LOS ANGELES — Viewers see the polished, completed product on TV.
However the majority of arduous work is completed behind the scenes. Simply ask Queenie Donaldson. She labored at prestigious networks and movie star occasions for the final 20+ years. These networks embrace BET, TV-One, VH-1, Showtime, A&E, We TV, Viceland and Telepictures. She even coordinated the well-known forty fifth party for Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop."
Transitioning right into a extra entrepreneurial position, Donaldson began Queens Leisure Group, which is presently internet hosting a brunch to assist invent and reinvent the careers of these within the leisure business. The hassle is known as "A Seat @ The Desk."
After working with Jamie Foxx, Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Hart and different stars, Donaldson is taking her embellished Rolodex and recommendation from mentors and stepping ahead to assist others accomplish their desires.
Donaldson shared her imaginative and prescient with Zenger.
Zenger: Some celebrities will be temperamental and standoffish. How did you kind a bond with so many and preserve it?
Donaldson: That is a superb query. Simply deal with them like an on a regular basis individual, as a result of we're all human beings. You deal with everybody with respect. Deal with folks the way in which you need to be handled. That is most likely what has sustained me over time, being an government at BET Community and different networks and award circuits. The business appears huge, however it's super-small. Whenever you deal with folks with kindness and have an excellent work ethic, that sustains relationships with celebrities and their reps.
Zenger: All of us need that one alternative, however getting the chance is just half the battle. Capitalizing on it's what you had been capable of do. What recommendation would you give?
Donaldson: It undoubtedly wasn't simple. I am arising on 22 years within the business, and Yolanda Starks White and Sheila Frazier had been my bosses at BET Community. They employed me within the expertise division and taught me all the things. Yolanda Starks and I nonetheless have a really tight relationship. Getting mentors is extraordinarily vital. And ensuring that you simply do your half as properly.
Nobody goes to present you something. You must do the work. Early on, once I was on the brink of begin my enterprise, I used to be given all of the instruments and assets, however I used to be afraid to make use of them. I did not know find out how to make the most of them. It took a minute for me to get the boldness to take it to the subsequent degree. That was a blessing. Individuals do not all the time offer you assets and steering, and typically, you do not know find out how to make the most of them. So, I lastly acquired the braveness and confidence and reassurance from my mentors, and I simply went for it. I am blessed to be right here now. Now, I am giving again a number of the similar issues that had been supplied to me years in the past.
Zenger: What you are doing with Queens Leisure Group, is it a lot completely different out of your TV government days, or does all of it someway tie-in?
Donaldson: Once I was an government, my job was to safe all of the high-profile celebrities for all of the community exhibits and award-show circuits. I labored with some nice producers, government producers for a lot of networks. I nonetheless work in that very same capability, however in a consulting capability.
Now, I can decide and select who I work with, what tasks I work on, and it additionally permits me to work globally. And in industries outdoors the leisure business, just like the tech world and the sports activities world. All the pieces someway all the time revolves round leisure and the philanthropy half.
I can be coming to New Orleans for the final leg of my talking collection known as "A Seat @ The Desk." It is an leisure empowerment brunch collection. I am serving to people, entrepreneurs, creators, leisure professionals, not simply individuals who need to be in it. There are people who find themselves in it and have to reinvent themselves; they only want new assets and steering. I am educating them find out how to navigate the business by, "A Seat @ The Desk."
Zenger: There may be an abundance of gifted entertainers who're trying to find work, or their cellphone is not as busy because it as soon as was with jobs. This brunch sounds prefer it might assist these people.
Donaldson: Completely! It would not matter if you wish to be in entrance of the digital camera or behind the digital camera. I simply acquired again from Chicago, which was my seventh metropolis, and what I have been discovering is, folks haven't got the appropriate info, or they have no info. They really feel like as a result of they don't seem to be in Los Angeles, they cannot achieve success, and that is simply not true.
With know-how and digital, as an alternative of transferring to LA with no connections, I am really offering them, not solely one-on-one teaching at these brunches, however they're leaving with a step-by-step information, to allow them to take the assets that I give them and execute. No matter a part of the business, I've the assets and instruments. That is all 20+ years of networking and constructing my relationships. I am doing this to present again and ensure everybody has the appropriate info. That is the important thing for me, the appropriate info.
Zenger: Was it scary so that you can soar out of your consolation zone and step from behind the scenes and lead your personal firm?
Donaldson: Completely! I beloved being behind the scenes. I felt comfy there. However to ensure that me to serve and have the ability to be of service and ensure folks have the appropriate instruments and knowledge, I needed to get in entrance. I am getting comfy now as a result of I am getting follow by this talking collection. I like seeing folks impressed. One of many attendees in Seattle stated: "Wow, I really feel assured. I can go begin my consulting enterprise." At first, she was afraid, however she attended the occasion and heard my story ... as a result of I am very clear. I let folks comprehend it would not matter what you seem like, the place you got here from, or how previous you might be.
