Supreme Spotlight: Amina Smith
Amina is currently an Emmy award winning sports anchor for Sports Center. At the time of this interview she was a recent graduate from University of Miami, anchoring for a small market outside of Kansas City.
Describe what your most fulfilled personal and professional life would look like?
My most fulfilled personal and professional life would be a life that has balance. I want to be able to exceed my professional goals of anchoring a sports or entertainment show at the network level, but also have a personal life that is truly dedicated to building and nurturing my family. At the end of the day accolades are great, but the moments you create with your family are priceless.
At what point in your life did you decide it was time to start pursuing what you doing now and why?
The moment I realized I had to get a jump on my post-grad goals was at the beginning of my sophomore year in college. As a broadcast major and student athlete I needed to prioritize what would be important to me after college. While many internships preferred juniors and seniors I opted to put myself out there anyway because I knew what I wanted. I just set goals and went for it!
How is your current professional endeavor preparing you for the dream job you mentioned on your profile?
Every step I take is intentional and meant to be a step closer to my ultimate goal. Right now I’m reporting and anchoring in a small market outside of Kansas City, MO to get all the experience I can, and not just on camera. Honing all of my skills in front of and behind the camera in a small market only makes that jump to a bigger market easier. Not to mention it also helps build confidence!
What are three qualities of the three people you spend the most time with and why do you spend the most time with?
– My Mother (Driven, Risk Taker, Hustler): My mom is someone I always look to, even as an adult, because she is the person who has helped get me to where I am today. Without her pushing me to take risks I would not have reached half of the goals I set out to achieve.
– Jamara Taylor (Business Savvy, Independent, Innovative): I always look to my best friend because she pushes me to think outside of the box. Jamara excels in the qualities that I may not have as much experience in, and surrounding yourself with people that can teach you how to strengthen your weaknesses are key!
– Industry Mentors (Honest, Successful, Experienced): I wish I could just choose one mentor in my industry, but I learn so much from them all I can’t choose! Having a mentor that has “been there, done that, and made those mistakes,” is the difference between making a decision and making the right decision. I always try to align myself with people in the broadcast industry that are a few steps ahead of where I am in my career. That way I develop habits that put me ahead of the game and help me stand out.
Advice on how to excel professionally while still remaining personally fulfilled?
My advice would be to always remain true to who you are. I’ve learned that by trying to be the stereotypical business/professional woman, you’re only limiting yourself. Most people feel like they have to look or act a particular way to reach their goals or for people to like them, but from my experience I’ve had more people genuinely fall in love with my personality than the persona that is expected from a news anchor. Slay and be YOU!
