6 minute read
Nzingha Millar – Courage Communications
It Takes Courage
Nzingha Millar believes in supporting the strong ecosystem of entrepreneurship in Nova Scotia, especially within Black communities. That’s why she founded Courage Communications, a sole proprietorship designed to meet the public relations needs of changemakers, organizations and businesses that are ready to drive impact in Nova Scotia. “About two years ago, I was working with a group of high school students in Surrey and Burnaby, British Columbia to develop a campaign on the anti-Black racism they faced in their schools,” she says. “It was their willingness, to share their experiences and speak up that demonstrated their courage.” These students inspired Millar to name her company Courage Communications and continue her work with supporting Black communities in Canada. “Operating as a sole proprietorship today is in some ways much easier than in previous years,” she says. “I have access to a network of skilled individuals in design, digital influence, online content creation and more. This allows young business owners like me the flexibility to build a team to suit each project and each client’s needs.” Millar completed her first-degree program in International Development at Dalhousie University. International development students work with complex global structures like government, non-governmental organizations, businesses and corporations to help them communicate. “These bodies have issues talking to one another and working together and there is always need for a link to help them build a shared understanding. Communications work helps make complex structures simpler. We are able to bridge the divide between people and institutions.” Millar’s second degree also added to the already excellent skills she brings to the world of communications. “When I pursued my education in journalism school, I wasn’t interested in becoming a journalist, but, I knew the skills the degree provided for example; how to communicate effectively, how to understand an audience, how to break down information in a way that the public can understand it, would be useful to me in so many ways. In the communications world, public relations is perceived as presenting information in a way that looks like we’re ‘washing the facts’ and I think my background in journalism has taught me how to be authentic in that communication.” Every day, Nova Scotians are sifting and scrolling through messages and stories in newspapers, magazines, television programs, and social media. The constant bombardment of information attempts to influence behaviors and perceptions of businesses, individuals and communities. Courage Communications, through their mission to “impact with dignity, inform with accuracy and inspire with authenticity” promises to cut through the noise and share the messages that positively impact their clients. “Public relations brings people and ideas together allowing innovation to take place. However, you are also going to be in the fire as you’re managing crises and pivoting negative, harmful narratives to highlight and change them to something positive,” she says. “The attention to detail, code of ethics, integrity, and upholding the respect of the people you are working for and the people you are trying to reach takes a lot of commitment. When it gets tough, you can’t pull out. You have to double down. This is what gets your message heard” Millar’s commitment partly comes from her roots in the historic Black communities of Lake Loon and Cherry Brook and spending her formative years in North End Halifax where she received support from the community. It is only natural that she is ready to give that support back. “Courage Communications continues to take on new projects that will help expand its network Canada-wide and internationally,” states Millar confidently. “While growth is inevitable, our values will always stay the same: helping individuals, organizations and businesses connect purposefully with their audience and represent themselves with authenticity.”
By Georgina Mbamalu Photography contributed
Nzingha Millar, Courage Communications
By Feleshia Chandler Photography contributed
Gaynete Jones, G.A.M.E. Changing Industries
GAYNETE JONES G.A.M.E. CHANGING INDUSTRIES Tenacity for the Books
Born and raised on the 21-square mile island of Bermuda, Gaynete Jones, had what she refers to as “a pretty good” childhood. While other young islanders took to swimming and frolicking on the sandy beaches, Jones found joy in books: particularly those meant to inspire or provide self-help advice. She had always been a tenacious go-getter, but her tenacity became fully realized after an event in 2005 that would change her life forever. While living in Maracaibo, Venezuela, where she was an exchange student, Jones and her host family were held hostage at gunpoint. The men ordered the family to follow instructions, or they would be shot dead. As they proceeded to pat everyone down, for the then 18-year-old Jones, it was as if time froze. She remembers thinking to herself, “What if I don’t survive?” However, her fear quickly turned into determination and she started to think, “I will make it. I have to.” Eventually, the men declared that they would be leaving and warned the family not to move for 20 minutes or call for help, and just like that, they disappeared with the family car, passports, money and computers. Shell shocked and barely able to comprehend what had just happened, Jones knew one thing for sure. “God wasn’t done with me yet.” She also discovered she could handle stress well and that even though fear was paralyzing, it could be controlled. These realizations catapulted her forward into a state of goal chasing. Jones became a teen mom, but even this did not stop her from chasing her goals. She pursued post-secondary education in finance and got a job at a bank. Although she was making a steady income at this time, she also knew she didn’t want to work hard for someone else to reap the benefits. “I realized I’d be trying to climb the corporate ladder to appease others instead of doing what it was that I loved,” she says. In 2015, she was faced with yet another reality check after both her parents became ill. “My parents’ illness reminded me that life was so fragile,” says Jones. “I needed to make an impact. I wanted to wake up every day doing something I loved.” With that in mind and while still working at the bank, she developed a side business offering masterclasses and coaching in business. “I was working full time while running the business. The start was a disaster,” says Jones. It’s been a little over a year since Jones left her bank job. She stresses that sometimes, to do what you love, you have first to do what you don’t love because that may be the only way to earn the money you need to venture into your true passion. While still working at the bank, she wrote her first book, Lucky Code and finished it in under three months. The book, which features self-help advice, went on to become a bestseller, helping her launch more projects. “A lot of times, people think you have to be the best or the smartest or the richest person before you can succeed, but honestly, it’s the person who doesn’t give up that becomes the richest,” she states. Fast forward to now: Jones is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, founder of G.A.M.E Changing Industries, and creator of Cubicle Ditch Academy. She runs masterclasses, a YouTube channel and hosts a podcast. The Podcast, Freedom Slayer, is one of her most recent endeavors. It is focussed on business and features guests like Dana Corey, an international speaker and business strategist, as well as Ranay Orton, who made one million in Amazon sales in one year. When it comes to starting or maintaining your own business, Jones says, “Ensure that you invest in yourself. Understand that you are unique, your audience is unique and you shouldn’t try to sell to everybody.” Gaynete Jones has come a long way and her advice to other entrepreneurs is to “never give up,” because tenacity and perseverance is what makes a truly successful entrepreneur—and she’s living proof.
