Today we’d like to introduce you to Keisha Reynolds.
Hi Keisha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I would like to begin this story centered around faith. It is a word that we often hear when it comes to accomplishing our goals but everything that I’ve ever done in life has everything to do with faith. The Bible says many things about it and one comes to mind in answering this question: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1. My life, my journey, is evidence of my belief, faith, and trust in God. As a child, I always loved to communicate with people, particularly in the form of writing and talking. My mother cultivated my gift of writing through writing camps, workshops, and oratory classes. I went on to go to college under the premise of that same gift and pursued a major in Journalism and Technical Communication at Ferris State University (Big Rapids, MI). I graduated from there as an honor student and became a first-generation college graduate (2012). After that, I worked at a marketing agency for a year on many accounts, including Target.
Then, things get a little juicy! I gave myself a one-year gap between my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. I did something that most wouldn’t do. I packed my bags and move across the country to achieve that goal. I was born and raised on the westside of Detriot, MI. At 23 (2013), besides going to school in Big Rapids, that was all that I knew. However, when I was a little girl, I told my grandmother and my parents that I would one day move to Virginia. As a little, God has placed that on my heart and it remained there throughout college. There was a natural pull to move to that state and I used the opportunity of my master’s degree to do it. Little did I know just how obedient to God’s word that I was being. The simple act of me moving to Virginia literally changed the trajectory of my life’s story. Doors began to open for me. Within a few weeks of arriving in Norfolk, VA at Norfolk State University, I became the graduate assistant within the school’s Marketing and Communications department (a position that hadn’t been filled in over four years at the time). I went on to work on one of the largest grant awards that the school had received as the marketing director, I earned an internship with one of the area’s largest public relations firms, and lastly, before I walked across the stage at graduation, I had signed a contract for a position to work at one of the area’s top collegiate schools as a communications specialist.
From NSU, I earned a Master of Arts in Media and Communications; and became the first in my family to hold a master’s degree. Keep in mind that my time at NSU was only two years. At the end of my time there, I defended and published my academic research at Howard University. On the same weekend of my research presentation, I launched my branding and digital marketing agency – K&R Communications (2015). Before I tell you more about my agency, I want to talk briefly about a few things that happened in the middle: I helped launched and served on the board of the Hampton Roads Black Chamber of Commerence (2016); and, I launched a non-profit for women called EmpoweringHER (2016) which has now been recognized by the City of Norfolk and Mayor Alexander as a leading women’s organization in the area and received a proclamation of the first weekend in August being EmpoweringHER Weekend based on our popular brunch and conference.
At this time (2021), K&R Communications has worked with clientele across the United States, both regional and national, in the areas of business, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations. Because of that work, I have spoken at several conferences and conventions in those sectors and I have written books in those areas as well, including an Amazon Best-Seller. At this point in 2021, I am focused on education while continuing to grow my companies. I am a professor at Hampton University where I lead the strategic communications curriculum within the School of Journalism and Communications. I continue to speak, and I’ve recently launched a platform for churches called DigitalChurchUniversity.com. I also have educational resources for entrepreneurs at KNRagency.com. The premise of my story is rooted in faith and obedience. I am grateful! At the age of 30, I know that God still has greater things in store for me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No story ever has an easy journey, right? I believe that many obstacles, challenges, and setbacks are included in my story. However, I think it most important to point to the fact that those challenges didn’t stop me from moving and operating in faith. Many times obstacles can knock people off of their paths but I have used them as fuel to move the vision forward. My greatest outlet and result of that is my nonprofit work. EmpoweringHER focuses on business and self-care. The essence of it is to empower women to act on their own authority by being in control of their destiny through education, motivating and equipping them to expand their personal and professional lives. If we are in control of our destinies, we use everything that life gives us. If we get knocked off of our horse, we readjust, reset, and refocus, then keep going. A major part of knowing your own voice and value to the world has everything to do with your self-care… listening to yourself, your heart and knowing when it is time to stop and when it is time to move. Challenges teach us a lesson about ourselves and our work. Nothing ever happens by happenstance.
As you know, we’re big fans of K&R Communications. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
K&R Communications is a full-service branding and digital marketing agency. We focused on growing small businesses and churches. We work with clients nationwide on services that include branding, graphic & website design, and digital marketing (social media, email, & SMS). I am most proud that within five years, my company has worked on some amazing projects with local, regional, and national organizations.
Contact Info:
- Email: keisha@knragency.com
- Website: knragency.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_keishakay/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KRCommunicationsLLC
- Other: empoweringherworldwide.com
Image Credits:
Photo with me teaching that has the word “Branding” on the screen – Tora Carter Media
