Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rochelle Mann. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Rochelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Throughout High School & College, I always had a natural knack for business administration and creativity. Add in a dose of being a techie and not having any brothers, being able to navigate through media and technology was second nature. I grew up classically trained in piano and the hand coordination from that led me to also be a drummer. Ok, there goes the musical element. So by the time I was in college, I was experiencing a kaleidoscope of everything that I loved – concerts, trips, establishing new organizations, mentoring younger students, working in the computer lab, YOU NAME IT! By the time I graduated college, I had a job lined up where the Detroit Pistons played in hopes of working up the ladder. The day that I moved out from my apartment at Oakland University, I stepped awkwardly and as I would find out 3 days before my first day of work, my foot was broken. I was crushed because I had been released from the job because I had to be able to walk and stand on my feet.

Immediately, I had a voice to remind me that I had a lot of time and potential to grow in the areas that I had previously volunteered myself to do. I had a class in college that was for creative design and one for web design. I thoroughly enjoyed them. So, I will never forget it. My first “paid” design was a flyer for a new author announcing her new book. The foot injury immobilized me, but the opportunity fueled me. It went from designing the flyers to becoming a consultant for businesses, artists and religious entities in areas of creativity, branding, media, administration, and even strategy. I’m best known for now coming in to any entity, hearing the vision, and curating an entire experience through visual design strategy and production. I do what I do to change how you may see the world through creative design and systemic excellence.

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?

With close to 20 years of professional experience, I’m a seasoned creative director. I have expertise in creative strategy, integrated marketing, conceptual development, interaction and interface design, user experience, social media, branding and creative leadership.

After graduating from University of Phoenix with my Masters Degree in Information Systems as the youngest graduate in 2005, I’ve proven to be a go-getter, and I’m certain that the best is yet to come.

I’m a natural-born a connector, a strategic thinker, and a creative director with a varied perspective and skills in the following areas:

CREATIVE DIRECTION:
• Proven success delivering award-winning, user-focused creative solutions that fulfill strategic business objectives for top national brands

• Refined leadership skills directing all phases of creative development—from concept through production—across various media channels, formats, platforms, products and devices

• Clear track record of continual creative improvement, actively contributing to a culture of innovation, excellence and accountability

• Exceptional presentation skills and communication abilities at all levels of both internal and client organizations

MANAGEMENT:
• Mentoring, managing and inspiring large teams of diverse personalities in deadline-driven environments

• Establishing employee career development programming

• Leading cross-functional team collaboration

• Impacting agency process to improve efficiency and creative output

• Prioritizing work and resources across engagements based on short- and long-term needs

• Growing new business

My Career Highlights include:
• Project Manager & Branding Consultant for Amazon Pharmacy marketing campaign
• Project Manager & Branding Consultant for NFL / EASports Madden ‘21 HBCU Tournament
• Social Media Lead Consultant for Givelify (worldwide leader in mobile giving platforms for non-profits)
• Branding Consultant for Church of God in Christ, Inc. Top Digital event of 2020 (30,000+ online viewers)
• Creative Director for Super Bowl Gospel Celebration (#1 Gospel/Religious TV Show for 5 consecutive years with more than 3 million viewers each year; as seen on BET)
• Creative Director & Branding Consultant for Non-Profit organization that serves more than 50 Michigan churches (Fastest growing religious organization)
• Branding Consultant for a number of Professional Athletes
• Branding Consultant for multiple citywide economic development corporations
• Branding Consultant for Michigan’s Top Real Estate Agency
• Creative Consultant for the Global Women’s Basketball Association & Director for the GWBA’s Flint Monarchs (8-Time Champions)
• Branding Consultant for a number of WNBA players
• Consultant for The Word Network (the Largest African-American Religious Network)
• Creative Director & Co-Producer for All Star Gospel Celebration (part of NBA All Star Weekend)
• Consultant for Saginaw Valley State University & Fort Valley State University
• Marketing Consultant for TV Shows on ABC Family, TVOne & BET
• Creative Director for The Players Choir most recently seen on America’s Got Talent’s Semifinals

Have you ever had to pivot?

The pandemic was pivotal to most (if not all) of the creatives who operated and thrived off of in-person productions. Most of the television shows and events that I had slated for that year were shutting down. I came off the road from All Star Gospel Celebration to a full state shutdown implemented by our governor. No one was calling for flyers. And unfortunately, many people did not know how they were going to pivot into this streaming media space.

Thankfully, I was already familiar and was able to not only assist organizations into this space, but also instruct. I did not leave my home for weeks! But from sun up to sun down, my schedule was booked with individuals needing to learn the software, terminology, and even the preparation needed to navigate into the space.

I built my own “control room” and was able to virtually produce streaming shows, podcasts, and even church services from the comfort of my own home. Now, two years later, I design, and implement virtual strategies to give that same excellence to the hybrid community.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In the space that I’m in, I’m a double + triple minority! Women that are of a minority descent are a minority in creative spaces, production, and business. I remember receiving a phone call from a peer that needed some rebranding done for a celebrity client. Because of the nature of the celebrity’s brand, he thought that only a male designer would be able to understand the need. My friend (I will call him Randy), decided to act as the middle man of all communications so that I could keep my gender a secret. I worked hard to make sure that I executed the project correctly so that Randy could later reveal my identity. A few weeks later, the project was complete and the celebrity was making an appearance at the show near my hometown. I attended and was welcomed into the VIP area. The celebrity was told I was a woman, and he didn’t believe it until he met me that day. The smile on his face and the exchange that we shared was worth the push to prove him wrong, but in a classy way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rochellevmann.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/rochellevmann
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/rochellevmann
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mmpinc
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/rochellevmann
• Other: www.mannmadeproductions.net

Image Credits
Mann Made Productions
Jazzella McKeel