Chanelle Reynolds is a multi-talented businesswoman operating in sports, a field notoriously dominated by men. She has worked for a couple of teams in different sports: she has been an account executive for the Philadelphia 76ers G League affiliate, and now she works as the group sales director of the NFL’s Washington Football Team. Aside from her sports work, she is also a successful entrepreneur, having founded Double Portion, a faith-based brand. She is also a speaker and author, having written “The Success Playbook.”
At the Washington Football Team, Chanelle Reynolds has also led the development of the team’s Black Engagement Network, which she now co-chairs. The Black Engagement Network was formed to assist the team’s Black employees as they strive for “professional development” and as they manage their career with the team.
As an entrepreneur, Chanelle Reynolds has also received accolades from several publications. Among them are a feature in the Delaware Today Magazine as one of the paper’s Top 15 Women in Business, as well as another feature in the Delaware Business Times as one of its 40 Under 40, in 2017. She has been ranked Top 3 Sellers at the NBA G League Power Rankings for Group Sales. In the same NBA G League Power Rankings for Corporate Partnerships, she ranked Top 10.
With “The Success Playbook,” Chanelle Reynolds has written the Bible for go-getters like herself. In the book, she reveals her path to success, and how she overcame the significant challenges she faced while making a mark in a male-dominated industry.
Check out more interviews with high-powered women executives here. You can also watch Chanelle Reynolds on the show On Her Turf here.
Jerome Knyszewski: What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
Chanelle Reynolds: I believe that a company’s commitment to the community in which they live, work and play are crucial. Companies that value their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) are often viewed as more favorable in the eyes of the consumer. I’m proud to work for a company that understands the value of building the communities that surround them.
Jerome Knyszewski: Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Chanelle Reynolds: One thing that I can say is that “burn out” is real, especially in the sports industry. It’s expected for sports professionals to work every home game, most weekends and long hours in season. I often advise younger individuals that are just starting their careers to connect with their “why.” Understanding your “why” can make your bad days good and your good days better. I remember a few occasions when I had to do a job that I didn’t want to do (i.e. be the sports team’s mascot — lol). Understanding that I can have good or bad moments in my career helps me overcome my burn out.
Jerome Knyszewski: None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
Chanelle Reynolds: Absolutely! It took me a while to get into my desired career field. I’ve heard “no” more than I heard “yes”.
I even heard that I was “too nice” of a person. That really came as a surprise to me because I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to work with a nice person. In my career journey, I met two amazing individuals who saw my hunger and gave me my first opportunity. They held me accountable and helped me prosper in my professional career by providing me guidance and wisdom. I owe my leadership skills to them and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity they gave me.
Jerome Knyszewski: Ok thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of this interview. The title of this series is “How to take your company from good to great”. Let’s start with defining our terms. How would you define a “good” company, what does that look like? How would you define a “great” company, what does that look like?
Chanelle Reynolds: A good company to me is one that can consistently produce results. The shareholders are happy, and the employees are paid well. A great company not only produces great results, but they value their employees in every aspect.
A great company understands that they are more than just a company. They are a community and have the responsibility of reflecting diversity within their organization and connecting with the diverse communities they serve. Although it may sound a little cliché, a great company values diversity and inclusion. Statistically, diverse companies are more innovative and when you have a diverse representation of individuals at “the table,” you implement more sound decisions.
Also, great companies evaluate the attitudes of their employees and how their employees produce. A positive attitude can catapult the culture of a company, while a negative one can drive it downhill swiftly.
Jerome Knyszewski: What would you advise to a business leader who initially went through years of successive growth, but has now reached a standstill? From your experience do you have any general advice about how to boost, growth and “restart their engines”?
Chanelle Reynolds: Many companies must go through a rebrand or relaunch every few years. It’s not a bad thing, as you want to re-engage and give your customers something new to look forward to. For example, Apple launches a new product every year. Apple remains relevant because their consumers can expect innovative products from them every 12 months.
Jerome Knyszewski: Generating new business, increasing your profits, or at least maintaining your financial stability can be challenging during good times, even more so during turbulent times. Can you share some of the strategies you use to keep forging ahead and not lose growth traction during a difficult economy?
Chanelle Reynolds: It’s important to remain true to who you are while adapting to the present day. For example, numerous companies took a hit during COVID-19 however, there were many companies that utilized their online presence and platforms which resulted in skyrocketed sales for their business.
Jerome Knyszewski: In your experience, which aspect of running a company tends to be most underestimated? Can you explain or give an example?
Chanelle Reynolds: Personal development as a leader is not emphasized enough. It’s important to constantly evolve and learn from the individuals that came before you. If you can, find a mentor that can provide you with the knowledge you need to run your business.
Jerome Knyszewski: Great customer service and great customer experience are essential to build a beloved brand and essential to be successful in general. In your experience what are a few of the most important things a business leader should know in order to create a Wow! Customer Experience?
Chanelle Reynolds: Take the time to listen and understand the needs of your consumers. Do not pitch a product until you do your research and learn who your target customers are, why they’re buying, what’s the occasion, etc.
Jerome Knyszewski: What are your thoughts about how a company should be engaged on Social Media? For example, the advisory firm Distemper conducted 6 yearly surveys of United States corporate boards, and directors reported that one of their most pressing concerns was reputational risk as a result of social media. Do you share this concern? We’d love to hear your thoughts about this.
Chanelle Reynolds: Social media has given us the unique ability to connect with our consumers directly. If used the right way, social media can build a trusting relationship between your business and consumers.
Jerome Knyszewski: What are the most common mistakes you have seen CEOs & founders make when they start a business? What can be done to avoid those errors?
Chanelle Reynolds: The most common mistakes I see CEOs & founders make is they lose momentum and quit too soon. For the first few years, you may breakeven or even be in the red. It’s important to stay motivated and keep going. Remind and encourage yourself that your big break is around the corner!
Jerome Knyszewski: Thank you for all of that. We are nearly done. You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Chanelle Reynolds: I want to show others how to take ownership of their success. You are in complete control of your life. Own it!
Jerome Knyszewski: How can our readers further follow you online?
Chanelle Reynolds: Readers can visit my website at www.chanellesreynolds.com and follow my social platforms @ChanelleSReynolds on Instagram, and @ChanelleSpeaks on Twitter.
Jerome Knyszewski: This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent with this!
