Kori Hale is the founder of CultureBanx, a leading platform for stock market business news for the Hip-Hop culture. If CNBC or Bloomberg had a baby with Spotify’s Rap Caviar playlist, well that would be CultureBanx! Our Kori Hale interview dives into exactly what that means.
With over 15 years of collective experience in investment banking and news media, Kori Hale is a one of the major voices on the topic for those that need it simplified. She’s always speaking on panels, domestically and abroad. As CultureBanx continues to grow, she continues to be a force in media.
We caught up with Kori to talk about the platform, how she grew up from the ground up, and much more. Check out the full Kori Hale interview below.
Parlé Mag: What inspired you to get into the business, and what was your path getting into the profession?
Kori Hale: I really wanted to see a stronger reflection of my culture and community across high level finance, in a culturally authentic way. As a former Wall Street banker I had the opportunity to experience the capital markets in a unique way and knew that other people who looked like me were missing out on this information. This led me to working at different business news outlets like CNBC, The Street and Bloomberg, before helping to launch business news startup Cheddar. Ultimately, this led me to creating a For Us, By Us business news company in CultureBanx.
Parlé Mag: What was your first win that motivated you to keep going?
Kori Hale: My first win was my company locking in a media licensing deal with Forbes.
Parlé Mag: What have been some of the obstacles as a black entertainment/media professional?
Kori Hale: There are plenty of obstacles to being a Black female entrepreneur, perhaps too many to name. However, I think the most important thing for me is to remember that I’m walking in my life’s purpose, and that it’s a privilege to be doing this work and empowering my community!
Parlé Mag: Any regrets or things you would change about your journey?
Kori Hale: There are a few regrets for sure, like I could’ve had a bit more money saved before diving all the way in on entrepreneurship. Though, I wouldn’t necessarily change that because it brought out a hustle in me that I didn’t even know I had.
Parlé Mag: What’s something you wish you knew early on in your journey/something you would share with yourself if you could go back?
Kori Hale: Consistently putting in the work will pay off in the long run. Don’t be afraid to fail over and over again, because you are always getting one step closer to your goals.
Parlé Mag: Anything that you would change about the industry overall?
Kori Hale: I want the ad buying business to stop treating multicultural audiences as some sort of charity and put some respect (in my Birdman voice) on the value and buying power that we offer brands!!!
Parlé Mag: What are you currently working on/goals for the coming months?
Kori Hale: I’m trying to establish relationships and close deals with new brand partners who want to be connected to the most savvy Black consumers in the market!
Parlé Mag: What’s a current challenge keeping you up at night or simply impacting your success?
Kori Hale: I’m sleeping pretty good these days because I know tomorrow is another day where I have the opportunity to wake up and grind for the culture!
Parlé Mag: How has the industry changed since you started, for better or worse?
Kori Hale: The media industry is cyclical with its ebbs and flows. So I don’t think it’s better or worse, better yet it’s constantly evolving.
Parlé Mag: What advice would you give an upcoming media/entertainment professional? Kori Hale: Understand your ‘why’ because without it you can’t be anchored in the work you’re doing and will give up easily.
Parlé Mag: What’s a recent milestone you would like to share?
Kori Hale: We landed a great deal with one of the biggest tech companies in the world after working towards it for nearly 8 months!
Parlé Mag: What’s still on your bucket list? Business and/or personal.
Kori Hale: I want to create a Black-owned publishing conglomerate that rivals Hearst Media.
Parlé Mag: What do you envision is next for you?
Kori Hale: I’m just striving to continue growing the business and speaking around the world about the importance of CultureBanx.
Parlé Mag: How do you define success and how do you measure that for yourself?
Kori Hale: I love this question because it’s just so different for everyone. For me success is simple and I define success by the ability and freedom to make choices about how I live my life. It’s measured through my ability to choose, where I work, the partners my company has and the amount of time I get to spend pursuing my passions.
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