L. Michelle Smith

“Un-networking” for Those Who Hate the Thought of the Other Word

Not long ago, I received a call from the chief of staff (CoS) of an officer at my company, inviting me to speak to her mentoring circle about networking. Now if you are like me, I shun the idea of classic networking. I believe that I have something in my DNA that is just simply diametrically opposed to the idea. I just wasn’t built for it. I’m certain…

What Marketers Can Learn from The Carters
They are dropping entire albums with a single post to Instagram on a random Saturday afternoon. Everyone in RocNation shares about it on their handles, while most other social posts are organic from frenzied fans who are “getting their complete life.” Is new music Tuesday still a thing? Perhaps it is not if you are the parents of Blue and the twins. Beyoncé & Jay-Z are also great…
Social Media: A Digital Portal for Access, an Opportunity and a Voice
Published on October 18, 2016 on LinkedIn On Oct 6, 2016, I spoke to students, faculty and staff from a variety of universities and colleges at the 6th Annual Howard University Social Media Conference.  The topic was how social media has provided access and opportunity to marginalized communities.  I share the original script of that keynote below, and I'd love to hear about your experiences.  The keynote was…
5 Keys to Building Your Own Board of Directors
Published on March 28, 2017 on LinkedIn It’s hard to know much about how I came to thrive at the intersection of business, culture and technology without knowing a bit about my story. It is ultimately an empty narrative without a cast of individuals who have and continue to help set my course. I’m talking about my very own board of directors. You should have one too. If…
Bringing Inclusion to the Opera
Published on June 14, 2018 on LinkedIn I've been to one opera in my life, but I never returned. I shared with Opera America conference attendees why last year in a Q&A with it's CEO, Marc Scorca, after a keynote about inclusion marketing tenets. My reasons were linked to a feeling of not belonging. Anyone who looked like me was handing me a playbill or wiping up in the…
What Chicken Fries Have to Do With It
Working at a nonprofit can sometimes feel like a thankless job. Having worked with countless executive directors, along side them on boards or even as an agency partner, I've heard the stories. I've seen many local organizations open and close, unfortunately. Marketing is key to their success. Without awareness, there'll be no donors, volunteers or corporate sponsors; and that speaks directly to the bottom line. This is why…
Bringing Your Authentic Self to Work As a Black Woman — Unpacked (Part 2)
In the final installment of this 2-part series, we dive deeper with these extraordinary women and ask them what advice they have for women, especially black women, on how to successfully bring one’s authentic self to work. Many black women in corporate America lit a figurative candle in honor of the retirement of Ursula Burns, the last black woman to occupy a CEO post in a Fortune 500.…
Bringing Your Authentic Self to Work As a Black Woman — Unpacked (Part 1)
So you want to be your authentic self in your corporate job. You have a photo of Bozoma Saint John as your screensaver. She is #goals. But the data about how to break through like the chief brand officer of Uber is daunting, to say the least. Late last year, McKinsey & Co., along with LeanIn.Org released their annual Women in the Workplace study, and there seemed to be…
Why the digital divide between Latinos, whites is almost closed

By Ellen Meyers, Staff Writer The internet use gap between Latinos and whites is almost closed, as more immigrants and Latinos who speak predominantly Spanish are going online, according to a national study released Wednesday. The share of Latinos using the internet has increased from 64 percent in 2009 to 84 percent in 2015, according to a Pew Research Center report that surveyed 1,500 Latinos. Whites’ internet usage…

L. Michelle Smith explains why Rev. Run and Justine fit #InspiredMobility

By Nina Chantal L. Michelle Smith is a consumer insight expert who is blazing a trail for diversity in one of the most respected Fortune 10 companies. As the director of public relations in AT&T’s global marketing organization, her involvement in AT&T’s #InspiredMobility campaign comes as no surprise. Rolling out was able to talk with Smith and understand how Rev. Run and his wife Justine Simmons perfectly align…

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