“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”
I Am Connected
Susan M. Hearn
Let me introduce you to my brainchild, Kenekts Global. It's my personal playground to delve into the diverse realm of digital marketing, taking on long-term projects and even a full-time gig if the stars align with my skills and passions.
Now, I've been in this marketing game for nearly 30 years, so I've seen my fair share of cubicles, offices, and boardrooms. I've had the pleasure of working with some of the world's most iconic brands and entertainers, and I've sat at the table with influential industry execs, power players, and social justice trailblazers.
You can view the details of my career by visiting my LinkedIn profile, but overall, I have led a super-blessed career that has afforded me incredible work and life experiences.
Throughout my career, I've built an impressive portfolio of digital product design projects that showcase my creative prowess and passion for empowering others. I've discovered that digital engagement and product design consulting really get my creative and analytical juices flowing.
Ever since AOL and MySpace came onto the scene in the early 2000s, I've been navigating the mysterious terrain of monetized digital product design and content creation. In 2014, I taught myself how to build digital products using existing SaaS platforms for digital entrepreneurs like myself. In 2018, I started learning the art of course building and instructional design, taking on private clients and launching Kenekts Learning.
Then in 2020, my marketing, digital design, eLearning skills, and remote work capabilities all came together like a beautiful symphony.
The video above capture the moment it all came together when in the spirit of partnership, the ad agency formerly known as JOY Collective brought me on board to design the first version of the Dove Men+CARE | National Basketball Players Association Black Men C.A.R.E. website for their clients' national campaign featuring 11 NBA stars.
To add even more firepower to the campaign, JOY licensed my Beyond Social: How to Build A Personal Website curriculum, which I customized with their client branding and included their talent videos.
Then, I had the honor of live-coaching 150 kids chosen as guests of five NBA players' respective foundations during four-day virtual camps.
And let me tell you, the results those young minds produced were nothing short of astounding.
Body of Recent Work
My diverse portfolio reflects not just my expertise but also my commitment to making a difference through digital design.
As aligned purpose-driven change-makers, I am honored to work with partners such as JOY Collective. Together, we passionately dedicate ourselves to empowering underrepresented voices and contributing to meaningful impact in the world using creative mediums.
The Crown Act, I've lent my skills in digital design and content management, helping to create awareness for an essential cause around race-based hair discrimination.
Commit to CARE Now
Commit to CARE Now, where I was instrumental in digital design, content management, and even stepping in as a virtual classroom instructor.
The Melatology Alliance
As a part of The Melatology Alliance, I've contributed to the learning portal design and content management, providing resources and support for the melanin-rich community.
I am a founding board member of The SonRise Project, where I've played a significant role in digital design and content management, all while advocating for change and supporting those in need.
It’s In My DNA
Leon Hearn, Dad
Let me tell you about my dad's work ethic; it was the epitome of "grinding." Back in the '80s, he was the VP of Black Marketing for Schlitz Beer. As a Black man in that position, he had to hustle 10x harder than his white counterparts.
You might even say he was an "influencer" and brand content creator of his time. I enjoyed front-row seats at concerts and met countless celebrities, all thanks to his VIP connections. But, man, did he travel and work some long hours.
As amazing as his job was, there was a price to pay. Growing up in the Detroit suburbs during my teenage years, I witnessed my dad's "grind" pushing his body to the brink. He battled ulcers, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
My father was a marketing maestro, but he worked relentlessly until his passing at just 56 years old, suffering a heart attack a few weeks before my 21st birthday. The "grind" lifestyle had taken its toll.
Now that I'm in my 50s, I truly understand how young he was. It's a humbling realization.
Thanks to his connections and esteemed reputation in the industry, I was able to step into the world of entertainment marketing and carve out my own legacy.
But I chose a different approach: not "grind," but "align."
I recall my dad's dream of buying a boat and sailing in crystal blue waters once he retired. Sadly, that day never came for him, but it did for me, all because I embraced the remote work lifestyle and took control of my destiny.
I FOUND F.R.E.E.D.O.M.
Finding passion.
Realizing goals.
Eliminating fear.
Embracing change.
Designing pathways.
Opening minds.
Manifesting abundance.
The Pathway Appeared
Susan in San Pedro Town, Belize
I’ve had an exciting career working with start-ups and conglomerates, and I have to say that working in this industry has afforded me a beautiful life. However, I’d have to say the freedom to work remotely for over 20 years has been one of the biggest blessings in my professional life.
I couldn’t have known that my journey was preparing me for this uncertain time we were now in.
From 2012-2015 I left New York, where I had lived for nearly 20 years, and picked up and moved to join the love of my life in San Pedro Town, Belize, Central America.
BET VIP client invitations
I was so good at my job that the President of BET Ad Sales offered me a lucrative full-time job, but it was back in New York City. The money and perks were so good I couldn’t pass it up.
However, moving from paradise back to the concrete jungle was one of my most significant life challenges. The 9-5 on a uber-competitive sales team, coupled with the rigor it was taking to be a New Yorker, again proved too much for me, and I…wanted…OUT.
Nearly nine months into the six-figure job, I resigned.
With my clientele back in the U.S., I ran my business on my laptop with a panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea. My largest client was my former employer BET Networks, managing the CRM database of key advertising clients. I created a digital automation system using three easy-to-use platforms - Squarespace, MailChimp, and Capsule - and managed the VIP invitation and itinerary distribution for major events such as the BET Awards, Hip Hop Awards, Soul Train Awards, and more…all while I was on my patio in Belize.
Freedom Brought Me Home
In 2016, I felt this inexplicable feeling of being homesick, not for Belize, but for St. Louis, where I was born and where my mom, sister, and the rest of my family lived. I took another giant leap of faith and moved, thinking it would be a temporary reprieve before heading back to Belize, but God had another plan.
I moved home in late 2016 and had the opportunity to work alongside retired NBA veteran Larry Hughes and St. Louis native NBA All-Star Chris Paul, leading the branding efforts for an innovative start-up platform that offers a digitized resource library to support facility operations, providing all the essentials to own and operate a thriving youth basketball business.
My experience at the start-up ignited a fascination with customized curriculum development and the innovative ways it can be created and delivered digitally. This exposure fueled my passion for harnessing technology to create personalized learning experiences that cater to diverse needs and drive success.
Plot Twist
Letha Hearn, Mom
Within six months of moving there, my mother had a major stroke while seated beside me on Easter Sunday. That day shifted everything for my family and me, and over the next few years, we would become her caretakers.
My remote workstyle would serve as a blessing again, allowing me to be present when my beautiful mother peacefully transitioned of natural causes in February 2020 at 91, just weeks before the world shut down.
It was then that I realized that the “inexplicable” desire to go home was actually a calling, and I understood the assignment.
I truly believe that my parents, now my guardian angels, continue to guide me on this incredible journey of building curriculum and marketing digital brand products. Their unwavering love and support, even from the spiritual realm, inspire me to keep pushing boundaries and exploring new ways to empower others through education and innovative digital solutions.
With their wisdom and strength surrounding me, I'm constantly reminded of the importance of my work. I strive to honor their legacy by making a lasting, positive impact in the world of digital branding and product development that makes an impact.
Freedom Keeps Me Connected
My work gives me freedom because it embodies my purpose.
I can serve others with the gift of freedom, kenekting the dots along the way. My digital products encourage creativity, self-discovery, and taking charge in this “new” way of life immediately. #FREEDOM