Crafting Change: Liberty White on Women, Media, and Technology

Speaker A: 00:00:04

Welcome to witlove, a podcast founded by women, produced by women, about women in technology.

There is a huge place for women in tech and this podcast is going to get well into the work as a leading contributor to help change the trajectory and see the rise of women in technology. Sit back and enjoy as our young female hosts share energy with experienced professional women in technology.

Liberty White: 00:00:31

Hello.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:00:31

Hello, Hello. Welcome back to another episode of witlove where we spotlight women in technology who are breaking barriers and creating powerful ripples of change.

I'm Sandra Najee, your host for this episode. We are joined today by an amazing guest, Liberty White. Liberty White is a dynamic leader dedicated to bridging the gender gap in technology.

As the CEO of Chosen Media, home to she learns AI.

Operating out of Atlanta in Toronto, her consultancy integrates cutting edge AI technology with digital marketing, driving efficiency and fostering deeper engagement across numerous platforms.

With over 15 years of experience, Liberty's innovative strategies have significantly impacted organizations such as ESPN, the WMBA's Atlanta Dream, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and Startup Canada. Peeling.

A certified drone, drone pilot and instructor at General Assembly, Liberty is passionate about tech, storytelling and empowering diverse voices in the media. Please welcome Liberty White. Hi, Liberty, how are you doing?

Liberty White: 00:01:35

I'm so good. Thank you so much, Sandra. I need to have you like, read my bio, like just have this recording.

So hopefully, you know, I could, I could get this and just have that play out from here on out as you walk in. Yeah, right.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:01:52

That's good. So the episode title today is the Power of Storytelling. Building Bridges through Media and Representation.

So before we dive into the crooks and everything that this episode has to do with, let's start with some warm up questions just to break dice.

Okay, so because of your background in media, what do you remember the first video or creative project that made you think, okay, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life?

Liberty White: 00:02:17

You know what? That is a, an interesting question because I don't know that it ever.

It really wasn't until a couple years ago that I realized like, wait a second, you, you've been doing this since you were like in grade eight.

Because I remember when I was a valedictorian and I remember telling my dad, like, you're going to want to get a camera because you're going to want to, you're going to want to record this. Like, who, who stands does that? And my dad, he ended up getting a video. I've got to go find that vhs. For those of you who, who don't.

Who don't remember were born after that. But really, that's like, it's always been there and I just, it. I've just always done it. And it wasn't even a, like, I want to do this when I grow up.

It was just, I did it. I think it was more so more than the act of the storytelling. It is just creating platforms for people to shine. Like knowing that.

Oh my goodness, like I just said, I literally just did that. Oh my goodness. Sandra, I need you to, to say my, you know, to be my. To do the intro because it's like I see something in the vision.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:03:28

The vision.

Liberty White: 00:03:29

Yeah, yeah, there's like, I see something. It's like, ah, this, this piece fits here. So.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:03:34

Yeah, definitely.

Liberty White: 00:03:35

I can definitely prettiest answer. But I think for people who don't have it figured out, that will bring them some comfort.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:03:42

Yeah, for sure. I agree. So my next question for you is what is your favorite social media platform and. Or content creating app that you like to use the most?

Liberty White: 00:03:53

All right, so I will say my favorite platform is LinkedIn. I've been spending some hardcore time on it over the past couple of years. I just crossed 5,000 like last week. So.

And I think it's, I think what I like about LinkedIn is just that while it's the, the business, more the business side, but I bring my own personality and flavor to the platform. So I like that part. And app, don't laugh, but I'm a big fan of Inshot. So that's a video editing app.

While a lot of people will probably use Cap Cut, say go back and look at those privacy, the privacy terms and conditions with capcut, you might reconsider. So, yeah, I like using Inshot for video editing.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:04:42

Yeah, I remember. I remember using Inshot, like making my own little YouTube videos. Like InShot was the very first thing I used.

So, like, I know exactly what you're talking about before Cap Cut.

Liberty White: 00:04:50

Yeah.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:04:50

So, yeah, I know. Definitely. I'm familiar with Inshot for sure.

Liberty White: 00:04:53

Nice.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:04:54

So now delving into your experience and this theme of the episode. So let's start with you working across Canada and the U.S. you launched ATL Webfest and you led chosen media.

