Meet Ken Porter: Chief Visionary and Brand Storyteller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ken Porter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ken, how does your business help the community?
My brand purpose is to Elevate the Impact of Community Stakeholders and Destroy Deficit-Framed Narratives for People of Color. This is my agenda to empower and sustain my community.

As a Black man, I’ve been personally impacted – emotionally and mentally – by the false narratives that have systemically plagued our community for decades. These false perceptions of African Americans, males in particular, has resulted in the untimely death of many, a loss of opportunities, and an education system that chooses to invest far less into children of color. To define people by their challenges is the diagnosis of stigmatizing them, or deficit-framing. As the Chief Visionary at the PMG Agency, we connect partners with their audience through comprehensive communication strategies and brand storytelling. This is where the magic begins. Racial divide and tensions in our country are out of control – now more than ever – and we need a system in place that is working to change what has been a ‘norm’ for far too long. To be able to lead a team with this specific focus is the greatest recognition that I could personally have. My 24-month young and my 2-month young sons are the future of this country, they are both the next narrative, and if my vision isn’t obvious to my community, I can’t expect them to follow in my footsteps. I choose social justice because there are better stories to be told. PMG Agency is a purpose-driven brand and it’s in our DNA to extract and uplift positive stories that ultimately change the false perceptions that the world has held over our community – for far too long.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I partner with High-Impact Stakeholders to elevate and shape narratives using my proven brand blueprint techniques and communications strategies. I believe that shifting false Narratives in Communities of Color will Increase Opportunities and Save Lives. I founded the PMG Agency, an asset-framed communications firm, in Detroit, MI in 2010. Currently I lead a team of 10 visionaries. The agency provides digital strategies, storytelling, brand development, as well as group trainings for cultural competence and equity audits. I’m very passionate about working with partners to shift false narratives in urban communities by uplifting and extracting aspiring stories. I’ve been awarded The Michigan Chronicle’s 40-under-40 award, Crain’s Detroit Top-10 Rising Entrepreneur, Michigan Chronicle’s Top 100 for Who’s Who in Black and I am an alumnus of the esteemed Goldman Sachs 10KSB program. In 2019 I was selected for the BMe Community Vanguard Fellowship and recently I began the American Express Social Justice Leadership Academy as well as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs Access Network On-Demand. I believe in the power of relationship building which I describe as the most authentic way to network, ultimately aligning with like-minded leaders – the key to success. I’m excited to share that my personal brand and website is set to launch on May 1, 2021, which will be a resource hub for business community leaders, social entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and small business owners who need guidance in the world of branding and extracting positive narratives. Additionally, the “Design Your Impact” Podcast by Ken L. Porter will release its first series in the Spring of 2021. The Podcast will also highlight community leaders and the upward impact they are having throughout Black America. I’m also elated to share that May 3-5, 2021, I’ll be a featured speaker sharing my knowledge on the Blueprint to Branding, at the World’s Largest Advertising Conference. Feel free to follow my journey and join the change with Ken online at www.kenlporter.com.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Now, I may get in trouble for this one because there are so many people and organizations that I can give credit for my successful journey. I would give a shout-out to my amazing Wife (Tamela), and my blessed Mother (Clara). The BMe Community is one organization that’s had a significant influence on my defining-purpose moment. I was selected as a BMe Community Vanguard Fellow through the Skillman Foundations’ Detroit Cohort in 2019. Through this organization, the direction for PMG Agency, and ultimately my purpose, was birthed. The BMe Community has helped me to build a purpose-driven brand. This is where the inspiration for providing Asset-Framed Communications began. We intentionally represent organizations that demonstrate a positive agenda for urban communities.

Website: https://portermediagroup.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenlporter/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-porter/

Clubhouse: @Ken L. Porter

Other: Agency Website: www.portermediagroup.com

Agency IG: https://www.instagram.com/thepmgagency/