Her Story
About Shavonda
Shavonda Miles founded Vonda Monet LLC in 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds a bachelor's degree in mass communications and journalism from the University of West Georgia. Miles began her career as a bilingual English tutor certified as a TESOL instructor and worked with VIP Kid from 2017 to 2019. She spent 15 years at CNN, starting with assignments related to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and later serving as a liaison for domestic news teams, before being laid off in early 2020. Since then, she has focused on creating branding, messaging, and onboarding strategies for political clients. Miles is an intermediate Spanish speaker and actively volunteers with the Junior League of Atlanta while advocating for early childhood education initiatives such as the Distraction Education Act. She is a member of the Junior League of Atlanta, Atlanta Press Club, and Atlanta Association of Black Journalists.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shavonda
01What do you attribute your success to?
My upbringing from my parents. Both of them worked really hard. I grew up in the late 80s. My parents put me in magnet schools, I learned diversity very, very early, in the late 80s. Being in that kind of school system, being in a magnet school, learning about diversity early in life, that has taught me how to get along with people, and just understanding different values and cultures.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Make good choices with the options you have. Be cognizant of your actions, think before you speak, because first impressions truly matter. Be a good listener. Find a way to say something positive before you say something negative. Be very cognizant of mental health these days.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Misogyny in media and politics. Women being in positions of power is challenging. Salary inequality. Getting opportunities for work where men with less experience get promoted. Having to supplement income with tutoring and other work after layoff from CNN.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity. Family. Being Christian. Praying before decisions. What would my parents think? Being a good example of a mother to my son. Being a team player. Feeling comfortable within yourself and confident in decisions. Aligning with ethical values.
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