What first sparked again, like, what is your entry into storytelling? And how did this, how did you know this was the path for you? Again, this question. But what really sparked everything?

What was the first moments of like, this is what I'm going to do for sure.

Liberty White: 00:05:20

Yeah. So, you know, since this is a podcast about women in technology and I'm going to be Dating myself a little bit.

But back during the, like, Internet phase of things, I went to Humber College. That's where I got my project, my web management certification. And I actually started creating a newsletter, an urban gospel newsletter.

I was doing promotions at the time. And this is like where Kirk Franklin started coming on the scene. And there was this gap.

And I think that's one of the secret sauces for me is where there's a. A hole or where there's space that. Something new or different.

So I worked with a lot of poets and rappers who might not necessarily fit the quote, unquote gospel arena, and I created a newsletter. So just going back to, like, just Hotmail and sending out updates. And this is before newsletters were really a thing.

So going back to the question, it really was this creating a platform for other people that I believe that if you see or hear this, like, promise is someone. And nifty.

And these are just some names of some folks way back in the day, that if you see them, there's something about their story that's going to resonate with you. So taking it from there to a magazine and then to actually just being online, and now here we are in the world where everything is online.

That was kind of like a quick snapshot through the origin stories of creating what ultimately became chosen media.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:06:58

Mm. And I think you've talked.

You touched on, like, how you started to, like, make sure to shine the light on, like, underrepresented voices, tech and media. So that's like, you've made that your mission. So what do you think shifts when people see themselves reflected on screen or in content? Like that.

I can relate to that. Like, what do you. What, what do you think? Like, there's a shift with that.

Liberty White: 00:07:20

What shifts is people think and they realize, wow, that's possible. So when I first got to.

Well, a couple years, I'd be going back and forth between Dallas and Toronto, but I ultimately was a web director at a news magazine.

And so being there as the black woman, the only other woman executive in with all these other folks in the department, when I would go spe at schools, they'd be like, one, they never met a black Canadian before, and then two is like, oh, wait, you mean I could do graphic design. You mean I could do tech. I could work on the web.

So the idea of being able to create a platform or to share underrepresented voices is all about helping people see what's possible. Because when you see it, then you can believe it. There are only.

There are a Few people who don't need to see it like it's just like within them and they, they the vision and they make it happen but for everybody else and that's okay. That's why we have, you know, humankind, so that everybody has their own lane.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:08:30

And I, I read in your bio about with AI, like how you've have been working with AI, implementing it into she learns AI and chosen media.

What can you say about your introduction to AI and how you've been able to kind of be more efficient with AI and generating ideas and helping you along in your journey? Yeah.

Liberty White: 00:08:49

So the curiosity and while I said the possibility like showing people what's possible, at the root of that is curiosity and asking questions and just coming from that place to then hearing just in the spaces that I, I'm in. I'm also a part of a community called Office Hours and I've been a host and a panelist there.

And when ChatGPT came out, and we know AI is much older than over 50 years old, but when those tools that were more consumer facing came out and I started to just play around with it and do things, that thirst for knowledge and showing people what's possible is what then opened the doors for me to be able to now teach and train.

And because of my background and knowing that when you look at the data, the World Economic Forum says, you know, 35% of women, when new tech tools come out in the AI space, that's only 35% while 55% of men, there's a big discrepancy there.

So just my innate ability to connect with people, to work in the tech space and then now the storytelling to show women, hey, there's an opportunity for you to upskill.

And then not only upskill, this is probably something that can save you time and provide opportunities for you or at the end of the day make some more money as well.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:10:16

For sure. Yeah.

Did you ever like face any, did you ever face any like obstacles in your journey or have you had like, you know, your own self doubt or your own like moments of like, I don't know if I could do this, I don't know if I could do it. How did you push through those moments if you've had them throughout your journey?

Liberty White: 00:10:33

So like yesterday, this morning, right? Like I don't think that it. So the answer, the short answer is yes all the time.

Especially as an entrepreneur, you've got this, this roller coaster that you come on.

There's a meme out there where it shows what people think Success looks like and it's like this, this straight line and versus it being the valleys and squiggly lines and going backwards and going forwards. So yes, I've definitely faced challenges. I face challenges financially, so fundraising, making money, having to.

