Lori Flowers: Know Your Worth and Ask for What You Want

By: Tyrisha Irwin

Fisk University and Arizona State alumni, Lori Flowers, is currently the Marketing Director for Radio One Atlanta where she oversees the promotional and marketing efforts for their radio stations. She was born in Indianapolis and raised in Phoenix when her father’s job relocated her at a young age to an unfamiliar city where she had to learn to adapt quickly to the world around her. As the only African American in her classes and in school, she had the desire to soar to new limits and become successful regardless of adversities. According to Flowers, “As the only AA in classes and school, I felt that I had to be that much better. I had to make sure I knew my stuff, did my assignments and do well in presentations. As a child, I always felt less than because I looked different, but as I got older, I owned being the only one.”

The Indiana and Arizona hybrid began her career journey as an intern for Sundance Broadcasting working in the Production Department. Although she wanted to work in TV, “the passion was not there” until she began her first position in radio at V-103 in Atlanta, Georgia.

“I fell in love with radio during my first week working there. I think I liked the energy.” To Flowers, the people around her were very talented, funny and got paid to entertain and inform people.

Following her position at V-103 in ATL, she became a Promotions Director in West Palm Beach, FL for a CBS news station and a Clear Channel station as well as a Marketing Director for Radio One cluster.

Despite having a hectic and lively career, it allowed Flowers to build an amazing network. To Flowers’, many interns’ career paths today are completely different than what she experienced in her journey. “In the old days, moving around from one market to another was almost mandatory as there was no way you could work in a large market and be elevated without experience under your belt. Today, things have changed drastically. I have watched interns in top 10 markets, get jobs right away without having to go to a smaller market first.”

When asked if she believed her past molded her into who she is now, Flowers firmly believed that everything she experienced prepared her for where she is. “Every move to a new city I’ve made, every mistake with an event I have made, every encounter I have made has strengthened me to be the woman I am today. Not perfect, but way stronger.”

Flowers advises women who wish to become successful in the industry to “hone their craft and know their stuff. Keep your word and have a solid and consistent work ethic.” Even though Flowers stated she had no regrets in her career, she does wish she had spoke up more in her younger years because she sat in male-dominated rooms where she didn’t say what she wanted to.In fact, she would’ve told “every woman to know their worth and ask for what they want. Speak up!”

Morgan Mckenzie: The It Girl

By: Maya Perry

 Morgan McKenzie also known as the #TheItGirl is an on air personality that can do “it” all. Morgan states that she chose to go by her given name because “…my mother takes pride in my name that she gave me. I wanted to honor that. I also believe it has a ring to it, and it can go with me beyond my radio career.”

Morgan started out producing PSA’s for WNAA, 90.1 at NCAT. Her sophomore year at NCAT, she would email BDAHT, of 102 JAMZ, persistently while in classes inquiring about internship opportunity.  Bdaht eventually invited Morgan to be an intern for the Wild out Wake up Show with himself, Toshamakia, and Kyle Santillian in 2010-2011. During her internship, she produced topical content, edit audio, and assist with promotional events. Upon entering into grad school at NCAT, she interned for Chris Lea at 102 JAMZ on “Straight Talk” which is the community-based talk show. A lot of what she was learning in her English and African American Literature courses ended up being topics of discussion for the show. After interning on-air for about a year, Morgan was hired as an official part-time employee at 102 JAMZ in 2015. Since then, she has filled in and worked almost every show slot.

Morgan persistency has not only help with her growth in radio but she has redefined what “no” means to her. “New Opportunities (N-O). I can’t count how many times I have heard the word, “No,” in my radio career. Had I allowed that one word to deter me, I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now! Keep going.”

When I asked Morgan what she believed her brand is initially she states, “…a multifaceted young lady who does it all! One can find me discussing hip hop and pop culture on air, to discussing social and cultural issues on “Straight Talk.” I am a professor at NCAT as well as a mentor to students. I am also a performer and dance coach. I host parties and panels. I co-produce a podcast, “Red Wine and Radio.” That’s just to name a few things in which I’m involved. You name it, I can do it.”

#TheItGirl describes that her purpose is to be inspire and unite people through her platform. She always believed that her voice had power because she speaks from the heart and a place of transparency. Morgan concludes our interview by saying, “The industry is tough to navigate, and sometimes it takes years for your big break. However, in the meantime, you’re working and producing for yourself so that when that big day comes, you are more than ready to accept the task! Build that resume now, sis!”

Sunni & The City: Living The American Dream

Written By: Alisha Brown

Sunni & The City is a true force to be reckoned with. She is currently on air at WPGC 95.5 in Washington, D.C., as one of the weekday morning show hosts on ‘The Joe Clair Morning Show’.

