We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Crystal McDowell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Crystal thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I haven’t quit my full-time job yet, because I love it. I work for One Voice, something like a sister organization to NAACP. Of course, the Mississippi NAACP is one of the most, if not the most, historically significant of them all. Since it leaves behind the legacy of Medger Evers. I’m the Communications Manager for One Voice. I help to spread information about voting rights, education, and policy changes. You name it. We fight for the marginalized. However, my business, Marketing Maven Management, was created to help companies and organizations promote their information while ensuring we include people of color to get the point across.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve been working in the marketing and communication world for 20 years. During that time, I’ve worked as a reporter, marketing director of a mall, been a campaign manager for more than 20 programs at the Mississippi Department of Health (during the beginning COVID years), and a marketing manager at an engineering firm. I learned a lot in every single position, but what I learned the most is that many conversations about marginalized communities and people of color happen in rooms without people of color. They are often left out of the look and feel of the advertising. Marketing Maven Management (MMM), is a firm dedicated to making sure people of color are in the conversation and representation of topics that include them, whether it be travel or politics.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The goal is to teach the world that people of color should be a part of EVERYTHING. Our culture’s soul and coolness shouldn’t be used only as a “minority take” on a situation. A person of color should be included in every conversation. There is no culture where all people are the same, with the same views, thoughts, and feelings. I also complement the mission by traveling around the country and abroad with my husband, family, friends, and alone, to show that the world is ours. We do not have to be boxed into any of the social norms and limitations placed on us by outsiders who don’t truly know us.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I was younger, I was always told when you discover good opportunities to keep them for yourself, because other people will start applying, and you might be giving your slot to someone else. I’ve learned that whatever God has for me, no one can take it away. If I miss out on something, it’s because it wasn’t in my plan, not because it was taken from me by someone else. I always imagined I’d be in the position a long time ago, but the truth is, everything I learned and every connection I made, especially in those job positions that I didn’t really care for or fell out of love with, taught me everything I needed to know to get to where I am now. My path is my path. No regrets.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @respectfullyso