Typically, we get caught in our personal heads, and we expect we won't do issues as a result of we're getting older, or it is simply not going to occur. Day by day we get up, you are able to do no matter you need to do. At "A Seat @ The Desk," we offer you what it is advisable to make it occur. We're ensuring everyone seems to be impressed, inspired, and sure, you are able to do it. It is going to take work. You must do the work. That does not go away, however this is what it's a must to do. That has been impactful.
Zenger: You are often called an "Infopreneur." What does that imply?
Donaldson: My enterprise coach known as me that as a result of all by my profession, I used to be like Oprah Winfrey. Everybody known as Queenie for no matter it's that you simply want: a job, intern, a contact, find out how to get into this occasion. I've all the time been resourceful. It simply occurred so naturally and organically. After we had been constructing my profile, she was like, "You might be like an infopreneur." We simply went with that.
I am full of knowledge and to me, when you may have that, you do not maintain it to your self. You share your information and your assets. To start with, when my mentors had been educating me all these items, I wished to only sit within the expertise division and simply ebook expertise. They stated: "No, it is advisable to be taught each a part of the business."
It is so pure to me, I am all the time trying to be taught, even 22 years in. I am not stopping. I do not assume I do know all the things. I am educating what I do know. I need to develop and be taught extra and ensure I am doing my half. That is how I need to be remembered within the business. I would like folks to have the ability to say that I helped them. That is extra fulfilling than the celebrities that I booked. We're so a lot better after we collaborate, assist one another, and see folks win.
Lots of instances in Hollywood, folks will be egocentric, and it may be about them, even with social media. All people is a star and vital, however no ... for those who're not utilizing your platform to do one thing optimistic, you are irrelevant. I do not care what number of followers you may have. When you're tearing folks down, that is not success. "A Seat @ The Desk" is for everybody of all ages, however what I am actually making an attempt to show the younger of us is, all the things on social media just isn't actual.
You must be taught to speak, it's a must to get off the cellphone and truly have conversations, and work in your persona and perspective. I give it to them actual. Even the seasoned ones who do not embrace younger folks, we've got to be an instance. It goes each methods. It isn't about attacking the younger folks. Everybody ought to be studying and rising.
Zenger: Is there a second that stands proud greater than others in your illustrious profession?
Donaldson: There's really two moments. The primary one is doing Michael Jackson's forty fifth party in 5 days (laughing). That was loopy. It was in 2003. I used to be engaged on a present with Jimmy Iovine and Paul Rosenberg, Eminem's supervisor, and Randy Sosin, one of many executives at Interscope. I acquired a name from a mutual good friend, and he stated: "We'd like you to do Michael's birthday." And I used to be like, "Oh, OK." He stated, "No, in 5 days." I am reserving expertise for 9 exhibits within the midst of manufacturing, and I pulled it off.
It was a miracle, however after all, it is Michael Jackson, so it wasn't as arduous. For me to have the ability to try this and pull in an outstanding staff, we simply made it occur. That was a lovely second. Additionally, being part of the expertise staff that was capable of carry collectively one of the crucial iconic BET Awards when James Brown carried out, and we stunned everybody with Michael Jackson. That was one among my spotlight moments, being a part of the expertise staff to make that occur. There are lots of moments, however these two had been superb.
Zenger: How do you're feeling about TV present reboots?
Donaldson: I personally do not look after them. It isn't shade to anybody. I similar to basic. I like to tug out my VHS or DVD every now and then and simply maintain it old fashioned. I simply assume, everyone seems to be a artistic, let's create. Let's get some new stuff happening. I simply do not assume all the things wants a reboot. Even with "The Recent Prince" ... the story strains are simply bizarre. It is simply completely different. I relatively watch my Nineties' classics and go away the reboots to whoever is watching them.
Zenger: What are the short-term objectives for Queens Leisure Group?
Donaldson: I am really engaged on that, that is a 5- to 10-year retirement. I am really producing a brand new mission with my boss/mentor Yolanda [Starks] that we're going to be launching within the subsequent two to a few years, and hopefully that can be my retirement mission with Queens Leisure Group. Once I do retire from the business, I will not 100% be retired. I can be transferring extra into the philanthropy work as a result of that's what I like. I'll nonetheless be part of bringing the leisure facet to the philanthropy facet of issues.
"A Seat @ The Desk." Saturday, June 11 in New Orleans, Louisiana, at Lodge Provincial within the French Quarter. For extra info and to register:www.officialasatt.com
This story was supplied to Newsweek by Zenger Information.
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