How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield

In this episode of How I Got Here, Dreena welcomes Gina Charbonnet, an entertainment industry veteran. She’s the founder and owner of GeChar, an entertainment and production agency where she has produced events for ESSENCE, BET, NAACP, National Democratic Committee, Converse, among many others. Listen in as Gina shares her journey in the entertainment industry and especially as the executive producer of the ESSENCE festival’s Empowerment Experience Stage. Gina always imagined herself doing something creative with her life; she recalls when she first fell in love with the film industry and how it changed her perspective on what women can do as far as creative careers.  

She reflects on how she worked hard in the industry to earn the title of Executive Producer while having Susan Taylor as her mentor. She shares the challenges that tested her at the beginning of her career and how she learned to handle them. “I always think of situations that sometimes are challenging as a way to figure it out.” Gina explains why Oprah was her favorite guest at the Empowerment Experience Stage. 

After having worked with the ESSENCE Festival for many years, Gina is happy to hone her producer skills and contribute to the change in the community through empowerment. “No matter where you’re in life, you have power and you have value.” She also touches on how proud she is that she was a part of conversations that could make a difference in the black community. 

Gina shares with us how she ended up as the executive producer of the feature film Ma Belle, My Beauty after forming a mentor-mentee relationship with the director. She advises young creatives who want to break into the entertainment industry to intentionally own what they’re doing, be disciplined, and then look for a mentor to help them be experts. 

Connect with Gina: https://www.instagram.com/gechar.co/ 

In this episode of How I Got Here, Dreena welcomes Calvin Quallis, Founder and CEO of Scotch Porter, an award-winning male grooming brand that places wellness as a priority for men.

Not too long ago, Calvin left a comfortable, yet unfulfilling corporate career to start a small barber shop in his neighborhood, just as his mother had done when he was a kid. Listen in as Calvin shares about the challenges of the entrepreneurial journey that led to the creation of Scotch Porter, including the difficulty and uncertainty of starting a product line in his kitchen with no product development experience. 

“I wasn’t necessarily passionate about a particular thing… about owning this barber shop that was a cultural hub… about products initially. I think what I was passionate about was making my life better and figuring out what it is that I’m supposed to do in life.”-  Calvin Quallis

Stay tuned to learn how Calvin funded his product line, the meaning behind #beardgang, and some of the most powerful lessons he’s learned from his journey, like the importance of being present and relishing in your success. Plus, he offers advice for those who are interested in entering the beauty and wellness industries.

“Once I started to build, understand, really peel back the layers and figure out ‘what do you really want to accomplish with this brand?’… once I developed a purpose or mission, I was able to leverage that to really build a business that was more than just about a product.”-  Calvin Quallis

Connect with Calvin:

Visit Scotch Porter’s website: www.scotchporter.com 

Follow him on Instagram: www.instagram.com/calvin_quallis 

Follow Scotch Porter on Instagram: www.instagram.com/scotchporter 

Use #beardgang 

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 Dr. Chris Pernell, a dynamic physician leader, health and wellness visionary, and social change agent. She’s a charismatic and leading voice in preventative medicine and public health and is currently working as a senior executive in a hospital in New Jersey. Chris is here to talk about her journey and her mission of educating the black and brown communities about the Covid-19 vaccines.

Chris grew up in a New Jersey school that lacked diversity, yet she knew and saw black excellence in her community. Her experience with prejudice shaped her sense of voice and advocacy, teaching her how to use her voice and stand up for herself at a young age. Chris knew she wanted to be a doctor since the sixth grade and has truly been prepared for her current roles since high school.

Chris details how attending Princeton University was a challenge academically and culturally, along with how taking two gap years lead to massive growth and expansion in her skills, later distinguishing her in medical school. She describes how her faith and her family helps her endure through life’s challenges, why it was important for her to take on the role of preventative medicine and public health physician, and why she participated in the Covid-19 vaccine trials. She also offers insight into her experience getting the Moderna vaccine and its accompanying symptoms.

“Historically, that is one of the inequities that we have to work on. Black and brown persons do not participate in clinical research in the levels that are equivalent to their representation of a population… and that’s for a host of reasons.”-  Dr. Chris Pernell

Stay tuned to hear about Chris’s disappointing encounter with Ben Carson and how she overcame a life-threatening illness while in her internship. Plus, she shares powerful advice on overcoming adversity and setbacks in life.

“Don’t be afraid to put certain dreams out to pasture, as long as you don’t put you out to pasture.”-  Dr. Chris Pernell

Connect with Dr. Chris Pernell:

Visit her website: www.drchrispernell.com 

Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/thegooddoctormd 

Connect with her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LifeClinic101 

Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DrChrisMD 

Connect with her on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drctp

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 Rhonesha Byng, a publishing boss, Emmy award-winning journalist, speaker, and the Founder and CEO of Her Agenda. Rhonesha and Her Agenda are incredible resources of inspiration, information, and community for millennial women looking to reach their next level of success, both professionally and personally.

Rhonesha reflects on her early passion for journalism, back when she attended press conferences as a teenager, and explains how she came up with her motto, “No one ever slows her agenda.” Rhonesha explains how she landed high-value, paid internships with top media companies in high school, as well as how she made her own TV and radio shows and interviewed celebrities, like Lupe Fiasco, while studying communications in college. 

