Awakened Convos: Media Relations Director, Alex Bryant, Chats on the Importance of Acquiring a Skill

Since June 2019, Alex Bryant serves as the Media Relations Director for the Trevor Romain Company. He’s responsible to streamline and amplify the media circulation of the co-founder, the company and its entities in a positive manner through social media and press outreach.

Since graduating from Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX with a B.F.A. degree in Studio Art with a specification in Graphic Design in 2014, Alex moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue his career within the entertainment industry for his work in graphic design, social media and television production. While working on his undergraduate studies, Alex was selected as a student volunteer to SIGGRAPH 2014 in Vancouver, BC, Canada. He worked a variety of roles for ACM SIGGRAPH including: Team Leader, Social Media Manager, Diversity and Inclusion committee member, moderator, student volunteers manager and Student Volunteers program chair for SIGGRAPH 2021.

Throughout the span of 5 years, Alex worked for companies such as: CBS, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Dick Clark Productions and NBCUniversal’s Esquire and Bravo TV networks. As a result, he received an Emmy ® certificate for his contributions at Entertainment Tonight, 4 American Advertising Awards and most recently named Black Enterprise’s Modern Man of Distinction for his contributions to diversity and inclusion initiatives and social media. Alex has also been featured on Hallmark Channel’s Home and Family, Oprah.com and CBS. In addition, he’s commonly known for his devoted help to the Oprah Winfrey Network as a distinguished OWNer/OWN Ambassador, his contributions to the Nelson Mandela Foundation and his invitation to the Dei Ngu Temple in Westminster, CA from his holiness the Dalai Lama.

During his spare time, Alex empowers, engages and enlightens people from all walks of life through awe-inspiring stories detailing the process of overcoming hardships to interactive workshops to harness practical career building skills as he speaks at conference panels and college campuses such as: Virginia Commonwealth University, Long Beach City College, Middle Tennessee State University and Texas A&M University. As a natural humanitarian, lifelong student and a dedicated professional, Alex strives to share his humbleness to people young and young at heart to dream BIG!

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Bryant where he chatted more on his career and educational endeavors and what he is doing to give back to the community. Read the interview below:

Lior: Hello, my name is Lior Israel, and I am doing this interview on behalf of Purposely Awakened Magazine, how are you Alex?

Alex: I am fantastic, and I am honored to chat with you.

Lior: I am so glad, that makes me so happy. So, I know that I may not get to everything that you are doing because you are doing a plethora of things, so can you please give us a little bit of background on what it is that you do?

Alex: Yeah, of course. I was born and raised in the U.K., thus the British accent. I came to the states in 2006, and I have been here ever since. I have gotten myself involved in a variety of different aspects, I love to be creative and with that I received my BFA degree in graphic design. I create websites and logos. I have a background in social media, so I help brands elevate their voices, and awareness. I serve as a Media Relations Director for a children’s company in Austin, TX, called the Trevor Romain Company at www.trevorromain.com and it helps kids to become happier, healthier, and more confident, and then I also have a background in television production.

I help brands with TV production, to coordinate assets to ensure that deliverables are delivered on time, and I love volunteering, I love to give back to the African American community in areas of causes, education, and health. So, that is kind of like a nutshell of what it is that I do and strive for.

Lior: That is so amazing! So, what inspired you to get into media relations?

Alex: The role that I play at Trevor Romain was created for me, they blended my television background with social media, because I have relationships with the press, and the media, and they wanted to harness some of the design stuff that I do as well, with the website, so they created this role where I can help families, and educators on the resources that Trevor Romain has developed over the past 30 years with his work, it is with mental health, and social and emotional learning. That is how I divert into it, relationships matter, I am not usually the one that likes to take, I am always the one who wants to collaborate, and figure out how we can have a mutual bond, that is really important.

So, I have been learning, and growing into this role, to help professionals like myself to have that kind of mentality and mindset.

Lior: Absolutely, wow that is awesome! So, from what I have read, I know that you have volunteered for so many positions in college, and you graduated from Angelo State University?

Alex: Yes.

Lior: Can you talk a little bit more about the positions that you volunteered for?

