Today we’d like to introduce you to Nia Symone.
Hi Nia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a former division 1 basketball player from Decatur, Georgia. Basketball has been my entire life since I was four. Being an athlete sparked my drive and hustle tremendously, I was never the player that filled up the stat sheet every night, but I was always the best defender and hustle player throughout my athletic career. So I applied it to my everyday life and my professional career.
Since I was a sophomore in college, I’ve always known I wanted a career in sports broadcasting. By the time I arrived at college, I knew I would study communications and work my way to achieving my dreams of working in sports media one day. Anyway, I was a model student-athlete for three years straight, I did everything I was supposed to do on and off the court, things were going great. Then, life hit me hard, just before my senior year of college I was challenged BIG TIME. For the first time in my life, I was no longer an athlete. That was probably one of the hardest moments of my life. Immediately, I knew I had to figure some things out since basketball was no longer in my life physically. I would find myself asking what was my purpose in my life? Who am I beyond basketball? To mask my pain with losing the sport that was once my life, I covered it up with work and more work. I was determined to make my new life as best as I could. From there, I interned at a local news station down in Montgomery, Alabama working with the sports department until I graduated from Alabama State University. Post-graduation, I went on to intern at 11Alive News in Atlanta working alongside their sports department.
It was like everything in my career was coming together quickly. If you were on the outside looking in you would’ve thought I had it all together, but on the inside I was falling apart. The quick progress I made in my young career was the only thing that kept me sane. Fall 2019 while still interning at 11Alive, I landed two new opportunities at NBATV and CNN Sport as a freelance editor and then I was challenged again… COVID-19 hit. Due to sports being shutdown, I was furloughed from both of my freelance opportunities. From there, I had to sit and figure out how I can stay creative without sports going on. I’m grateful for that time because it gave me some time to focus on what I truly wanted to do and that was building a production company. Two years later, I’m building a platform strictly for athletes, “Purpose To Be Heard” and hosting Nike’s first-ever digital show, “Come Thru”. I’m thankful for that moment of stillness, I don’t think I would be where I am today without that time. The rest is history.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. The transition from being an athlete to an entrepreneur and creator was not easy while navigating through a global pandemic. Throughout these 2 1/2 years, I’ve found my voice and purpose in life. My identity was so wrapped in being an athlete that I didn’t see all of the amazing things I could do beyond sports. Now, I’ve turned my pain into purpose by helping those who may be dealing with similar obstacles and issues I faced. Shout out to God, my family, my amazing therapist, and my community for being the light throughout the darkness.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Currently, I am a TV host, digital creator, entrepreneur, and advocate for athletes. I am the host of Nike’s first-ever digital show, Come Thru, where I sit down with game-changing Black women talking about all things business, fashion, identity, music, and everything else under the sun. Being the host of Come Thru has been a true blessing. This experience and this opportunity have been life-changing, to know that I’m an example of representation to so many Black and brown girls, and it truly means so much to me. When I’m not on set for Come Thru, I’ve been building my digital platform and safe-space for athletes, “Purpose To Be Heard”. In 2020 when the pandemic hit, I had time to focus and pour into what I truly wanted to do: write, direct, and produce sports documentaries. I saw the gap and lack of resources athletes like myself didn’t or don’t have access to — meaning, a safe space and community many of us thrive on. Whether you’re a former, current, or youth athlete or even a coach and anyone in the sports world, this platform is for you. At “Purpose To Be Heard”, we want to change the narrative of the way society views athletes. Production is my life and brings me so much joy.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Bet on yourself. There were so many times throughout my career I was overlooked, rejected, or put down because my goals were “too big.” Sometimes all you have is yourself and your dream to get you to where you want to go. There will be so many roadblocks and detours before you can get to where you genuinely want to go, and along the journey, new ideas, new opportunities, and new outlooks on life will come about. Don’t put a timeline on your life and your successes. Just live, learn, grow, and continue to believe in yourself and your dream. You’re going to get a million no’s before you get that one yes. Don’t let fear stop you from being all that you can be!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@ptbh.net
- Website: www.ptbh.net
- Instagram: @NiaOnAir / @PurposeToBeHeard
- Twitter: @NiaOnAir / @PTBHProductions
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6MvO0BAbf4&list=PLNqKTn4CuEXdQ-2XY3LL6BEv8IWWgVRZc
Image Credits
Come Thru Photos (On set photos for Nike) Photo credits: Ryder Brooks “Purpose To Be Heard” photos (me in yellow) Photo credits: Ari Skin Hibbett Sports photo (me jumping in the air in orange) Photo Credits: Tayla Reese Photography
