We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Unique Falcon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Unique, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Some of the most interesting parts of our journey emerge from areas where we believe something that most people in our industry do not – do you have something like that?
One thing I believe that most people in my industry don’t is that there is room at the table for everyone to accomplish their goals and explore their creativity. Everyone brings something very unique and different that no one else can do but YOU! Each creator has their own special sauce to bring to the table. Yes, while a lot of creators have some of the same ideas or “niche” there doesn’t always need to be a competitive atmosphere. When you stop seeing others as competition and instead start encouraging others to embrace their own uniqueness, it helps elevate an entire generation of voices. I believe that everyone has a voice and it’s all about what you say that makes your name in the space.
Is the market over-saturated? Yes, but the market hasn’t met YOU yet! Remember your words have so much power. While feeling comfortable in your skin is not always easy, when you put yourself out there, something incredible can happen. You never know who or what you can end up inspiring. Believe in yourself, be confident, and always remember that your only competition is the person looking back at you in the mirror. There’s always room at the table for you. And if there’s no room, make a table of your own! And make it pink! Be the person that brings people together. But I’ll talk about this a bit later.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Yes! My name is Unique E. Falcon. Also known as the DMV “IT” graphics girly. UEF MANAGEMENT is my graphics and media management brand based in the Baltimore/DC area. While the majority of what I do is media management and graphics, I am pleased to also say I have an extensive background in event planning, media coaching, interviewing, public speaking, and public relations.
I started in media management in college at Salisbury University’s very own student-run radio 96.3 WXSU Salisbury. I have a BA in Communication Arts with a specialty in Public Relations & Journalism and a Minor in Business and Marketing. I was involved in various clubs at SU and some of the events that I would plan or be involved in led me to create graphics. I got into captivating people’s attention through graphics and marketing to have them come to an event my club was hosting.
In marketing, you learn about how to capture an audience using different formats and platforms. And I’ve always been very intrigued by all the different avenues communication encompasses. I love everything in it, from public speaking to graphic design to singing and music. Captivating an audience is just something I’ve always been very good at and I needed a way to put all of my talents under one roof where I was the leader. Thus, UEF Management began in 2021.
Growing up in Baltimore my parents were both in ministry and my dad was a Pastor, so, my leadership abilities came very naturally at an early age just by watching them make bold decisions. It helps that I have always had a pretty bold and outgoing personality according to my family and friends. I’ve always enjoyed helping others see the bigger picture while also elevating the team or brand that I’m working alongside. Using each person’s individual skills while being motivating and encouraging, but also making hard decisions when needed are some of the things I think make a good leader. I’m also a person who analyzes many things at once and has a particular creative style when it comes to making a splash in this industry.
When I started in media management, I had no idea it would turn into a business for me. An old friend of mine asked me to be her manager, help her find some public speaking events, and do some graphics for her to help elevate her social media brand. Within 6-8 months, my graphics had been seen on media sites by approximately 500,000 people. I then started to meet others at events, as well as at my church who wanted to create websites, logos, and just overall branding for their small and large businesses. A lot of my current clients were impressed with the work that I had previously done, loved my creativity and strategic thinking and stated that was the reason they wanted to work with me. Because of this work, I also attracted a client who wanted to uplift and work with mostly women on her team because the graphic design industry can be mostly male-dominated and my eyes brought a different perspective. And that’s how UEF management was born.
What is one of the big problems that you help solve in this industry?
One of the big problems that I solve is helping people recognize their unique voices in order to find potential clients and maximize their brand. Media Management, Public Relations, and Graphic Design aren’t as easy as one may think.. A lot of it is consistency, creativity, and becoming more transparent on media platforms. Finding an identity in media with billions of people and brands on social media alone can be tough. However, that’s where I come in to assist. As a coach, my goal is to understand my client’s needs and then figure out a strategy for them to get before their ideal client; this is where the nerdy part of me comes in. Thankfully, I have a lot of background and schooling in this industry, so I understand how to get a client in front of their audience/client. I help them to see that special pop that they alone uniquely have to be able to keep up in an ever-changing media market.
What do you think sets you apart in this industry?
I think what sets me apart from others is that I think creatively of solutions to complex problems. I pair the science that I know along with my client’s particular personalities and goals. I pride myself in listening and understanding what my clients’ particular needs are and in what their audience wants to convey and find a happy medium.
I’m also extremely honest with my clients. I remind them that this takes time and you won’t go viral or obtain 1 million followers overnight. It takes consistency, the willingness to grow and openness to new ideas. But also the goal should always be making your presence known, having something to say and bringing something fresh to the table. Lastly, the biggest thing that sets me apart is, I’m not afraid to take chances and do something a little different to make an impact. My philosophy is that in order to make your clients stand out or get the world to see something different,you have to turn something completely on its head. When I’m doing my graphics, I like them to look pretty, yes but at the same time, I need them to look different, to make people think, for them to have an exuberant emotion and an overall great feeling. I am a great problem solver and it’s really important that you change people’s minds and perceptions in order to get the reaction that you want. You can’t always follow trends or make things super picture-perfect, if you do that you’ll continue to get the same results. That’s just me and that’s also why my clients love my work and how I view different situations in public relations.
