Meet Kara Elyse Henderson

We were lucky to catch up with Kara Elyse Henderson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kara Elyse, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

As such, you are used to it and that allows you to rise above and focus on your gifts.

While being the only one in the room can sometimes feel isolating, at this point, it’s what I’m accustomed to and not something I try to allocate much energy to. I’ve come to view these situations as four-fold opportunities. They allow me to challenge stereotypes, bring unique perspectives, foster diversity and pave the way for future talents to also go beyond the status quo.

First, it’s a chance to shatter stereotypes and show those who might not expect to see a Black or Brown woman in a space that their preconceived notions of who is or should be welcome are no longer valid. This is an opportunity for them to question their perspectives and for me to inspire change.

Second, these situations remind me of the value my unique perspective brings. My lived experience and ideas, which directly inform my entrepreneurial and creative pursuits in Mindful Media and beyond, often set me apart in Austin and this industry. While my ideas may not always align with the mainstream, they resonate with a global majority. I recognize that I can play a significant role in making their voices heard.

Third, my team and I are skilled; our work speaks for itself. It’s been rewarding to see clients, upon receiving their final deliverables, express surprise at the quality of the output. This recognition of our value and ability to exceed expectations is a testament to our confidence in producing great work and reassures us of our capabilities.

Fourth, every situation, victory and challenge are part of one’s overall story. If I endure this so that some future talent doesn’t have to, I’m okay with that.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am the founder and creative director of Mindful Media, a boutique creative agency that prides itself on delivering dynamic and impactful storytelling of the highest quality. We create commercial quality content rooted in authenticity and intention that is true to the essence of a client’s mission and champions diverse perspectives. Our core capabilities are videography, photography and production, ensuring that we can assist with every aspect of the content creation process—from ideation to execution.

We help cultivate and craft digital content with an impact that visually stands out. Our approach to storytelling combines skill and creativity with diverse perspectives.

Mindful Media recently expanded its operations to Austin and Pittsburgh. While Austin is a well-known hub, so much innovation is happening in Pittsburgh, from tech and medicine to urban farming, education, arts, and culture, making it an equally promising location. National recognition of creators like Pittsburgh-born Pulitzer-prize-winning playwright August Wilson and photographer Teenie Harris signals that the city is ripe with opportunities across industries, so it makes me proud to now celebrate and champion my midwestern roots through Mindful Media and storytelling.

I consider myself a multihyphenate because, in addition to being an entrepreneur, I am an American recording artist, performer, and actress who is published as a model, photographer, and journalist. Each pursuit allows for different paths for storytelling, which is exciting and ensures there’s always something new to try.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Passion, curiosity and competition. You must love what you do because every day won’t be easy. Maintaining curiosity can ensure you remain up to date on the latest technology and tools and ahead of the curve for yourself and clients. Additionally, change is always occurring, so being curious versus stagnant will likely lead to different ways to connect with others and effectively tell stories and maintaining the drive (or passion) to do so. you want to be a source of inspiration. I support competition with myself. At the end of it all, I can only say and reflect on what I did, and I want to strive to understand how I can be better.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

The following are the kinds of clients I’d label as ideal.

Disruptors who remain open to trying new things, including telling stories of or granting storytelling opportunities to those historically overlooked, prioritize storytelling to improve and further connect the world, cultures and people.

Those who don’t question our rates upon seeing and buying into our capabilities and output quality.

Those who want to use storytelling to ensure a better world is left for future generations.

Those who want to tell compelling narratives and leave a legacy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wearemindfulmedia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkaraelyse/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wearemindfulmedia

Image Credits

Mindful Media