Destined to Disrupt
Destined to Disrupt - Meet Ryen - The Storyteller
Aug 17, 2021
Season 1
Episode 12
On this week’s episode - we have Ryen Williams - The Storyteller
Ryen's dream has always been to direct and entertain. — and she is now making that dream a reality.
She went from wanting to be an actress, then a stylist, then becoming an actual makeup artist, to travel and experience the world as a flight attendant. What a life - She actually wrote and produced a dramedy series all about her life as a NY creative trying to find her way - Here We Go.
Surprisingly, her Economics Degree (from Florida A&M University) opened um, zero doors in fashion and media, but I finally landed a part-time, temp job in the beauty industry. As she grew from Part-time turned into more robust full-time, she soon realized the barriers she would face in the industry.
Being the only black woman on a team full of creatives. Experiencing stagnation in an industry where she didn't feel valued or heard. Despite these challenges, her determination and lack of opportunity led her to bust my a$$ and work my way into managing upwards of $10 million of revenue in campaign productions for some of the world's leading organizations like Refinery29, Glossier, Bombas, and L'Oreal. But, seeing brands using the same talent over and over again — when there are so many other individuals to be discovered — led her to do something about it.
In an effort to change her narrative, she founded Under Her Empire. HER goal is to tell untold stories, create world-changing content, and amplify diverse voices — all while strengthening community
She has been featured on Facebook Business and recognized as an ‘Inclusivity Champ’, ‘Dreamer Doer and Changemaker’, and ‘Magnetic Collaborator’. She currently resides in Brooklyn (the most beautiful borough of NYC). When she is not working (which is rare these days), you can find her either traveling the world, basking in the sunlight and enjoying nature or taking strolls around her beautiful Brooklyn neighborhood, dreaming of which brownstone (with a garden in the backyard) will one day be a part of her Queendom.
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