Page 24 - Home Business - Fall 2018

Empowering Young Artists to Succeed

SUCCESS STORIES
Multifaceted Businesswoman Starts Record Label to
Spotlight Positive Music

By Donnita Shaw
ena Jenkins-Smith, CEO of Young the studio industry as well as high-end home
Millennium Records, knows more than improvement called Th e Kitchen Store, and
La thing or two about paying dues. She she was there for six years. It was there that she
spent 16-plus years working as an executive learned the fundamentals of life.
assistant to some of Hollywood’s elite and in
She is a former school teacher and used to teach
the process, she carved out an inspiring career,
fi rst grade, second grade, and fi ft h grade, along
working with top-tier talent such as Zaytoven,
with middle school health. Th rough her teach-
SWV, Lil Wayne and more. Starting her career
ing experience came her love for empowering
paved her way to becoming the founder of
the youth and helping them through music and
her own record label that emphasizes positive
entertainment. Her desire to make an impact
music; it has been a journey fi lled with roller- Lena Jenkins-Smith, CEO of Young
continued to grow, bringing her back to realize
coaster-like career transitions. Millennium Records
her dream of providing audiences with what
Jenkins-Smith worked closely with celebrities she describes as “good, clean” music, all while
right, that would automatically get her help
including Teddy Riley, Paula Abdul, and Katt empowering up-and-comers — including her
in return. Well she learned the hard way that
Williams by the age of 30, and served as a tour three children — to be groomed and developed
even though you may get a blessing, it may not
manager and wardrobe stylist. She even left for success in an industry that can be dog-eat-
always be from those whom you have blessed.
the entertainment industry behind to pursue dog. In just two years, artists have already
higher education and become a teacher. Jen- been creating a buzz including Jenkins-Smith’s With building a successful business, you have
kins-Smith earned multiple degrees in business 17-year-old son, Cyrus, who has worked with to have an eager team behind you that believes
management, psychology, and liberal studies heavy-hitting producers (“some of the same in your vision and wants your brand to succeed.
with a focus on production. producers Migos, Gucci, and T.I. use,” she add- Jenkins-Smith’s advice for emerging CEOs is to
ed proudly) and opened for Cardi B late last listen to your employees, even if you don’t make
year. She is committed to giving young artists your decisions based off of what they say . Learn
a head-start. what their gripes are and their complaints, and
balance them out with what makes them happy.
Th e ambitious entrepreneur started out in At-
Find their skills and try to build the position
lanta, working from her home offi ce looking
around those. Don’t have people continue to do
for artists and creating/developing her business
what they are not good at. Everyone is happi-
plan for her new record label. She knew that she
er that way and employees will do a better job
was going to have to create an amazing brand
once they know you are taking notice of their
and have a pure key messaging to help mold
strengths and using them to the company’s ad-
these new artists into well-respected brands.
vantage. And smile, as it never hurts to smile.
She later branched out to the west coast to re-
She is always known as the woman whose smile
connect with some of her former colleagues
brightens the room. It means a lot and it goes
in the entertainment business. She did a lot of
a long way!
talent scouting and got some help from R&B
legend Keith Sweat to guide her in the way she
Th e future for this go-getter is bright and she is
should go with the business. He also signed on
still working on empowering everyone around
as the President of Young Millennium Records,
her. Jenkins-Smith is working on a scripted
along with his son being an artist.
series that showcases the empowerment of
Failure is not the alternative to success. It’s women who work behind the scenes, accord-
something to be avoided, but it’s also only a ing to Th rive Global. Her motto is to never be
temporary setback on a bigger, more signifi - the smartest person in the room. Also that you
cant course. Everybody encounters failure at should always strive to learn more and take
one point or another. What truly matters is advice from those that are smarter and more
how you react to and learn from that failure. affl uent than you. She is steadily growing and
Jenkins-Smith graduated from Loyola Ma- Jenkins-Smith has taken every failure she en- learning from her peers in the entertainment
rymount University in California. She also countered and turned it into triumph. People industry. She is looking to gain more young art-
received an Executive MBA from Strayer Uni- you have helped in the past will not always be ists to create more positive music for the young-
versity under the study of Jack Welch. Her very willing to return the favor when needed, she er generation. By creating more opportunities,
fi rst job out of high school was an offi ce manag- quickly learned. Th e golden rule is big in her she feels like all of her hard work is paying off .
er. She started working at a place that services life and she thought if by just treating people Visit http://youngmr.com/.
28 Home Business Fall 2018 www.homebusinessmag.com
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