Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Kinnie.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Robin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story starts in the back of my mother’s red Ford Tempo in Detroit. Growing up, I listened to Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg on the radio every day. She hosted a radio show and was much more than a radio host. She was a community advocate. She was a beacon of light and made history on the airwaves. What made her so important is that she also owned the radio station – something that was unheard of at the time. She was a Black woman who was well-respected and part of my foundation. I was such a fan that I continued to listen to her shows all through college, even after she passed away.
I started a career in the nonprofit industry but remained a loyal talk radio listener. But something was missing. I couldn’t find programming led by and in support of women. Instead of complaining about it, I created and hosted the Motor City Woman Radio Show, which highlighted local women who were making a difference in their communities. However, after a few months, I realized that my voice wasn’t the only one that needed to be heard. There was (still) a gap in the market for radio shows hosted by women. So, I worked with my partner Michael Kinnie to launch a radio station that would provide a platform for women to launch their own shows with us providing marketing and technical support. Five years later, we have expanded to include other service areas such as audio engineering, podcast production, audiobooks and voiceovers.
Has it been a smooth road?
There’s no such thing as a smooth road in entrepreneurship! However, the challenges have only guided me and taught me the lessons I needed at that time. I believe, to be an entrepreneur, you need to embody a certain mix of fearlessness and faith. So, even though the challenges come, you must have faith and look for the lesson in the struggle. As a mother and an entrepreneur, my unique struggles started early on. I was expecting my third child when we launched Motor City Woman Studios. I still have a picture of me working in the studio with my newborn. I had to take care of myself and couldn’t afford to be “team no sleep.” The challenges came from trying to build the company while being a parent.
There were times when I wanted to attend certain networking events but, I couldn’t due to being committed to my children. I made a rule that I would not be out of the house for more than two evenings per week. That was important to me. Because I had children, I had to be creative in marketing the business without “hitting the pavement.” I was strategic on building collaborations and utilizing my community who shared our services. One of the lessons learned from one of my mentors is to cultivate relationships before you need them. There is nothing worse than reaching out to a stranger. You can avoid many struggles just by anticipating what those struggles will be and learning from others.
Please tell us about Motor City Woman Studios.
Motor City Woman Studios is a multi-media production company that specializes in creating media that matters for a global audience. We are audio experts and produce podcasts, audiobooks and voiceovers. Recently, we added Livestream production to our services. We are known for amplifying the voices of women with workshops, collaborations and outreach to women-centered organizations. In addition, we lead the Detroit Chapter of Soundgirls, a national nonprofit geared towards increasing the number of women in audio engineering. We want to change the face of audio in front of the mic and behind the camera. We are excited about our second location opening in Detroit, Audio Engineers of Detroit. We are adding a teaching component with a full curriculum for anyone interested in learning audio engineering. Our goal is to create a pipeline of talent for the audio industry.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Being from Detroit, our city has everything needed for someone looking to start a business. We have a wealth of resources, financing options and organizations. Although there are a lot of resources, I believe it may be overwhelming for a new entrepreneur. You may not know where to start. My advice has always been to start where you are. Use what you have. You may have an awesome network. If so, let everyone know about your business. If you don’t have a network yet, it is best to start by building your community. Research upcoming networking events or workshops for aspiring entrepreneurs. Everyone has to start somewhere.
Contact Info:
- Website: motorcitywoman.com
- Email: hello@motorcitywoman.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/motorcitywoman
- Facebook: facebook.com/motorcitywoman
- Twitter: twitter.com/_motorcitywoman
Image Credit:
Emma Burcusel Photography
LXVE Media
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.
