As the Founder of Verified Consulting, Tenyse Williams has carved a niche for herself, impacting the way brands engage with their audiences in the digital space.
In this exclusive interview, we delve into the journey of Tenyse Williams, exploring the roots of her passion for digital storytelling, the challenges she’s overcome, and her vision for the future of Verified Consulting.
Brief us about your journey to becoming a leading visionary in digital marketing and the Founder of Verified Consulting.
My digital journey began as a teenager in the MySpace generation (Hey Tom!). This pioneer platform was influential in setting the stage for social networks today and became my introduction to digital marketing as I got the chance to customize my page with snippets of code and create designs using the barrage of glittering GIFs and music.
Even at that young age, I understood the profound realization of technology’s power to connect and express creativity. The art of storytelling beckoned me to pursue journalism with a vigor fueled by the potential of digital landscapes and my first position was an internship at Inside Edition.
Today, as Founder & CEO of Verified Consulting, we are rooted in the goal of helping businesses grow and flourish in the digital world. Designing tailored strategies that elevate online presence and increase awareness, our team of specialists are making a difference through purposeful publicity and partnerships for our clients. We communicate through impactful narratives within the digital cosmos making us a leading brand-building, public relations, and strategic media agency.
What inspired you to specialize in social media, influencer relations, and brand building?
Connecting people, places, and things is what fuels me and that is the core of social media, influencer relations, and brand building. My mind is always “storyboarding” which has given me the “superpower” to visualize how my clients can connect with each other and fit into situations that will propel them further.
What truly inspires me is the ability to create a buzz, a digital hub where stories resonate, communities grow, and real change happens. I’ve always been drawn to experiences that leave a lasting impression by tapping the human desire for meaningful and memorable experiences. As a result, at Verified Consulting we innovate and evolve with the digital pulse, fostering unmatched influence and brand eminence for our clients. It’s about giving a digital dimension to voices and helping businesses, personalities, initiatives, and organizations break barriers to reach a global audience. I find my rhythm in crafting narratives that captivate and engage—it’s the essence of my work.
As a Certified Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise, how do you ensure that Verified Consulting remains a leader in generating measurable results for clients across all industries?
At Verified Consulting, in addition to securing valuable press placements, we are dedicated to emboldening our clients with sustained momentum. What has distinguished us is our commitment to crafting media and partnership strategies that stand out and deliver tangible results.
A prime example of our innovative approach was our collaboration with Samsung when I was invited to join their January 2024 Samsung 837 Live Event as producer, host & moderator. In this multi-role, I brought together prestigious thought leaders in food & beverage from restaurant owners to celebrity chefs for a visionary panel discussion. In a testament to our strategic creativity and ability to yield measurable success, we seamlessly integrated a live cooking demo that showcased the latest Samsung technologies! Further amplifying the impact, each of the participants, including myself, was featured on a Times Square Billboard to promote the event for an exhilarating three days creating an unforgettable brand experience!
Our involvement epitomizes how Verified Consulting elevates brands beyond conventional press coverage by crafting purposeful and memorable experiences that resonate long-term. As a Certified Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise, we lead by example, demonstrating the power of diversity in thought and action to drive unparalleled outcomes for our clients across varied industries.
You have worked with notable organizations and initiatives such as The Nelson Mandela Foundation and the BET Awards. Can you share a memorable experience from these collaborations?
One major career highlight happened during the Centennial Celebration of Nelson Mandela for the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s “Forever Young Gala.” Tasked with engaging a U.S. audience, I brought visibility to their Mistress of Ceremonies, Enhle Mbali, through a unique and clever social media partnership.
With the goal of maximizing digital reach in partnership with Refinery 29’s Unbothered platform, we bridged the gap between Enhle’s social presence and all of the Forever Young Gala accounts. This was done by delivering exclusive behind-the-scenes access featuring luminaries like Dave Chappelle and Naomi Campbell. Orchestrating and executing this collaboration was a thrilling challenge, particularly with the seven-hour time difference between NYC and South Africa, as it required on-the-fly liaison work to ensure timely content delivery.
Juggling the urgency of capturing the right moments for Refinery 29 with the Gala’s fast-paced schedule was a formidable professional achievement for my agency while being a tremendously rewarding experience for me personally. The day was a whirlwind of activity, but contributing to such a momentous occasion made every second worth it—truly a historical event to remember.
In your opinion, what are the current trends in digital marketing and social media that businesses should be aware of?
In this evolving digital marketing and social media landscape, two major trends for businesses are Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR). AI, particularly in the form of chatbots and digital assistants, is revolutionizing how we communicate with our audience, whether it’s crafting compelling copy or responding to direct messages. This automation not only enhances efficiency but also allows for enhanced personalization and engagement.
On the other hand, AR—evident in products like Apple’s newly launched Apple Vision Pro—allows users to interact with technology more seamlessly, moving away from traditional screens and laptops. Brands need to consider how these immersive AR experiences can be leveraged to showcase their products in innovative ways.
Additionally, the rise of Social Commerce platforms such as Amazon Live and TikTok Shop are increasingly integrating shopping features, transforming the way consumers discover and buy products. Businesses should acknowledge this trend not only for direct sales but also to offer a more seamless shopping experience—increasing the chance of conversions.
These advances and trends offer businesses a unique opportunity to reach and interact with their consumer base, ultimately shaping the future of customer engagement.
What are your long-term goals for Verified Consulting, and how do you plan to continue driving success for your clients?
We will continue to serve clients with the same committed seriousness of purpose to build awareness for their brands through a call to action that strategically positions them for growth. As technology advances, so will we, and our long-term vision will be centered around harnessing emerging technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). We aim to integrate these technologies into impactful experiences and strategic partnerships — uniquely driving exposure and prominence to our client’s brands.
Beyond the commercial space, we aim to establish a non-profit arm dedicated to aiding small businesses and startups in structuring their public relations and digital marketing strategies. Recognizing that smaller businesses, particularly Black-owned enterprises, often face budget constraints, we see the potential for digital marketing and public relations to serve as catalysts for growth and visibility ultimately transforming these businesses into recognized brands.
In line with our ethos of creating memorable experiences, Verified Consulting will sustain and enhance our strategic approach. We plan to continue building pivotal partnerships within the media and tech industries, curating an engaging narrative for our audience that extends well beyond conventional press releases. Our commitment is to keep propelling our client’s stories forward, resonating powerfully within their target markets.
How important is it for you to give back to the next generation?
Very important. For the last four years, I have served as an Adjunct Instructional Specialist teaching Digital Marketing for multiple University programs including Columbia, George Washington, and currently the University of Central Florida. Additionally, Verified Consulting engages the community by hosting workshops to teach college students, young professionals, and startups how to use AI, social media, and other digital marketing strategies.
We were awarded a grant through the One X League to host a workshop with over 50 attendees entitled, “Empowering Voices through AI” in partnership with the NYC Black Women’s Political Club to train small business owners on how to use free AI platforms available through their social channels to automate their business. We are proud to give back by empowering the next generation is essential in continuing our legacy with the future.
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