In Episode 19, savvy media executive Nneka Enurah sits down with podcast host Aalia Lanius on Unsugarcoated with Aalia to have a candid conversation about being a woman of color in the film and television world.

Media consistently offers women an image of how they should look in order to be successful or desirable in society. Typically, this image is a skinny, white, light-haired, light-eyed, photoshopped woman. The unattainable standard media reinforces has caused a lot of harm to the self-image and mental health of many women of all races and ethnicities. 

Enurah shares her journey to her then role as the Director of Digital Development & Production at Reese Witherspoon’s media company Hello Sunshine; a company focused on shifting the narrative for women in media. She also speaks on making yourself “indispensable” as part of the strategy to success.

As a black woman in the entertainment industry, Nneka describes the difficulties she has faced coming to Los Angeles on her own. A Georgia native and the youngest of five, Nneka took the chance of following her own dreams to Los Angeles.

When Enurah and Lanius dive deeper into discussing the current racial tensions affecting America, she recounts the different rules she had to follow because of being a woman of color.  Their talk centers around confronting bias which is necessary in order to create a society of unity.

“Communicate more outside of your comfort zone, your friend groups, your family and have those uncomfortable and difficult conversations with people” she asserts during the talk.  

Understanding the value of the mentorship she received herself, she regularly donates her support to her alma mater, Elon University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Arts & Entertainment. It is important to Enurah to help provide other women with the tools necessary to succeed in the professional world that they may not receive elsewhere. 

“I know my truth and my truth is: I love me and I’m so happy with who I am and the journey that I’ve been on, even all the hardships, I would not be the woman I am today without those things,” Enurah says.

As a confident and strong business professional, Enurah’s biggest takeaway from her success is, “Never stop believing no matter how hard things are, no matter how dark things are. There’s always hope.”

Written by: Anna Randall,

Intern Staff Writer for Unsugarcoated Media

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Connect with Nneka Enurah: 

Instagram: @Nneka_E