Meet Portia Mazone

We recently connected with Portia Mazone, MASS, J.M., and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Portia, I am so excited to discuss all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some, that’s being the only person of color, the only non-native English speaker, the only non-MBA, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have succeeded even when you were the only one in the room who looked like you?

Being the only African American in the room, layered with being the only female, can present challenges. Still, it can also be an opportunity for growth and success. As a Black woman in the entertainment and legal fields, I have had to learn how to cultivate safe spaces in a predominantly white-male ecosystem. I had to be confident in my skills and what I brought to the table. I found that self-assuredness made others around me more comfortable with my presence. It has always been important to me to be in diverse settings because understanding and respecting cultural differences is vital.

Additionally, instead of trying to blend in, I embrace what makes me unique: my melanin, textured hair, and African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is what makes me beautiful. My experiences surrounding being a Black woman have given me superhuman powers. Being born in the 80s to a teenage mother in South Minneapolis gives me a different perspective, which has allowed me to be an asset in problem-solving and decision-making in the boardrooms and/or courtrooms. I have mastered being assertive without being aggressive, which is an important skill. Facing challenges is part of the journey called life. I have stayed resilient despite adversity, learned from setbacks, and kept moving forward. Being successful and confident in my unique identity has helped me pave the way for other young Black and brown women who may face similar challenges. Being the only one in the room who looks like me has given me a powerful advantage. My diverse perspective has led to innovative solutions and fresh ideas that my often-white male counterparts have not considered. I encourage all to use their uniqueness and use it as a strength to excel.

 

Thanks, so before we move on, could you share more about yourself?

I am a member of the National Association of Record Industry Professionals (NARIP), the Recording Academy (Grammys), and ASCAP as a songwriter and ASCAP/BMI as a publisher. I graduated from Florida A&M University (FAMU) with a B.S. in Journalism and a Masters in Applied Social Science. In addition, I have earned a certificate in Music Recording from FAMU and a certificate in Music Essentials from New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Additionally, I have earned my Juris Masters in Intellectual Property Law from Emory University School of Law. I currently attend Thurgood Marshall School of Law and will obtain my Juris Doctorate in 2026.

I founded Econtii Music Group (formally known as Econtii Entertainment) in 2009 to give entertainment professionals resource tools to navigate throughout the entertainment industry.

In 2015, I co-founded the non-profit Sports, Music, and Entertainment Summit (SMES), a one-day summit featuring panels, workshops, and a networking mixer that provides education and networking opportunities for students and professionals interested in breaking into the entertainment field.

In 2018, I became the Music Supervisor for Season 2 of the Emmy award-winning show “GIANTS.” GIANTS is a coming-of-adulthood drama series that chronicles the journey of three friends, each battling their own inner giants as they approach the age of 30. Praised for authentically capturing the Black millennial experience, GIANTS has accumulated over 3 million views on Issa Rae’s (HBO’s Insecure) YouTube channel. Additionally, the show has been picked up on major networks, such as Cleo TV, a new Comcast network from TV One, and BET+, on all streaming platforms.

In 2019, I was nominated for Best Soundtrack at the Indie Series Awards for my work in GIANTS. Additionally, I was the Music Supervisor for the short digital series “Unapologetically Black,” which has received rave reviews in the indie film community.

My clients range from music producers, actors, executives, and small businesses to major brands. I offer a plethora of knowledge and insight on entertainment, public relations, and intellectual property law.

In 2023, I joined Forbes’ newest community “ForbesBLK.” The mission of ForbesBLK is to champion a community of Black entrepreneurs, professionals, leaders, and creators who are driving systematic change in business, culture, and society.

I continue to grow my client’s brands, offer entertainment consulting services, and travel worldwide. I speak at various colleges and universities on the topic: From Civil Rights to Racial Justice: Understanding African American Social Justice Movements and the Role of Black Entertainers.

 

Looking back, what were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks early in their journey regarding how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three qualities or skills that were most impactful in my journey are still qualities and skills that I pride myself on today. Resilience, self-awareness, and continuous learning shaped me into the driven, dedicated, thriving woman I am now. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and keep moving despite challenges. This was critical for my journey as obstacles and failures are a natural part of life. Self-awareness allowed me to reflect on my strengths and weaknesses, ultimately understanding where I needed to improve. Continuous learning stays impacting my journey, and lifelong learning has been essential for my personal and professional growth. The world is constantly evolving, and staying informed and adaptable is vital. I embrace the journey I am on, am committed to improvement, and celebrate my successes along the way.

 

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was expose me to the world around me. As a child, my parents would take me to different countries, exposing me to other cultures, food, and languages. Traveling allowed me to learn about history, geography, and social dynamics by experiencing them firsthand. Traveling afforded me experiential learning that was more profound than traditional classroom education. In addition, traveling allowed me to see the world through a different lens. As a parent myself, I continue the traditions of traveling that my parents passed down to me by introducing my children to a global citizen lifestyle.

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