Since graduating from Langston University, alumna Kaila Lessier has learned many things throughout her career journey.
Lessier graduated from Langston University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism. She began her career after college by moving back home to Los Angeles, CA, and applying to multimedia production companies. She worked on projects and sets she never dreamed possible. However, when a sudden production strike left her unemployed, she made the decision to attend graduate school at Clark Atlanta University.
“My decision to pursue a degree in Entrepreneurial Management was rooted in a defining moment: the production industry strike that left me without work for months. That unexpected pause forced me to reevaluate my career direction and inspired me to invest in building a more sustainable foundation for my goals.”
She is currently a first year MBA student. Her classes currently focus on marketing, managing business finances, calculating customer satisfaction, and communication skills. She focuses her entrepreneurial education on her businesses, including her juicing company (Juicing with Soul), her YouTube channel, and her music career. But juggling multiple business ventures can come with unspoken challenges.
“You always have to be open to learning and adding new strategies that make your business stronger. It’s nice to say you own a business, but it’s a whole different story when you’re grinding behind the scenes, doing the paperwork, and handling all the details that people don’t see.”
Even within the struggles, she strives to pursue her goals, a core value she learned while working to get her bachelor’s.
“One of the most important lessons I learned at Langston was exactly what I shared before: to know myself, stay true to my goals, and trust the journey, even when it’s tough… I learned to rely on myself, face challenges head-on, and embrace the journey, knowing that everything I needed was within me.”
She encourages students seeking entrepreneurial and multimedia jobs to have strong goals, be confident, put yourself out there, and always gain experience.
“Show up as yourself. Be professional, but don’t feel like you have to conform. Know what you want in every season of your life, and if that changes one day, that’s okay—just have a plan… When you’re fresh out of school, sometimes the experience is worth more than anything. Don’t let not getting paid stop you from gaining valuable experience”
As an entrepreneur in school, Lessier is taking a small break from certain projects to focus on school and building support for Juicing with Soul. She participates in pop up style events in the Atlanta area for promotion.
“My favorite business to manage is my juicing business. I think it’s because it feels more tangible than the others… it really feels like I’m building something solid, something that, in a few years, will be a foundation my kids and future generations can stand on.”
Her goal is to build her businesses enough to generate profit that can allow forward progress for future generations.
“My aim is to create generational wealth, break long-standing cycles, and set a standard that benefits those who come after me. It’s about establishing a legacy that reflects resilience, opportunity, and a commitment to progress for future generations.”
Ciera Agee
Ciera Agee is a junior broadcast journalism major
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The Gazette serves as the student voice of Langston University. It is produced within the Department of Communication as a teaching tool and local news source for the campus community. The views and opinions expressed within are those of the writers whose names appear with the articles and do not necessarily represent the views of Langston University.
