WEEN Academy Mentor Spotlight: Taj Rani
Why did you decide to be a WEEN Academy Mentor?
I decided to become a WEEN Academy Mentor because when I was in school, unfortunately I didn’t have a mentor helping to guide me to the next steps that I should take as far as my career was concerned. Also, I think that it’s important as a woman of color in media to support women around me that look like me because without each other, what do we have?
Tell us one interesting fact about your personal/or professional background that served as groundwork for you to become a mentor? Tell us one interesting fact about your personal/or professional background that served as groundwork for you to become a mentor?
An interesting fact about me that served as groundwork for me to become a mentor is actually the strength that I’ve discovered through a mentee of mine that is now one of my interns at work. She keeps me on my toes and has made me a better professional and a better person since coming into my life a year ago. She’s taught me a lot and I hoped to enter another mentor-mentee relationship that yielded the same result.
How did you build your personal/professional brand?
I’ve built my personal and professional brand by being myself. I’m opinionated, honest and sassy, but I’ve always remained professional and willing to learn whatever it takes to improve the work that I do. Working for BET Digital has also helped me build my brand because the people that I work with and for have recognized different talents that I have and allowed me to thrive and take my ideas to the next level.
What are two gems that you wish someone would have told you about the business? Two gems that I wish I had known when I got into this business: 1. Being transparent will work in your favor because it allows people to know and trust you. 2. NOBODY owes you ANYTHING, but people will forget this fact in their times of need.
Who is/was your most significant mentor and why?
My most significant mentor is Shirea L. Carroll. She was my supervisor when I interned at VIBE Magazine in 2008 and from that point on she became my mentor and the big sister that I never had. She has advised me on how to balance my career and personal life, helped me improve on things that may hinder me in the workplace and constantly and consistently encouraged me to follow my dreams.
What are some things that you are doing to make the entertainment business a better place for women?
Some things that I do to make the entertainment business a better place for women is making sure that I do not differentiate myself from any man that I work with. The moment that I acknowledge a difference or the fact that some people may see me as “lesser than” because I’m a woman, I’ve failed myself and women around me. We are equally as capable, so there’s no need trying to overcompensate for other people’s insecurities about me and other women doing our jobs and doing them well. I also make sure to treat all women that I work with kindly. Far too often women are stereotyped as being nasty and catty with each other at work, which is something I’ve dealt with. I remain kind, encouraging, and strong to help make the business the best place for us that it can be.
Who would play you in a modern day movie about your life and why?
The actress that I’d have portray me in a biopic is Zoe Saldana. I’ve loved her since Center Stage and with her sass on screen and off combined with the fact that she is unapologetically herself, I’d have to choose her.
What do you believe are important tools needed to survive in the entertainment industry?
The most important tools that are needed to survive in the entertainment industry would have to be having a strong sense of self, constant faith in yourself and God/a higher power if you’re a spiritual or religious person, a clear vision of your tasks and goals, and lastly a supportive support system of family and real friends.
What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment?
My biggest accomplishment to date would be creating #TheBUZZ for BET.com. It started out as an editorial execution and grew into a weekly webshow written, produced and hosted by me.
Famous or not: Name one woman who embodies what you think a real woman is and explain. Dead or alive
One woman that embodies what I think a real woman is would have to be my Mommy. She’s got her own style, grace and an infinite amount of love in her heart. The only person that I hope to come close to being like as I grow older is her. She is my everything.
Tell us something about you that people do not know?
This is tough because I’m an open book, but something that most people don’t know about me is that I was an extra in the 1999 film, Music of the Heart.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: @tajrani
Twitter: @TAJrani
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