Today we’d like to introduce you to EJ King.
Hi EJ, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my career in entertainment. After graduating I began auditioning in NYC and started working right away as an actor/singer/dancer. I played a variety of roles before landing it big in Motown the Musical’s third Broadway tour. I worked with some of the greats and toured the country and Canada before deciding to pursue TV and film in Atlanta.
While auditioning and landing several roles in commercials and films, I started working for Coca-Cola. This was my bridge into corporate America and I used my experience to help build an entertainment team at their global attraction World of Coca-Cola. When COVID struck, I was in the middle of auditions for Tyler Perry’s second season of Sistas on BET. The entertainment industry seemed to die overnight and I was left to figure out what was next.
I was gifted academically and felt my talents and skills would translate well to marketing. So, I applied to the best school I could think of and was accepted to Johns Hopkins for a master’s in marketing. While in school, I transitioned to the automotive industry and worked for a dream company of mine, Porsche Cars North America. I loved it, but eventually, the economy required that I make another shift. Now, I represent Atlanta, producing content and managing a host of digital channels. I’ve almost completed my degree and plan to return to auditioning alongside my career soon.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all!
Entertainment was a tough field with a lot of rejection. For some, it’s even more difficult than it was for me.
I’ve constantly had to reposition myself during economic times of uncertainty. I feel that I’ve been divinely guided and my gifts have opened doors that I never would have planned for myself. The trickle-down effects of COVID still make my path uncertain, but that excites me and I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge. I am self-motivated to climb to the highest position I can in any given environment and I don’t know how to do it any differently.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
No matter which occupation I’ve had, I’ve always been a storyteller.
Whether portraying Michael Jackson, Sebastian the Crab, or working in a corporate high-rise building, my passion is telling captivating stories that inspire and encourage people. I specialize in digital marketing and strategy but I also can never lose touch with my singing, acting, and dancing roots. I think what I’m known for depends on which stage of life I was in.
Some would know me as an energetic and passionate performer; others would consider me a complete nerd who loves spiders and economics. There are those who would call me a gearhead, obsessed with cool cars, and others who would refer to me as a passionate, business-minded man dedicated to equity and healthy corporate culture. I think the throughline is passion. I chase things with my whole heart and intent.
I am most proud of the fact that I’m able to use what I’ve been given to pass it on to others. I enjoy helping people and feel that wisdom is the blessing I cherish the most. I thank God for my life and what I’ve been able to do. All credit to Him.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I’ve learned that perspective is the key to communication. How we view the world is painted in abstract brushstrokes that are colored by experience, culture, and genetics. You can say the same words in the same way and have them interpreted in infinite ways. People hear and see things differently.
My perpetual goal is to understand people better and meet them where they fall on the spectrum of humanity. I am learning, daily, to call out my privilege and biases while recognizing them in others. The goal is to be able to empathize with a human, with whom, I seem to have nothing in common.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ejkingjones.wixsite.com/website
- Instagram: Instagram.com/ej2king
- Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/in/Eric-l-JonesII/
