We recently connected with Chinua Joi Ivey and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Chinua Joi, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?
Some answers to this question seem apparent, such as being knowledgeable about the subject matter or practicing. However, the focus of effective communication should be on more than just the sender but also the receiver. I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I love the way that it connects us, but the spread of hate and bullying by trolls is disturbing. We lose the importance of diverse thought when people are attacked for having a difference in opinion or lived experience. We also lose the significance of debate, which should not be a harmful process. As there are two sides to every coin, we must understand that messages will come from people with varied backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and beliefs. When I was in foster care, I realized that my voice had weight and that effective communication is a two-way process. People are always speaking, but if their voices are marginalized, then their technique is not the issue. We become effective communicators when we dare to share insightful stories. The most poignant messages may not be eloquent and well-strategized, but the stories that expand understanding and highlight how we are linked are those that add value to the world in which we live.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As a former foster child in Washington, DC, I hold a unique perspective that has sparked my passion for advocacy, social responsibility, and storytelling. I am the founder and president of Ivey Media Agency, a public relations consultancy in Metro Atlanta. We recently launched our publishing imprint, Radiance Press. I am also a communications studies instructor at Bethune-Cookman University and . When I left corporate America to pursue entrepreneurship and teaching, I aspired to interact more with students and clients, making a difference closer to home. In addition, I speak on topics about relationship violence awareness and penned the IRIS (Incredible Resilience and Inner Strength) Book series.
My husband and I have a beautiful, blended family. Our adult children are now out of the house, and we are enjoying this phase of life, focusing on wellness, travel, and more restful moments that have no agenda whatsoever. We have so much to be thankful for!
I am excited about upcoming opportunities to amplify the voices of the underserved through various campaigns and communication projects with my company, including special projects for youth preparing for college, workshops, and a new digital publication to empower single mothers!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Courage, persistence, and focus are attributes that have impacted my life. Every day, courage helps me to take necessary steps of faith, even when I don’t see where it will lead. Courage reminds me that I have the grace to try and make mistakes as needed to reach my goal. Without it, I would be frozen and unable to pivot when seasons change. Persistence and focus are necessary even when I am prepared and everything is planned and organized; I’ve learned to stay alert because change will happen, and it can be within or out of my control. Persistence is about being relentless, but I have to be focused, or I can easily be distracted. Together, courage, persistence, and focus help me to live according to my values and reach my goals.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
I seek to work with visionaries. People with vision set time aside to dream big and consider what’s happening today and where they want to be in three, five, or ten years. A vision is a roadmap. With it, it is easier to identify milestones and the differences between a speed bump and a stop sign. In my communication roles as consultant and instructor, I am motivated and inspired by vision – it is truly what propels life forward!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iveymediaagency.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iveymediaagency/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinuajoiivey/
Image Credits
Kreed Celisse Photography
