Today we’d like to introduce you to Georgia McClintock.
Hi Georgia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I never thought I would be an independent radio entertainer. And it was never my plan to own two businesses, Sophya D Network, LLC and Sophya D Radio, LLC. I was 19 years old, entering my 2nd year as an intern for 2 radio stations in Greenville, South Carolina. The larger station I was interning at started doing some major management shifts. The Program Director (PD), I worked closely with, was moving to another city. That left me devastated. He was one of the few radio personalities that gave me a chance to co-host. Remember, I was just 19 years of age and asked the PD this question, “What am I supposed to do when you leave? I only know you. I plan my entire college schedule around your radio show.” The PD paused and looked me in my eyes before stating, “You can either stay and let the industry set you up to make money off of you or you can become independent.” I had such a confused look on my face. I remember telling myself, “What in the hell does that mean?” When I transferred to the University of South Carolina Upstate, where I received my B.A. in Communications Journalism, it clicked! I cannot explain it. It just made sense about developing my own brand and my own content.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This road has not been easy at all. My brand and identity are important in media. I remember when we filed our first trademark, under the previous brand, I did not know the type of enemy I was going to face. A multi-billion dollar organization came for my brand. It shook my core. We are a mom-and-pop small business. This organization made it very clear that I could not file my federal trademark. After months of going back and forth with the attorneys, I agreed that I could never use that name again. The important message is that I needed to define the brand again. It was a painful experience, but the brand Sophya D was it. It felt natural. The brand makes me smile.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My personality! I think my acting career fueled my creative side. I did not know anything about acting or theatre. All I knew was radio broadcasting. I attended a 2-year technical college before transferring to the university to study radio broadcasting. I had to take an intro to theatre class as one of my general education courses. My instructor at the time said, “I think you would be perfect to audition for the Shoestring Players academic acting scholarship.” I literally had no clue what my instructor was talking about. I said, “I don’t know anything about theatre. All I want to be is a radio personality. I want to change my community one day at a time through the microphone. That’s my passion.” Needless to say, I auditioned for the scholarship, was awarded the scholarship, and did not know how much creativity I had in my DNA. In my first semester at the university, I wrote my first manuscript play. I was writing my own news stories and casting visions for class assignments. My upper-level classmates pushed me to find that confidence. This was my foundation to pursue that artistic and creative side. I desired to be bold and make a statement of artistry.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Never be afraid to try something new when someone in the industry is dropping wisdom on you. Over the last 10 years, we have had so many mentors to pour into us. Once you receive wisdom, it’s important to write it down so that you can begin to plan things out visually.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sophyadnetwork.com
- Instagram: sophyadnetwork
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SophyaDRadioShow
- Twitter: sophyadnetwork
- Youtube: sophyadradio
- Other: https://linktr.ee/sophyadnetwork
Image Credits
TS Creations
Atom BLK Aeography
