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

Hi Kenneth, thanks for joining us today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

The entire purpose of my PR consultancy is to elevate the profiles of thought leaders, artists, and organizations from the LGBTQ+ community and LGBTQ+ affiliated causes.

I spent years working in luxury fashion and lifestyle before launching Courtney Creative PR and while the LGBTQ+ community is affirmed in those industries, especially in New York City, I never felt the same level of achievement or fulfillment as I have since working with my community.

In many ways the LGBTQ+ community is underserved, but I make it my mission to bring the same level of luxury PR, resources, and professionalism to my clients because they are my community.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

At one point in my life, you couldn’t tell me that I wasn’t going to be performing on Broadway or acting in a Hollywood film. I went to a performing arts high school in Louisville, KY., and later studied drama at The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (CCM). I had a change of heart after my first semester, but I knew that I wanted to work alongside talent. I understood the amount of hard work, preparation, confidence, and skill that it takes to “shine” as an artist and I wanted to play a part in sharing other artists’ stories and elevating them. PR was the answer.

I always knew New York was in my future and after interning at Country Music Television in Nashville (the closest entertainment hub to Kentucky) and MTV in New York City, I was ready to take the leap. I fell into fashion PR shortly after moving to New York which was the best school for learning the ins and outs of PR. The perception is glitz and glam, but it’s really hard work, long hours, very high expectations, and attention to detail. If you can work at the pace of fashion PR and meet high expectations, you can do PR anywhere.

After years of working at PR agencies and coordinating events and fashion shows during New York, Paris, and London fashion week, I wanted to do work that was more holistic to my lifestyle and my authentic self. This led to me taking on freelance projects before freelancing full-time and ultimately launching Courtney Creative PR.

Courtney Creative PR is a non-traditional and forward-thinking public relations, branding, and events consultancy focused on elevating the brand profiles of LGBTQ+ clients and causes. We’ve done everything from launch nonprofits to prep clients for The Met Gala red carpet. Our work is invaluable because we add equity. We position our clients’ brand or cause, engage and grow their audience, and tell their unique stories.

Aside from the brand awareness that great PR brings, clients come to us specifically because we’ve created a niche. They may have worked with other PR companies or consultants who didn’t fully “get” them. That’s not to say that they’re not knowledgeable about the LGBTQ+ community or not qualified to manage their PR, but we understand the nuances of their stories and their brands. There are big opportunities in those nuances that other PR professionals may miss. It’s not about putting them in some LGBTQ+ box in terms of their messaging or reach, but we’re able to explore parts of their story and brand from a place of authenticity. That’s where the magic is.

I’m most proud of the fact that the hard work that I’ve done for clients has earned me and my consultancy a level of respect and trust in the community. Almost all of my business has come from word of mouth. That’s so affirming to me and I feel a sense of responsibility because of it. That’s what pushes me to hold myself accountable, sharpen my skills, grow my capabilities, and empower my team. I want my clients to win and they want me to win as well. It all goes back to understanding the nuances of the community and working from a place of authenticity. Of course, I’m doing business, but ultimately, my clients and I are supporting each other. As it relates to my professional life, that looks like them hiring me to do their PR and me amplifying their brands. That may look different in any other setting, but supporting each other is one of those understood nuances that build a strong community.

It’s rewarding that I have the privilege of doing that for a living. I’m from Kentucky, I’ve lived in New York City for 10 years, and I support myself by working hard in an industry I’ve studied, and by showing up as my authentic self. I may fuss at the deadlines and late nights/early mornings, but in moments like these where I’m reflecting on my work and afforded a platform to share it – I don’t take it for granted.

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

I was 26, a young entrepreneur in New York City, and had established my PR consulting work as legitimate. I was working, people were noticing, and they were hiring me. That’s what every young entrepreneur wants.

In hindsight, I see that I had aspirations of being this “boss” and the universe answered by throwing in some adversity to make sure I had the skills to handle the responsibilities of that dream.

My grandmother, who raised me, was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and the unfortunate circumstances resulted in me being the one who had to lead. I had to give up my budding career and life in New York to roll up my sleeves and be brave. You learn a lot about time management, performing under pressure, and getting stuff done when you have no other choice.

I went from being responsible for no one but myself to becoming my grandmother’s legal guardian. It was traumatic, but I took care of business. In a little less than a year I made sure the situation resulted in the best outcome for my grandmother and allowed me to realize a dream that I watched her sacrifice and work so hard to prepare me for.

The life lessons learned during that time in my life are invaluable to me. I came back to New York with a mission. I had something to prove and this time I wasn’t afraid of the risks or the hard work. At that point, at 27, I had sold my childhood home, navigated the court system, managed the affairs of a loved one, and became the “boss” that I aspired to be.

I was ready to run a business.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The ultimate goal for Courtney Creative PR is to be the PR authority in the LGBTQ+ space and beyond, especially amongst communities of color. I’m aware that from a business perspective that sounds limiting, but I take into consideration all of the talented and visionary artists, creators, organizations, and the people behind them. Someone from the LGBTQ+ community is a leading force behind the magic that makes them “shine” or they themselves are part of the community.
I look forward to a time, sometime soon, when the LGBTQ+ community isn’t considered underserved. In order for that to happen PR consultants like myself have to serve clients from the community and continue to build their visibility in their respective industries.

I want equity, ownership, visibility, and respect for my community, who are my clients, and I want to play a role in them attaining that. I think it’s appropriate for LGBTQ+ trailblazers to have LGBTQ+ representation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.courtneycreativepr.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneycreativepr/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CourtneyCreativePR
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-courtney-jr-a433b031/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccreativepr