We recently connected with Latasha Ford and have shared our conversation below.

Latasha, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Let me first start by saying, success has many meanings. As I continue to evolve, mature, and elevate both personally and professionally I am learning success looks different for everyone.

One may equate success to financial freedom and sustainability. One may equate success to parenthood. One may equate success to landing his or her dream job and others may equate success to marriage. The list goes on, on, and on! I, Latasha equates success to becoming one with your life’s purpose, passion, and gift.

That being said, patience, persistence, and prayer is what I believe it takes to be successful.

My perspective of such steers from chasing my dreams; everything that I became passionate about from my early childhood years. The gifts that we are blessed with are the very talents that I believe ties in with our life’s purpose. But, more often than not, it takes time to not only recognize what those gifts are but to also acknowledge those things in which we’re passionate about. Ultimately, when you’re passionate and serious about certain visions, goals, and dreams coming to past you never give up at chasing. And in this life, it takes a lot of patience with self, persistence with positioning yourself, and prayers during times you may feel defeated.

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

About me… when asked what is it that I do, my response is – I am a conversationalist! In this season of my life, I talk and write for a living. Lol …… But I am quite serious. I started off in the media and entertainment industry working in the radio sector at iHeart Media in Chicago, Illinois. I have written for several publications, worked as a Publicist, and for the NBA all leading up to my now.

I am an Entertainment Journalist and Editor at Penske Media Corporation; and yes, I love my career. My day-to-day consist of covering red carpet premieres, Hollywood award shows, and all the things editorial and it’s certainly a hell of a lot of work. I too, am a part-time Editor at Blavity. To-date, I have been blessed and fortunate to have interviewed 350+ celebrities here in Hollywood. The world gets a glimpse of my red-carpet looks and interviews with Hollywood’s finest from talks with Patrick Stewart, Colin Farrell, Maya Rudolph, Angela Bassett, Morris Chestnut, Claire Danes, Snoop Dogg, Lisa Vanderpump, Betty Gilpin, Draymond Green, Marla Gibbs, Nicolas Cage, Mark Ruffalo and hundreds more but what the world doesn’t see is the endless hours of prep, time, and sacrifice that goes on behind-the-scenes.

My career is fulfilling, lively, fashionable, and tons of fun! But my professional life also consists of countless sleepless night, tons of research and study, hours of preparedness, many hours in the mirror practicing and memorizing questions, celebrity names, and their award history, many trips to boutiques for great looks, studying of excellent award-winning journalist who have come before me, and sometimes a load of intimidation, self-doubt, and insecurities. Because let’s be clear — Hollywood’s expectation is perfection and those are huge shoes to step into. There are some amazing journalists out here doing some of the most astounding work but what sets me apart is the authenticity, genuineness, and free-spirited personality of mine that I bring to every red-carpet. I refuse to conform to ‘industry’ standards if that looks like me having to rid certain things about myself. That is one thing that I would love for people to take away from this interview. There is room at the table for you and your ‘authentic’ self – you don’t have to lose yourself in order to get a seat or to succeed.

The most exciting and fulfilling part of what I do is human energy, connecting and conversating with countless individuals sometimes on a daily basis — laughing along the way. In addition to living in my life purpose and dream! This is what I am most proud of.

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

Yes, absolutely! Ultimately, my goal is to elevate from being a Journalist to having my very own primetime talk show.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

OMG! Is that a trick question? Lol …. no but seriously!

I’ve had to unlearn many lessons but one that immediately comes to mind is you have no control over the timing of opportunities. Patience grows thin, we become weary, and want to take things into our own hands — speeding up the process. And, years ago 2015 to be exact I did just that while working at iHeart Media.

I started off interning during undergrad while attending DePaul University and fortunately was offered a part-time Receptionist role at completion of my internship. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree and working as a receptionist for a short time,I began to feel as if I deserved more and quickly. After applying and interviewing for several in-house roles I eventually got promoted, failed at the role, just to go through a laid-off with the company. But God extended grace my way and fortunately I was not let go but I did get demoted and offered the same role that I had recently left ‘Receptionist’. Talk about a humbling moment — oh my God. I went back to where I had just come from. After one-year back in that seat my ego yet again got the best of me, and I quit with no 2-weeks’ notice given or anything. I was mad! I quit and assumed I would be able to quickly get a better role at another media corporation just to later experience 10+ years of no open door back into the industry I loved the most. It took me 10+ years to land my feet back in the media and entertainment industry and I learned to never make an emotional business decision. We cannot control the timing of our elevation and sometimes you may get it, just to later be forced to realized you were never ready for the promotion, role, or elevation (in that season).

I will never do such a thing again — hard lesson to learn (luckily, I was young).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/latasha_m._ford
• Instagram: @latasha_m._ford
• Linkedin: La’Tasha Ford

Image Credits

Latasha Ford