Meet Ruby J. Knight | Creative Designer, Visual Artist, Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ruby J. Knight and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ruby J., what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I formed Gifted Era™ with the inspiration of culture, authentic expression, and my passion behind wanting furtherance in the Entertainment/Creative industry that is stable and less of a risk to pursue for the artists & creatives (of any lane) striving to make their passion the primary source of their living and looking to be heard and make an impact on the people needing to connect. The idea was to create an accessible space that provides these artists/creatives/businesses with a range of dynamic services, assistance, resources, and tools to grow closer to their goals in advancement, audience awareness, and overall visual personality. Services including Visual Brand Development, PR, Promotion, Events, Content Design, Photography, Videography, and Creative Consultations are all lanes of assistance provided with the aim to get steps further (if not a mile). The Creative/Entertainment industry is handled as if it’s disposable, but being an artist in itself is a business and should be carried and managed as such.

What should our readers know about your business?
Curated for artists, creatives, the world of entertainment and creative businesses alike; Gifted Era™ is all about elevating culture, bringing a new flair to ‘New Media’ and creative services, assisting both artists on the rise and established brands on their route to their destination, and shining light on those looking to share their gifts and voices in Entertainment. From music to film, fashion to visual arts, Gifted Era™ brings it’s own unique style, inspired by the essence of the new age artist and that particular boldness and level of vulnerability that it takes to create unapologetically. The assistance and empowerment of the ones who are on that mission, is one of the major goals of Gifted Era™; celebrating creativity in all its forms and empowering artists.
BUT, long story short (short story to the end), ‘New Media’ and creative services for artists and creatives.

I’m excited to guide and witness the manifestation of the outcome that I know my business can have on the creative community.
I’m happy that I haven’t given up on my vision, even though i’ve been told by people multiple times (that I allowed to be a part of my life prior to healing through certain things) that I was doing nothing and that it wasn’t going anywhere. But i’m grateful for the experiences and the lessons that i’ve learned both about myself and about the world of business and entertainment in itself.
The biggest lesson that i’ve learned so far is the fact that before any motion or movement in my business could happen, I had to work on mySELF. I have to be solid as a person first, before pouring into my business. I had to see where I was holding ME back, fix and shift my mindset-mindstate, get disciplined, change what needed to change- both inside of me and around me, do the work and allow life to life without the attempt of trying to control everything. These changes and shifts are not easy, but (in my opinion) are mandatory for the form of growth that any of us would want to see with anything that we are striving to build, because it’s mandatory to know who you are up to the point of where you are. Everybody wants to get to the top, and even though each mission is personalized, most don’t know just how much it takes to get their and hold down the position. Some things have to go. Some people have to go. There will be opportunities that you may feel like you “missed”. I was denied and dismissed more times than I can count, business and personal; but the best decision that I ever made, and am currently making, is to keep going. I make that decision consciously every single day. The decision to be better, continue to grow, continue to heal, and continue to build; for myself, the people who deserve the best of me, and for my vision for Gifted Era™.

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?
Honestly LA is very diverse, so i’d try to plan some things that would tap in to each of the highlights that I believe would be most memorable for them visiting. Of course there are the tourist spots that everyone knows about like Hollywood Blvd and Venice Beach, but i’d definitely take them to a few spots that I know have some great food that usually only natives know about. I’d hit some underground art spots and maybe get some shoots in if they’re interested, and some live music hangouts would definitely be on the list of things to get into.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m still building but It’s been quite the rollercoaster, and i’m grateful for the ones who stuck around while I was putting the pieces together in the different stages of self and in businesses.
It wasn’t/isn’t easy for me, and I know it wasn’t easy for them. The entrepreneurial journey is not for the weak, and i’m honestly just grateful for my genuine friends, family, and even people along the way that have assisted in even just giving me a solid word when I needed it.

Website: https://www.gifted-era.com

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

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

Other: Tiktok

https://www.tiktok.com/@thegiftedera

Image Credits
Ruby J. knight, Cottonbro, Nicole Schlaeppi