Antoinette Love Ransom- MBA
Antoinette Love Ransom is a dynamic creative leader whose career spans more than two decades across entertainment, fashion, media, and marketing. Born in Springfield, Missouri, and raised in Kansas City, she began her journey in the arts through theater—both on stage as an actress and behind the scenes building sets. In 2000, she moved to California to pursue opportunities in the entertainment industry, appearing in television, game shows, and independent films while also touring as a dancer with major artists including Lil’ Kim, Usher, and Brian McKnight. A pivotal injury during a Britney Spears tour audition redirected her path, leading her to expand into acting, producing, and fashion design, where she trained in Los Angeles and worked with high-profile platforms such as the Tyra Banks Show and America’s Next Top Model.
In 2009, Antoinette founded her production company, Exhibit Ambush, turning her vision into a large-scale creative platform that blended fashion, art, and performance. Her debut event drew overwhelming attention, exceeding capacity with thousands of attendees and earning celebrity sponsorship, including support from RuPaul. Over the next seven years, she produced high-impact events in partnership with organizations such as Susan G. Komen, Habitat for Humanity, and the Amazon Foundation—donating 100% of ticket proceeds to charitable causes while generating significant revenue through sponsorships and VIP experiences. Known for her ability to merge creativity with strategy, she simultaneously held leadership roles in other industries, demonstrating an unmatched work ethic before ultimately stepping back to focus on motherhood and recalibrate her professional direction.
Today, Antoinette operates at the intersection of media, branding, and entertainment production. She has worked alongside top-tier talent and is currently developing film and television projects involving industry icons such as Al Pacino, Will Smith, Chris Rock, Kate Beckinsale, and Kathy Bates. After pitching a reality television concept to Oprah Winfrey’s team—resulting in a filmed pilot prior to pandemic-related delays—she continues to pursue production while building a successful marketing, branding, and public relations business. Through her work, she helps celebrities, creatives, and companies elevate their visibility, secure media placements, and grow their brands. While her consulting work drives measurable results, her true passion remains storytelling through film and television—where she continues to channel her creativity, resilience, and vision into projects that inspire and entertain.
• BSA in Fashion Design from LA fashion school
• Northcentral University
M.B.A Graduate, Strategic Marketing
• Mesa Verde Middle School PTA Member
• Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints- member
• Event production partnerships with Susan G. Komen
• Event production partnerships with Amazon Foundation
• Event production partnerships with Habitat for Humanity
What do you attribute your success to?
I think what set the discipline for me was the fact that I came from a family of a lot of blue-collar workers, and my grandparents and my parents always had us working as kids. My grandparents owned a janitorial company and they started that with hardly anything and grew it into a big business. Then my uncles and my dad and everybody started doing it, so they got the grandkids into it. I remember being seven or eight years old, and they'd have us emptying the trash cans in some of the offices and contracts that they had, sweeping the floor. I think I learned at a very young age that discipline of hard work, and I just kept that throughout high school when I was playing sports and working after school and going to church. I've maintained that discipline into my adult life. I pass that down to my sons too, because I tell them it's not gonna be easy. You have to definitely be a self-starter, you gotta be disciplined, and you have to have faith. Those are the three qualities you really need to be successful.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I’ve been fortunate to have many influential people shape my career over the years, and there isn’t just one piece of advice that stands out above the rest. Each person has contributed something meaningful to my journey at different stages. I would like to take the time to thoughtfully reflect on those influences and highlight them in my own words, as they have collectively helped guide and shape the path I’m on today.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say don't waste hundreds and thousands of dollars on film and art school like I did. You don't need to put yourself in debt. All you need to do is just intern under somebody, like me, intern under somebody that knows what they're doing, get some hours under your belt, and work your way up. There's no reason to go $100,000, $150,000 in debt in student loans to learn what I do. Here's the thing - when you go to film and art school, like I did, you don't learn everything you need, you don't even learn the stuff you need to know. All that goes out the window when you're sitting in Warner Brothers or Paramount and you're pitching a movie. They don't even tell you how to do that in school. I had to learn that by the School of Hard Knocks, making a lot of mistakes over the years and figuring out, oh my god, Antoinette, you should have done this. I would say to anyone creative, see if you can work under a professional for a few years, or different professionals, and kind of learn, and then go out and branch on your own. You don't need to pay a lot of money and get in student loan debt to learn what I do.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges has been the long-term impact of the pandemic, which halted production on projects—including a pilot I was working on—and created delays in financing and contract execution. Additionally, shifting political and market conditions have slowed certain aspects of travel and production. However, there are still strong opportunities in pitching and developing projects. Once financing and commissions are secured, there is significant potential to move forward and bring creative visions to life.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me are discipline, hard work, family, faith, and being a self-starter. I believe in putting in the effort, staying grounded, and maintaining a strong sense of purpose. My faith and family keep me centered, while my drive and independence push me to keep creating, building, and pursuing the goals I’ve set for myself.