Season 01, Episode 03: So You Want To Become a Professional Influencer?
The BLK IRL Podcast is an audio docuseries that explores the business of “influencing” and the power dynamics at play in the act of cultural exchange. Join host Anuli Akanegbu as she dissects themes related to race in the influencer economy through research-supported commentary and intimate interviews with predominantly Black content creators, scholars, entrepreneurs, activists, marketing experts, and cultural critics.
In this episode, Anuli talks to Qianna Smith Bruneteau, the Founder and Executive Director of the American Influencer Council (AIC), about what it means to be an influencer and why she feels that the influencer marketing industry is in need of stewardship.
FEATURED SPEAKER: qianna smith bruneteau
Qianna Smith Bruneteau is the Founder and Executive Director of American Influencer Council (AIC) and serves on its Board of Directors. Some of her accolades include winning ‘Best Celebrity/Influencer Campaign on Snapchat’ at the 10th Annual Shorty Awards for a campaign she crafted and negotiated in partnership with Snapchat Spectacles. She holds a master's degree in Fashion Journalism from the London College of Fashion and graduated with distinction.
Referenced materials
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Advice for Social Media Influencers. Federal Trade Commission. November 4, 2019. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/audio-video/video/advice-social-media-influencers
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Chopra, Rohit. Regarding the Report to Congress of Social Media Bots and Deceptive Advertising Commission File No. P204503. July 16, 2020. https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements/1578231/social_bots_chopra_statement.pdf
Creswell, Julie and Kevin Draper. Adidas Pledges to Increase Diversity. Some Employees Want More. The New York Times, August 14, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/10/business/adidas-black-employees-discrimination.html
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Introducing the $200M TikTok Creator Fund. TikTok. July 22, 2020. https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/introducing-the-200-million-tiktok-creator-fund
Smith Bruneateau, Qianna. Comment Submitted by American Influencer Council, Inc. Regulations.gov. April 20, 2020. https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FTC-2020-0017-0078
The Influencer Report: Engaging Gen Z and Millennials. Morning Consult. November 2019. https://morningconsult.com/influencer-report-engaging-gen-z-and-millennials/
Tiku, Nitasha. Black women say Pinterest created a den of discrimination – despite its image as the nicest company in tech. Washington Post, July 4, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/07/03/pinterest-race-bias-black-employees/