Exploring Life & Business with Courteney Sykes of The Pink Press Collective

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courteney Sykes.

Hi Courteney, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Ever since I was younger, I’ve always been drawn to creativity, storytelling, and the way communication can bring people together. That passion eventually led me to study Public Relations at Clark Atlanta University, where I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media Arts, and now continue my journey as a graduate student at Florida State University pursuing my Master of Science in Strategic Communication.

But honestly, a lot of my story started outside of the classroom.

While navigating school, internships, networking, and post grad conversations, I started realizing there was a huge gap between what PR students were taught and what the industry actually looked like in real time. So many students and young professionals, including myself, were trying to figure things out as we went. There were questions about networking, breaking into the industry, personal branding, finding opportunities, and building confidence, but not enough spaces where those conversations felt honest, accessible, or relatable.

That realization is what inspired me to launch The Pink Press Collective in February 2026, on my 23rd birthday.

What started as just an idea quickly grew into a digital community focused on supporting PR students and young PR professionals through career resources, networking events, blog content, newsletters, conversations, and curated job boards. More than anything, I wanted to create the kind of space I wish I had when I was first trying to navigate this industry.

Building The Pink Press Collective has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey so far because it allowed me to combine everything I love into one space, storytelling, strategic communication, creativity, and community building. It has pushed me to grow not only as a creative, but also as a leader, entrepreneur, and connector.

A lot of what drives me is my desire to help people, especially young Black creatives and aspiring communications professionals like myself. Representation and access matter, and I truly believe that when people are given the right tools, guidance, and encouragement, it can completely change the trajectory of their careers.

At the center of everything I do is my personal motto: create. connect. inspire. Whether it is through storytelling, creating opportunities, or building community, my goal has always been to make an impact and help others feel seen, supported, and empowered while chasing their goals.

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?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. At the end of my freshman year at Clark Atlanta University, I lost my mom, and that moment shifted everything in my life. Trying to navigate college while carrying that kind of grief was overwhelming in ways I did not always have the words for. I struggled with anxiety, depression, and at times, I felt like I was losing myself mentally. Those are still things I am learning how to manage and move through today.

What made it even more challenging was everything I was balancing at the same time. I was working full time while being a full time student, managing demanding coursework and internship responsibilities, and still showing up as a leader in student organizations. On top of that, I was trying to maintain some sense of a social life and normalcy, even when internally I was dealing with a lot more than people could see. There were moments where it felt like I was constantly pouring from an empty cup, just trying to keep everything together and not fall behind in any area of my life.

Through all of that, I had to learn how to redefine what strength really looks like for me. I leaned on therapy, and I built a strong support system that helped me start processing everything I was carrying. Little by little, I began learning how to give myself grace instead of pressure, and how to ask for help instead of trying to handle everything alone.

As difficult as this journey has been, it has also shaped me in powerful ways. I have learned how resilient I am, even in seasons where I did not feel strong at all. I have also learned how to take pain and turn it into purpose. Instead of letting my experiences break me, I use them as fuel to keep going, to keep building, and to keep showing up for my goals.

Everything I have been through has made me more intentional about the spaces I create and the stories I tell. It is a big part of why I care so deeply about helping others, especially young Black students and professionals who are trying to figure it all out while carrying their own unseen battles.

As you know, we’re big fans of The Pink Press Collective. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Pink Press Collective is a digital community built to support and empower PR students and young public relations professionals as they navigate the transition from the classroom into the industry. It was created to bridge the gap between what is taught in academic spaces and what the real world of public relations actually looks like, especially in those early post grad and early career stages where a lot of people are figuring things out on their own.

At its core, The Pink Press Collective focuses on accessibility, transparency, and community. We provide resources that help emerging professionals feel more prepared and confident in their careers, including networking events, educational blog content, monthly newsletters, and curated job boards. The goal is to make industry knowledge and opportunities feel less out of reach and more like something people can actually step into with guidance and support.

What sets The Pink Press Collective apart is the honesty and relatability behind it. It was not created from a corporate perspective, but from lived experience as a young person trying to navigate the same challenges many others are facing right now. It speaks directly to the questions, uncertainties, and goals that come with trying to break into communications and build a sustainable career in PR.

One of the things I am most proud of is the sense of community that has started to grow around the platform. It has become a space where young professionals can learn, connect, and feel seen without the pressure of having everything figured out. It is not just about sharing opportunities, but also about creating conversations that make the industry feel more human and approachable.

What I want readers to know is that The Pink Press Collective is ultimately about creating access and encouragement. It is for the student trying to get their first internship, the recent graduate figuring out their next step, and the young professional learning as they go. It exists to remind people that they do not have to navigate this industry alone, and that their voice and path matter in the field of communications.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The quality I feel is most important to my success is resilience.

My journey has taught me that things will not always go the way I plan, and sometimes life will completely shift everything I thought I had figured out. Losing my mom during college, while still trying to balance being a full time student, working, leading in organizations, and managing internships, forced me to grow up quickly and learn how to keep going even when things feel overwhelming.

Resilience, for me, is not just about pushing through challenges. It is about learning how to pause when I need to, ask for help, and still choose to show up for myself and my goals. It is also about being able to take experiences that are painful or difficult and still find a way to turn them into purpose and motivation instead of letting them stop me.

I have learned how important it is to adapt, to give myself grace, and to understand that success is not a straight line. There are moments of progress, setbacks, growth, and rebuilding, and being able to stay grounded through all of that has shaped who I am.

Resilience has allowed me to keep going academically, build The Pink Press Collective, and continue pursuing opportunities in strategic communication even when life has been heavy. It is the quality that keeps me focused, driven, and committed to my long term goals, no matter what I am facing in the moment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thepinkpress.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepinkpresscollective/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-pink-press-collective/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/thepinkpresscollective