 Sunni says she never really wanted to be in radio but once she started her internship that she received the summer after high school, she never left. She worked her way up the ranks over the years.

 For Sunni, she is constantly on the go. A typical day starts off with a 4am alarm to be ready for her 6am morning show. She continues her day with meetings and other work-related things after the show ends at 10am. After the gym and a quick nap, she attends events, happy hours, and show prep for the next day.

 Besides radio, Sunni has contributed her talents to philanthropic work and her debut book, “Still I Shine: Refugee To Radio, Living The American Dream”.

 When asked why philanthropic work is important to her, she says, “it comes naturally to me. I see myself and my family in a lot of the people that are in need because we were there before. So, it hits a soft spot in my heart. As far as empowering women, I’ve always been a girl’s girl. I have tons of girlfriends who are my support system and anytime I can do that for others, even the ones I’ve never met, it’s amazing”.

 Sunni’s book, “Still I Shine: Refugee To Radio, Living The American Dream”, talks about her journey from being in refugee camps to now being a successful radio personality in the nation’s capital. Sunni states that, “I just wanted to tell my story. I didn’t know if it was going to inspire anyone, make them laugh or cry. I just needed to tell it and hopefully it can change someone’s life”.

 Sunni’s advice to fellow women in radio is “stay focused, work hard, and keep it professional at all times. But never forget to find the joy in the little things and have fun. Always lend a helping hand. Reach back and uplift and inspire those behind you, especially the younger generation who's got next. They’re our future.”

Loren Petisce: Being Yourself On The Radio, Why It’s Absolutely Vital

Written By: Loren Petisce

You’ve heard it all your life, from people you love, your friends, as inspirational quotes on the internet, “just be yourself, everyone else is already taken.”  I agree with this message wholeheartedly, but man, sometimes it’s easier said than done.

I spent some time recently going through some of my older on-air breaks and I learned something.  I learned that who I was listening to in some of those breaks isn’t really me. It’s a version of myself that I put out there that I think people want to hear. It’s the version of me that’s “safe” that doesn’t upset anyone with my thoughts or convictions. 

When I listened to myself and tried to form an opinion of the person I was listening to, I couldn’t. It’s difficult to remove me from myself, if that makes any sense, but I tried my best to listen to me as an outsider, basically an unbiased version of well, me…hope I didn’t lose you there. 

Here’s what I came up with: a solid radio broadcaster who knows radio formatics like the back of her hand, she can deliver breaks well, she ebbs and flows, she has peaks and valleys, she knows the music, but WHO IS SHE?

That’s the question I couldn’t answer.

Do I want to be friends with this person?  I don’t know. She seems nice, but I want to know more about her. I want to know what she stands for as a person and I don’t hear that. I hear commonplace opinions, I don’t hear any conviction and I have to ask myself, what am I bringing to the table that no one else is? I know I’m my own worst critic, I’m harder on myself than anyone else; but I’m really looking inside myself here. I know who I am on an everyday basis and truthfully I can’t always find that person when I hear myself on the radio. 

Why?

I can 100% tell you the reason is because I am afraid people won’t like me. It’s crazy that I work in an industry where my job is to be myself on the radio and I am afraid that people won’t like me! I have always had a difficult time with confrontation, so I guess without even really realizing it, I put out a middle-of-the-road version of myself that no one can dislike…or like, for that matter. A version of myself that no one has an actual opinion on, the worst right? But somewhere in my mind, I thought that was better than people not liking me.  Is it? I am not sure, but I tend to think not.

A time in my career where I struggled with this the most was being a co-host on a morning show.  Do I have the personality for morning radio, absolutely! Am I good at giving unpopular opinions on things and showing conviction, absolutely not! My co-host at the time, was constantly trying to hammer that into my brain, and I just couldn’t do it. I was so afraid of the audience not liking me, that I would give thoughts and opinions that were neither here nor there. 

I listen back to myself and it’s insanely frustrating. It’s so hard to form an opinion or even remember someone who just plays it safe, trying to keep everyone happy. I of course, couldn’t see this back then. When I listen to segments that my former co-host and I did together, he would sometimes have the most ridiculous opinions on things (on purpose), they were usually funny though, and most importantly, it was entertaining!  My responses however, sometimes ruined the bit, because I couldn’t commit to saying something that might upset someone listening.

What can you possibly do with someone who isn’t giving you a “yes” or a “no” but a “maybe” all the time?  Nothing! It’s not even interesting if one person says something outlandish and the other is afraid of giving her opinion, so she sticks with a vanilla answer.  It’s like delivering a joke and having no one laugh at it, or giving someone a balloon and they stick a pin in and pop it right in your face. I could just scream at my former self for being that way, but I didn’t know how else to be. 