Last year I had a studio indicator just outside of Atlanta and that was a partnership and I made the decision, I walk away from that in order to really focus on AI. So you know, just even the idea of is it time to pivot? A lot of people are in that space right now. Do I leave my job?

Do I go go all in on this thing that I've been building? So how do I, I face it? A couple of things. I'm a woman of faith, so prayer is a big part of just how I, I process things.

I'm grateful that I have a trusted circle of, of friends that I can just be myself, take off the, the mask and everything and I don't have to be perfect. And I could just say I'm really sad right now or I need help.

But then also I think an important part of my journey, I am a part of a community called Single Mom Founders. And so this is single what started as single women who are also building a business.

And there's something single special and important when you're on your own journey, whether that be tech, whether that be business, that you find like minded people that as you go through things that you can share, that you can grow, that you can learn together because there's certain nuances of well, why didn't Liberty show up to XYZ again? Oh, because she's also a mom who has to, who's taking care and also a caregiver.

So there's just a different level of understanding and just say it how it is when you are in those, in those kinds of spaces. So that's what's helped me help me maintain in almost 20 years.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:12:51

Yeah, I really liked how you talked about your entrepreneurship journey and how it's more of like as you're like you're.

I don't know how to like word it properly but you're constantly like have to do things on your own and like kind of like work on the fly and kind of like navigate kind of on like on a, as a solo like act. Let's say it's like a solo act. You're trying to manage everything by yourself.

What are like some tips that you can give to entrepreneurs to that are maybe like unsure of like not really knowing what to do that can maybe look onto this interview and Think okay, like now maybe I can do what I've been too fearful to do. Like what are your tips for entrepreneurs?

Liberty White: 00:13:30

Okay, so that's a great question. And I think it kind of builds off of just as I shared, having community in the people that, that you are, that you're surround yourself with.

And one of the things that I love about Canada is the number of programs that they do have available with you. I think right now there's a Rise Canada pitch grant competition that's going on.

So there's a lot of programs out there that will be able to help you with just growing in your business. But another two really critical parts of any founder, visionary or leader is your mental health.

So whether that is your ability to have someone that you can speak to like a therapist or having an outlet just or meditation, whatever those things are that you do. But then also your relationships are key. So whether that's mentors, advisors or even peers.

So those are the things that I look at when I just look at my journey and, and the times where things weren't didn't go so well or where there was a period of accele was through community and relationship.

And that's why even when she learns AI the in the summer after we came back from Cannes, so we did two special events this year was one was the Women in AI Futures and there's a full week of training and conferences and sessions and skills labs to really help women to up level in their business.

And there was this young lady who was in attendance and she shared with me that she one did not know she needed community and she didn't know that she needed a community with other women.

So by us creating that space, we now have a membership where you are not only are you learning AI but you're learning with people who are potentially asking the same questions that you might be too afraid to ask. So just having building relationships and constantly nurturing those is going to make a world of difference in your journey.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:15:31

Yeah, I love how you mentioned the relationship with women because I feel like especially because this is a women in tech podcast for like targeting women that are in technology, in the tech, in the tech space.

Liberty White: 00:15:42

I should say.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:15:43

I think I can relate to that because I think my most strong relationships are with women because I can relate to them. And we have our little like, you know, conversations of like girl, you I are you okay? Like let me help you.

So like relationships are so critical and I don't think I would be like who I am without, you know, my friends like the, my Core, core friend group that have always supported me in what I'm, whatever I'm doing. So I think that's a very key part to that success.

And also just like your overall well being of like having good friends just to hang out with, just like talk ideas with, to give that pep talk when you're like feeling down. So like that part, definitely I loved how you talk about that.

Going back to entrepreneurship, how do you balance like artistry and like creativity with entrepreneurship? What does it take to sustain both vision and viability?

Liberty White: 00:16:31

You just come in with the, like the Katie Couric, Barbara Wall, like all of the, all the folks there, the heavy, heavy hitting journalism questions. Can I, can I be like really honest and transparent?

Sandra Nnaji: 00:16:45

Please, Please.

Liberty White: 00:16:47

I don't, I don't do a very good job of that because I like to say similar to people talking about like work, life balance, so the, the business mind and then also that creative mind, they rarely will be firing on all engines at the same time. So there are times where it's like you're going all in. It's like 80% creative. My creative juices need to flow and move.