Alex: Yes, so in college, I transferred from a community college in West Texas before I went to Angelo State, and I really strived for getting a scholarship so that my family did not have to have that financial burden, and so I was really grateful to receive one from General Motors for a full ride (WOW, says Lior). During that process, it is kind of like giving back when the volunteering came in, I received that, and I also received smaller scholarships, but I did not need those other scholarships. I was always a big fan of those PCH (Publisher’s Clearing House)commercials where they would come and present the big, massive checks…saying you won the prize, and I just love surprising people too.

So, I reached out to the other scholarships that I received, and I told them that I am sorry that I cannot accept this one, but I would love to help you select the runner-up, and I asked if I could give it to that person, because I know how that feels when you are told, I am sorry, but you have been declined, and it is one of those things that when you have surrendered you get the help. So, I just showed up and gave it to that person, and they were like WOW, and that is kind of when the media comes in, but I did not do it for the media, the intention was to give someone the opportunity to have their shot for an education to be more accessible, and that was how the media came in.

In regards to the volunteering, I always try to make sure that I gave to courses that aligned with interests that would help me, and that would help people that were like me. In college, I helped the San Angelo, TX community in regards to making logos. So one of the things with college students, I did the scholarships, but I wanted to give back also. I was not able to give back financially because the scholarships had restrictions on the stuff that you could do with the funds.

So, I thought that I could give them a logo or a website design, stuff that might be difficult to pay for (Lior expresses her excitement with this idea). I was also a student leader, and so we would put on different events around campus, and tried to make it more inclusive, but also entertaining, and a fun way to escape from the academia as well. After graduation, I was involved with the Los Angeles Olympic committee for the 2028 Olympic games, and that came about because they literally needed people to hand out fliers, and I maintained a positive attitude, because you just never know who is watching.

The next thing that they mentioned was that they were doing an event with the late Kobe Bryant, would you be able to help with that, so with Catherine Mathison…we did a parade in downtown Los Angeles, for the Chinese New Year, and that was really incredible. So, you never know what the giving back will be but the intention, when people see your heart, that is how other opportunities that you did not even imagine will come about.

Lior: Absolutely! I was just thinking about all these things that you have done, and how you have contributed in so many areas at such a young age, and I think that a lot of times, especially college students…sometimes, they feel that they can just go to class, go to work, and go home, and that the education part will be there once I get my degree.

How critical would you say it is to make sure that you are networking as a student, and making sure that you are building connections while you are there?

Alex: Yes, that is a very good point. That was one thing that my mother and brother used to say to me, you are not going to be staying in that dorm room, you can have some flexibility, and enjoy your college experience. So, any activities that were going on, I made sure that I showed up, but at the same time I also understand that people do not always have the luxury to do that, because you do have to do that work, and also attend to your classes, whether it is remote, or in person.

I usually make sure that if I am in the class, I get in contact with all of my fellow peers in my class, because you just never know when there may be a situation later on in life where that person may need assistance, or you may need to find a good reference, or you may need someone to help with a project. So, if you cannot do it outside of the classroom, work inside the classroom first. Especially if there are group projects as well.

The other thing that I would say too is go out to your community, what are you majoring in, is there something that you can also contribute, and if it is not something that you can do financially, maybe this is something that can go on your portfolio, your resume…so think about that too. Do not do it for accolades, but a way for performance, so how are you saving that person, or that company time, how are you generating revenue, because those would be skill sets that employers would be looking for…okay so great you have an Emmy Award, but how are you able to help my company. The credentials help, but at the same time, your talents can get you further.

Lior: Yes…I like that! I never thought about that before, that is a really good point, I like that a lot.

From what I have read, you have worked for some pretty big companies like, CBS, Bravo TV Network, NBC Universal Academy…etc., so what would you say is the greatest challenge that you have experienced while you were working for those companies, and how did you overcome those challenges?

Alex: That is a very good question. I would say the biggest challenge was making sure that I was the right fit for the team…making sure that I bonded and meshed well, especially with this day and age where people are being more considerate towards diversity and inclusion, making sure that I am in spaces where I feel validated and heard. So, there were challenges with that too, and one of the things that really helped me, especially if I was just starting out at an entry level job, or was new to a company, such as some of those that you mentioned, one of the things that I made sure that I did was to do informational interviews, or conversations, like we are having right now, and basically I wanted to see what is the best way to communicate with you, is it through email, or Slack (an App that works on all kinds of computers as well as iPhones and Android phones), or social media.

