photo by steed media service
Publisher, TheRoot.com
Donna Byrd is making an indelible mark in online media. The recently appointed publisher of TheRoot.com, an online magazine that features news and commentary on politics and culture as well as interactive tools for ancestry research, shares how she’s fulfilling her destiny. “I feel most ‘on purpose’ when I am contributing to the growth of my community. Right now, that is manifesting itself through the work I’m doing at TheRoot.com. One of our goals is to challenge the post civil-rights generation of African Americans to think, debate and ultimately, help move our community forward.”
A strategist by all accounts, Byrd has a keen awareness of black media, marketing and digital innovation. The former CEO of Tom Joyner’s BlackAmericaWeb.com was influential in the launch of one of the most comprehensive Web sites highlighting African American lifestyles and current news. A former brand manager for Coca-Cola Classic, Byrd is the founding partner of Kickoff Marketing, a strategic planning and branding firm. Early in her career, Byrd directed Procter and Gamble’s in-store sales execution for the grocery and health and beauty sectors.
Byrd thoroughly enjoys sharing her time, resources and gifts with her community. “First, I enjoy what I do. Launching and building businesses is exciting to me and it’s rewarding to see a company grow. Second, I have a community of friends and family who are extremely supportive. Third, my spiritual life keeps me grounded and focused on what is most important in life,” she says.
An accomplished executive and entrepreneur, Byrd earned her bachelor’s in American government from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. –yvette caslin
