Conversations with Renee Royal

Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Royal

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I immigrated from Jamaica with my mother when I was 3 years old. It was a very challenging and tough time for us as we navigated leaving our lives behind and starting a new life in a new country. My mother and grandmother raised me. They are such strong and bold women and raised me to be the same. They championed education and with their love and support, I was able to get into the University of Georgia and excelled there. After graduation, I began my career as a broadcast journalist at the ABC affiliate in Charleston, South Carolina, covering crime, inspirational stories, elections and everything in between. When that career no longer fed my soul, I decided to leave Charleston and head back home to Atlanta, GA to figure out my next steps. I stumbled upon a producer opening at the former JWT agency and applied. My boss saw something in me and that changed my life forever.
I worked my way up the ranks of production, learning everything I could along the way and finding which parts of production really spoke to me. In 2022, after I had my second daughter, I got the opportunity of a lifetime; Chemistry wanted me to be the Head of Production for their production arm, Test Tube Productions. I was hesitant at first because I had two young daughters and wanted to be able to the mother they deserved but also give this new role my all. I accepted the position and began building Test Tube into what it is today.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No road is ever smooth; I’ve dealt with many challenges along the way. It has been difficult for me to grow up in a time when society told girls and women that we could be anything we wanted to be but the glass ceiling was ever-present. I would excel in my positions and try to move up in companies only to be told that I still wasn’t good enough. This would get me down at first but then I realized that I was in charge of my future, not anyone else. If one place wouldn’t acknowledge my skill, passion and worth, I would find someplace that did.
My current challenge is being a single mom to my daughters while working in a high-pressure career. There are a lot of late nights and early mornings, sleepless nights, multi-tasking and stress but I keep pushing through. In the end, it is very important for me to show my girls that they are capable, strong and can do anything they put their minds to. I want them to see their mother as someone who loved them unconditionally while still pursuing her dreams and passions.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an agency producer by trade. I’m the person who sees the creatives’ vision and helps bring it to life by finding the right production partners and seeing the project through from pre-production through final delivery. I’ve worked on brands such as the United States Marine Corps, AT&T, Verizon, Beyond Meat, NBA and FEMA to name a few.
I recently produced a spot for our CG client (an insurance client based out of the Caribbean) that celebrated the love of Cricket for the Cricket World Cup. We filmed child cricketeers in the Barbados and cut that together with archival footage of cricket greats like Sir Curtly Ambrose. We got Jamaican former cricket player Michael Holding to do the voice-over. It was a dream come true and an immense honor to be able to do what I love in the Caribbean. As a Jamaican, it felt like I came full circle; bringing my skills and passions to my region to make something beautiful that celebrates a sport that’s famous there.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
My number one goal in my new position as President of Test Tube Productions is to open the door for other women of color to get into this business and thrive. Advertising has traditionally been a white male dominated field, oftentimes making it difficult for Black women to enter, feel seen, appreciated and want to stay.
I would love to start some sort of training program for women of color to help get them into the doors of advertising agencies and production companies. This business is tough but it is rewarding and can be life changing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://reneewilliamsroyal.com