Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaylyn Hill.
Hi Kaylyn, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
What a question!
I started this journey as a creator while I was quite young. Growing up I stayed involved with many things that fueled my creativity ranging from ballet/ jazz dancing, writing poetry, drawing, composing music, writing speeches, so much!
I can never talk about where I’m at without mentioning where I came from. I’m from Leesville, LA (born and raised). Leesville is not a place where many young Black people are provided a mass of opportunities and privilege, however, my parents ensured that wouldn’t cripple me. I started working in a hair salon, Gail’s Essence of Beauty, as a shampoo girl and made it my job for seven years. Throughout those years, I gained a second family as well as mentors. I didn’t know it then but my parents allowing me to be part of the hair salon opened my mind to so much. With that said, the leader I am today and the Black Woman I am today would not be if it wasn’t for my parents and that hair salon.
Back to creating!! I attended and graduated from Southern University and A&M College where the creative director, KJH, was born! While attending Southern University, I picked up numerous writing gigs for college blogs and even started my own- Hip Hop Sanctuary! My blog was where I would take real-life situations and compare them to music, my own way of finding peace within the storm.
After college I moved to Columbus, OH for a corporate role in the operations industry, this was my fresh start! I immediately launched A Way of Life (AWOL) Media and started conducting interviews with different Black creators throughout Columbus. AWOL Media went on to be a business built to amplify Black creators’ messages as well as for me to create as much as I wanted through media productions.
After a five-year run with AWOL Media, I closed my business. One thing about entrepreneurship is you always know when it’s time for you to move on. I knew it was time for something bigger… way bigger! More so, I wanted to create something that aligned with my new vision. What was that vision?!
I’m currently running a self-titled brand “The KJH” where I conduct creative direction for brands, create digital art for clients, and provide content creation. But that’s not the GROWTH!
This summer I will unveil my new business where I will provide Strategic Creative Mentoring and Creative Direction, LIMITLESS. Condensing my services so I may help guide creators during their creative journeys through my operational and creative expertise! I realized how daunting the creative process is as well as the lifestyle creators have. So, I want to give clarity, access, and more.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Throughout my time as a professional creator, I’ve run into one thing that stopped me, myself.
It took me a while to come to the consensus of closing AWOL Media but this is where my biggest lesson came from. One thing people must remember is to not dwell on the past. Just because you close the chapter to something does not mean you failed. It means you’ve evolved and are bold enough to move with that evolution. It’s like I always say. “When plants start growing, either you leave them in their current pot and allow the roots to destroy the foundation- self-destruction. Or you repot the plant so it can have more room to grow.”
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m THE Multi medium creator!
If you ask me if I’ve ever created a specific thing, I probably have! But what I specialize in is creative direction, creative operations, and mentoring. I’m in love with connecting the dots and producing creations that tell meaningful stories as well as disrupt the current norms within society.
I’ve recently started creating within the metaverse as Vice President of Events for Black in Meta, the premiere metaverse platform/ community for Black people!
But I’m most proud of the impact I make with and for people when I mentor them. As the world starts to embrace creators more there’s something they’re forgetting- the creative process and its impact on the creator. Creators deal with a lot, are in very high demand and most often work alone yet barely get paid their worth. From all of these factors, they are left burnt out and ready to quit. That’s where I come in.
I’m here to mentor creators who are between becoming a legend and jumping off the ledge. I mentor creators through internal grounding, external prioritization, building systems, exposing them to an elite network, and more!
That’s what sets me apart from other creators. I’m here to not only create but to relate, inform, and invest in other Black creators.
So maybe we end by discussing what matters most to you and why?
My community. My Black community.
We’ve been through a lot and still are going through a lot.
Our souls are tired yet we still push. Our minds are burnt out yet we still work. Our creations are appropriated yet we still dream. Through all of the challenges, we still try.
I recently was part of The Martin Luther King Memorial Foundation Social Justice Fellowship Program and during that time I was able to interview like-minded Black people who are pushing for the community. From this fellowship I’ve created CLTR CTRL (pronounce Culture Control) a seasonal show where the Black community can be informed and feel heard.
Of course, people will say “what about everyone else?”. I hear you and what I will say is for there to be unity we must do three things.
1. We must relate with one another. Whether through our intersectionality or just our experiences, let’s relate with one another.
2. We must inform. Sometimes people cannot relate to you because they’ve never had that experience. That’s okay, this is when you inform them about that experience and its impact.
3. We must invest in each other. Investing doesn’t always have to be through monetary methods. You can invest in people by mentoring them, serving the community, etc.
This all matters. This all helps.
Pricing:
- Creative Direction Grounding Call (1 hour)- $100
- Creative Mentorship- Call for pricing
- Content Creation- Call for pricing
Contact Info:
- Email: kaylynjhill@gmail.com
- Website: thekjh.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.kjh/
