Democracy Summit (June 10-13, 2022): https://secure.everyaction.com/tkNJo3vpnEiKhR58s69N6Q2 


About the Host:
Dreena Whitfield has a proven ability to create tangible outcomes that helps clients exceed expectations. Her diverse career has led her to spearhead the communications and marketing efforts for leaders in the nonprofit, corporate and political sectors, as well as small businesses internationally.
With more than a decade of experience, Dreena and the WhitPR team have a proven ability to spot opportunities for our clients to grow their brand recognition in saturated markets that are in alignment with their overall objectives.
The Huffington Post listed Dreena as one of their “Top 25 African American Millennials in PR to Watch.”
Follow Dreena & WhitPR on all the socials:
@Dreenawhitpr & @whitpr
Join The WhitPR Collective: www.whitprcollective.com

In this TalkBack, Dreena talks about her experiences with disappointments along her career journey and how she got through, past and over them. 
Dreena is transparent about where she still struggles and provides tips how to survive disappointments on the road to success. 
 





Link to full episode:

https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/1560203/9401011-glowing-up-from-fox-news-to-black-love-with-codie-elaine.mp3?download=true




About the Host:
Dreena Whitfield has a proven ability to create tangible outcomes that helps clients exceed expectations. Her diverse career has led her to spearhead the communications and marketing efforts for leaders in the nonprofit, corporate and political sectors, as well as small businesses internationally.


With more than a decade of experience, Dreena and the WhitPR team have a proven ability to spot opportunities for our clients to grow their brand recognition in saturated markets that are in alignment with their overall objectives.


The Huffington Post listed Dreena as one of their “Top 25 African American Millennials in PR to Watch.”


Follow Dreena & WhitPR on all the socials:
@Dreenawhitpr & @whitpr


Join The WhitPR Collective: www.thewhitprcollective.com

In this TalkBack, Dreena talks candidly about the importance of setting boundaries and consistently prioritizing your own self-care, especially if you’re in the public relations industry.


What are some little things that you can do to keep you centered and present in your daily life and stay aligned with your mission? Tune in to learn Dreena’s tips and insights!


“You’re juggling a lot of projects, you’re managing multiple things at once and I’m sure your self-care is shot, but you have to prioritize yourself.”-  Dreena Whitfield






Link to full episode: 
https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/1560203/9461193-staying-current-pivoting-your-business-championing-black-women-s-health-with-jewel-bush.mp3?download=true


About the Host:
Dreena Whitfield has a proven ability to create tangible outcomes that helps clients exceed expectations. Her diverse career has led her to spearhead the communications and marketing efforts for leaders in the nonprofit, corporate and political sectors, as well as small businesses internationally.


With more than a decade of experience, Dreena and the WhitPR team have a proven ability to spot opportunities for our clients to grow their brand recognition in saturated markets that are in alignment with their overall objectives.


The Huffington Post listed Dreena as one of their “Top 25 African American Millennials in PR to Watch.”


Follow Dreena & WhitPR on all the socials:
@Dreenawhitpr & @whitpr


Join The WhitPR Collective: www.whitprcollective.com

In this episode of How I Got Here, Dreena welcomes Nsé Ufot, an activist, community organizer, and CEO of The New Georgia Project, a voter support and legal action nonprofit organizationthat’s registering and engaging voters across Georgia. Listen in to gain insight into Nsé’s world and how she has evolved from behavioral researcher at Zoo Atlanta to a CEO handpicked byStacey Abrams.
 
You’ll learn how Oprah paid for Nsé’s college tuition, what it felt like to turn Georgia blue, and how The New Georgia Project is so successful in registering and mobilizing young, black voters. Plus, she shares powerful advice on inspiring activism and movement-building in the next young activists of color, especially with all the challenges we’re navigating today.
 
Born in Nigeria and raised in Atlanta with an immigrant family, culture shock was prevalent in Nsé’s childhood. Her difference, or her “otherness”, was always front and center. Thus, Nsé was driven to figure out what made this African-American culture so familiar, yet so foreign. 
 
“Good immigrant kid, I was going to be a neurosurgeon… It was always gonna be medical school, so to be where I am now is actually kind of funny.” ​-  Nsé Ufot
 
By the age of 14, Nsé was working with the Georgia House of Representatives. With a single mother working three jobs who was also working as an activist… helping people, meeting representatives, and getting curious about the struggles of her community were always parts of Nsé’s life!
 
“We are constantly listening. What do people care about? What are their hopes? What are their fears for themselves, for their families, for their communities? What DO they want to see in The New Georgia?​And then we work to connect the power of the vote to the change that they told us that they want to see because that is the thing that’s going to get people to come out.” ​​​​​​​​​-  Nsé Ufot
 
Connect with Nsé:
Visit her website: www.nseufot.com
Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/nseufot
Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nseufot
Connect with her on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ns%C3%A9-ufot-b0b7b73b
 
Resources Mentioned:
The New Georgia Project: www.newgeorgiaproject.org
VIBE: www.newgeorgiaproject.org/campaigns/vibe
OASIS: www.newgeorgiaproject.org/campaigns/oasis
Amplify: www.amplify-ga.org
 
About the Host:
Dreena Whitfield has a proven ability to create tangible outcomes that helps clients exceed expectations. Her diverse career has led her to spearhead the communications and marketing efforts for leaders in the nonprofit, corporate and political sectors, as well as small businesses internationally.
 
With more than a decade of experience, Dreena and the WhitPR team have a proven ability to spot opportunities for our clients to grow their brand recognition in saturated markets that are in alignment with their overall objectives.
 
The Huffington Post listed Dreena as one of their “Top 25 African American Millennials in PR to Watch.”
 
Follow Dreena & WhitPR on all the socials:
@Dreenawhitpr & @whitpr
 
Join The WhitPR Collective: www.whitprcollective.com