If I need ways to get in contact with you for a certain project or task, what is the best way to do so. So people appreciate that type of response because I have made it about what your work style in like. Even asking questions, when I did all of the production roles, I wanted them to know every step of the process from the concept to the final thought. So, I wanted to know what are certain things where I can see that I can speed up the process, making it more efficient, and effective, that became really essential.

So, that is where it stopped being challenging, because in the beginning I was not doing that, and I found myself wondering who do I contact next, or I would contact that person too late, so going through that process, and understanding where I fit in to all of this to make it work, and to make it happen, I found that to be really powerful.

Lior: I would definitely agree, you are teaching me so much right now, and so I am just taking notes (Alex laughs in the background).

Alex: I am in the same boat, I was learning from different types of mentors, and it came from people of color, especially women of color, who have been striving to see to it that I learn all of that too.

Lior: I know that you do different workshops, and conferences at college campuses, inspiring students, and promoting career building skills, so what are 2 of the most commonly asked questions, and what are your responses to those questions?

Alex: My thing is like the myth, okay so now that you have graduated and you have your degree, great I am going to have a job right away, that first week, that first month, and to be honest, that is not the case, especially during these pandemic times. It is just like putting in the work, and it is usually that time when people feel frustrated. So, I usually tell people that it can take anywhere from 0 – 6 months…it could take a year to land your first role for college students, and they are like…what?! I put in all this work, and I just got this degree, you will want to be known, so how do you do that.

I do LinkedIn, portfolio workshops, I talk about these different task that students can be working at store associate roles, there could be transferrable skills to your next job within your degree set and what you are signed up for. So, that is one way that students really find useful. I also talk about how to make the most use of internships, and how to apply, and why you should do that while they are still students, it is also another concept that gets asked about a lot.

The third thing is usually about the lessons that I have learned from the people that I have worked with, whether as a production assistant all the way up to A level executives, what do you do with these conversations and what are the lessons that you have learned. I would say that those are the 3 tops areas that I get asked about.

Lior: Nice, I like that. So, what advice would you give to students that do not necessarily have a zeal for college, but they know that they need the degree in order to be able to work in their field?

Alex: I like that question, and then I would also like to give people some flexibility, because college is not always for everybody, and that is still okay. At the same time, if you can get an education, try to do so because I do feel like education does change the path forward in a lot of cases in this world. So, for those who are struggling to do that, I was in a special needs program in middle school, and I was told that I would not be going to college because you cannot speak properly, write properly, you cannot do math, you are hypersensitive, you are upset if you cannot get an A.

For those people, I always talk about if you are willing to do it, then find those resources, and definitely reach out because I think that it should be normalized to ask for help, that was one thing that I did, and then you can transfer into getting your degree. There are other sources beyond textbooks that you can go to, like YouTube can be a big help on the how to do things. The certifications in the fields, you know you can get them during Black Fridays, or on holiday sales.

Make search engines your best friend, search it, list it, and put it on your calendar, my thing is that if it is not on my calendar, or I did not write it down, or put it on a to do list, it is not happening (they both laugh), and so definitely find a way to make sure to memorize it, and make sure to track it too because if you are just streaming then that is one thing but if you are going to make it a goal to make it happen, then that is how you make the real difference in committing to pursuing your education.

On the flip side too, entrepreneurship is highly recommended too, so picking up those skills, people wear many hats, especially for small businesses and stuff like that, so learning a bit of marketing, learning a bit about the financials, getting the structure and format of the business model that you would like to pursue. Then do it in steps, evaluate what is working, and what is not working. So, for both of those sides if you would like to pursue the educational route or if you would like to go straight from high school and go into the workforce, that is another way to do so as well.

Lior: I like that because that question was for me specifically (they laugh), so I appreciate it. Now, what would you say is the overall vision that you have for yourself?

Alex: I have this motto, where I try to energize and elevate humanity for opportunities that matter, and that are everlasting. So, I try to do experiences that people will cherish for the rest of their lives, so that when it comes to the end of their life, they feel like I am fulfilled, I did everything that I was able to do in the time that was given, that is one of the things that I hear at some funerals, I wish that I had more time to spend with that person.

