{"id":197551,"date":"2023-04-18T07:15:43","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T11:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=197551"},"modified":"2023-04-14T08:24:34","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T12:24:34","slug":"brianna-regine-walston-17-founder-of-strategic-communication-agency-named-young-entrepreneur-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2023\/04\/brianna-regine-walston-17-founder-of-strategic-communication-agency-named-young-entrepreneur-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Brianna Regine Walston \u201917, Founder of Strategic Communication Agency, Named Young Entrepreneur of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Entering her senior year at UConn, alumna Brianna Regine Walston \u201917 (CLAS), had a great career option.<\/p>\n

She was in the midst of completing a very successful public relations internship in New York City, and the company was eager to offer Walston a permanent job after graduation.<\/p>\n

Then came the epiphany.<\/p>\n

She woke up one morning with an unshakeable determination that she should use her talents to create her own strategic communications firm. Even before she crossed the stage at graduation, Walston had created Brianna Regine Visionary Consulting LLC (also known as BRVC).<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt like I was called to do this. I felt it in the pit of my stomach,\u2019\u2019 she says. \u201cI felt I could run a communications company in which humans, not dollar signs, were at the center of every interaction.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

She started BRVC with only two clients. Six years later, Walston\u2019s company is thriving, and she was selected as the 2023 Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the state of Connecticut by the U.S. Small Business Administration.<\/p>\n

Among her accomplishments is a year-long campaign, now underway, to highlight and support 50 Black- and woman-owned businesses, one from each state. Those entrepreneurs represent the fastest-growing demographic of innovators.<\/p>\n

Supportive Parents Gave Her Confidence<\/strong><\/p>\n

BRVC, based in Bridgeport, specializes in brand development, social and digital strategy, public relations, and operations management. The company\u2019s work focuses on organizations that meet the needs of underserved communities, whether because of age, ethnicity, or socioeconomic class. Many of their clients are in entertainment, non-profit, startup, lifestyle, and government industries.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking with brands that positively impact underrepresented groups is important because it is a way to create visibility and opportunities where it barely exists,\u2019\u2019 she says. \u201cComparatively, folks who are constantly represented\u2014whether in the media, in innovative advancements, or in government bodies\u2014typically have better access to resources and their stories are commonly told.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Brianna
(Photo courtesy of Jasmin Harrison)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cBrands that serve individuals who don\u2019t have as much representation, and provide solutions to their problems, in the form of products or services, hold an important role in changing the playing field,\u2019\u2019 Walston says. \u201cThey are trying to make the whole system more diverse and equitable, and we at BRVC have the same mission.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

While resolute in her vision, Walston says it isn\u2019t always easy.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes it\u2019s a challenge, particularly because I want to help as many people as possible, but I also need to make economic decisions for the company; and I try not to burn out,\u2019\u2019 she says. \u201cPlus, as you scale, it is important to monitor how your target audience responds to the evolution of your products and services. And sometimes that learning curve can delay revenue, which can create pressure to compromise and make you consider working with brands that don\u2019t align with your mission. Thankfully, we stayed true to our values and found clients that are a perfect match.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Walston, who majored in Communication, credits her parents with giving her the confidence that she needed to forge her own path.<\/p>\n

As a child, Walston was a keen observer, but she was very shy. When she enrolled in Greenwich Academy, she recognized that she needed to push herself to achieve her goals. She learned to speak up and use her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have very supportive parents,\u2019\u2019 she says. \u201cI\u2019m the first born and the first girl. Out of all my siblings I was told \u2018education, education, education,\u2019 most often,\u2019\u2019 she says. \u201cWhen I wanted to go off the linear path and start my own company, they were supportive.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

She describes her quest to start her business as \u201cGreenwich Academy part two.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew if I wanted to be successful, I would have to put myself out there. I had to meet people. I have to tell my story. I can\u2019t be shy,\u2019\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

\u2018What You Offer to the World Matters\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now that her company is well established, Walston is tasked with growing it even more.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hardest challenge for me today is the \u2018What now?\u2019 How do I uplevel all over again? It\u2019s like beginning anew, but with more structure,\u2019\u2019 she says. \u201cOne of the ongoing challenges when making decisions is being true to yourself. You have to trust your gut and do right by people. You may question if your values hold weight. I want people to feel that human connection and know that I\u2019m in their corner, especially people who are using their businesses to help the under-represented. This is who I am and what I stand for.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Her goal is to make BRVC a multi-million-dollar agency. \u201cI know it is going to happen because I\u2019m doing what I need to do,\u2019\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

Although she is thrilled at the state and national recognition that she is receiving as an entrepreneur, Walston is quick to credit her team for their work. All her staff is women-identifying and a mixture of cultures including African-American, Hispanic, Caribbean, and French.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a blessing to have people believe in what I\u2019ve built,\u2019\u2019 she says. \u201cI\u2019m always thinking about my teammates and what we have collectively created.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

As a young business owner, she is often asked for advice from students and others who are just starting out.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I say to young people is the fact that you\u2019re thinking about your future, that alone gives you a clue to where your mindset is and that you\u2019re wanting to play an active part in what your future looks like. It puts you far ahead of those not thinking like that. If you follow your inclination, you\u2019ll end up where you\u2019re supposed to be,\u2019\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

All entrepreneurs have trepidation, she says. The ones who succeed push it aside.<\/p>\n

\u201cEither become an entrepreneur or you\u2019ll always wonder what would have happened if you did,\u2019\u2019 she says. \u201cProgress is better than being at the starting line. Maybe you\u2019re holding back because you\u2019re scared, insecure or are worried about what people will think of you. Face it head-on. It\u2019s not easy, but it is possible. Know who you are, feel empowered, and know that what you offer to the world matters.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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