I have learned and grown from that point, and that’s what matters most and now I’m here telling you why it’s so important to be you!

Thankfully, sometimes I do hear the true ME in some of my on air work and that is me growing and becoming better; not only as a radio personality, but at being true to myself as a person! We’re all trying to be the best versions of ourselves every single day, and it’s not easy for a myriad of different reasons.

I know putting these words on paper is helping me, and I hope it does the same for you! There truly is no one like you, go out there and give the world the gift of the real, honest and true, unequivocal YOU, and I promise to do the same.

Shariah Green: Aiming For Success Only

By: Tyrisha Irwin

 Shariah Green, a wife, mother of 2 boys and an Integrated Marketing Specialist at Radio One, knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go for it. She aims for success, being a positive influence and defeating the status quo. Shariah is a firm believer in the notion of not allowing doubt or fear to cloud your thoughts and to go for whatever you want to accomplish in life.

Although she had high hopes for being a news anchor during her undergraduate career at Saint Augustine, she discovered that there are more ways to influence the world than being in front of a camera or microphone.

“I later learned that the impact that I desired to have did not only happen sitting in front of a camera or microphone. But, behind the scenes through real life interactions I made every day. Which lead me to my current career as a Marketing Specialist.”

To her, radio is a form of media that people of color rely on for a consistent supply of information. “Radio will always be here even if your internet signal fades. So, my involvement in radio is because it is a constant source for information that will never go away.”

Shariah Green has no shame in being who she is. She recognizes that everyone is unique, and she strongly believes in encouraging other people in the industry even if they are better than her in certain areas.

“We all are unique and offer something different to the world. What I offer is that I have no interest in being like anyone else but aspire to be better than those that came before me. I am a person who has no fear of uplifting another person even if they have the potential to be better than me at a particular task. So, what I offer to the industry is genuine collaboration which leads to brand awareness and monetary growth. Working with me on any level is worth it because I know how to make your vision come to life and do so unselfishly.”

As sweet and caring as Green is, her career hasn’t always reciprocated the feeling. In fact, she has faced some sour times throughout her career, particularly with rejection and sexism.

One of her greatest challenges as a Marketing Specialist is sometimes working with businesses who disapprove of advertisements that focus on people of color.

“Instead of giving up I decided to stand up and speak to the value of our listeners which in turn helped open once shut eyes to explore a platform that literally has been purposely ignored due to the misinterpretation of black people.”

An advocate for social change and responsibility, Shariah believes that people should be fighting for each other and not against one another for a common goal. “There is a time and place for everything and we must understand that this generation is finally in a position to help push the message those who came before us had WITHOUT fear of failure and understanding the power of uniting.”  

Green, who can make lemonade out of lemons, always knew that regardless of her experiences, it’s important to push toward respect, confidence and success. She motivates women to “constantly arm ourselves with knowledge to fight against such behaviors. Beauty and brains sale. So, don’t get so caught up in your image that you forget to build your intellect to stand apart from both men and women.”

Her last piece of advice is this: “Do not pursue a career in radio for fame. Ensure that you have something to offer the listeners outside of your looks or sultry voice, because you have a major duty to the community and it’s not always glamorous.”

Shariah Green is the epitome of independence, sophistication and selflessness and her work in the future is something to look forward to.

Sheila Towns-Yandle: From Receptionist to Risk Taker

            Written By: Maya Perry

Sheila Towns-Yandle is an established media consultant with a good work ethic and solid track record. Sheila explains that she is “great at building trust and successful relationships that results in business owners growing their bottom line. I am a people person, so I knew sales was my niche’.”  Her sales initiative in radio is to create effective media campaigns, solve problems and recommend creative advertising solutions for clients.

Sheila started her career working at an Advertising Agency in Chicago right out of college. She started as a receptionist, then moved into a Sales Assistant position, and later to an Asst. Media Buyer. After progressing to a Print Media Buyer, she encountered a lot of successful sales reps from newspaper and radio stations that became mentors. Sheila decided that she was going to make sales a career and it became her passion.

Sales is one of the most underappreciated,but one of the most valuable assets in radio. When I asked Sheila what advice or tips she could give to upcoming sales people in the industry she stated, “Build rapport wherever you go, know your product like the back of your hand, and remember people will never buy from you if they do not trust you. So be trustworthy and your number one job is to be a problem solver for your customer.”

Sheila has worked in sales for over 15 plus years in multiple locations including Chicago IL, St Louis,MO , Savannah,GA and currently in Greensboro, NC.

She explains that one thing she would tell her younger self before getting into to sales is to “….do not be afraid to go after million dollar companies, do your homework before approaching them.