Meet Khayla Mcclinton | Founder/ Director of McClinton Scholars Mentoring Program, Founder and Co-Director of SRA Media, Clinical Research Associate

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

Hi Khayla, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think risk taking is a necessity for getting what you actually want out of life. There is this connotation surrounding the “risk” that is heavily negative and fear based and I hate that. Taking a risk is often not a life crippling decision to make. I think many people are afraid to see themselves fail at something they want, or they’re afraid they will achieve their goal and realize they do not want it at all.

Taking risk has helped me rule out what I do and don’t want multiple times. Taking risk has also put me in a position where i failed at achieving a goal, but in the same moment realized how bad I really do want to achieve it and I simply learned from the failure and tried again. I tried again and I succeeded. Taking risk has also expanded my belief in what I am capable of. Every time I take the risk and succeed and I’m happy with my decision I feel like a bunch of new possibilities have opened up for me. If you don’t take risk, you keep your self limited to what you know and there is so much more to learn and build on. Risk can be a major positive and I highly encourage people to take risk, especially the youth.

What should our readers know about your business?
Founded in 2021, McClinton Scholars is a Mentoring Program (MSMP) focused on supporting underrepresented undergraduate students. MSMP supports students by providing them with individual and group mentorship, along side an a curriculum designed to boost their skillsets and understanding of how to prepare themselves for life beyond college. The program offers opportunities to network, workshops, guest speakers, and a chance to showcase their knowledge via presentations.

I started MSMP, because I was a first generation student who struggled through undergrad, and when I graduated I was not sure how to achieve my goals. I wasn’t fully sure of what my options were or how to learn what I didn’t know. Once I started to figure out how to navigate, find resources, and build my rapport. I started to see results, gaining opportunities and exciting roles. Along the way I started to have students reaching out to me asking me how I was getting opportunities, how I balance school, work, and extra curriculars , and for help with resumes and navigating linkedin. After I spent a full semester carving time out my schedule to talk to help other students, but feeling like a phone call or zoom was not enough. I came up with a better a way to help them. Thus the birth of MSMP.

I am most proud of the amount of students (>65) we have been able to help and how much we have grown within our own community. We have been able to collaborate with organizations such as Technologists of Color, SelfWorth Cosmetics, XR Dojo, RenderATL, and Atlanta Tech Week. I’m proud that we have been able to provide scholarship and internship opportunities. Im proud we have been able to make it to our 6th cohort of students.

I am most excited for the next phase of growth with the program. We are preparing to launch a new curriculum with learning modules, new certifications, more guest speakers, and big and more community facing events.

MSMP has gotten to where it is today, because of the amazing team of mentors that I have and the support of the community around us. All though we bring on new mentors every semester, the majority of our mentors have been with the team since day one. They have been willing to learn with me, reflect and provide feedback, and apply new methods to the program. They heard my idea and simply wanted to be apart. They truly are the backbone of the program.

Building out MSMP, has not been an easy journey. I had never run a business before, never managed this many people at once, and was not fully sure what I was doing. Starting off i just knew I wanted to be a solution to a problem I was seeing. Overtime it has become clearer how I want to go about being a solution, which I think shows with every new cohort.

One of the hardest parts of running the organization is managing funds, for the most part the program has been self/team funded. We are hoping to get non-profit status soon. Navigating how to get non-profit status is hard.

Running MSMP has taught me that I am fully capable of anything I want to do and I push that energy right back on to the mentees, I have learned how much goes into managing teams, building out processes, managing sponsors, partnerships, and vendors. It has forced me to learn about fields I would have otherwise never explored and sharpened my networking skills.

MSMP is focused on being a community and knowledge hub for students who do not have the same support systems that other students may have. They still deserve the same “leg up” and ability to be/feel seen.

I would want the world to know MSMP is about empowerment.

I also, have recently launched SRA Media, @MediabySRA. SRA is a Media Production Company focusing on highlighting Black organizations, companies, communities..etc that are doing amazing things. The company is split into two parts. Side A: Focuses on Interviewing Founders, creators, Artist, and everyone in-between. We share the live interviews to allow the public to hear the story behind the Names. We follow this up with an Article from our perception. Side : focuses on creating film that depicts the life, art, love, and community that is Black Culture. We do this through short films, and docuseries. SRA was also started as passion project, but it came from a place of yearning and seeing a lack of. I was craving a creative release and love film and photography, so I thought why not put my ideas on camera. Now here I am a year later working on paid productions. See what a risk will do?

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Day 1:

We would relax and enjoy a late start to the morning. Then meet up with some friends and catch up at Flavor Rich for Brunch. After brunch, we would drive out to Buckhead where we would go thrifting for a fun tea party. After thrifting we would hit a local bookstore to see if we could find any hidden gems. It would be a great day to find some first editions.
After we would head back downtown to get dressed and head out to by last minute tickets to the Lion King play showing at the fox theatre.
After the show we would join the late night line at insomnia cookies and enjoy a 6pack with tea before bed.

Day 2:

We would enjoy an early morning yoga session.
After yoga we would enjoy a day out touring the city with “Tea Around Town.” A day full of photoshoots and girl talk. This is a great way to see the city!
After our mobile tea party we would take a quick nap, because were getting old. (JK, im just a sleepy girl)
After our nap we would have dinner at Rock Steady. The curry goat, and red snapper is to die for and the vibe is perfect to follow up with a cocktail, dessert, and chill jazz on the beltline or something fun at the Interlock.

Day 3. A light day.

We would start the morning off with a walk on the beltline, along the way we would stop into a coffee shop, somewhere with great tea options is a must.
On our way back from the beltline we would stop by the Famers Market to grab some local goodies and a light lunch. I love to get fresh honey and snacks.
After lunch we would enjoy an afternoon at a spa and pool thanks to resort pass.
We would enjoy a bit too much dinner at Mary Macs Tea room, they have some of the best soul food in the city.
We would curl up on the couch and rewatch insecure, while psycho analyzing the characters.

A weekend where I do not WORK (lol)

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?
I would like to thank Black Women. The ones who took the time to listen to me, and did not hesitate to support, push me, and encourage me. From my mother, grandmothers, and close friends, to the communal aunties. No matter where I am in the world, which career i am focusing on, or how much they have going on. There has 9/10, been a black woman to steer me, remind me who I am, and what I am capable of.

Website: https://Mccscholars.org

Instagram: Mcclintonscholars

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcclinton-scholars/