Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amber Key. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Amber, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Discovering my purpose did not only come from passion and self-exploration, but a responsibility to make a difference in the lives of small businesses and entrepreneurs through storytelling.
I was raised in Pittsburgh, PA, a city known for it’s strong worth ethic and grit. Since I was a young girl I was surrounded by business owners; individuals carving their own paths and taking risks. I was raised in household that instilled that to build a life you love, you have to go out and make it happen. For me, that meant building a business.
At the age of fourteen, and from the urging of my high school entrepreneur class teacher, I entered a district-wide competition to receive mentorship and funding for my first business, “Birdhouse Greeting Cards”. I placed third in the competition and the following year was selected by a national organization, NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship) as their 2009 Youth Emerging Leader. What I loved most about running a business was the innovation, impact, the control of how much money I could make, and the stories behind the reasons for going into business in the first place.
The path to finding my purpose was intertwined with my love for storytelling and fascination with businesses. I discovered storytelling is the heartbeat of business, and through recognizing the power of narratives in building trust and setting businesses apart, my ‘aha’ moment struck – to create A Bright Idea podcast, a show where I sit down with entrepreneurs to discuss the aha moments that launched their businesses. Through this platform, I not only share the inspiring stories of entrepreneurs but also empower them to grow and scale their businesses and motivate others to live a life of freedom and choice.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I began my career on the business side of the media industry. While receiving an undergraduate degree in journalism, I was fascinated with how media companies acquire revenue. With six years of media sales experience selling television, social, and digital advertising, I have an extensive background in growing an audience, business development, budgets, and forecasting. While understanding the business side of media is important, my love for storytelling never wavered. I believe that storytelling is the power of business. Storytelling is a necessary tool for entrepreneurs and business owners to separate themselves from their competitors and to build trust with their customers. I decided that to separate myself from a saturated media market, I needed to go back to school. I enrolled in American University’s School of Communication and earned my master’s degree in journalism and digital storytelling. While in school I discovered my ‘aha’ moment; to start a podcast to share stories of entrepreneurs to bring awareness, grow their businesses, and encourage others to follow their dreams.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back on my journey as a podcast host about entrepreneurship, I would say the three qualities I found were most impactful in my journey are risk-taking, networking, and building a team.
Risk-taking: The first time I thought about starting a podcast, I was met with nay-sayers. From “the market is saturated” or “it takes too long to make money in podcasting” the list goes on. Starting a podcast anyway built my confidence in ways that go beyond the show itself. The skills, valuable experiences, and personal growth I’ve developed from sharing my guests’ stories every week reminds me of my why and helps me to remember that no one knows my vision and where I see this show going but me.
Cold-calling: I spent six years of my early career in sales. It was through these years that I learned the art of cold-calling and closing a deal. What started off as an excruciating task to call, email, or show up on the step of strangers’ front doors became an art and something that I am really good at. I use these techniques to reach out to guests who inspire me to share their stories on the show. What you hear is the final product. What people don’t see are the 5 emails I sent just to get the interview. For me, it’s never a no. It’s just a not right now.
Building a team: One of the greatest lessons of entrepreneurship is the importance of building a team. So many times, businesses don’t reach their fullest potential because business owners are doing everything on their own. Letting go of the reigns and hiring people to do the tasks that I do not enjoy has been one of the best decisions I’ve made while running this show.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I started A Bright Idea podcast with the intent to amplify the voices of entrepreneurs, especially entrepreneurs of color. We are actively looking for entrepreneurs as guests to come onto the show and share their stories. We are also looking for partnerships, whether that is advertising your business or product or providing resources to help entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses. Lastly, we are looking for experts in the fields of finance, marketing, research, and venture capitals to join the show to share insights and expertise.
Contact Info:
- Website: abrightidea.show
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abrightideapodcast/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberkey/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@abrightideapodcast
Image Credits
Photo by: Anthony McCray