What I’m most proud of so far regarding my business is having my graphics reach a half million views on Instagram. That was such a validating moment for me. But mentally, it’s having an early understanding that my biggest competition is the person in the mirror. I really do pride myself on being able to think about things differently than other entrepreneurs and creators. Everyone has a voice and I am proud that I’ve made my voice known so far in the DMV. I’ve only been doing this for a year now officially as UEF management. At 28 years old, I never thought I would own my own business. But I do! I am so thankful to have a creative mind, to be able to do what I love all while generating income. My next goal is to hopefully move into a public speaking career, possibly get back to radio, as well as concert and festival photography. The possibilities are endless and there’s no limit to creativity.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
One of the biggest things I tell people who are looking to grow on social media is to get a coach or another set of eyes on your media. People don’t often think about this when it comes to social media, but it could be a huge help. Let’s think about it this way, some of the best singers, athletes and comedians in the world have a coach who is there to refine their skills and make them better. A coach is someone who will point out your weaknesses to make you better. Coaches will help you with your strengths and ultimately make you a better overall, well-rounded version of yourself. I believe that in order to grow, we can’t do life alone or we risk being just ok or comfortable with subpar. Now, you don’t always have to take the advice of your coach, however it’s highly recommended to heed the weight of their professional advice and trust that they have your best interest at heart. Sometimes it’s hard for us to see our blindspots unless we have someone else spotting for us. A coach can help guide you into a niche, find your voice or relay a particular message out to your targeted audience and is also a great springboard for sounding off ideas! Have a plan and be consistent with the plan. Consistency is key and again it’s not going to happen overnight. Lastly, one thing I want people to remember is always be nice to others, be willing to hear their stories, and share in creative conversations. That is the biggest piece of advice I could give anyone.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Most definitely, there are stories I could share for hours from my personal life and how I became the person and now business owner that I am by the grace of God. However, I think the biggest lesson that I’ve had to learn in regard to UEF Management is that you can’t work with everyone, unfortunately. This industry can be very cutthroat and not everyone has your best interests at heart. You have to have a strong backbone, know who you are, and know that YOU are good at what you do. A story that really illustrates my resiliency is actually losing one of my first big clients in my first few months of being a Media Manager. I was devastated. After losing this client and my friendship with that person, I questioned if this was what I really wanted to do, if I were good enough, and if I was even good enough to have my own business in the first place. We worked together for about nine months and towards the end, we just weren’t clicking anymore. My suggestions weren’t really helping her and she didn’t really want to listen to them. In the end, we just had different ideas. We were both trying to grow and understand our crafts. What made me resilient in that situation is 1. Remembering who I am, that sometimes people part ways just because they think differently. It doesn’t mean that I’m a bad manager, that I can’t be a business owner or that I don’t have a good business or work ethic. For me, it means that I learn what I did wrong in this situation and make my weak spots stronger. And it simply means that people are different and that is ok. 2. I had to remember that I’m still going to get more clients. I am also a woman of faith. I’m a firm believer in the simple fact that God’s already put my name in rooms that I haven’t even walked into YET. And also that my work will speak for itself because I’m very talented. But, I needed to be confident, humble and never stop learning. It’s crazy because soon after losing that one client, two more popped up and then after that more businesses and clubs wanted me to work with them. Clients will come, just be confident in yourself and believe in God’s promises.
A few years ago I was in church when my Pastor was talking about living a faith life instead of a safe life and ever since that moment I’ve been uncomfortable being comfortable. That message propelled me these last few years to take a chance on myself because I don’t want to just live a safe life. I want to live a life worth pursuing, pushing boundaries, and making changes in and around the DMV. 3. I had to remember that I BRING THE TABLE! Oftentimes in an interview people will ask you, “what do you bring to the table?” And the truth is I can’t bring more than some of the other creators that I follow or see on social media, TikTok, or YouTube. However, my response is that I bring the table! Me, Unique Falcon, I’ll literally bring the table. I’m the person who likes to bring two creators together that could appear that they wouldn’t work well together. But they do just because I brought them to the table and gave them the idea of – hey let’s try this out and I think both of your followers could benefit. Or maybe it’s a marketing tool or graphic that isn’t really used anymore and flip it on its head and change some colors around and recreate it. I’d like to bring everything to the table: the people, the snacks, the conversation, and the ideas. To be the think tank for generating ideas and events and captivating moments that people can remember for the rest of their lives. I am that person to bring to any table and make people communicate without creative limits and I’m extremely proud of that.
The foundation of my resilience is also having a strong family background. My mom is one of the most resilient people that you will ever meet, so was my Nana, and my great-grandmother. Not to mention I also have three sisters who expect nothing less of me. I know nothing but resilience! My mom once told me I can be upset for a night but I CAN’T STAY THERE! I’m thankful to have a mindset of you can and will always bounce back. You can always try harder. You can always change the strategy, you just have to want it and want to work for it. I also grew up knowing that I was different. I’m thankful that my mom instilled in me that it was OK to be different. The Bible talks about being set apart. I’ve always had this mindset as a person and as a woman of God so how I do things will always be different and set apart. Walk in knowing you bring the table, be confident in yourself and your abilities, and embrace your inner Unique “IT Girl” You got this!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://uefmanagement.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: @uniquexfalcon @uefmanagement
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/unique-falcon-2b7339aa/recent-activity/
- Other: Digital portfolio: https://www.canva.com/design/DAD2EN2K5zs/dAIdca0DVWcB2slfLJQEYg/view?utm_content=DAD2EN2K5zs&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink
Image Credits
Evan Sherman – Photo with my mom Brooke Reese- Graduation WXSU photo Alyse Grant -New Reel Edit by me for media management