Today we’d like to introduce you to Cierra Chuly Boyd.
Cierra Chuly, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have a genuine passion for telling stories, learning from others and communicating information in new and impactful ways that bring value to diverse audiences and help transform communities. Starting my career in journalism and then navigating into corporate communications has allowed me to foster these passions, which developed for me at an early age.
I began writing poetry and storytelling at age six, winning a regional biblical storytelling contest that same year and a local contest among all elementary grade students – for best original story – the following year. Growing up, teachers often described me as bright, bold, purposeful… and wait for it, talkative. I was never too shy to introduce myself, ask questions (and I asked a lot of them) and of course, tell stories (and I had a lot of those as well). My mother and teachers appropriately saw fit to put me in advance classes, in hopes the work would be more challenging; therefore, promoting me to do less talking. My mother also helped me create and find opportunities to get more involved in our church and community, so I could learn early how to give back while cultivating my talents. I began volunteering at reading and writing camps, helping students from middle school to my grade learn to read at their appropriate reading level and improve their writing. I also seized an opportunity as a teen to work for The Kansas City Star, having my first of two articles published in the Missouri and Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper at age 16.
After graduating from St. Teresa’s Academy as the senior class president and editor of our school newspaper, I then went off to the top school for Journalism. There, I earned both a Bachelor of Journalism degree and a Bachelor degree in Spanish. I loved communicating so much I found it fascinating and took pride in learning how to build and articulate messages in more than one language. While attending the University of Missouri, I was an Afterschool Program Coordinator for Centro Latino where I helped first-generation students receive the help they needed in reading and writing that they weren’t able to receive at home from their Spanish-speaking parents. I also began my career as a reporter for the NBC-affiliate in Columbia, MO and immediately after graduating, I gained a career-changing experience to work a stint as a Communications Specialist in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This opportunity exposed me to corporate communications, and since then I haven’t looked back.
Translating my skills of writing, working in a high pressured-fast pace environment, and articulating my thoughts and research into messages that further the mission and strategic goals of a business was smoother to me than I expected. These skills, along with keeping up with communications trends and creating new avenues for sharing messages, allowed me to develop a career that included supporting Fortune 200 companies, non-profits and municipalities in an authentic way by age 30. After serving as the Executive Director of Strategic Communications at the largest healthcare system in Georgia for about two years, I took a leap of faith and started Obioha Communications, Incorporated. Now, at age 32 and as the Executive Director and Communications Consultant for Obioha Communications, I can extend my services and interests to not only offer executive and C-suite level communications support but also develop communications plans and build communication strategies for non-profits. In almost one year of business, I’ve been able to service big clients like Fulton County Schools and serve as a Board Member for The Scholarship Academy to help build, further and improve their reach within and beyond their communities. The journey may be tough, but it is certainly invigorating and rewarding. Being able to both follow my passion and use my talent to not only advance an organization but also, and more importantly, help impact and transform communities has been a priority for me since the beginning – and I’m not nearly finished.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Whew, chile! No, it has not been a smooth road! Hehe… the road has never been easy, but to quote Mary Mary: “I don’t believe [God] has brought me this far to leave me.”
I have faced many struggles. I have been terminated, leaving me to derail my path as a professional storyteller (as I often call myself) and grocery shop at church food pantries to eat. I’ve been told “no” many times and I have had opportunities blocked by someone who told me they would champion for me. I have also had my ideas and work stolen by my manager, all while this supervisor was working to smear my brand in the department – in retaliation after I had met with human resources about the toxic direction I was under. Today, I value each experience because they strengthened parts of me that make me who I am and have provided the opportunities for me that I have today. For this, I would tell young women who are just starting their journey the following:
1. Do not allow setbacks to set you back spiritually and mentally. If you have a strong desire to be in a position you are not currently in, bring that position in the environment or season you’re in. Additionally, pull from the skills your actual position will develop you to have. When I was terminated, I felt like my entire life was crumbling. However, because of my faith, I knew I couldn’t stay in that place for too long (I also knew rent would be due soon). Thankfully, I was able to quickly begin a role in retail as a Sales Co-Manager. My basic responsibilities included opening and closing the store and selling merchandise. However, because I desired to be a Communications Manager for that brand, I began to learn the product in-and-out and I created communications and marketing plans (when no one asked) that generated more sales. I also picked up leadership skills from this role. I learned how to hire, coach and develop, and sometimes respectfully terminate employees. I was later promoted to the role I had desired and later, when I managed my first communications team successfully, I knew I was pulling from skills I had developed from the retail position I took to pay my rent.
