Stephanie Davis is the CEO & Principal Publicist of Empower Media Group, the Owner and Publisher of WE Magazine and Hustle and Soul Magazine, and Black Media Honors.
“Whoever said you couldn’t come back from a bad situation, wasn’t being honest.” What does this mean to you?
This means everything to me because sometimes we are so hard on ourselves when we experience a failure. Developing resilience and being tenacious is so important! One of my favorite quotes, Henry Ford said, “Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward”.
Are you an Empowerment Expert?
I truly believe that being an empowering vessel is indeed my calling. I love to see others do great things and I equally love helping others be great!
You are an author, entrepreneur, philanthropist and now Producer of one of the most anticipated awards weekend, 2021 Black Media Honors™️. Tell us about your background.
I am the CEO & Principal Publicist of Empower Media Group. the Owner and Publisher of WE Magazine and Hustle and Soul Magazine, Black Media Honors, Founder of Black Influencers Guild & the Black Media United organization, Co-Owner of Elle Elle luxury fashion brand. SCORE.org Business Mentor and Founder of Empower Cares, an organization dedicated to social justice, educating, empowering and provoking individuals to pursue a greater purpose.
As the CEO of Empower Media Group, how has COVID-19 changed your vision?
The pandemic, followed by the lockdown has surely left many of us introspecting, on how blessed our lives are and how much we take for granted in our normal lives. Also, with the alarming number of cases, I feel we all should work towards having better immunity through our food habits and lifestyles. It also changed my perspective about life. I think the coronavirus pandemic has changed my work life in profound and unexpected ways. I was faced with overwhelming, competing challenges and uncharted waters as I continued to navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. I had already taken “no regret” actions to emerge from the pandemic stronger. I just chose to face the crisis with a spirit of reinvention—accelerating digital transformation, establishing variable cost structures, and implementing agile operations. But in recent weeks, the landscape has changed, with the pandemic continuing to peak in some markets and returning in others. Amidst this uncertainty, the steps for reopening and reinvention remain unchanged, but I must now consider how the pandemic’s progress, strength or recurrence in different geographies is impacting my recovery strategies. Like many other entrepreneurs, we are planning and adjusting!
2021 Black Media Honors™️, what is your vision for the event?
Black Media Honors™️ is a not-for-profit that represents a diversity of industry creatives and media professionals. Our organization focuses on service, advocacy, and recognition of the media industry.
The vision of the Black Media Honors™ is to reach back by creating opportunities for education, cause awareness initiatives, startups; we allocate resources, leverage knowledge and our platform to allow people of color the opportunity to grasp a successful future. This is done through committed partnerships with local and national organizations seeking the same objective.
As a powerful advocate for the African-American culture and American minorities we remain steadfast in our mission to grow visibility for men and women of color. Our current social climate has illuminated a generation of African-American citizens seeking acknowledgement, validation, and comfort for the brands they create and from the businesses and brands they know and love. This is a new era of opportunity for brands to recognize our culture is turning inward to their community and to support the brands they know and trust most. Through thought leadership, research, and strategic collaboration with our advertising partners, we continue to push the culture forward to drive results for those brands that are committed to diversity and inclusion.
The Black Media Honors™ is celebrating its Inaugural Awards season, building on the momentum African American and minority professionals have gained over countless years. We proudly cap our award season with our “Behind the Press” Consortium Pre-Awards signature event – the event is a panel discussion of an association of media, celebrities, minority-owned companies, organizations and law influencers with the objective of pooling their resources for achieving the common goal of changing and controlling the narrative of african americans and american minorities in media.
The Black Media Honors™ Gala to follow – which brings together many of the nation’s most influential creatives, communicators and aspiring communications students to celebrate the stellar work being produced across the nation. Additionally, at the evening’s end, there will be the Post-Honors Reception. We are definitely looking for sponsors and strategic partnerships with aligning brands and organizations. Contact info@theempowermedia.com
Why does it mean so much to you?
As a powerful advocate for the African-American culture we remain steadfast in our mission to grow consideration for African-American and American minorities in the media industry. The lack of diversity in advertising companies plays a significant role in the condition of Black-owned media. Despite its checkered past, the relationship (or lack thereof) between Black-owned media and the advertising industry still represents an opportunity. Under the spotlight of social unrest and reckoning by Black advertising professionals, there is a chance to move in another direction. It is important that we help create a paradigm shift in this space and change the narrative in the process so that more brands are intentional when it comes to black owned media.
You work as a Publicist and Branding Expert. How are you helping clients today?
We pride ourselves in bonding with our clients, their vision becomes our vision and their purpose becomes our purpose. From pitch-to-publication, we tailor a plan for positive results by simply operating in extreme excellence. We have birthed many successful concepts for our clients that have evolved into sought after brands and must attend events. We have successfully created strategies that allow our clients to monetize their platforms.
Share a few client success stories.
I am always proud of my clients and their successes. Most recently, one of my clients The Mantle Brand released the trailer for his new project titled, “The Refined Experience”. It’s a movement that celebrates men while it also supports changing the narrative when it comes to men, leadership and true masculinity. This project was sponsored by Escobar Restaurant & Lounge. I’m truly thankful for the relationship we have with Escobar and its team of professionals. It was an amazing experience working with Celebrity Photographers Antoinne Jones , Videographer Simone Kilgore in Atlanta and all of the professional male personalities that participated in the project. The movement is now expanding to other major markets later this year.
Tell us about your partnership with TV One.
Our media partnership with TV One is to one honor the network for the legacy that they have created for the media industry and culture creators. Michelle Rice, general manager for TV One and CLeoTV is one of our honorees. In support of Black Media Honors, TV One is providing a social activation to support marketing and promotion for Black Media Honors.
What’s next for you?
Amid the pandemic, I have been in the entrepreneurship kitchen cooking up a few more projects for 2021. I am currently working on a new influencer marketing network called the “Black Influencers Guild” also known as “BIG”. We have the “BIG Conference & Expo slated for June 2021. I am working on my own personal brand to include a new fashion line of clothing and accessories for curvy women called Elle Elle. I am now managing my eight year old son Josiah Riley who is beginning to branch out as a child model, YouTuber and media personality with his channel called “Conversations with Josiah”.
IG: @imtherightstep @weempowerone @Empowermediagroup @blackmediahonor @thehustleandsoul Empower Media Group www.theempowermedia.com info@theempowermedia.com
