"The rise of online business has been remarkable, and it's evident that the digital landscape will continue to evolve at lightning speed."
In this exclusive interview with ValiantCEO Magazine, we are delighted to introduce Trenice Brinkley, a visionary entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, and publicist.
As the founder of Two Queens Media and HER Professional Society, Trenice has successfully carved a niche for herself in the world of public relations, building an impressive reputation for her expertise in media relations, partnerships, and brand protection.
With a passion for uplifting and empowering the black community, Trenice’s dedication to excellence is evident in every aspect of her work, including her bestselling book, Power Her Up: The Power Lies Within.
Today, she shares her insights on the changing landscape of business, the power of networking, and the importance of staying true to one’s values as an entrepreneur.
Join us as we delve into Trenice’s journey and learn from her wealth of experience in the ever-evolving world of public relations.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Trenice Brinkley: As a multifaceted individual, I have managed to don numerous hats – publicist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author, each carried out with utmost finesse.
With a professional journey spanning over two decades in the public relations industry, I have earned a reputation as a notable trailblazer and influencer. At the helm of Two Queens Media, my proficiency in media relations, partnerships, and brand protection has garnered commendation.
My venture HER Professional Society, dedicated to female founders, has experienced substantial growth over the years. My philanthropic endeavors have been noteworthy, extending to the donation of necessities to destitute boys in Central Florida and active participation in the Women of Color Leadership Coalition.
My dedication and unwavering commitment to excellence have earned me due recognition. My authorship, including the highly acclaimed Amazon bestseller, Power Her Up: The Power Lies Within, provides sagacious counsel for novice women business owners.
My upcoming book, Pitch Like Crazy, has already generated a buzz, and has merited nominations for the esteemed 2023 Lifetime Presidential Achievement Award and an Honorary Degree in Humanities. I am enthusiastic about what the future holds, and remain committed to making a positive impact on the lives of those around me.
I founded Two Queens Media in 2001, formerly known as Dymond Management, as a full-service lifestyle public relations firm dedicated to helping brands tell compelling stories and craft creative strategies that increase their visibility.
With over two decades of experience in the industry, we have built a strong reputation for our exceptional media relations, publishing, partnerships, and brand protection.
At Two Queens Media, we work with a diverse range of clients, spanning fashion, beauty, entertainment, sports, and more, to deliver impactful campaigns that generate meaningful results. Our team of experts possesses a deep understanding of the industry and a proven track record of success.
We prioritize building strong relationships with clients and providing tailored solutions that meet their unique needs.
In 2020, in collaboration with Lynnecia Eley, I launched Soigne’ + Swank Magazine, which highlights inspiring content that uplifts, empowers, and celebrates black excellence.
The magazine has quickly become a go-to source for all things lifestyle and has gained recognition for its exceptional content.
If you were in an elevator with Warren Buffet, how would you describe your company, your services or products? What makes your company different from others? What is your company’s biggest strength?
Trenice Brinkley: I’m Trenice J. Brinkley, your visibility expert with Two Queens Media. As a visibility expert with Two Queens Media, I specialize in helping brands increase their reach and impact.
With over twenty years of experience in the industry, I have a deep understanding of what it takes to create successful public relations campaigns. My focus is on building strong relationships with clients and providing tailored solutions that meet their unique needs.
At Two Queens Media, we are committed to helping our clients craft compelling stories and creative strategies that resonate with their audience. Our exceptional media relations, publishing, partnerships, and brand protection strategies make us stand out from other public relations firms.
We bring a fresh perspective to every client we work with and offer long-term PR solutions that are key to sustainable growth. If you’re a forward-thinking brand looking to launch a change campaign or a market disruptor looking to stand out, I can help you achieve your publicity goals.
From traditional PR packages to our “pay-as-you-go” option for small businesses and startups, we have solutions to fit your needs and budget. Let’s work together to take your brand to the next level.
What advice do you wish you received when you started your business journey and what do you intend on improving in the next quarter?
Trenice Brinkley: As I reflect on my business journey, I realize that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to public relations. I learned this lesson after my internship, where I was trained to follow a specific formula that was tailored to the agency’s needs. However, I soon realized that this approach wasn’t necessarily applicable to my business goals and unique client needs.
In retrospect, I wish I had trusted my instincts earlier on and developed my own personalized approach to public relations. Instead, I spent too much time trying to fit into the traditional mold, which ultimately hindered my growth and success.