2. Do not allow the fears or opinions of others alter how you see yourself or stunt your own growth. I had a poor mentor who was an advocate for my success until it came too close to her level of success. This person was a champion for me as long as it was convenient and stepped in front of an opportunity I was being considered for- for what I assumed was due to fear or feeling threatened in that market. But I quickly learned that what is for me WILL BE for me, so no one can ever truly block or get in the way of what I desire. I also learned that while this person was envious instead of joyous at the leaps I was taking in my career, not everyone will understand my dreams or be comfortable with my success and that’s okay. It’s vital to not let anyone stop you from taking leaps. Continue striving and thriving no matter what others try to project on you and cut them out when necessary to protect your calling.
3. Pick a mentor not based on their title or career but based on their heart and their genuine passion to cultivate a relationship with you and teach you. Looking back at the poor mentor I highlighted in my second point, I realize that entangling with this person was a result of my misguided and superficial reasons for electing this individual as my mentor in the first place.
4. You are never too [fill in the blank] to do what you are called to do. I always strive to be bold, even when things scare me or the small voice, I have worked hard to quiet, tells me I can’t or shouldn’t do something because I’m too young, underqualified, Black, or blah, blah, blah. Go for it anyway and put your best foot forward. The worst that could happen is not that you will fail, but that you will look back in regret that you didn’t take that leap of faith.
What should we know about Obioha Communications? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a professional storyteller that serves as an Executive Director and Communications Consultant for Obioha Communications, Inc. Obioha Communications is a communications company that offers executive and C-suite level communications support, as well as crisis communications, change management and internal and external communications support – to help organizations and/or municipalities build, further and/or improve their communications strategy, processes and brand.
This is an organization of one employee, myself, and through my corporation, I offer a wide range of services, including but not limited to; speech writing, copyediting, strategic communications assessments and solutions, and the development and management of both project and crisis communications plans.
At Obioha Communications, we are “taking on the big things so [leaders and/or business owners] can focus on the even bigger things.”
As a brand, I am proud of the consulting, crisis communications reformation, communications tools and brand ambassadors I developed at Fulton County Schools as their Interim-Chief Communications Officer during a very public and controversial transition of their superintendent. However, while pleased at the impact made during my stint at one of the largest school districts in Georgia, I am most proud of the volunteer work I do as a brand and through my organization. Recently, I received an email from a student I had met through volunteering with The Scholarship Academy (TSA). With immense gratitude, he shared that through our weekly visits to help him and his colleagues at BEST Academy write their stories to acquire college scholarships, he received two impactful scholarships that would put him on a path to graduate from a four-year school with little to no debt as possible. I can honestly say that using my skills and time to help first-generation college students see a future that includes pursuing higher education without going into debt has been most rewarding – beyond what a CCO title can offer.
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
Figuratively, I believe as women we are particularly well-positioned for any opportunity we relentlessly and unapologetically go out for. Literally, I believe we are particularly well-positioned for any opportunity we create. It’s not by coincidence that we are far more likely to begin a business before our male counterparts. We are no longer waiting to lean in for a seat at the table, we built the table.
Contact Info:
- Website: linkedin.com/company/obiohacommunicationsinc
- Phone: 816-885-2244
- Email: obiohacommunications@gmail.com
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
