Today we’d like to introduce you to Rae Holliday.
Hi Rae, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My digital entrepreneur journey started in Brooklyn, New York (my birthplace), when I co-created a blog called Stuff Fly People Like. The year was 2008, and it was during the birth of what is now known as “The Blog Era.” At the time, I was fresh out of college, employed at a Fortune 500 company, and yearning for something more than a 9-5. My business partner and I decided to embark on a digital world we knew nothing about; with passion, we felt from the heart, and things really took off. After years of grinding, moving, and shaking, we inked a deal with iOne Digital (2014) under the Urban One umbrella as studio partners. After four years of hard work, iOne Digital brought me on board as their Manager of Talent & Influencer Relations. And here we are.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wish I could say the road was smooth, but that would be extremely false. Early on, we had to tackle an abundance of obstacles based off of the newness of blogging and the lack of respect traditional forms of media had for it. So, we had to earn our place in it, and we did just that. Our blog was responsible for breaking and introducing the talents/careers of some of today’s biggest stars, including Janelle Monae, Estelle, John Legend H.E.R. Of course, navigating this new lane off of passion and low funds proved to be the most difficult, as I found myself almost homeless – with a dream and a MetroCard. But my faith in God and the support of my friends and family really kept me afloat, and it was all worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a cultural commentator and digital media entrepreneur specializing in talent and influencer relations. I’m currently on the books as a Manager of Talent Relations for iOne Digital. Besides being the co-creator and Editor of Stuff Fly People, I also served as a Fashion Editor, Editor-At-Large, Special Projects Producer & Host for 10+ years. My passion for interviewing blossomed during this time, having interviewed the likes of La La Anthony, Angela Bassett, Morgan Freeman, Gerard Butler, Morris Chestnut, Kevin Hart, and so much more.
My background in interviews (alongside the many relationships I’ve curated) landed me into my current specialty, booking all the talent interviews and activations for all the iOne Digital brands: Hello Beautiful, Bossip, Global Grind, Madame Noire, Cassius Life, News One, Hip Hop Wired and Elev8. I also work closely with our sales team in influencer marketing, booking talent, and influencers for brand campaigns across the country. I’m so proud of this work because my decisions place creators of color in leading roles with major brands of color (Walmart, TJ Maxx, Target, Amazon, etc.).
Over the last few years, I’ve curated over 100 workshops for aspiring individuals who wish to break into media and helped over 1000+ brands with my Pop-Up shop activations geared to highlighting unserviced brands looking to gain more exposure.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
None of this would be possible without my faith in God. I also would not be here without the support and hard work of Gabriel Williams, the co-creator of Stuff Fly People Like, who started out on this journey with me 16 years ago. The blog shut its doors permanently about three years ago. I’ve been mentored by the best of the best, including Bevy Smith, Kierna Mayo, and June Ambrose. I’m forever grateful that they are all one call away. Their guidance has led me through some pivotal career moments, and I will always sing the praises and advocate for mentorship. My best friend for 10+ years, Panama J Smith, has literally been there for all of my highlights thus far. His support has kept me sane. And his listening ear has kept me from jumping off a few ledges. I have two spirits who are no longer here but played a major role in my infrastructure in support of everything I’ve ever done career-wise: my late Grandmother, Queen Holliday, and my late best friend, Harlem Harris.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.raeholliday.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raeholliday/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaeshawnHolliday
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rholliday/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaeHolliday
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC404An31QqN4bPFqEnwJMHw
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@raeholliday
Image Credits
Bernard Smalls
