Meet Shanté Micah | Founder, Good News & PR Strategist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shanté Micah and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shanté, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?

I deeply desire to make a meaningful impact on the world through entrepreneurship. By the end of my career, my ultimate goal is to be recognized not just for the businesses I’ve built or the success I’ve achieved, but for the legacy I’ve created in empowering other entrepreneurs and fostering innovation. I envision a career trajectory that evolves from creating products and services imbued with Good News—those that not only drive economic value but also promote positive change within companies, communities, and industries.

I want to leverage my experience, knowledge, and resources to help other business builders and entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of brand-building. This involves creating platforms, tools, and ecosystems that enable them to bring their visions to life, amplify their impact, and create massive visibility, clout, and credibility.

I also aim to transition towards investing in and nurturing new businesses, and not merely financial investment but mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs. I want to be involved in projects and ventures that have the potential to redefine markets, introduce innovative solutions to pressing problems, and, importantly, carry forward the ethos of ‘doing well by doing good.’

By the end of my career, I aspire to be at a place where my professional achievements are measured not just in terms of personal success, but by the success of those I have helped along the way. I am committed to uplifting others, fostering innovation, and contributing to a more equitable and sustainable business landscape.

This, to me, is the pinnacle of professional fulfillment.

What should our readers know about your business?

I started Good News in 2021. I had just retired of sorts and thought I was closing the chapter on all things public relations, reputation management, publicity, media, and even marketing. I wanted to launch a business and brand focused on leadership development but I kept getting calls from former colleagues, friends, family, and students asking for help getting their story out there. They thought they needed a big PR strategy. Many had been burned by an agency experience or thought they needed to build an in-house team first and that was not in the budgetary cards. I had led enough teams to know that new PR practitioners aren’t taught to get earned media; if they are, they aren’t aware of how to educate others about it and integrate it into a larger conversion campaign.

That’s how the idea to put my experience and systems into a proper framework came about. I was meeting up with Josh Moody, my business partner and friend, every week, mainly to provide accountability to one another as we individually worked on our projects. In one meeting he had asked me if I’d ever want to do something together and I said yes. Within three weeks the idea for Good News was born and with Josh’s expertise, we’ve been able to innovate in ways I’d only dreamed about as a PR professional.

We now have a full suite of digital products available to support business builders, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and PR and marketing practitioners in generating massive visibility, clout, and credibility for themselves, their business, their products, their craft, and their brands.

I also wrote a book called PR Power Play: Leveraging Media to Market Yourself, Build Your Brand, and Generate Revenue that dropped last December. It’s the entire Good News Blueprint in an easy-to-digest format and at an easy price point. Our goal is to make getting good news as accessible as possible to everyone.

You can get the book at https://higoodnews.com/book

We also have several exciting announcements coming in 2024, including services. We are taking the Good News Blueprint, infusing it with all things AI and tech, creating good-news-getting pipelines for businesses and brands, and then scaling throughout the latter half of the year.

In short, my thought process behind starting my own business was to help as many people as possible. I thought I was going to do that by creating better leaders but a different plan emerged in the immediate and it was a use of my experiences and natural skills but with a fresh take that made it all new, fun, and interesting.

As far as my background – I was raised in a small farming town in eastern Washington. My jobs growing up included driving combine during wheat harvest and working in my dad’s welding and fabrication shop. I was surrounded by blue-collar working professionals. I developed a respect for those who are growing our crops, mending our fences, supplying our water, and ensuring the daily luxuries we enjoy are available.

Driving combines meant hours out in a far-off field, driving 3.5 MPH. You’re lucky if you have a radio in your cab! I took to bringing a Walkman and books on tape that I got from the local library. I was drawn to anything on personal development, interpersonal relationships, minimalism, and business growth.

My decision to pursue a career in public relations and leadership development and then later as an entrepreneur and business builder is founded on those hours and hours of listening to learn and deep contemplation from the time I was 16 years old until I left my small town at 18.

What sets us apart at Good News is what holds the greatest value to us, which is maintaining a human-first approach amidst our pursuit of innovation and technological advancement. Today, technology and innovation are pivotal. We firmly believe that the true essence of progress lies not just in the advancements themselves but in how these advancements serve us to be even more heart-centered.

In my work in PR, outreach cannot be transactional. We consider each writer, journalist, editor, and producer for the people they are, the body of work they are creating, and the audiences they serve. Technology can systemize much of the research and outreach but it cannot replace genuine human connection.

At the heart of every business, of every innovation, there are people. Our customers, our employees, and our communities are not just end-users of technology; they are the very reason we innovate. This perspective shapes every decision we make, ensuring that our advancements are accessible, user-friendly, and, most importantly, have a positive impact on society. It’s about creating technology that empowers, rather than alienates; that solves, rather than complicates.

It’s part of our company culture, too. If we are not a safe harbor for our employees, then what are we doing? As a female leader in this industry, I am particularly passionate about encouraging more women and underrepresented groups to participate in tech and innovation, ensuring they have the support and resources to thrive.

The most meaningful and sustainable advancements are those that enrich our human experience. It’s a principle that guides my actions and decisions every day, ensuring that as we build and grow, we remain grounded in the values of empathy, inclusivity, and compassion. This is the true measure of success.

The most important factor behind my success and the success of my brand is our ability to add value, as well as our commitment to innovation and adaptability. We wanted to help people so we went about helping people. We have a zero-gatekeeping policy. We focus on understanding the evolving needs of the customer and provide products they can use immediately. The book PR Power Play was written to make the Good News Blueprint accessible to even more people, regardless of their budget or stage of development.

It’s not easy but it’s fulfilling and that’s the only thing that makes business sustainable.

Our brand has always been at the forefront of embracing change – not just reacting to it, but anticipating it and being prepared to lead through it. This mindset of staying ahead of the curve has enabled us to seize opportunities that others might not see.

Innovation, in our view, is not just about new products or technologies; it’s about reimagining what’s possible and daring to disrupt the status quo – the entire PR world for one. It’s about thinking differently, questioning existing paradigms, and having the courage to implement new ideas.

I’m excited to see where we take Good News in 2024 and beyond.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I’d start the day with a hike in Runyon Canyon, lunch at Musso & Frank Grill on Hollywood Blvd, and dinner at Yamashiro. A walk through Grand Central Market, explore the Venice Canals and enjoy the street performers and general people-ing on Venice Beach Boardwalk. Should we do more food? Breakfast at Urth Caffe in Santa Monica, dinner at The Rose. More hiking in Griffith Park to Griffith Observatory for iconic city views and stellar exhibits. Maybe the Arts District and Little Tokyo.

Give me all the food and beautiful backdrops!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To the incredible teams I’ve had the privilege of working with throughout my entire career: This shoutout is for you, the true architects of transformation. Your unwavering commitment to excellence in every aspect of our journey together has not only propelled our projects to new heights but also set a benchmark for what teamwork can achieve. You have my deepest admiration and gratitude. Your hard work, creativity, and passion have left an indelible mark on my career and on the countless projects and challenges we’ve navigated together. Here’s to all the late nights, early mornings, big wins, and learning moments. You are the unsung heroes behind our achievements, and I am incredibly proud to have been part of this journey with every one of you. Thank you for your dedication, your resilience, and your unwavering commitment to being the best at what you do. Here’s to continuing to inspire, innovate, and lead with heart.

Website: https://higoodnews.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shantemicah/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shantemicah/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodnewsblueprint

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thisisgoodnews

Other: Get my book PR Power Play: Leveraging Media to Market Yourself, Build Your Brand, and Generate Revenue https://higoodnews.com/book