Jayde I. Powell on Career Paths, Creativity, and Speaking to the Next Generation at Spelman

Atlanta, GA — Social strategist and creatorpreneur Jayde I. Powell stepped onto one of the most notable historically Black colleges in her hometown not as a student, but as a guest lecturer at the prestigious Spelman College in Atlanta. Invited by Professor Jad-Évangelo Nasser, Jayde spoke to a classroom of young women about the path she took to enter the creator economy and the expanding opportunities now available to emerging content creators.

In 2011, Jayde was a freshman at Georgia State University, managing finals and questioning what her future career could look like. Fourteen years later, she’s standing in front of students who reflect her younger self, though many are already thinking like entrepreneurs. 

During the lecture, Jayde shared her journey from student to creatorpreneur. What was initially deemed a side hustle or a career done “for fun” is now becoming a strategic career accelerator, both inside and outside the traditional 9-to-5 job. With the rise of new social media platforms, the creator economy is combining career-building and professional networking to give online influencers real opportunities to earn income, find new avenues for creative expression, and explore business ownership.

Across industries, businesses are not just sponsoring creators, but they’re now building platforms to empower them. You also see how creators are expanding content creation into media, talent management, B2B influencer marketing, and more. 

What resonated most were the students’ questions, which were pointed, imaginative, and forward-thinking. Their ideas signaled a generation ready to disrupt traditional routes and build something of their own.

This guest lecture was part of Powell’s ongoing commitment to support young creators, particularly Black women, as they enter an industry with unprecedented possibilities, and if the energy in the room was any indication, this won’t be the last time she sees these future innovators shaping the creator economy.

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