Website: EyeconicTelevision.com

DEFENDER: How has growing up in Houston shaped your career?

JA’LEAH DAVIS: Houston is major because of what it has ofered [me]. I started in the media industry in the 8th grade. I went to Dulles [High School] in the Sugar Land area, and it was the programs that were ofered by the education system. Tat’s what helped me get my start, because of their media program. I was able to start young. Most schools these days don’t have those programs. My second language is sign language because the school ofered those programs. So, the diversity of these diferent things created who I am today. I’m grateful for the city I live in.

DEFENDER: You got into the business as a television host and were living the dream, but did you feel something was missing?

DAVIS: Coming out of college, I was scared. I was nervous. But thank God for Houston, because there are so many people like me you can really touch who are in those major areas. We have your A-list, B-list, [and] C-list celebrities, and the natives in Houston are so friendly. I was able to connect with [people] at a Matthew Knowles event. I [met] with [representatives] at a local [Black-owned] television station. It was local channel 43. I was able to work with them, and it was my frst job out of college. I created a platform on their station where I was interviewing celebrities and people around Houston. Houston has that friendly cultural vibe where

God. I lef Tanksgiving 2017. I had just fn ished interviewing Cardi B… I thought I was going to move to L.A and be a host somewhere. It was never a plan to have a television station. I ended up at a networking event and was [con versing] with these two Caucasian men talking about a television station for sale. I asked them about it, and they gave me the information, thinking I wouldn’t do anything with it. I went to check it out and found out it was only seven minutes away from me. Come to fnd out that a station [representative] was trying to hire me fresh out of the col lege as a manager. [He] saw what I was doing with the other station and thought I would do great. I was 25 at the time. I had no money to fund a station, but I was ofered half of. Tis man didn’t owe me any thing. It was a blessing. I probably had $2,000 in my account. I made a short list of 10 people I felt knew me or did some business within Houston. I was asking people for funds, and [in return] I would pay them back. I did a business plan and asked for feed back. Tey asked me how much it was, wrote me a check, and didn’t ask for anything in return. They

How be a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree impacted her business and life. DN ONLINE became my angel donors. I always tell my [sponsors] and my parents I will take care of them as soon as my millions hit.

DEFENDER: Owning a TV station isn’t an easy thing to do. What was the process like?

DAVIS: Te station is on 24 going to happen. Unfortunately, my first studio was broken into [Fall 2021], and I lost over $30,000 worth of equipment. To pick up the pieces and start over messed with me mentally, but I knew I had to keep going because people depended on me. I still had rent to pay, and no business came in for three months [at the time]. On GoFundMe, I raised $2,000. I moved into a new studio last July. I worked with Rick and Edward Davis of EBD Contracting, who helped me build a new studio. What could have cost me thousands of dollars, they