“When you declare and set your mission, your community will hold you accountable to it and it will help you to manifest your goals and attract opportunities.”-  Rhonesha Byng

Rhonesha is a powerhouse that fearlessly shoots her shot, time and again. Stay tuned to learn how to advocate for yourself and receive the recognition that you deserve as a boss female, along with why Rhonesha decided to take the path of entrepreneurship seriously and start her own media platform. Plus, she talks about Hurston House, her private social club and dedicated co-working space for gifted and creative women, and how she’s pivoted in business as a result of the major unrest in 2020.

“You can’t tell yourself no before anyone else tells you no.”-  Rhonesha Byng

Resources Mentioned:

The Emma Bowen Foundation: www.emmabowenfoundation.com 

Her Agenda on Instagram: www.instagram.com/HerAgenda 

Her Agenda on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HerAgenda 

Hurston House on Instagram: www.instagram.com/HurstonHouse 

Hurston House on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HurstonHouse 

Connect with Rhonesha:

Visit her website + Subscribe to her monthly newsletter: www.rhonesha.com 

Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/NeshasAgenda 

Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/NeshasAgenda 

Text Rhonesha: (917)-634-4667

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 Jovian Zayne, an International Speaker and Certified Leadership and Professional Development Coach with over a decade of experience. Jovian leads the OnPurpose Movement, a firm committed to helping organizations and individuals to “live and work on purpose” through targeted coaching, public speaking and facilitation experiences.

Jovian shares the story of discovering her unique talents and gifts as a teenager, navigating biases as a black high school student, and how the black community at her university opened her eyes to her innate power. She sheds light on overcoming imposter syndrome and the value in connecting to and trusting your Source, the Source that helps remind you that you were created with purpose, love, and care. 

“There will be a day when trying to do things for other folks won’t fill you up. I’m glad I didn’t and I haven’t lived my life trying to prove somebody else wrong instead of trying to prove myself right.” -  Jovian Zayne

Jovian speaks on the importance of celebrating your victories, leaning on your family and your faith, and finding ways to bring yourself outside of your comfort zone so that you can continue to grow and evolve. She also shares the intentions and challenges behind creating the OnPurpose Movement and the Day of Purpose, as well as why accountability is the foundation to any lasting change.

Stay tuned to hear about the wisdom Jovian has gained and how her purpose has changed becoming a mother.

“Sometimes we really aren’t going to get the road map, but the map will be given to you one piece at a time with every step that you take.” -  Jovian Zayne

Connect with Jovian:

Visit her website: www.jovianzayne.com 

Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/jovianzayne 

Connect with her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/jovianzayne 

Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jovianzayne 

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 Dawn Kelly, CEO and Co-Founder of The Nourish Spot Inc., a juice, smoothie, and salad bar that she started with her two children after leaving a 35+ year career in public relations and marketing. Dawn speaks on the importance of building and nurturing meaningful relationships throughout your career, the unforgettable people that influenced her life the most, and how she recently pivoted towards entrepreneurship in the health industry.

Dawn shares the fascinating reason behind why she initially wanted to become an attorney, as well as what led her to pursue African American studies in college. She talks about the Myers-Briggs test that inspired her to learn about PR and land a job in the field with very little experience, as well as how Ofield Dukes, the first black man to ever work as a publicist in the White House, became her mentor. 

“If you believe you are worth more, you have to hold onto that and you have to be courageous enough to ask for what you think you’re worth. All they can say is no, but guess what… they might say yes… and that started my nearly 16-year career with Prudential Financial.”

• Dawn Kelly

She details the benefits of bringing her family while traveling for work, noting the loneliness that can come with being a black corporate executive, along with the eye-opening lessons she learned from the people of Japan. Stay tuned to hear about the most fun, emotional, and ground-breaking moments from her career at Prudential Financial and why she attributes her momentum and success to her drive, perseverance, faith. 

Resources Mentioned:

The National Association of Black Journalists

National Black Public Relations Society

New York Association of Black Journalists 

Public Relations Society of America

Connect with Dawn and The Nourish Spot Inc.:

Visit The Nourish Spot Inc. at 107-05 Guy R Brewer Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11433

Give them a call: (718) 526-2099 

Follow them on Instagram: www.instagram.com/thenourishspot

Connect with them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/theNourishspot 

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 Lola Okanlawon to speak about her journey to becoming a highly sought-after Professional Makeup Artist, from the elevator ride that led to her first celebrity client to the words of wisdom and guidance she has for aspiring makeup artists and people in the beauty industry. 

Reflecting on her younger years as class president in high school, Lola once aspired to be an attorney. She talks about the transitions she made in her subjects of study at college and how the influence of her Nigerian parents guided her to make changes in her life.  

Lola’s experience working at a hair salon sparked her interest in beauty and helped her develop a deeper connection to femininity and the comradery within the back and brown communities. She broke into the industry by landing a job at M.A.C. and shares the challenges and benefits of navigating a new world of learning while getting her MBA. She shares her candid thoughts on working in retail versus working as a freelancer and gives insight into what led her to pursue freelance makeup artistry professionally, noting what it takes to be successful in a highly competitive service industry. 

She touches on how her parents feel about her career path now, the only misstep she feels she had in her life, and what path she may have taken if she didn’t go so deep into makeup artistry. Lola addresses the importance of unionizing and the many reasons why makeup artists want to join a union, as well as how Leslie Jones has been her biggest champion and the power in choosing loyalty over opportunity. 

After having worked with top A-list celebrities and at countless major networks and events, Lola shares with us what’s next in her journey, including a potential move across the country and a few entrepreneurial ventures that are in the works. She also sheds light on what a day in her life looked like pre-covid and during covid, noting the changes that have happened to the beauty industry as a result of the pandemic. 

Want to see connect with Lola and see her work?

Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/lolasbeautymark

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