Recently, we sat down with Philadelphia-native, Danielle Jeter. This 29 year-old powerhouse is the President of Women in Media (WIM) and the founder of AOI Events & PR. Since launching WIM in 2013, Danielle has worked to encourage, empower and equip women to own their voices. You don’t have to take our word for it; allow her success to speak for itself. We’re excited to share her stories and inspiration with more women in the industry.
PPRG: Tell us a little more about yourself and your background. Did you always have a passion for working in the media industry?
DJ: Believe it or not, my background is in performance arts. I’ve been performing since the age of six, and I haven’t stop. Going to Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, I majored in theater arts with a double major in history and concentration in African American Studies.
The things that I do now in communications stem from these other skills. Being a history major we do a lot of reading, writing, analyzing, and researching. Those are transferable skills to almost any industry, especially journalism and media. I got into communications through my passions. Successful artists have to sell out shows, and selling tickets requires marketing and sales. That’s how I started getting into special events and communications. In college, I joined my friends’ companies to promote events on campus and started AOI Events & PR in my senior year.
Once I graduated from Spelman in 2010, I moved back home to Philly. I interned at Radio One while growing AOI Events & PR. At Radio One, they gave me the opportunity to gain more exposure and experience in promotions and events. The information I gained there really changed my world. That’s where I really began to break into the media industry and learn about radio and production.
PPRG: How do you balance owning three businesses (AOI Events & PR, Women in Media, and Productive Impact Coalition) with a personal life?
DJ: It’s not as much of a challenge as it was in the past. I’m at my business, AOI Events & PR, full-time so I own and control my time, but I am not a one-woman-show. I firmly believe working in a team environment is an asset to my own time management. We have five full-time staff members, including myself, as well as interns. It’s truly a blessing.
I also create boundaries for myself. I can be a bit of a workaholic, simply because I love what I do. But you are not a machine; you have to rest. On weekends, I try to have strictly off-time. Sundays are my day to go to church and be with family. I make time for self-care, exercise, vacations and relaxation; I invested in a spa membership a few years ago! Plus, I don’t let my art die by still performing. Prioritizing these things in my life have made me a better person and worker because I am taking care of myself.
PPRG: What has been your most memorable moment since launching Women in Media?
DJ: Wow, there have been so many moments over the last six years. One of my favorites is the fifth annual conference. Last year, our keynote speaker was Sonia Sanchez, a poet, lecturer and international activist. She inspired a room full of women on a level of excellence, and it felt like she gave an entire performance. She wrote an original piece just for our conference on a handwritten document. It was like 8 pages long, I swear. That was an awesome moment.
PPRG: How did the WIM community partnership with the Influencing Action Movement come about, and how does it influence your work?
DJ: This partnership allows us to operate as a part of their 501(c)(3) organization. Having the opportunity to work with the Influencing Action Movement has helped me learn how effectively run a non-profit. We are able to able to raise money and get grants and donations. They are also young entrepreneurial women in Philadelphia who do exceptional work. These women inspire me every day, and I am beyond thankful for that.
PPRG: You founded WIM to encourage, empower, and equip women in media to own their voices. What advice would you give to young women who have a passion for the industry but find themselves underrepresented or discouraged?
DJ: I would encourage those women to take an introspective look at who you are — really get to know yourself and your voice. Our society is bombarded with so many mixed signals. It can be very easy to get confused and take on an identity that you are not. It takes time to get to know YOU. Once you find your voice, that’s when you can begin to really own it and find a way to positively impact your community.
PPRG: The 6th Annual Women in Media Conference is only two months away. What can women expect to gain from attending the event?
DJ: This year’s theme is “Limitless: Beyond the Glass Ceiling.” It’s the first time that the conference will be a two-day experience! The first day begins with a keynote speaker. Then, we have a main panel discussion and guided by the theme. The networking breakfast is so fun with a live music and a DJ. Attendees are able to attend two of the six workshops offered. The workshops take a holistic approach to the woman: professional and personal development, in addition to wellness. Our philosophy is in order for you to be an effective leader you need to have a well-balanced life.
A new component this year is the Beauty Bar! Women will be able to sample and take home different products. Every vendor is empowering women, and we like to work with women-owned businesses. Additionally, we’ve selected several authors to feature in the Author’s Corner. These published women all factor diversity into their content and love connecting with their readers.
PPRG: How can women get involved in other upcoming Women in Media events and programs?
DJ: We do programming once a month on different topics. We host professional development and wellness programs. Wellness topics cover anything from spirituality, physical wellness to skincare. We plan a lot of behind the scene tours where we take women into different network studios.
Our next event is a fundraising happy hour with The FLOW on July 26, 2018 at TGI Fridays rooftop, overlooking the Ben Franklin Parkway. It’s a great way to network with PR and media professional, and we have special guest Mike Jerrick of Fox29 News DJing!
PPRG: We know that Philadelphia is full of inspiration career women and entrepreneurs. Have you had any local mentors?
DJ: It’s certainly a village of women, and I position myself to be mentored and continuously learning. In Philadelphia, if your mentor recommends you for something, you better make sure that you are representing right! I have so many: E. Steven Collins, Sharon Powell, Darisha Miller and Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, just to name a few. For example, Darisha Miller has taught me so much about PR on the job. And I actually met her through another mentor!
PPRG: What is your favorite part about owning businesses in Philadelphia?
DJ: Philly is such a large media market and a globally-focused city. For me, that’s awesome because I’m building a global brand. I plan on keeping the headquarters of my business here.
PPRG: Do you have any passion projects outside of running your businesses?
DJ: Besides the arts, I’d say travel. I can’t stay still to save my life. Costa Rica and Amsterdam have been two favorites.
PPRG: Even though PR never stops… when you get a chance to take a break, where can we find you in the city?
DJ: A wine bar!
Learn more about Danielle Jeter’s upcoming WIM events on their website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Eventbrite.
