Today we’d like to introduce you to Imani Simmons.
Imani, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always had a passion for marketing and events. In college, I started off as a Wings Team Member for Red Bull. I was assigned as a liaison to the woman who later would become my boss for an event, and we kept in touch for a while after that. I began following her on snapchat and saw that she began an agency, so I reached out offering help. I interned for her while still working for Red Bull, and when I didn’t get accepted into their competitive Graduate program, Julz offered me a full-time job on the spot. Fast forward five years, I worked my way up within the company organizing events and managing brand partnerships to become the COO of 1 AM Entertainment up until a month ago when I branched out and started my own event management and talent booking agency, Simmons Unlimited.
Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely not. Coming straight out of college, I had no real world experience, I used everything as a learning opportunity, even if that meant failing horribly, lol. At times, we had no idea what we were doing, who to ask for help, what to charge, or where to begin after solidifying a deal. On top of that, real networking was futile, no one wanted to give away the good information that put them ahead of the game, so I was kind of left to figure things out on my own on a lot of aspects of the job.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Simmons Unlimited story. Tell us more about it.
I specialize in brand partnerships, event management, and other b2b relations. Over the past few years, I’ve organized events for brands like Def Jam, Atlantic Records, Puma, Avion Tequila, and more. As a brand/ service provider, I’m personally most proud of staying true to my values. In the entertainment industry, it’s really hard to weed out the bullshit from what’s real because you literally never know what someone’s intentions are. A lot of people out here have long term goals in terms of what they need from you that aren’t apparent when first connecting, so I’ve learned to be really careful with how I disperse my time/energy with others.
So, what should we be on the lookout for, what’s next in store for you?
My future plans are actually my current reality. I’ve always admired those who worked for themselves, and although I had a lot of flexibility in my previous role, I could only grow so much before hitting that glass ceiling. Right now, I’m focused on growing Simmons Unlimited and collaborating with new people. I’m really excited to see what I can do on my own!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.simmonsunlimited.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imaniksimmons/ and https://www.instagram.com/SimmonsUnlimited/
Image Credit:
@jordankrate, @cobrasnake, @artlikeus, @nsightz
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