Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jayé Da’Vaughn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jayé, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
In order, for any project to be meaningful it must be worked on with passion behind an intended purpose. Over the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to work on projects that have harvested meaningful experiences in which impacted lives in just that, a meaningful way.
Projects ranging from feeding the homeless for Thanksgiving to producing major conferences and inclusive events that produce life-changing experiences for people to walk in their purpose. That said, more recently the world has all been grappling with the vicissitudes of a once -in-a-century international pandemic, political divide, racial and ethnic disparities, inflation, mental health, gun-violence and an indescribable number of challenges.
On June 19th, 2020, Juneteenth, I was physically assaulted by a person who I let into my space and trusted. As a former General Manager of a radio station, WODU Studios, based in Norfolk, VA turned current media executive, pop culture/ communicative analyst (as seen on Fox Soul, The Huffington Post, and others) and Founder/President/CEO of Jayé Da’Vaughn Entertainment LLC, social media has always served as a nucleus to my brand and a key source of revenue for my businesses and projects.
This person during the physical assault, hacked into my Instagram (which had a humble 6,000 “followers” [supporters] of which I have partnered, invested, cherished, and built relationships with over the years. Vindictive, spiteful, and cruel were the intent of this person, to attempt to ‘steal my bag,’ ‘block my coin.’ I do subscribe to the ideology that your table will be prepared in the presence of enemies, so let’s tap into the meaningful purpose birthed through trauma.
After countless efforts of reaching out to Instagram and Facebook (now collectively Meta), to prove my identity and restore my account, I had to do the (at the time) unimaginable, create my Instagram from scratch and try to rebuild my brands social presence. Little did I know this repugnant action and traumatic situation would birth, arguably, the most meaningful project for me, Uncomfortable Conversations with the Village hosted by me, Jayé Da’Vaughn.
Uncomfortable Conversations is an online video podcast produced by my entertainment company and was birthed through uncomfortable times. The pandemic was at its height (one of many, as you all know), I had been physically assaulted and abused for the first time in my life, and I was transitioning from one major network to the next simultaneously. Now this isn’t the first traumatic or life-altering event to transpire in my life. Though a first, I did what I knew to do best. Create.
Anything I create, produce, or work on is under the goal of impacting lives for the better. I wanted a project that didn’t harper on my assault but used that story to launchpad many stories, many uncomfortable conversations.
You see, we live in a day where there are a lot of opinions but no conversion. The voices that are heard on the show are influential not just an influencer.
The show started on Clubhouse and quickly evolved to an Instagram Live experience. In the last short 2 seasons (8 episodes each) of the show we have had discussions on abandonment, bandwidth, career transitions, navigating obscurity, time management, and a wide range of relevant and timely uncomfortable yet real-life situations where we provide real-life applicable solutions. As viewership and support has grown, we have over 54.3k supporters in ‘the Village,’ with over 95,000 views and 350,000 impressions collectively.
This is meaningful and significant to me because I turned my trauma into an in-real-time story of perseverance, manifested before the public. It is my most transparent and vulnerable project yet. Transparency tells us what happened, Vulnerability tells us how what happened made us feel.
Though this project was birthed in trauma it does not live in trauma. I have used my platform to share stories and bring guests [prominent experts in their perspective fields] on from all over the country to share their stories. While the conversation can get uncomfortable, the show serves as a safe space to unpack and grow together. We also have a lot of fun with segments to engage our audience as well as moments to sew into people’s dreams financially with our now infamous, Cash App Surprise where over $10,000 have been given to select viewers.
Meaningful are the countless stories and feedback the show receives on how the discussion changed their life. I will always use my life experience to produce content that will help, if even one, person’s life and encourage them to continue to manifest their purpose.
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 always known what I wanted to do “when I grow up.” I can’t say that every plan or route taken has been correct or in alignment, let alone even understood of how to obtain, but I always knew my gift was and is, communication. I’ve always wanted to create and work in a wide range of music, fine arts, and essentially journalism.
