Nefari Nzinga Steele
Where I Started.
I grew up on the South East Side of Chicago, where the glistening blue lake and majestic skyline contrasted harshly against my neighborhood full of boarded up businesses, suffocating clouds of pollution, and crumbling concrete.
From that concrete, I blossomed alongside my three sisters. Though our immediate environment may have looked limited, my family made sure to remind us that life’s possibilities were endless. I began to find the beauty and joy in everything.
The noisy “bucketboys” on the corner became the comforting soundtrack on the ride home, the empty overgrown lots were fertile ground for a local garden, grafitti that lined the sides of buildings were words of affirmation, and the beautiful brown people lined along the streets were the palette that painted the canvas of my community.
Where I’ve Been.
At home, books, movies, music transported me to a world of my own. Media is where I saw people that looked and sounded like me shine and thrive. My curiosity surged from there, I wondered how these productions came together and wanted to make one of my own.
That curiosity led me to my illustrious HBCU Virginia State University. There, I was instilled with an even deeper sense of pride in the beauty and rich depths of my culture. I was surrounded by peers and professors who challenged me, celebrated me, and illuminated pathways that I had not even known were available to me. Upon graduation, I had decided to pursue a career in advertising, a pathway that fell at the intersection of all of my interests.
Where I’m Going.
Those experiences have shaped my future aspiration to continue to drive diversity, inclusivity, and equity within the creator marketplace. Through my work, I wish to do the following for my clients and beyond:
Expand reach and build credibility amongst minority communities
Champion pay equity, and help close the gap amongst diverse talent
Build long-term creator relationships
Create culture, not hijack it. Develop content that is authentic to brand and its audiences vs chasing trends