Showcasing the Power of Black Women: Meet Shea Rios the Pretti Beast Using Her Platform to Increase Visibilities for Black Brands

Shea Rios is a Brand and Marketing Strategist who partners with influencers, media companies and solopreneurs to grow their personal and professional brands, human-to-human, and via social media. After spending nearly a decade networking and garnering exposure for numerous start ups, Shea knows what truly drives conversions,  and high profile interviews—and it’s not mastering the marketing flavor of the week. It’s how you connect with the heart-beating people you’re trying to help and communicate your understanding back to them. In addition to her extensive PR, journalism and marketing experience, Shea is the creator of the mental health group, The Safe Place, and the marketing strategist for her local Black Lives Matter chapter in Port Huron. I connected with Shea during lockdown, in a Facebook Group she moderates and immediately knew that I needed to tell her story.

1- What is the name of your company? What do you do and why? How many years have you been in business?

I am the CEO of the digital marketplace, Shop Black Business Hub. This creative platform is geared to uplifting black businesses and entrepreneurs while also servicing in allowing our allies to have a safe space to shop black. Through this, we also are creating interactive pieces through providing business strategies for business owners and in hosting key interviews through our web series that is forthcoming. This side of business is fairly new to me, though my marketing and PR experience have led all roads here. I've also created an online platform for those battling depression and going through their mental health bouts called The Safe Place, where I also offer free counseling sessions to those who wish to utilize it.
 
2- When you’re Black, woman, and self taught, people try to discredit your knowledge- What was your key to tuning out the haters and trusting yourself and your vision?

I strive to stay focused and positive within all aspects of my life, especially business. Everyone will have an opinion on your life - good or bad. But having self assurance in knowing what you offer and bring to the table, nobody can take that away from you. I stand firm in all that I am, and refuse to waver or belittle myself and my credibility for anyone's likeness. You just have to keep your eyes on the prize, and never compromise yourself or your vision.
 
3- When you’re not helping your clients tell their brand stories, you help to shed lights on other Black owned businesses. How did you get started doing that? 

I've always had a deeply rooted love for empowering blackness, uplifting our culture and in servicing others - but within the height of the George Floyd tragedy and all of the momentum carried throughout the Black Lives Matter movement, it was imperative to do more, want more, expect more, and demand more. As the hype surrounding Black Out Day intensified, it became that opportune moment to incite change and be a part of the right side of the culture more than ever before.
 
4- As the communications director for your local chapter of the Black Live Matter organization, what’s one thing you wish people knew about the movement?

My hope will always be for those who have questions or a misconception of the organization to utilize their time to do ample research. There are a lot of people who fall into the negative headlines in believing that we are a hate group, when that is the furthest thing from the truth. We want a change in the system, for those who abuse their power to be held accountable, and to fully serve justice to Black victims and their families.
 
5- PR and journalism both require tons of writing, what do you do to handle writer’s block?

At times, I step away from the task momentarily to regroup and refocus.
 
6- What is your favorite way to treat yourself?

Through a little R&R, or an occasional retail therapy. Makeup has become my guilty pleasure, and my collection has grown to be quite extensive because of it.
 
7-If you could have a conversation with your 16 year old self what do you wish that she knew? 

I wish she knew her worth. I wish that she knew her current situations wouldn't be permanent, and that God has a calling over her life, and that great things lie ahead.
 
8- What is the best business advice you would give to a young woman trying to follow in your footsteps? 

Stay consistent, and to never give up. There will be a lot of lows, but it will allow you to appreciate your highs that much more. Know your worth, never settle, stay true to yourself, and trust the process.

9- Recently, the Shop Black Business hub partnered with Facebook on a campaign to highlight Black businesses. On a personal level how does the accomplishment make you feel?

The Facebook deal means a lot to me. I hadn't anticipated the group catapulting to the heights to which is has - and in garnering the attention and partnership within the very platform the group was founded on, but it has been super rewarding through the creative process in giving that additional exposure and limelight to businesses deserving of it. I come from a small town in Michigan, so to achieve these great things and in helping others along the way has shown to be the biggest blessing. It gets no better than that for me.

10- Why is it important that Black women be on the frontline of the cultural revolution taking place in this country?

Black women are definitely leading the way through this cultural revolution, and have been for decades. We were all created with the innate nature of being nurturers and protectors, and we will do all that we can to protect ours, at all costs. We are very much needed and relevant to what's going on, and creating a brighter future for the generations that follow, and depicting our culture in the great light that it should always been seen through.