Kyra Kyles

About

As a digital native and past Editor-in-Chief of EBONY magazine, I have an insatiable appetite for creating compelling, insightful, viral editorial and branded content that enriches emotional connections through storytelling, propelling audience engagement to new heights. I have a well-deserved reputation as an inspirational leader and award-winning journalist who creates a fun yet amazingly productive ecosystem that ignites creativity and enriches teamwork. Under my leadership, dynamic professionals produce the highest quality content on demanding deadlines to deliver results across the multimedia spectrum: digital, broadcast, video, social, print & advertorial. Pre-emptively winning Adweek’s Cover of the Week award in just 24 hours for the buzzworthy February 2017 issue featuring an original oil painting by Kadir Nelson, conceived and commissioned by the EBONY editorial staff under my leadership. Creating a media empire from the humble public transit column “Going Public” in the Chicago Tribune Redeye, which won the Tribune’s Jones Beck Award for journalism by creating unprecedented audience engagement and spawned radio and television appearances. Launching multiple highly successful products across media including The Kyles Files digital column, “The Track-Off” multiplatform music competition and “Human Resources the Series,” a viral sci-fi hit about HR’s reaction to layoffs during an alien invasion. Co-designing, developing and teaching a course on Hip-Hop Culture at Northwestern’s Department of African American Studies. Launching a dedicated in-house multimedia production studio to reduce expenses while creating viral video satires including the “Plus One” segment. I have had the honor of entertaining and informing audiences as a speaker delivering a unique blend of humor, social commentary and media expertise at multiple high-profile events including the Blavity EmpowerHer Conference, Social Media Week and the Chicago Humanities Festival.