Today we’d like to introduce you to Georgia McClintock.
Hi Georgia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a small-town girl with big dreams. I’ve always loved music and knew I had a big personality. In high school, my reading teacher, Ms. Caulder, asked me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” At the time, I honestly didn’t know. That day, I went home and kept thinking about her question. I was sitting in my mom’s living room when I looked over at the radio. I remembered how dedicated I was every Friday and Saturday night listening to the night mixes and recording them on cassette tapes. That’s the moment I knew I wanted to be in radio.
From my senior year of high school through my second year of technical college, I interned at 107.3 JAMZ and HOT 98.1 in Greenville, SC. I spent countless hours at the stations and helped with community events. I always knew I wanted to work in promotions and eventually become an on-air personality. My only regret is not learning more about radio sales because it’s important to understand every part of the industry.
My story is even more meaningful now because my husband and I recently welcomed our first son, “LJ,” our miracle baby. We are grateful to God for him. LJ will one day inherit the business if he chooses to, but I’m committed to supporting whatever dreams he has. Whether he goes into media or not, I want him to discover his own gifts and his own path.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road to owning my business and building my brand has not been smooth. I received an inheritance that helped me fund a portion of my businesses, and I was excited to finally apply for my federal trademark. But I had no idea what I was doing and no one in my family had ever filed a trademark before.
After filing, a multi-billion-dollar organization opposed my trademark. I ended up fighting for my brand for nine long months of harsh negotiations. That challenge ultimately led to the name “Sophya D.” I lost a lot of money on my first trademark attempt, but in 2018, I re-filed with an incredible trademark attorney, Matthew Howell. He educated me step-by-step throughout the process. Today, it feels amazing to truly own my brand.
Those challenges helped shape my development. After receiving my federal trademark, I established my SC LLC and became an Associate Member of the South Carolina Broadcasters Association (SCBA). I knew blessings would continue to flow from a situation that once felt like a setback.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Sophya D Network, LLC is a multimedia business specializing in photography, videography, and social media content creation. Sophya D Radio, LLC is a platform dedicated to interviewing small business owners, helping them promote their brands, and giving music artists a space to highlight album releases and live recordings.
I am most proud of the number of artists and business owners we’ve interviewed over the last twelve years—so many of them are thriving today. Our businesses, including my husband’s company, TS Creations, stand out because people know us as the husband-and-wife dynamic duo. My husband is an amazing photographer and videographer, and without TS Creations, there would be no Sophya D Radio Show because he captures every interview.
My dream concert to photograph includes J. Cole, Darius Rucker, Erykah Badu, and Madonna. My dream interview guests are André 3000, Chaka Khan, Rod Woodson, and David Steward.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I absolutely believe in mentorship. Mentors have one job to call you out, hold you accountable, and provide constructive criticism. A mentor is not your friend; they are someone who helps you grow. My mentors have helped elevate my business and my professionalism. They help me strategize through challenges and celebrate with me in both the good seasons and the difficult ones.
Networking is just as important as mentorship. In addition to being a businesswoman, I’m also the Career Counselor at the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, SC. On November 19th, I had the opportunity to hear John Hope Bryant speak. If you don’t know who he is, I highly encourage you to research him and follow him on all platforms.
My pastor always taught me that you have to sow seed into what you’re believing for next. I’ve followed John Hope Bryant for about three years, so I wrote him a handwritten thank-you card and donated $25 to Operation Hope. That $25 was a stretch, because I’m still on maternity leave, but I will not share how that small seed turned into something I never expected. That experience reminded me why it’s so important to connect with the right people.
Networking with the right people can open doors and place you at tables you can’t access on your own.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.sophyadnetwork.com/
- Instagram: @sophyadnetwork
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SophyaDNetwork
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sophyad/
- Twitter: @sophyadnetwork
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/sophyad9
- Threads: @sophyadnetwork
