Brianne Garrett Speaks On Her Journalism Inspirations, Exploring Writing As A Career, Building Her Name At Forbes, Helping Expand the For(bes) The Culture Community, And What’s To Come For 2021.

February is officially coming to a close. Although our Black History Month conversations are wrapping up with this last interview, that doesn’t mean we’re going to stop shining a light on Black creatives and entrepreneurs. The mission still stands!

Last year, around late July/early August, a friend of mine suggested that I apply to be a part of the For(bes) The Culture community. For those who may be unaware of what For(bes) The Culture is:

“The mission of For(bes) The Culture is to create equitable pathways for Black and Brown professionals. We’re a hub for elite leaders of color who are breaking down barriers and impacting culture globally to connect, collaborate and change. For(bes) The Culture provides a platform that fosters professional development, social consciousness, civic engagement, intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship through community service projects, social and cultural outings, personal and professional workshops and seminars, mentoring, tutoring, and networking.” - Forbes

To paraphrase, the hub is filled with various other amazing creatives from all backgrounds with the intent to share resources, knowledge, connections, and more to help Black people gain a leg up within their respective fields. By October, I had received my certificate of acceptance into the For(bes) The Culture community and that is where I was formally introduced to Brianne Garrett. I was familiar with her through social media and some of her articles published on Forbes but when I was accepted, that was when I had the chance to really speak to her about the community.

After a few short years of grinding it out at Forbes, the young journalist is now the Editorial Lead for For(bes) The Culture. The hub now has over 2,000 members spanning 30 countries with a social media base that’s growing every day.

I had the chance to catch with up Brianne to discuss her journalism inspirations, discovering her love for writing, some of her proudest moments, her contribution to For(bes) The Culture, and what’s next for her and the brand for 2021. Read the full interview below.

1 - What journalism inspirations did you have early on?

I knew I wanted to pursue journalism from a young age; the passion emerged in high school. I vividly remember starting a food column for my school paper called “Bri’s Bites,” and eating at and reviewing local restaurants. I had to pull from my budget (an already small one at that age), but it was worth it.

2 - Who were some of your favorite journalists back then? Why did they appeal to you?

I wanted to be the next Sade Baderinwa. I admired her poise, professionalism, and natural ability to report news on television.

3 - At one point, did you realize journalism could be a career path for you?

I knew in high school. I knew there was a reason I prioritized it over other activities like soccer, a sport I had been playing long before journalism entered my life, but it slowly became less important. There was a feeling I got--and still get--in journalistic action. When speaking to a source for a story, the adrenaline rush when a story is finished and published; nothing else holds a candle. That’s how you know you’ve found your passion.

4 - You attended Boston University College of Communication, where you studied journalism. How was that experience for you, and what did it teach you about journalism that you didn’t know before?

The experience was very enriching, and while I learned the necessary foundational journalism lessons in the classroom, much of the skill I acquired was outside the classroom. I was lucky to be studying journalism in the middle of a city with so much to offer. It’s funny because the manner in which I sought out opportunities while in college (TasteBUds campus food magazine, BU’s on-campus food show Hungry Terrier, The Dorchester Reporter internship, etc.) is not unlike the same skills required to be a good journalist. Both require asking questions— the right questions—and being persistent. Journalism is all about grit, searching for solutions, and not taking no for an answer. The same skills I used to fight for opportunities and internships in college are the same skills I apply to writing a good story. Journalism is all about perseverance.

5 - You’ve stamped your name on multiple publications throughout the last 5-6 years. Then, you found your way to Forbes in 2019. How did you get to Forbes, and what made you want to be a part of this particular publication?

Before joining Forbes, I was working in food journalism. I knew I was passionate about food (still am) and that there was so much more to explore. What attracted me to Forbes was the robust opportunity to cover various industries, people, and topics through a business lens. I wanted to expand my horizons, and that’s exactly what happened when I joined the company.

6 - Your stint within Forbes at this time was to manage contributors for ForbesWomen and Small Business Sections. Why was it essential for you to help push both of these segments?

These two sections couldn’t have complemented each other more. I had the pleasure of amplifying so many amazing stories about women of color small business founders, both through my own bylines and the contributor bylines within these sections.

I also think I learned a great deal about the beauty of perspective. Our contributors come from various backgrounds and areas of expertise, so being able to interact with so many different people has only strengthened my journalism. It’s also taught me the value of community. I’ve brought that with me and applied it to For(bes) The Culture’s community.

7 - You worked your way up the ladder, and when mid-2020 came, you became the Editorial Lead for For(bes) The Culture. First and foremost, can you explain what For(bes) The Culture is and what the mission is? Secondly, what’s been the significant change from being an Assistant Editor to being an Editorial Lead for an entire Forbes segment?

For(bes) The Culture’s mission is to create equitable pathways for Black and Brown professionals. We’re a hub comprising a membership community for networking, workshopping, and professional development, and an editorial platform consisting of an online blog, a newsletter, and year-round programming.

As an assistant editor, I gravitated toward covering women of color and sharing stories of underrepresented trailblazers across industries, so it was a natural fit to join For(bes) The Culture’s team. The transition has only reaffirmed my passion and ignited it even more. I still report and write, but I now get to oversee bigger editorial projects, like our yearlong State of Black Entrepreneurship project. Initiatives like this truly define For(bes) The Culture’s impact. It’s so much bigger than me and it’s amazing to be part of the evolution.

8 - You helped put together a virtual event last week for For(bes) The Culture, which consisted of some pretty well-known people in the corporate world. How do you guys choose who you want to participate in things like this?

There are so many amazing thought leaders we could tap for our conferences, and we truly had some of the best at the inaugural Culturally Accountable summit. Speakers are selected in a variety of ways, but since For(bes) The Culture is really about networking, connecting, and collaborating, so many of our speakers emerged as a result of pre-formed relationships, which makes it all the more powerful.

9 - Of all the fantastic things you’ve done and accomplished thus far, what would you say is your proudest moment?

It’s truly tough to identify one moment. I’d say one of the proudest feelings is seeing a project go from the ideation phase to the execution phase. The inaugural Culturally Accountable summit is an example of that.

From a more personal perspective, it’s always gratifying to see a story under my byline, but the prouder moment is right when I get off the phone or wrap up an in-person interview (back when that was more common!). There’s nothing like the high that comes from getting someone to open up. That’s the biggest reason I’m in this field: to tell people’s stories.

10 - What’s your true definition of success?

Success, for me, is exemplified through the above. Success looks different for everyone, but the feeling, I think, is what’s the same. Success is the satisfying, tingly, euphoric feeling you get in your body when you know you’ve accomplished something wonderful. It doesn’t always need to be groundbreaking; we’re all changing the world in the smallest ways. It just needs to mean something. We can’t forget to celebrate the small successes, too. They’re just as important, especially in a time like we’re experiencing now.

11 - If you had one piece of advice to give to the aspiring journalist, what would it be?

I’d tell them to focus on what gives them that euphoric feeling of success I described above, and understand it may not come right away. This field is so vast and it takes time to identify your true beat. When you do, you’ll know.

12 - What can we expect from Brianne Garrett and For(bes) The Culture for 2021?

You can expect more impactful storytelling, and because data is such an important part of the impact, you can also expect more data-driven stories, similar to the inaugural Black and Brown in Corporate America survey we launched earlier this year. For(bes) The Culture is a community of changemakers. This year and beyond, we’re practicing what we preach.

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