Dreena Whitfield-Brown has spent years helping others tell their stories. Today, the founder and CEO of WhitPR is using her own platform to help Black women entrepreneurs share the realities behind their success.
What began as a public relations agency has grown into a podcast and a women’s summit that shines a light on the journeys of Black founders, executives, and leaders. Through these platforms, Whitfield-Brown is creating space for honest conversations about entrepreneurship, resilience, and growth.
How WhitPR Became a Platform for Black Women Entrepreneurs
Whitfield-Brown founded WhitPR with a mission to amplify stories that support marginalized communities. Over the years, the agency has expanded its services to include public relations, experiential marketing, social media management, and talent management.
However, her work evolved beyond traditional public relations. As she worked with Black female founders and executives, she noticed a gap in how entrepreneurial stories were being told. Many people celebrated success but rarely discussed the struggles that came before it.
That realization eventually inspired her to build platforms where those untold stories could be shared openly.
The How I Got Here Podcast Shares the Real Story Behind Success
Whitfield-Brown launched the “How I Got Here” podcast to explore the experiences often hidden behind business achievements. The show features Black women founders, executives, and leaders discussing their setbacks, pivots, and lessons learned.
“I really love telling people’s stories who often get overlooked, especially us,” Whitfield-Brown said. “So that’s how the How I Got Here podcast started, and that’s why the How I Got Here Summit is here.”
She believes entrepreneurs benefit from hearing honest accounts of failure and recovery. Instead of focusing only on awards and accomplishments, the podcast highlights the difficult moments that shape successful careers.
Dreena Whitfield-Brown Opens Up About Her Own Business Journey
Whitfield-Brown’s passion for storytelling comes from personal experience. She admits that when she started WhitPR nearly 16 years ago, she had little guidance.
“I didn’t have any business mentors,” she said. “I didn’t know how to write a business plan. I didn’t even know how to really launch an agency.”
As a result, she relied heavily on self-learning and determination. She said internet searches became her lawyer, accountant, assistant, and business advisor during those early years.
Today, she wants aspiring entrepreneurs to understand that challenges are a normal part of building a business. She believes those experiences deserve just as much attention as success stories.
How a Producer Encouraged Her to Start a Podcast
Interestingly, Whitfield-Brown never planned to become a podcast host. The idea came from a producer who had worked with her for years.
The producer first joined her network as a client before becoming a friend. Because she understood WhitPR’s focus on amplifying Black stories, she encouraged Whitfield-Brown to bring those conversations to a podcast audience.
At first, Whitfield-Brown hesitated. She preferred working behind the scenes rather than being in front of a microphone. Eventually, she embraced the opportunity and discovered a love for learning about the journeys of people she admired.
That decision transformed her business and expanded her impact beyond public relations.
Building a Strong Team Helped Expand Her Vision
The growth of WhitPR into a podcast and summit did not happen alone. Whitfield-Brown credits much of her success to the people around her.
She said supportive women have helped guide, encourage, and pray for both her and her business. Their expertise has played a major role in turning ideas into reality.
According to Whitfield-Brown, successful entrepreneurs must surround themselves with people who possess skills they may lack. She believes strong partnerships are essential for turning a vision into meaningful results.
“I have these dreams, I have these visions, but I need people to help me execute them,” she explained.
How the How I Got Here Summit Empowers Black Women
The success of the podcast eventually led to the creation of the How I Got Here Summit. The event brings together Black businesswomen and entrepreneurs, particularly in Whitfield-Brown’s home state of New Jersey.
The summit serves as a place for networking, learning, and inspiration. More importantly, it encourages women to share authentic stories about their entrepreneurial journeys.
Through both the summit and podcast, Whitfield-Brown continues to challenge the idea that success stories should only focus on achievements. Instead, she believes honesty about setbacks can help others navigate their own paths with confidence.
Her growing platform demonstrates the power of storytelling and the impact that comes when Black women share their experiences openly.
