Goodbye 2025, You Put FKB Media on the Map
I said goodbye to 2024 with “joy, joy, joy” on my lips and a full heart. I walked into 2025 knowing it would be big — I just didn’t realize how much this year would stretch me, grow my businesses, and sharpen my purpose.
This year felt like the moment when all the seeds planted over the last few years: the awards, the reputation, the relationships, the late nights and early mornings - started to bloom in a new way for FKB Media Solutions and FKB Media Book A Speaker Inc.
So as I close out 2025, I want to take a breath, look back at what we built, and share a little of where we’re going in 2026.
A Year of Standing Firm for DEI and Black Voices
2025 started with a heavy reality check: DEI was under attack — in schools, workplaces, and boardrooms. I used this blog to say plainly that Black History Month mattered more than ever, not as a slogan but as a line in the sand.
From there, we moved from talk to action.
As Canada’s Ambassador for World Speech Day, I curated Unmasking DEI — a virtual forum on March 15th that brought together a powerhouse panel of Black and racialized leaders, mental health experts, lawyers and coaches to unpack what’s happening, who is impacted, and how we protect ourselves in this rollback moment.
That conversation, hosted under both FKB Media and Book A Speaker, reminded me why I do this work: to make sure our stories, our voices and our realities don’t get erased when the news cycle moves on.
PR Wins That Shifted the Narrative
On the PR side, 2025 was about big stories with real impact.
One of the highlights was serving as Canadian Publicist for TransCrypts, a tech company tackling the global crisis of digital identity, AI fraud and deepfakes. We helped with the publicity launch of their $15M USD ($20M CAD) seed round led by Pantera Capital, with support from Lightspeed Faction and Mark Cuban.
This wasn’t just a funding announcement; it was a Canadian brain gain story with Toronto and the University of Toronto Scarborough at the heart of the company’s origin and expansion. Our work helped spotlight TransCrypts’ new Toronto co-headquarters, job creation, and their mission to rebuild trust online, including coverage on BNN Bloomberg.
Another proud moment was 100 Strong Academy making the front page of the Toronto Star. For over a decade, this program has poured into 100 Black boys each summer, with a 99% graduation rate. This year, our media campaign made sure that the image of 100 Black boys in suits, walking in purpose, could not be ignored.
We secured coverage that shifted the lens from fear to possibility, from criminalization to achievement - exactly the kind of narrative work FKB Media was built for.
And then there was TIFF.
Being part of the publicist and organizing team behind the 3rd Annual TIFF Black Excellence Brunch presented by RBC and supported by the Jamaica Tourist Board was pure magic. That room was buzzing with legacy, leadership and future-facing Black creativity. It has officially become one of the hottest tickets of the festival, and I was honoured to help tell that story.
Rebranding, Resetting and Doubling Down on the Work
Mid-year, I hit pause.
In my Mid-Year Reset, Rebrand & Refresh blog, I shared how one staff resignation became the catalyst for a much bigger shift. I realized people were visiting the FKB website, but not taking action — so we tore things down and rebuilt.
We:
Redesigned the website to spotlight the Find An Expert and Book A Speaker portals more clearly.
Started planning free downloads and pop-up specials to give more value to our community.
Began running targeted LinkedIn campaigns to showcase our incredible speakers and experts to the right decision-makers.
I also stepped outside my comfort zone (again) and went “BIG on YouTube Shorts” - creating short, accessible video content to help people understand publicity, branding and messaging in a noisy media world.
As a behind-the-scenes producer by trade, being on camera will never feel totally natural to me, but I’ve accepted that I am the brand and that showing up is part of the job now.
Book A Speaker: From Idea to Momentum
When I launched the speakers bureau, it was a “new facet” of the business with a big dream attached: to build an international brand that consistently puts dynamic, diverse speakers on stages that matter.
In 2025, I felt the momentum grow.
We:
Continued to build out speaker categories across leadership, mental health, legal and finance, youth empowerment, business and more.
Deepened relationships with organizations looking for Black and diverse experts who can speak with clarity and impact.
Started sharing more behind-the-scenes insights with event planners about what audiences are really looking for — including this fall’s blog on what event planners are prioritizing for 2026, especially around relevance, wellness and inclusion.
Is it easy breaking into a space with established players? No.
But as I wrote before, I’m in it for the long haul and this year showed me we absolutely belong at the table.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Relevance, Reach and Real Impact
So what does 2026 look like from here? In one word: intentional.
Here’s where I’m focusing my energy:
1. Deeper, not just bigger
For FKB Media Solutions, the goal is not just more clients, but the right clients: organizations committed to equity, community and meaningful storytelling. I want to take on projects that shift narratives, open doors and leave something lasting behind.
2. National reach for Book A Speaker
For Book A Speaker Inc., 2026 is about solidifying our presence across Canada:
more corporate events centering leadership, culture and mental health
more youth programs that build confidence, voice and self-advocacy
more opportunities for Black and diverse speakers to be seen as the experts they already are
3. Turning conversations into communities
Between World Speech Day, our DEI forums, blogs, newsletters and socials, the next step is to keep building community - not just one-off events. I want people to feel like they’re on a journey with us: learning, unlearning and growing together.
4. Saying “yes” to joy (again)
In my New Year’s blog last year, I wrote about walking into 2025 with joy and gratitude. That hasn’t changed. The world is heavy, the headlines are intense, but there is still so much joy in this work: in the clients who trust me, in the speakers and experts who allow me to amplify their brilliance, and in the communities we serve.
As I wrap up 2025, I feel tired in the best way - like a runner who knows there’s more race ahead, but is proud of the ground already covered.
To my clients, collaborators, speakers, experts, friends and family: thank you for riding this wild, beautiful wave with me.
2026 - we’re ready. Let’s go.
