Meet Nikhaule Martin

 

We were lucky to catch up with Nikhaule Martin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nikhaule , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Discovering my purpose in life involved quite a bit of trial and error. Growing up, I loved to read and was deeply involved in my community through school, church, and the public library. For a long time, I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to pour into my community the way my community poured into me.
After high school, I went to college with the intention of becoming an OB/GYN, but I quickly realized that wasn’t my path. I considered majoring in sociology, psychology, business administration, and other fields. It wasn’t until a conversation with my college advisor that I considered Public Health. With their guidance and assistance, I applied to the Public Health program at my university and I was accepted. Although I felt closer to identifying my career path, I was still unsure about what I wanted to do. I volunteered with various organizations in Chicago, completed internships and mentorship programs, taught Community Health to high schoolers, and managed an HIV Case Management program. I genuinely enjoyed the work and the opportunity to connect with the communities I served.

Despite my love for the work, I struggled with the work environment. My colleague and I faced microaggressions and racism in the workplace, making it increasingly difficult to enjoy our jobs. This experience helped me understand the importance of working in an environment that poured into me. Reflecting on the questionable leadership I experienced, I promised myself that I would do things differently if given the chance.

This realization led me to entrepreneurship. Though I wasn’t sure what my business would look like, I knew I wanted to work with the community in a meaningful and fulfilling way. The journey was challenging, but it ultimately led me to build my company Pour Into It Media. Through my media production company and web series, I have created a platform to give voice to my community and highlight stories often overlooked by mainstream media.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

At the end of 2023, I created and released my first web series, Project (De)construction. This series focuses on folks’ spiritual and religious experiences. In the first season, I interviewed people from diverse backgrounds, ranging from Christians to atheists. This project was my first opportunity to connect with my community in a meaningful and intimate way. Volunteers shared stories about their upbringing, their journey with religion through their teenage years, and even into adulthood. It was an amazing experience. The first season garnered over 45,000 views, which was a significant milestone for me. It makes me proud just thinking about it.

I am currently in the process of recording and editing the second season of Project (De)construction, and I am incredibly excited because this season is bit different. As someone who essentially grew up in Chicago Public Libraries, I’m a huge bookworm. Before creating Pour Into It Media, I had a bookstagram that centered stories written by Black authors, with Octavia E. Butler being one of my favorites. This July, I launched the Octavia E. Butler season across all Pour Into It Media managed platforms. I’m doing a deep dive into the Parable of the Sower written by Octavia E. Butler. I’m sharing my reflections and interpretations of the novel, discussing how it resonates with me, and examining how it mirrors what’s going on in the world now. On Project (De)construction, we engage in conversations that align with the themes discussed in the book.

I did something similar a few years ago on my bookstagram page, but this is my first time doing it to this extent. It’s both nerve-wracking and incredibly exciting. The volunteers have been wonderful, their responses have been touching, and I look forward to releasing the final footage. With Butler being one of my favorite authors and Parable of the Sower being one of my favorite books, this project is my way of honoring her work and the profound impact this book has had on my life.

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?

The biggest challenge I had to tackle was building discipline. While motivation is important, it isn’t consistent. I had to focus on developing discipline, especially as an early entrepreneur. Navigating this new terrain can feel overwhelming, and it’s easy to give up. However, building something long-term demands a lot from you.

Another crucial skill that has helped me is adaptability and the ability to pivot when needed. Entrepreneurship often requires constant adjustments. Lastly, my public health background has been invaluable in my work. The skills I developed in public health allow me to connect better with people on Project (De)construction. I can effectively use those project management skills in my business and in the production of Project (De)construction.

Regardless of what people decide to do, I always encourage people to be patient with the journey and themselves. This process will stretch you in ways you might not have imagined. There will be moments of doubt and feelings of imposter syndrome, but through it all, you will be alright. Just keep pushing forward.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

Consistency in social media and marketing has been a challenge. I manage all my social media and marketing myself. While I have the skills, I’m still relatively new to this world and don’t always have the capacity to execute my vision as I would like. It’s been a journey of trial and error, figuring out what type of content is relevant and authentic to my business. The process of content creation is still new to me. I’m actively working to build the necessary skills and grow my media platforms. It’s challenging, especially as a solopreneur. I constantly remind myself to be patient and enjoy the journey. I know that I’ll get better over time, and I have an amazing support system. Good things take time, and I’m okay with that.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Volunteers on set for the recording of Project (De)construction. Images of the creator of Project (De)construction,

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