Kyna Lee Willis
“I am a magnet for positive energy. Good people, divine opportunities and creative ideas gravitate to me because I am my authentic self.” - Kyna Lee Willis
We continue our #PRorNah social media theme by highlighting Kyna Lee Willis, founder and president of Kyna Lee Public Relations, Branding & Event Planning, LLC. Pulling from her background in both journalism and PR, Kyna sheds some light on how the two realms of communication differ and how PR work can vary from location to location.
After earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Public Relations from Ball State University, Kyna has led a decorated and multifaceted communications career. In her more than 15 years of experience, she has advised Fortune 500 CEOs, beauty executives and nonprofit organizations on the best ways to reach diverse audiences. Her extensive PR expertise has allowed her career to span other passions. She creates lavish weddings and events through her company, Elite Bridal Consulting, and raises awareness about holistic living and fibroid elimination for women of color through her plant-based platform, The Turnip. Kyna is also a dedicated advocate and mentor, preparing college-age students to succeed as the next generation of communications professionals.
In Kyna’s experience, both journalism and public relations are utilized to share stories. The key difference lies in the goal for telling a story, as well as the way the story is told. The purpose of journalism is to disseminate information objectively and without bias. The communications goal for PR, on the other hand, is to change public perception and behaviors. As a result, Kyna noted, PR stories tend to be more subjective by nature.
Previously practicing in Indianapolis, Kyna is now spearheading PR efforts in Atlanta. She shared that each location has its pros and cons. Kyna’s solid PR foundation was nurtured by skilled Indiana practitioners who mentored her through the beginning of her career. Atlanta has proven to be a hub of diversity and inclusion. “Atlanta is Black excellence personified,” Kyna said. “There are plenty of opportunities for African American PR professionals to excel.” That said, the Atlanta PR scene is highly competitive, requiring PR and comms professionals to have the right combination of education, an impressive portfolio of work, networking and relevant skills. Kyna shared that though she was forced to break out of her comfort zone, refusing to give way to the pressure tremendously impacted her growth as a PR professional.
To keep up with Kyna and Kyna Lee Public Relations, Branding, Event Planning, LLC, you can visit her website at http://www.kynalee.com/ or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
