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

Hi Rae, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Honestly, that’s such a hard question because so many of my projects have meant something different to me at different stages of my life.
My very first published book, Black Geisha, will always be special because it was proof that I could do this and that my voice mattered. Then there’s my film We’re Not Married?, now streaming on Tubi, which pushed me into a new creative space and stretched me visually and emotionally. My children’s book, You Are a Star was written as a poem story to empower black and brown children, which it does and I’m very proud of the impact that it has had in elementary schools across the country. And my latest novel, Hot Tea and Mercy, shows a different level of maturity in my storytelling. Each project reflects growth, not just in my craft, but in my confidence and resilience as an author and producer.
But the most meaningful project right now? It’s actually my upcoming book signing at R.D. Talley Bookstore inside the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace.
For context, there has historically been a very visible black-and-white divide on the Las Vegas Strip. So the idea that I, a Trinidadian, Cherokee, American Black girl from Brooklyn will be signing a book with diverse characters at the first Black-owned bookstore on the Las Vegas Strip… that’s powerful. That’s culture shifting. The moment feels bigger than me.
On a personal and professional level, this event is also a catalyst. It’s not just about selling books, it’s about building momentum. The energy and fundraising from this event will help move my next vision forward: adapting Hot Tea and Mercy into a film. I’m even toying with the title We’re Not Married, Too — not a sequel, but definitely a creative nod to the first film, which people can stream for free on Tubi right now.
So while every project has shaped me, this one feels like alignment with the mission of Rae Lashea, Inc. — culture, creativity, commerce, and community all meeting at the same table.
And the expansion doesn’t stop there.
I recently partnered with Urban Soul TV on Roku to offer distribution opportunities to filmmakers with completed films. That’s a major step, not just for me personally, but for what Rae Lashea, Inc. is building. We’re no longer just creating content; we’re creating pathways.
As a filmmaker, I understand how difficult it can be to get meaningful distribution once your project is complete. This partnership allows me to help bridge that gap for other creators. It’s about ownership. It’s about access. It’s about making sure powerful stories don’t sit on hard drives but instead reach the audiences they are intended for; being another very meaningful and aligned project that represents impact, expansion, and creating opportunities not just for myself, but for the culture.

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 am a media consultant, author, producer, and distributor who has built my creative career around one core belief: stories have power — and stories become powerful once they’re positioned correctly.
Writing wasn’t just a creative expression for me, it was strategy. It taught me how to structure narrative, build audiences, and understand how stories move people. That foundation naturally expanded into film, and this is how I entered the media industry.
Under the tutelage of Tom Nelson, I co-wrote and produced We’re Not Married?, now streaming on Tubi, proving that my storytelling could translate from page to screen. Producing the film opened my eyes to the full ecosystem of media, including development, budgeting, branding, marketing, and distribution.
That’s how Rae Lashea, Inc. evolved. Today, it’s a media consulting and production company that offers book development and publishing strategy, script development and production consulting, film production services, brand storytelling and media positioning, and distribution opportunities through Apple TV, Amazon, and the Urban Soul TV channel on Roku.
I work with authors, filmmakers, and creative entrepreneurs who often have powerful ideas but lack structure, access, or strategy. The problems RL Inc solves are very real, and include moving an idea from conception to execution, scaling impact, creating a cohesive narrative strategy, and securing distribution.
What sets me apart is my experience. I don’t know everything, but I’m not just consulting from theory. I’ve done every stage myself. I’ve written the books. I’ve produced the films. I’ve navigated streaming platforms. And now I’m building distribution pipelines.
I also bring a culturally intentional lens to my work. As a Trinidadian, Cherokee, Black American woman from Brooklyn, New York, creating stories about multicultural characters and layered identities, isn’t a fad for me. Representation, inclusion, and cultural awareness are embedded in my storytelling DNA. That perspective also shapes how I help clients position their projects in an increasingly global and diverse marketplace.
Rae Lashea Inc. is thoughtful, strategic, and culturally intelligent. At our core, we are about empowerment through media. We help creators move from passion to platform and from platform to profitability, without losing authenticity. My goal isn’t just to create stories, but to build sustainable ecosystems, incorporating both arts and economics, around them.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I don’t get the chance to read the way I used to, but there are three books I read nearly twenty years ago that still anchor my entrepreneurial philosophy today.
One is How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Another is Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy. And the third is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.
Those three works shaped how I move in business.
How to Win Friends & Influence People taught me the power of genuine connection and how to build authentic relationships in any room I walk into. In media, consulting, and production, relationships are currency. Access, collaboration, and funding often come down to trust. Learning how to communicate with emotional intelligence and integrity has made all the difference in navigating boardrooms, creative spaces, and distribution meetings.
Eat That Frog! instilled discipline. It reinforced the idea that you tackle the hardest, most important task first without procrastination, no excuses. Entrepreneurship demands execution. You can have vision all day, but if you don’t complete the tasks, nothing moves. That mindset of finishing what I start, whether the task is big or small, has been pivotal to running Rae Lashea, Inc.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People helped me think structurally about success. It emphasized personal responsibility, long-term vision, and operating from principle rather than impulse. It taught me that effectiveness and efficiency are intentional and aligned.
Ultimately, all three books reinforced a truth I live by: time is the only currency that is finite and fleeting. What one does in a single moment can determine the trajectory of a lifetime. To be highly effective is to be highly disciplined, relationally intelligent, and strategic. That is what creates sustainable success, in both business and in life.

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

Right now, the goal driving my mission is collaboration at a higher level — working with dynamic writers and directors to create films that leave real cultural and social impact.
There are brilliant independent artists I already admire and would love to build with — creatives like Louvenia Thomas and Lanesha Mickles of Elaborate Minds Entertainment, as well as Miguel Angel Duran, Joshua James Jones, and of course Tom Nelson again. And those are just the talented independent artists I currently know. There are many more I look forward to meeting and creating with over time.
It would truly be a dream come true to study under visionary storytellers like Issa Rae, Quinta Brunson, and Sarah Jessica Parker — women who have mastered both creativity and ownership. I also envision producing alongside powerhouse creators like Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Tina Fey and Chelsea Handler, who understand how to blend culture, business, and audience appeal at scale.
Another major vision of mine is adapting books by Colin Kaepernick into films — bringing socially conscious, youth-centered narratives to the screen in ways that spark dialogue and empowerment. I’d also love to work locally with Jordan Peele and Nicolas Cage on the new wave of vertical storytelling formats, tapping into innovative ways audiences are consuming content.
There is so much richness in storytelling across the United States — layered, multicultural, intergenerational stories that deserve thoughtful adaptation and wide distribution. I want to dive deeper into that richness, elevate it, and connect it to global audiences.
Ultimately, I see Rae Lashea, Inc. expanding internationally — producing and distributing worldwide, building a globally recognized brand rooted in cultural intelligence and authentic storytelling. I want to become a worldwide name associated with meaningful narratives, strategic production, and diverse, captivating stories that resonate across borders.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.raelashea.com
• Instagram: @raelashea
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raelashea
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raelashea
• Twitter: https://x.com/rachelblaze
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raelashea7

Image Credits

Gabriella DiPiazza, Sean Holifield, Nelson Miller, Roderick D. Talley