We’re looking forward to introducing you to Shay Kent. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Shay , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
As a first time mom, who has had little experience being around children, my two year old cracks me up all of the time. Bedtime can be hit or miss. We’ve got a sweet routine down now. I hold her, she puts her head on my shoulder and I hum a song then put her in her bed, say goodnight and leave the room. Well, one evening she was playing with her favorite stuffy, Bear, by putting him to bed. She held him, rocked him and hummed, put him in bed and then ran out of the room closing the door. I cracked up because that’s usually how I feel- like I have to run out before she gets out of bed. It must come across that way too, with her imitation of bedtime! Kids are a trip.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Shay Kent, founder of Iconic Edge PR. I’ve turned a decade of life’s curveballs into my greatest competitive edge—from raising my nieces and nephews on my college fund, to working on Hollywood sets like The Walking Dead, to surviving 36 days in the NICU with my premature daughter. I now channel that relentless drive into amplifying female entrepreneurs and their messages through PR work and my book SHE IS YOU. My belief is simple: when persistence and resilience become your superpower, quitting isn’t an option.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
There are people who come into your life for a moment and others who stay for a lifetime. I was lucky to find my husband, Ash, nearly three decades ago when we were just 15 years old. He’s always seen me in a way that I’ve been largely blind to. His eyes glisten and dance when we talks about me and he loves sharing our fun stories with others. From the time that we were so young, to now, he helps me see what great things I’ve accomplished and magical many of them are when I see them as “just another Tuesday”. Ash has an unique way of giving me pep talks while also poking fun at me, which makes me laugh so hard I cry. Even after 25 years he cracks me up. Through his eyes, I see an amazingly talented, strong, loving, determined woman who is sexy as hell. I really like that version of me.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Of course. As a business owner I think about giving up all of the time. When I started my first business flipping and staging houses I had glitter in my eyes. I thought it would be easy. After all, I was doing something I was really good at. I can walk into a house and design it beautifully.
Then reality hit.
Running a business isn’t the same as doing the job you’re good at. Running a business is doing ALL of the things. Things I hate, things I’m not good at, long days, working nights and weekends. The glamour of quitting your 9-5 so you can be your own boss is appealing and also misleading. I’ve been in the game long enough to know what to outsource, what to automate and what I can skip doing all together.
Now I run a PR company that helps bold female business owners be seen, be heard and be remembered by getting them into the media. I started because I believe that no one will buy from you if they don’t know about you. And the fastest way to reach many people is through leveraging outlets that already have your audience (AKA media outlets).
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. I strive to be my true self. In a sea of imitators and mimicry, authenticity wins every time. The last thing I want is to meet someone for the first time in real life who follows me on social media and them think that I’m nothing like the persona I put out there. What you see is what you get. Sure, the public version is a little more polished- I’m not going to a networking event in my yoga pants and messy bun- but Shay, the person, is the same.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If immortality were real, what would you build?
Am I the only one who is immortal or is all of humanity? My answers vary greatly depending on the circumstances, so I’ll assume that life as we know it is the same, but somehow I am immortal. I would build a global network of large communities where women and children could go to build skills needed to improve their lives and help others do the same. Each location would be built like a little university- Dorms, classrooms, fun zones. They could choose what they wanted to learn how to do, start a business with savvy business leaders and set themselves up for a successful life. We could offer exchange programs to other regions, have a strong philanthropic arm to eliminate hunger and human trafficking.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iconicedgepr.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/The_Shay_Kent
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheShayKent
- Youtube: @ShayKentEntertainment
Image Credits
Anna Faiola
