Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Wagner.
Hi Alexis, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t necessarily a straight line, but every chapter helped shape what MAYVN is today.
After graduating from Texas Southern University with a background in public relations and communications, I continued waiting tables while figuring out what direction I wanted my life and career to take. My first real step into entrepreneurship was becoming a personal trainer. Many of my clients were models, influencers and women building personal brands. Because of my PR background, I naturally began giving them advice on how to strengthen their image, build their portfolios and better position themselves for opportunities.
What started as informal guidance eventually grew into a full-service public relations agency. As my network expanded, brands began approaching me for help with their campaigns, events and visibility. That moved me further into the brand side of PR, where I recognized an opportunity to connect the two worlds I was already working in. I began incorporating models and content creators into brand campaigns, allowing our talent to gain experience and exposure while helping businesses bring their ideas to life.
This year, that evolution led to the launch of MAYVN PR Group and MAYVN Models. We also introduced our Creative Coworking Club and developed an innovative membership network designed to make access to resources, relationships and opportunities more attainable. Through the MAYVN Network, members can connect with trusted businesses, receive exclusive discounts and preferred rates, attend events and workshops, access creative workspaces, participate in campaigns and gain opportunities to grow their brands.
Today, MAYVN is more than a traditional PR agency. It is an ecosystem where brands, models, creators and entrepreneurs can connect, collaborate and grow together. When I look back, I can see how every stage—from waiting tables and personal training to advising models and managing brand campaigns—prepared me to build the type of network I once needed myself.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. One of my biggest struggles was simply figuring out my purpose, understanding what I was truly called to do and then learning how to turn that purpose into a sustainable business. Being talented or passionate about something is one thing; creating systems, setting prices and consistently generating revenue from it is an entirely different journey.
I was also navigating entrepreneurship while being a single mother. Building a business requires sacrifice, but motherhood requires presence, so I had to learn how to pursue my goals without losing sight of the person who depends on me most.
Another major turning point was finding the strength to leave a relationship that was not healthy for me or aligned with the woman I wanted to become. That decision required me to rebuild parts of my life while continuing to show up as a mother, a leader and a business owner. It taught me that growth sometimes requires letting go of what is familiar to make room for who you are becoming.
I have also had to learn how to navigate relationships in business. I am naturally personable, and people often connect with me on a personal level. While that is one of my strengths, it has sometimes made it difficult to establish boundaries, hold people accountable and keep professional relationships centered on the work. A major lesson for me has been learning how to separate my personability from my productivity, to remain warm and genuine while still protecting my time, honoring my value and making sound business decisions.
None of those lessons came easily, but each one helped me become more intentional, disciplined and confident in the woman and business owner I am today.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
MAYVN PR Group is a full-service public relations and brand-development agency specializing in strategic partnerships, experiential activations, influencer marketing, content creation and community-driven campaigns. What sets us apart from a traditional PR agency is that we do more than secure exposure, we have built an entire ecosystem around helping brands access the people, resources and opportunities they need to grow.
I am known for helping brands become part of the culture rather than simply marketing to it. One of the projects that established my reputation in Houston was my work with Girls Are Drugs. I helped transform the brand from selling products in local malls into a recognizable name throughout the city, with major partnerships and opportunities that included Sneaker Con. That experience demonstrated my ability to identify what makes a brand special, position it correctly and connect it with the right audience.
Some of the work I am most proud of has been with Actively Black. I helped produce the brand’s fashion show and supported campaigns and activations surrounding the BET Awards, Essence Festival, the Keith Lee Family Food Festival and other major cultural moments. Through that work, I have had the opportunity to be in rooms with members of the King family, the Malcolm X family and representatives of the Basquiat legacy. Those experiences were about much more than visibility, they showed me how fashion, activism, culture and storytelling can work together to create a meaningful impact.
Today, MAYVN has expanded beyond traditional PR services. Through MAYVN Models, brands can book trained models and content creators for campaigns, events, e-commerce, activations and social content. Through our Creative Coworking Club, entrepreneurs and creatives have access to workspaces, workshops, networking opportunities and a community designed to encourage collaboration. Our MAYVN membership connects members to exclusive events, preferred businesses, brand opportunities, discounts, content days and resources that help them grow personally and professionally.
What I want readers to understand is that MAYVN is not just an agency you hire when you need publicity. We are a network you can become part of. Whether you are a business looking for strategic support, a brand searching for talent or an entrepreneur who needs access to resources and the right relationships, there is a place for you within MAYVN. Our tagline is “Your brand, our network,” because our greatest strength is our ability to connect people and turn those connections into real opportunities. I would love for more Houston creatives, professionals and business owners to become MAYVN members and grow with us.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always considered the “bossy” child, but my mom would quickly correct people and say, “She’s not bossy, she’s a boss.” From the time I was young, she told me that I was going to become a leader, and I think having her speak that over my life helped me see those qualities as strengths.
I have also always been someone people naturally gravitated toward. I had a bright personality, a big smile and an ability to connect with almost anyone. In high school, I was voted Best Smile, Best Personality and Most Likely to Succeed. I was never necessarily the best student academically, but I had great relationships with everyone—from my classmates and teachers to people in completely different social circles. I understood people, and I knew how to make them feel comfortable and included.
Because of my father’s football career, my family moved about every two years throughout my childhood. I was constantly the new girl, which meant I had to learn how to walk into unfamiliar environments, introduce myself, make new friends and find common ground with different types of people. I truly never met a stranger.
Looking back, those experiences were preparing me for public relations long before I knew what PR was. Moving so often taught me adaptability, confidence and how to build relationships quickly. The same qualities that once helped me make friends in a new school now help me walk into rooms, connect brands with the right people and build communities around a shared vision.
Pricing:
- $25 Membership
- $250 Black Member
- $500 Black Member
- MAYVN Sponsor
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mayvnpr.co
- Instagram: @thepr.mayvn
- Other: https://www.mayvnmodels.co
