As a former radio personality, the industry taught me so much about career, life & balance. It remains the foundation for my current career as a multimedia entrepreneur, where I proudly serve as the voice of over 40 radio stations & brands nationally through my LLC, Vanessa James Media. I learned crucial leadership skills that I continue to evolve & utilize in business every day.
Doc Wynter at IHeartMedia gave me my first shot as a program & music director in 2004. Above learning how to program a radio station & win, he taught me the valuable lessons of the business side of the entertainment industry & why it’s so crucial to be malleable & open to new ways of doing things.
A few of my industry favorites remain Nina Chantele, Angie Martinez & DJ Nailz. I admire their delivery, style & effortlessness. Their abilities to connect with their listeners authentically was what I tried to emulate most during my years on-air. Speaking to millions while connecting to every listener is how you break through, win & stay winning.
Angie speaks to the biggest artists with such ease & that’s a gift. She continues to be a force in our industry & I’m positive that budding radio stars still look to her, among others, for inspiration. Now, as a voiceover artist, content creator & host, I’ve grown very comfortable with large crowds & celebrity interviews.
One of my proudest moments was covering the tragic earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Being able to speak to the community in real time & give updates on what was happening on the ground was powerful. Local Haitians in Miami frantically tried to get any word about their families. Our station, WMIB-FM, became a bridge for many to be able to voice concerns, raise awareness & funding for the millions affected in Haiti.
In 2008 I also had the honor of interviewing then Presidential candidate Barack Obama. The excitement was electric in the studio as we gathered around listening to who would be our future president. Then just a few weeks later, we watched as President Obama won & changed history forever. That experience remains one of the proudest of my radio career.
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