Rakia Reynolds spent part of her childhood being told she talked too much. Teachers saw her energy as disruptive. She eventually saw it as one of her greatest strengths.
The award-winning creative turned her love of talking and storytelling into a powerful business career. She later founded Skai Blue Media, a communications agency that worked with major brands and celebrities.
The company was eventually acquired by global consulting firm Actum in 2025. Reynolds then moved from founder to partner as she entered a new chapter.
Her story was recently shared on the Mompreneurs podcast with host Nancy Redd. She spoke about ADHD, business, motherhood, AI, marriage, and selling her company.
Rakia Reynolds Turned Childhood Criticism Into a Storytelling Superpower
Reynolds said her childhood was not always easy. She grew up with ADHD and often struggled to fit traditional classroom expectations.
“I was told I talked too much in class, I was disruptive,” Reynolds recalled.
However, her father encouraged her to stay true to herself. His support helped Reynolds develop confidence in her own voice.
She also discovered that storytelling could help her handle difficult situations. As a child, she would tell her teachers stories when she got into trouble.
“I was perfecting stories because I wanted to keep myself out of trouble,” she said.
That childhood habit later became a major part of her professional life. Reynolds learned how to use stories to connect people with ideas, brands, and businesses.
How Rakia Reynolds Built Skai Blue Media From Scratch
Reynolds eventually built a career in television and magazine publishing. Then, a layoff forced her to reconsider her next move.
The experience became a turning point. She realized she could no longer depend on traditional career paths.
“Being at my most vulnerable, not knowing what the next step was, I was like: I don’t trust all of these other people, but I trust myself,” Reynolds said.
She also noticed a major gap in the communications industry. She did not see enough people who looked like her leading the work.
That realization pushed Reynolds to create her own company. She brought together the lessons from her career and launched Skai Blue Media in 2011.
The agency focused on communications, branding, marketing, and creative strategy. Over time, it attracted major clients across different industries.
Skai Blue Media Worked With Major Brands and Black Stars
Reynolds built Skai Blue Media into a respected communications agency. The company eventually worked with major names such as Uber, Airbnb, IBM, Comcast, and Dell.
The agency also worked with prominent personalities. Its clients included Serena Williams, Ashley Graham, and HSN.
Reynolds became known for bringing strong storytelling into business and branding. Her work helped companies and public figures communicate with audiences in fresh ways.
Her success also showed what can happen when entrepreneurs create opportunities for themselves. Reynolds did not wait for the industry to build a path for her.
Instead, she built her own.
Rakia Reynolds Learned How to Sell Her Company by Doing It
Selling Skai Blue Media was not part of Reynolds’ original plan. However, companies had approached her about buying the business several times.
After more than a decade, she decided it was time to explore those opportunities.
Skai Blue Media was acquired by Actum in 2025. Reynolds then became a partner as part of the new relationship.
The process also pushed her outside her comfort zone. Reynolds admitted she had never dealt with some of the legal terms involved in an acquisition.
“I didn’t know what a merger document looked like,” she said.
She also had to learn terms such as “term sheet” and “acquihire.” Rather than allowing the unfamiliar process to stop her, she learned as she went.
“The best way that I learn is by doing,” Reynolds explained.
Her experience offers an important lesson for other business owners. Entrepreneurs do not need to know everything before taking their next step.
Her Husband Played an Important Role in Her Business Journey
Reynolds also credited her husband for helping her grow the company. Their partnership gave her room to remain creative while building the business.
She said his support helped her make important decisions as the company grew.
Eventually, they had to consider how the business could expand globally. That meant Reynolds needed to think beyond simply running the company.
She had to consider mergers, acquisitions, and new opportunities for growth.
“We actually had to learn how to be a great team,” she said.
Reynolds described the experience as something she was deeply grateful for. Her story shows how personal partnerships can also shape major business decisions.
Rakia Reynolds Says Human Connection Still Matters in the Age of AI
Reynolds is now watching another major change reshape the communications industry. Artificial intelligence is quickly changing how people create content.
Still, she believes technology cannot replace genuine human connection.
Reynolds criticized what she called the growing amount of “AI slop.” She pointed to the flood of AI-generated flyers, videos, and graphics appearing online.
For Reynolds, the problem is not simply the technology. It is how people use it.
“We’re human; we’re a species that has to connect,” she said. “There has to be a human connection.”
She also believes younger people are showing signs of wanting more authenticity. That could create new opportunities for brands willing to sound and feel more human.
Why Authentic Storytelling Could Become Even More Valuable
Reynolds’ career has always centered on communication. Her childhood love of stories eventually became a professional skill.
That skill could become even more important as AI produces more content. Businesses may have access to endless images, videos, and written material.
However, producing content is not the same as creating a meaningful connection.
Reynolds believes people still want authenticity. They want to understand the people and stories behind brands.
Her career offers a clear example of that principle. She built a company around communication before artificial intelligence became a major force.
Now, she is using that experience to think about where the industry goes next.
Rakia Reynolds Has a Message for Women Building Businesses
Reynolds also shared advice for women who are building businesses while raising families.
Her biggest message was simple: stop waiting for everything to be perfect.
She said mothers can sometimes overthink business decisions because they want every detail to be right. However, entrepreneurship rarely follows a perfect plan.
“Entrepreneurship and business are sometimes messy,” Reynolds said.
She encouraged women to accept the uncertainty and move forward anyway. Mistakes, confusion, and unexpected problems are part of building something new.
She also shared advice that stayed with her from one of her friends.
“Let your setback be a setup for a really great comeback,” she said.
Rakia Reynolds’ Journey Shows the Power of Owning Your Voice
Reynolds’ story started with something many children experience. Someone told her that a part of her personality was a problem.
She talked too much. She had too much energy. She did not always fit the traditional classroom mold.
Instead of silencing that voice, Reynolds learned how to use it.
That voice helped her become a storyteller. Storytelling helped shape her career. Her career eventually led to a successful communications company and its acquisition.
Her journey is also a reminder that success does not always follow a straight path. A layoff became a business opportunity. ADHD became part of how she understood her strengths.
The acquisition of Skai Blue Media marked another major transition. Yet Reynolds is still focused on creativity, connection, and meaningful storytelling.
For Black women watching her journey, the message is especially powerful. The traits others once criticized can become the very things that set you apart.
Sometimes, the voice people tell you to quiet is the voice that builds your future.