Moving forward, I am committed to continuing to refine my approach and tailor my strategies to each individual client. This includes expanding my team and leveraging the strengths and expertise of others to deliver even more impactful campaigns and meaningful results.
I believe that by embracing innovation, staying true to my values, and being open to new ideas and approaches, I can continue to grow and thrive as a business owner and public relations expert.
Online business keeps on surging higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for the year to come and how are you capitalizing on the tidal wave?
Trenice Brinkley: The rise of online business has been remarkable, and it’s evident that the digital landscape will continue to evolve at lightning speed. At Two Queens Media, we are closely monitoring these changes and are prepared to capitalize on this wave.
To make the most of the shift towards virtual communication, we leverage various online platforms to connect with target audiences. Social media is our go-to tool for creating engaging content and expanding our reach, while digital tools enable us to host virtual events, meetings, and webinars.
As a public relations agency, we also guide our clients on how to communicate effectively with customers, partners, and stakeholders in a virtual environment. We help them create crisis communication plans, provide media training for virtual interviews, and develop persuasive content that resonates with online audiences.
We have been in business for years and have witnessed the shift towards virtual meetings, online shopping, and B2B and B2C interactions. With remote work and virtual consultations becoming commonplace, we firmly believe that virtual events and communication are here to stay.
To stay ahead of the curve, we transitioned to remote work back in 2018, and it has been a dream for our team ever since. We have also heavily invested in social media to reach wider audiences and engage with our clients.
In the future, we plan to send our team to cover more events and explore new opportunities for our clients. Our strategy will balance in-person and virtual events to deliver the results our clients desire.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as THE real challenge right now?
Trenice Brinkley: One of the biggest challenges we are currently facing is securing funding for our digital publication, Soigne’+ Swank Magazine®.
As a platform dedicated to curating and highlighting black excellence in business, entertainment, lifestyle, careers, and fashion, we strive to honor our ancestors and inspire the black culture by sharing powerful stories of failure to success and showcasing all things black excellence around the world.
We believe that our bi-monthly features will not only inspire the culture to shine at any level but also transcend beyond any barrier. However, without sufficient funding, it will be challenging for us to continue delivering the high-quality content that our audience deserves.
To overcome this obstacle, we are actively seeking out potential investors and partners who share our passion for uplifting and empowering the black community.
We are confident that with the right support, we can continue to grow and expand our reach, inspiring and empowering people of all backgrounds to strive for excellence in their own lives.
In your experience, what tends to be the most underestimated part of running a company? Can you share an example?
Trenice Brinkley: As a publication that curates black excellence in business, entertainment, lifestyle, careers, and fashion, Soigne’+ Swank Magazine® is committed to hiring the right contributors who can bring our mission to life.
We seek out talented writers who can share powerful thought-provoking stories, inspire the culture, and highlight all things black excellence around the world.
However, finding the right contributor writers who can align with our values and mission can be a challenge. It requires a lot of time and effort to recruit and retain the right people who can elevate our publication.
Additionally, staffing can be a significant expense for us, from recruiting and training writers to provide competitive compensation and benefits packages.
Despite these challenges, we understand the importance of having the right team in place to achieve our goals and bring our vision to life. We remain committed to investing in our staff and finding ways to retain and support our contributors to deliver the best content to our readers.
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Trenice Brinkley: As a forward-thinking CEO, my ultimate goal is to employ the most powerful tools available to propel my business to the forefront of the industry. If I were to be gifted with one business superpower, undoubtedly it would be the art of networking.
With my passion for building long-lasting relationships and connecting with people, I am acutely aware that such connections form the bedrock of any successful organization.
Furthermore, my innate ability to think outside the box and translate ideas into concrete strategies that yield measurable results is a formidable superpower in its own right. I am firm in my belief that true success can only be achieved by daring to dream big and taking calculated risks in order to reach our objectives.
In practice, I put my networking superpower to use by attending industry events, engaging with industry thought leaders, and forging connections with key stakeholders within my organization’s ecosystem. I prioritize building genuine relationships, taking the time to understand the unique needs and challenges of each individual, and determining how my organization can best serve them.
I leverage my strategic acumen by empowering my team to think creatively and take calculated risks in pursuit of our shared goals. I nurture a culture of innovation and experimentation, encouraging my team to explore unconventional ideas and approaches that challenge the status quo and uncover new opportunities for growth and success.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Trenice Brinkley for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Trenice Brinkley or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
Disclaimer: The ValiantCEO Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
