We were lucky to catch up with Ebony Bagley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ebony, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

I was a teacher for seven years. Primarily, teaching kindergarten and first grade before moving on to middle school English. I really enjoyed my time in the classroom. However, between the long school days, after-school work, mandatory activities, lesson planning and extra work you have to do for data purposes, there is hardly any work-life balance. Additionally, there’s the elephant in the room. Teaching is hard work and the salary is hardly reflective of the work, hours and continuing education it requires.

In 2014, I had my daughter and I quickly realized that I needed to figure out another career path. By the time I left work and picked her up from daycare it was time for dinner, a bath and bed. I was missing out on too much and for me the trade-off was not worth it. How could I give 110% everyday to other people’s children and come home to my own child and husband, underpaid, exhausted, and often times distracted and prepping for the next day.

This time period of uncertainty allowed me to think about what was possible and to lean into my gifts and my faith. In addition, to teaching I had also worked as a freelance journalist and social media manager for several years. These “side-hustles” allowed me to build up and gain valuable skill-sets and experience. Additionally, without even consciously realizing it, I had picked up and perfected many skill-sets in the classroom like, public-speaking, graphic design, project management, collaboration and leadership.

In 2015, I left teaching and decided to pursue another dream of working in the news business. I enrolled in Specs Howard School of Media Arts year-long broadcast and media arts program. Before, graduating from the program I had already had two internships with Detroit’s Fox and NBC local news affiliate, before being hired as a producer. During, this time I also started working in the community as an internet wellness advocate teaching cyber safety and internet wellness through the community. I think it’s so important that we work with young people and their parents on how to live in harmony with technology to prevent it from consuming their lives.

This career transition taught me that every experience is a lesson. Every job, career, position is another opportunity to gain valuable skill-sets that you could potentially leverage and shape into future endeavors. In a time when so many are now realizing that they are meant to do more than one thing, it’s important to not underestimate your past and all of the skills that you have acquired along the way.

Ebony, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

After, leaving teaching I worked in the news business for 5-years. I learned so much during that time and worked with some amazing people. When I had my son in 2019, I decided to pursue something which would keep me in communications without the fast-pace and long hours of the news business.

Since, 2019, I have been the communications director the American Heart Association, covering the state of Michigan. In this role I get to share all of the amazing news and work that the American Heart Association does in my state. It’s an honor to share the mission of the AHA. In addition, to my 9 – 5, in 2019, I was appointed to Oakland County parks board, where I serve as an Oakland County Parks Commissioner. In this role, I work with the Oakland County Parks board and department to make key decisions regarding our beautiful Oakland County parks, programs, services and facilities.

In 2020, I launched the Ebony Heritage Collection, LLC, www.EbonyHeritageco.com, where I sell educational wall tapestries, blankets, digital designs and more celebrating Black culture. The Kwanzaa learning blanket is one of my best-sellers. It has been on my heart for many years to design products that will inspire and educate and while quarantined I finally had the time to make this dream of mine a reality.

I am proud to say that faith not fear has led me to a place where I am now sharing all my gifts and doing work that feels good to the soul. I also have the work-life balance that I desired for so long.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One lesson that I have had to unlearn on my journey is the need to lean on others for council that have no idea what you are doing. We love our friends and families but, sometimes they are not the best people to share our plans with. Now, it’s fine to seek advice and if you can find a quality mentor, consider yourself lucky. However, your journey is yours and yours alone and not everyone is going to have your vision.

This is especially true for creatives that are attempting to do things that haven’t been done before. I’ve learned that you have to have ultimate faith in yourself and your vision, do the work and trust the process. If you truly believe in what you are trying to do whether it’s a career change, a personal, business, or financial goal, be mindful of who you share your goals with.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I am driven to live my most authentic life and that means being true to myself. I don’t have all of the answers, but, I believe in happiness, my dreams and that the point of all of this is for us to realize and share our gifts. If anything, the past few years have shown us all how short life can be. Let’s all give ourselves grace and follow our hearts.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ebonyheritageco.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ebsknowsbest
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ebsknowsbest
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebony-bagley/

Image Credits
-Photos in red blazer: Morgan Mickens -Photos With Wall Tapestries: Joanna Serra