Joyce, you are a writer and have had several projects published. What is one of your favorite lines that you wrote, and why is it your favorite?
To me, words on paper are the most vulnerable form of self-expression. Writing has always served as an outlet for me to release captive feelings of my own while, at the same time, allowing those who read my work to feel that anything they have to say is worthy of being heard. I published my first book, With Grief Came Gardens, in June 2021 as a tribute to my inner emotions and my late father. Prior to its debut, I’d spent my life keeping all of my non-perfect feelings bottled up. I was convinced that my emotions made me weak and that they didn’t deserve to have a voice. The outpouring of support that I received from friends, family, and even total strangers after releasing 138 pages of my story was entirely the opposite of what I’d expected. I didn’t think anyone would care, and a lot of people did. What I once believed about feelings was slowly but surely transformed, and the game had changed. More recently, in August of this year, I published my second book, We Never Walk Alone, where I birthed one of my favorite pieces of poetry that does well at summing up my journey, “Do today one step at a time. Which is to say, keep putting one foot in front of the other until you can run through your storms. You get through today with one step. You get through today in twenty-four hours. You get through today.”
What has surprised you the most about working at The M Network?
It’s not a traditional workspace. And I mean that in a good way. Before my first day at the M Network, I pictured interning in an office downtown completely differently. You know, business-y attire from Monday to Friday, constant coffee runs to the nearest Starbucks, and just doing a bunch of not-so-important, menial tasks that are seen as “intern cliches.” Instead, working at the M Network for the past month has been pleasantly surprising in a number of ways. Not only has there not been one coffee run, but I’ve been welcomed with open arms by a super down-to-earth team that knows the perfect balance between work and play. I’m surprised that coming to work can actually be fun and fulfilling at the same time.
When you get home at night and talk with your roommates, what do you tell them about your day?
When my roommate asks me what my days interning are like, I normally start with a word like “busy” and end with a word like “unexpected.” It never fails. On the network, I’m constantly occupied with new tasks, and I’m always learning. Essentially, I tell her that there’s no place quite like the M Network. I have to say, though, working here has made me want to graduate college more than ever, get into the real world of work, and kiss lectures goodbye.
Your family is Nigerian. Tell us more about the tribe you are from and how that culture has impacted the person you are today.
My family is from the Igbo tribe, one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria. We have an extremely distinctive culture that has been force-fed in some areas of my upbringing, while in others it is only slightly sprinkled. Though being Nigerian is a part of who I am, it’s important to not forget the hyphenated American that follows it. I’ve never once stepped foot on the continent of Africa—not yet, at least. I mention this because I think there is a relevant distinction between an African who has spent their whole life, or at least some of their life, in Africa and someone like myself. My mom spoke Igbo to me and my siblings enough to the point where we have a decent enough understanding; she cooked traditional meals regularly, and to this day, she will not have any songs that aren’t from the motherland blaring from her car radio. In other ways, outside of the few things I picked up from my mother about Nigeria, the influences of the outside world, like growing up in North Carolina and Rhode Island, have not exactly helped me feel fully Nigerian all the time. I love the culture that made me, but I also feel like I’ve still got a lot to learn. Which I will!
How do companies best market to you?
Given that we live in a fast-paced world where there’s always something to get done, I’d rather not sit down and watch a 30-minute video about something that I could’ve fully understood in 5 minutes. If we’re talking good marketing, for me, that means getting to the point quickly and efficiently without doing unnecessary work.
What is something about you I wouldn’t know to ask about?
I’m a travel guru! Seeing new parts of the world is 100% my favorite thing to do, so much so that I have been to 13 countries in the span of 1.5 years. I started solo traveling in 2021 and never looked back. Europe is my favorite continent so far, and I’m excited to branch out to other fun destinations as time progresses.
If you could work on any M Network client, which would it be and why? What would your headline be for this client’s press release? Anything goes; just have fun with it!
I was able to work with the team and get hands-on experience at a video shoot for Artlook Miami, where one of the clients present was The Miami Foundation. I’d love to get to work with them again! It was such a fun experience. A headline that comes to mind is “Transforming Miami: The Miami Foundation Unveils Ambitious Community Initiatives for a Brighter Future.”
Where would we most likely find you on a Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m.?
You’d find me hanging out with my boyfriend while watching something random on Netflix. Oh, and I’m 96% sure I’d be eating a steak bowl from Chipotle.
Is there anything else you want to add?
I’m so excited for what the future brings at The M Network, and I’m so happy that I found this home away from home!