There are endless home videos of me on the camcorder, remember those? Where I am acting as a meteorologist declaring that it is “sunny and cloudy,” undenounced to the term, “partly cloudy,” or moments where I’m preaching to my cousins, teaching a class (I was the teacher and the principal named Mr. Fisher, to this unnamed school). There’s footage of me producing movies, plays, and creating businesses like “Clean Teens Association, where we would go out and clean cars throughout the neighborhood (shout out to my cousin and brother who served with pride, ha!) My point here is that media and communication have always been in my blood.
Fast forward to Old Dominion University, where I served as the General Manager at WODU Studios for 4 years. It was in that tenure where I led critically acclaimed, fashion shows, live events, and ran a daily operation and I was still just a teen. It is also at this university where I would begin to build my portfolio and rolodex of connections that still live with me today. WODU is also where my leadership style took a turn. Honestly speaking, I was brought up in many authoritative work environments that didn’t foster an atmosphere conducive for a positive mental health or concern for real-life variables. I was the guy letting folks go because they didn’t show up to a meeting, while not understanding that life happens. After many ‘letters of resignation,’ I realized I had to change and sharpen my leadership skills.
WODU became a family, I was still a man about my business, but had a broader understanding of how to execute a more inclusive and warmer environment for myself and my team. Shout out to my WODU family for supporting me through my growth and entrusting me with yours.
In always striving to better and improve myself, I continued to work on my leadership and business acumen. I also dove deep into education receiving a bachelor’s in music production with an emphasis in Music Composition Dialectics and a bachelor’s in mass communications with an emphasis in Public Media Relations from Old Dominion University. While obtaining my master’s in media communications and visual Arts from Pace University in New York City, my career shifted as opportunities presented itself.
My first major industry role was at CBS where I worked in integrated marketing. Since then, I have worked for amazing companies to include NBC Universal, VEVO, Snapchat, Univision, and Disney. I have had the opportunity to serve as a pop culture and communications analyst on platforms such as Fox Soul, The Huffington Post Live, and independent projects alike.
I am a CEO, executive producer, creative director, and influential social media analyst with over 200K followers across my social media platforms. In 2009, I founded Jayé Da’Vaughn Entertainment, a full-service media company that has produced live stage plays, albums, music videos, syndicated talk shows, podcasts, concerts, conferences, and events, internationally. In September 2021, JDE became officiated by the New York Secretary of State.
Postured with purpose, I believe in using my platform to connect cultures, break norms, and establish legacy through a community. Positioned with excellence, I believe in creating life-changing experiences through innovative content. Intentionally multi-faceted, I use my talents in various mediums to entertain and bring light in a seemingly decaying world. JDE works with artists, designers, content producers, dancers, authors … entertainers who represent excellence in their perspective craft. Our network continues to grow, and we look forward to connecting with the NOW generation of creatives.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “comparison is the thief of joy.” We live in a society where we have exchanged love for likes. Social media, while a powerful and influential resource it has shifted the way the world communicates. It has curated a competitive atmosphere filled with keyboard courage and personalities that don’t often reflect real-life.
That said as a society we can support artist and creatives by understanding that while competition can be healthy, comparison is toxic. Your journey is orchestrated solely for you. How one creative got to where they are, may not be the same steps you have to take to get where you need to. Your calling is also not a conference call. Whatever God ordained for you to do in life is for you and not everyone is meant to be on board.
I believe unequivocally if we ‘got back to basics.’ Remember when we as a people would pick up the phone or write a letter? When human connection was paramount and digital communication was in its infancy. I’m not saying go back to the stone age, but I do believe we have to curate love for one another.
When you see your fellow artist or creative producing content, we should collectively share, spread the word, and support. Check this out, if someone is your friend – you should not even have to ask for your content to be shared, (variables permitting) your friend should want to spread the word because they are proud and support your dreams.
Adopting the ideology that when one wins, we all win. I believe that we live in a society and ecosystem of creativity where we lack invention. As creatives, we often are gifted at a range of talents. You see the bios, (that’s why I hate the “tell me about yourself question,” we can put a pin in that, I’ll circle back), everyone is an actor, model, producer, et al. But what is your purpose? What makes your heart happy? I’m not saying that you can’t be a jack of all trades, but ignorant is the man who is a jack of all trades yet a master of none.
