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

Karyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I think I always knew. I never cared to be the star but even as I child, I always organized the kid living room shows with my siblings and cousins. I don’t have a specific age or year I can pinpoint but it has always been in me. I listened to songs and studied them, as if I had a paper to write or something. When I was older that manifested into spending hours crafting mix cds for mostly personal listening but sometimes I would let other people have them. Choosing the right songs and placing them in the perfect order was important to me even if it didn’t matter to anyone else.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am Karyn Shanks, publicly known as DJ K.Mean. I am the owner & founder of Mean Girlz Media & Intangible Management based in St. Louis, Missouri. Mean Girlz Media is a boutique artist promotions and strategy company. We assist musicians with project promotion and coordinate rollouts if requested. In some cases those contract relationships develop into a more full time and long term commitment, that’s what we do at Intangible. Both companies compliment each other and there’s overlap but they are separate systems.

I started MGM in 2012, after years of doing street team promotion for another company that was outsourced by record labels. I spent time passing out flyers and putting up posters. Eventually it became time to start my own outfit. Around that same time I decided to take on another goal of mine and got serious about learning to DJ. In the first year of the company I spent much of my free time practicing DJing in private and working on small promotions campaigns.

10 years later I have traveled the country playing music and working with artists to break them in and out of St. Louis. My companies currently also oversee the St. Louis Chapter of the national DJ organization Coalition DJs. Which has broadened the network and options we have to assist artists & other DJs.

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

My primary goal in life, not just career, is to improve the circumstances for my peers and the generation that follows us. I’ve always been dedicated to elevating the industry in St. Louis & the Midwest overall. I hope to leave a trail for others to make their journey easier.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The most impactful read I had recently was Will Smith’s biography, Will. It was full of lessons about dedication, teamwork & focus. It also reinforced the power in believing in yourself & betting on you. It’s very close to becoming required reading for anyone apart of my team lol.

Contact Info:

• Website: MeanGirlzMedia.com/ beintangible.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/djkmean
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/MeanGirlzMedia
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/djkmean
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCSaWTeSOnHKrjTX5Xc-do_g
• Other: https://direct.me/djkmean

Image Credits
First 3 & Personal Photo – @iam_freddymac Last 2 – @lensmeyoureyes