We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ny’Ea Reynolds a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ny’Ea, so excited to talk about 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 or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I tend to enter a lot of rooms where I’m the only woman/woman of color/woman of color who “fill in the blank”. I’ve almost grown used to showing up in spaces where I’m the odd one out. But I’m always reminded that I got into those rooms in the first place because of my skillset and my professionalism. I use my differences to my advantage by creating space for new perspectives to be heard. I invite a certain level of challenge and uniqueness into every room I set foot in and this fosters a healthy balance for creativity to thrive.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a multi-faceted creative in the Film and Theatre industries. I grew up in the Metro Detroit area and fell in love with the arts early on. By the age of twelve, I’d already written, produced, directed and acted in my first stage play at my church. In high school I studied theatre professionally at Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. I later attended Central Michigan University to study Broadcast Cinematic Arts and Theatre, and earned my Bachelor’s Degree in 2019. My services include directing/creative directing (for stage, commercial/film, and photography), acting (commercial, film, & voiceover) as well as writing (stage & screen). Additionally, I offer personalized voiceover coaching sessions for those looking to break into the VO industry! The one thing I want people to know about my work is that I provide excellence and dedication in all that I do, because it isn’t simply just about myself. My career is a way to create space and room for other amazing artists to emerge and grow as well. Check out my website under the “Services” tab, if you’re interested in taking VO coaching sessions with me: nyeareynolds.com
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?
-Realize that everyone won’t like you, and that’s ok -Remain professional, even in a room full of chaos (it happens sometimes)
-No matter how naturally gifted you are, continue to study your craft (we’re always students)
My advice for those who are beginning their journey is to not focus on other people’s journeys. Can you be inspired by them? Sure you can. But never equate your value based on the timeline of someone else who you may or may not know anything about. Everyone has a specific path and it’s not always meant to be replicated.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
I deal with anxiety so as of lately, I’ve been ensuring that I eat healthier, go the therapy at least once a month, journal my thoughts/record voice memos, read my Bible and go to the gym consistently. Although anxiousness can feel sudden, it’s a major result of underlying issues that I haven’t fully addressed. My advice is to be proactive rather than reactive: If you implement calming strategies into your daily routine, when you do get overwhelmed, you’ll know how to respond better. I’m set on creating a lifestyle of healthy habits, not just for when things get stressful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nyeareynolds.com/
- Instagram: @nyea.lynnae
- Linkedin: Ny’Ea Reynolds