Before Beyoncé was an actress, fashion designer, mogul, she was a singer. She mastered that craft and built opportunities from that starting place. Her God-given purpose. There’s a line in Disney/Pixar’s The Incredible, where wonder boy, Mr. Incredibles’ largest fan turned nemesis says, “if everyone was super, no one would be.”
That does not mean that you can’t be super but be super in your calling. Be super in your content. Don’t compete by comparison but as artists, let iron sharpen iron. Let’s delegate and use creatives as resources in their area of expertise. You alone don’t have to do it all. We must create ‘ a Village’ of resources. Instead of hiring a Fortune 500 company (nothing against them, I’d advise to use whatever resource best serves your product/project/service) to advertise your company, find a fellow creative or small business to give business to. This breeds an ecosystem that is reciprocal.
Remember, I said I don’t like the “tell me about yourself,” question. In that same vein, I say how we support one another is by owning your calling. Don’t shrink your intellect, skillset, calling, or purpose in life for anything or anyone. We live in a false-humble society where we must ‘appear humble.’ Arrogance and confidence don’t coexist. You are the sole representative of your brand, advocate for yourself, and let’s collectively advocate for one another.
There’s more than enough for us all to win, and when there’s only one GREAT of a particular artist or industry it monopolizes and corrupts the ecosystem. While we pay ode to those before us; hence, the recycled nature of creatives, it’s okay to stretch your mind towards inventions and creating your own spaces for the ecosystem.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Ironically enough, every year I come up with a word or phrase, typically a word, that I will work on and/or manifest for that new year. This year three words came to me RESILIENCE, RECIPROCITY, AND RESTORATION. Making this question, spot on! I have many stories of resilience that I’ve had the opportunity to share in both public and private spaces.
That said, I’ll share a story I’ve only shared once. I had just graduated from Pace University and received an amazing opportunity to work at NBC Universal. Dream job manifested! However, I was having personal turmoil. I had just graduated yet again and was trying to match my purpose to revenue. I was living in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and was living in a sublet situation. Those who live in New York, any major city, or heck, had a roommate living arrangement, it comes with its … challenges.
A former stylist and friend caused a complete ruckus in the apartment I was living at forcing a strained relationship with the head name on the lease and the new tenant that we brought in. I had 3 days to find a new apartment and. It was a hot 102-degree day in August day and I to move all my belongings by foot 1.8 miles down the road. Yes, by foot! I was a fresh graduate, between career moves, and without car – it’s New York!
After successfully moving into my new apartment with 2 roommates (complete strangers), that time was short lived. My female roommate was messy, repulsive, and spiteful. Very calculated. My time there was short and my new role at Univision wouldn’t start for another month (If you work in this industry, you know it can be a revolving door while you navigate the right fit). I had to pack my bags yet again and now was homeless. I packed my things into a storage unit and stayed in a hotel (expensive!) until I found a more affordable Airbnb. During this time, I had no steady source of income coming in. I did, however, persevere and secured a new apartment, where I would have 3 new roommates.
During this time, I still produced content. I still created. I still did what I believe my calling is, encouraging people. I went to work very “Pursuit of Happiness” style, nearly the same suit every day and without a definitive home. The only people who knew the true state of what was going on were my parents. No siblings, no friends, no colleagues, no one. I moved into that new apartment and fostered life-changing relationships and continued to build my brand.
I shared this story at the Sankofa Dinner hosted by the Old Dominion University Office of Intercultural Relations. A dinner that brings black and brown leaders together to hear from prestigious alumni who have been resilient in their perspective fields. This story of resilience and perseverance taught many lessons. The key takeaway, know that you don’t have to suffer alone or in silence. Far too often we as a people, particularly black and brown, feel that we can’t seek help. Sometimes its trauma induced other times its pride influenced. This is why circling back, creating safe spaces and an ecosystem of support is necessary. When the honorable President John R. Broderick of ODU heard me share this story on that stage he said, “I wish I would have known, I would’ve put you in my place in New York, we (his family) only use it for when we visit.”
Be resilient, yes. But in your resilience remember sometimes you don’t have simply because you didn’t ask.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayedavaughn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayeDaVaughnEntertainment/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JayeDaVaughn
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/JayeDaVaughn