And it's like very like the 20% if that of the business part of things. And then there's times where it's like, no, shut down. This is not a creative.

We're not designing, we're not doing any of the, we're not trying to do new. We're on calls for sales, we're out in the streets and meetings and things like that.

So it's knowing and knowing yourself as an individual and then knowing what is, what is the season, Is this a go? And I'm going to bring up the women in AI futures again for this very reason.

So we did our first activation In March, then 90 days later, insane went to France and did it in France. But then when I got back, I shut down. I shut down from my nervous system to, to just recalibrate.

I also shut down because I said, you know what, we need to change some things, some systems. And it wasn't creating, it was just working on the business for nearly two months.

And now it's go time again, back in the streets, doing podcasts, all the wonderfulness.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:18:21

Yeah, it's like there's different seasons of your life of like, this is like my rest season. Like, this is my, I'm supposed to rest. And there's also like the go, go, go. Like, I have a plan, let's do it, let's put it into motion.

And you talk about which is really important about how burnt out you were when you're on this, like, high of, like, the being in France and traveling and talking with these people and trying to, like, being outside, you know, and you have to come back to it and you're all, like, worn out. I don't think you expected to, like, shut down completely, but that was your body telling you, like, let's slow down, let's recalibrate.

And it helped you because now you're able to go outside again. And you talk about how, like, your mental was, like, was challenged and that you just needed to, like, get out and just reset.

How do you stay grounded?

And how did you stay grounded in that time and protect your energy and just start with the basics, come back to yourself and thrive as a human being first before delving into where you are right now and doing podcasts like this.

Liberty White: 00:19:20

Well, I think part of it is having been in this space for a while and recognizing that, okay, so we've been outside. We. It was literally back to back, and it's now time to recharge or not. I'm going to miss this next season.

So it's being able to look at your world, look at your business from a macro level, and even understanding those who are in the business realm of just knowing. Okay, it is Q4 people. Or, sorry, at that time, it was like, Q3. People are setting their budgets.

The world looks very different now, not only in the labor market, but then also in the business and sponsorship world. So you've got to spend a lot longer time trying to create court sponsors for things. So do we have what we need in place to go and do that?

If the answer is no, we're going to sit up, down, tighten things up. And, and, and I like this framing is audit your business, audit your life, and audit your relationships.

So when you ask, how do I keep grounding, it's grounded. It's because I know that end goal that I'm looking for. And again, community village around me and prayer.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:20:40

Yeah, I definitely agree with prayer because prayer has really helped me recently to just stay on the track, stay on track and stray the course. Even when it's like days where I'm just like, I don't want to do work today. But, you know, there's a higher.

There's a higher goal that I'm trying to achieve. I just need to just, like, put my mind straight, clear my eyes, clear my sights, and clear my mind on what I need to do. That has helped me a lot.

So I can. I can definitely relate to a lot of your journey and the qualities that you have. Because that's what's also helped me at this point in my life too.

So.

Liberty White: 00:21:07

Yeah, and I have an 11 year old who keeps me humble.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:21:11

So you need that, you need to be. You need that, you need that humility. You need that, like, let me just, let me just not do too much.

Liberty White: 00:21:20

Yeah, I, I remember I was creating. So in that time of like being still then it also afforded the opportunity that, okay, get the business part even rolling. Even better.

And we were being consistent with our newsletter, started doing more YouTube videos and I was working on a thumbnail and so she, you know, she sees it and she walked by one day, she's like, finally. I'm like, really? Was, Was it that bad? She said so yes. D O I T Shout out to my daughter, Director of Innovation and technology. Thank you.

Sandra Nnaji: 00:21:56

You need that for sure. So time does fly. And unfortunately we are at the end of our interview.

Thank you so much, Liberty for your time today and saying yes to being a guest on the witlove podcast. I had so much fun talking to you and gained so much insight that I think the listeners would gain too.

To everyone that is listening, we trust you enjoy this discussion and look forward to our next episode. Please make sure to subscribe to the podcast. You never miss an episode. We would love to hear from you.

So please leave us a review on Apple or podcast. Bye for now. Thank you.

Liberty White: 00:22:29

Thank you, Sandra.

Speaker A: 00:22:30

So there you have it. We trust that you enjoyed this episode and are looking forward to the next month. Make sure to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode.

Until then, thank you for listening. With love.