So, I do this thing called surprise day, and I usually do it on my birthday in mid-June. I ask people what are your biggest dreams, what do you want to accomplish in your life, and some people will be say, I want to connect with a family member that I have not seen in a decade, or I would like to meet this idol to going on this dream trip. Basically, I make this list and I will have some friends and I will tell them that I would like to make these dreams come true, and we go in and make it come true, and we do it on this one day, and it is cool. I take my birthday out of it so that people are not focused on that because people are getting all sorts of surprises of a lifetime and that brings me the greatest joy.

That really fills me up and I know that I gave them something that they can cherish for the rest of their lives, and then I will say to them to pay it forward in their own special way, you do not have to do it as grand as that, but you can do it in a smaller way, and it will still bring a meaningful experience that someone can cherish who may be going through rough times, which many are going through right now.

Lior: I agree wholeheartedly, wow that is amazing! Well I commend you for all that you are doing, that is beautiful, I love that idea! So, please let us know what all your services are.

Alex: Currently, I am working on graphic design stuff, right now I have been helping non-profits. Most of my time has been with the Trevor Romain company. So there are resources on children’s mental health, videos that tackle tough subjects such as, divorce, bullying, and from clicks to moving. There is also a tour that Trevor has been putting together called, ‘With You All the Way’ and then some other things that I can do is consulting and that can be found at www.alexander-bryant.com or you can find me on Twitter @official_alexb_ Instagram is the same without the underscore at the end, @offical_alexb and then there is @alexbryantoffical on Facebook. I am also happy to link up with people on LinkedIn as well so just find the Trevor Romain Company and then my name Alex Bryant and you should be able to find me.

Lior: Beautiful! Now do you have any upcoming events that we should know about?

Alex: That is a very good question. Currently I serve as the student volunteer chair for SIGGRAPH, which is a computer graphics and interactive techniques conference that is being held virtually this summer in August, tickets are as low as $50 and up in order to support the advancements of computer graphics, it is one of my favorite conferences, and it was something that I was a part of when I was a student. It has taken me from Vancouver to Brisbane, Australia to basically help people, and I also work on their diversity inclusion initiatives as well.

I like it because if you are that person that likes to see the special effects that you see in different movies…blockbuster movies to technical papers and artwork, it is really a cool thing to see the magnitude of people who work behind the scenes, the lighters, the vendors, and engineers, animators and so forth. So, when you watch a movie with animation in it you will realize that a lot of work went into that, so that is SIGGRAPH.org, I am doing that this summer with a big group of international student volunteers as well, so they get to experience that.

I also support charities and one of the ones that I have been working closely with is www.comfortcrew.org and they help military children, I grew up as a military brat from the U.S. Airforce, and basically, they provide resiliency resources to military children and their families during deployments. So, this can also be re-integration, and PTSD, where someone where you serve comes in and shows parents and kids how they can reconnect with their loved ones. Then there are those who may be unfortunate like someone who has served but did not make it, there are grief kits available, with a cuddly bear, and they have been around for over 13 years serving children, and my boss is also the co-founder of that organization, and that is how we kind of bonded as well. So those are the 2 main ones, and then I am always willing to chat with the university, and schools…panels and conversations like the one that we are having right now.

Lior: I am so honored to be able to speak with you because everything that you are doing is absolutely amazing, it is so admirable. Thank you so much for all that you are doing in these communities because I know that it makes a huge difference.

Alex: I appreciate what you are doing too. You are elevating voices like myself to give back to audiences that need that boost, encouragement or tools and resources. So thank you for doing the work that you are doing as well.

Lior: Of course! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to interview you, I feel like you are an amazing connection. I am so honored and thank you for allowing us to do this interview, can you please remind us one more time where we can find you.

Alex: Yes, you can find me at www.trevorromain.com or www.alexander-bryant.com.

Lior: Beautiful, again thank you so much, and we wish you the best of luck on all your future ventures, we will be on the lookout for them.

Alex: Yes, of course, please keep in contact…and anyone who is a part of this conversation too.

Lior: Absolutely, have a wonderful evening.

Alex: Thank you so much, you too.