March 20, 2025
Jordan Benston runs one of many few Black- and woman-owned full-service manufacturing firms.
Black ladies are the fastest-growing demographic of entrepreneurs in the USA. Between 2014 and 2019, companies owned by Black ladies grew 50%, representing the very best progress charge of any feminine demographic. The explanation for the expansion is as a result of ladies like Jordan Benston are betting on themselves. Benston began The Oracle Media—a full-service manufacturing firm—in 2019.
She has tapped into an trade the place there’s a shortlist of those who appear to be her.
“It has been superb over these final couple of years to be acknowledged by people who find themselves shocked to see an all-Black crew after they come on set,” she tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“Once they are available in, they really feel at residence […], which helps you get the content material you want.”
How Benston Launched Her Firm With Help From Pals
Since hitting the bottom working with The Oracle Media, Benston’s work has already graced the covers of Essence Journal, Cassius, and HelloBeautiful. Benston, who has over 10 years of manufacturing expertise, was impressed to launch the corporate after receiving mediocre service.
“I used to be working as a producer, researching firms and going by the processes with [these companies]. I used to be combating backwards and forwards for deliverables, or they weren’t delivering a high quality product for the quantity we have been paying,” Benston recollects.
She had a thought in the future: “I might try this.”
The voice in Benston’s head grew louder. A dialog with a buddy helped remodel these intrusive ideas into motion.
In keeping with an evaluation by J.P Morgan, whereas Black ladies are the fastest-growing demographic of entrepreneurs within the U.S., many face disproportionate monetary headwinds. One barrier for Black ladies is the shortage of entry to capital. Greater than 60% of Black ladies self-fund their startup capital
Benston didn’t have to start out alone.
“[My friend said]’ I’m going to place you on an electronic mail with my lawyer so you can begin the LLC after which go from there,’” stated Benston. “He paid for all my authorized charges to open my firm.”
Of their first yr, many small enterprise homeowners face challenges adapting to alter and unexpected enterprise challenges and bills. Simply months after Benston began The Oracle Media, the world shut down over the COVID-19 pandemic. However that opened a door for Benston. One among her first huge initiatives was a dwell press junket.
“A buddy referred to as me on the lookout for assist discovering a manufacturing supervisor, producer, and digicam operator, and I beneficial myself.”
The press junket was for the two-part PBS documentary And She Might Be Subsequent, which adopted the campaigns of politicians of coloration. Ava DuVernay was the manager producer.
One among Benston’s most notable works was Hip-Hop and the White Home. The Hulu documentary highlights hip-hop’s energy and affect in politics. It was a major second for Benston, who acknowledges that Black-owned manufacturing firms are few and much between.
“I’m not simply displaying up as a result of I’m getting a examine, nor are the individuals I’m hiring. We’re displaying up as a result of we’re invested within the challenge and care concerning the story being informed,” Benston says.
There aren’t any indicators that she’s slowing down anytime quickly.
Benston is engaged on The Actual Housewives of Atlanta star Nene Leakes’ new talkshow, The Nene Leakes Present. Leakes plans to interact in candid conversations about present occasions, her private journey of navigating grief after dropping her husband of 27 years, and extra.
When engaged on a digital cowl in 2023, Benston got here to set with a pitch deck for Leakes. Leakes was posting movies on YouTube and Benston informed the unique housewife she needed to work along with her.
“She preferred the pitch however the timing simply wasn’t proper,” stated Benston. “Quick ahead to 2025, I get a name from her government assistant.”
Leakes remembered Benston from the shoot and the remaining is historical past.
“Now, we’ve got The Nene Leakes Present.”
Along with the speak present, The Oracle Media is presently producing beautiful editorial content material.
“I’m excited to get again to my past love of video and linear content material,” says Benston about her future plans. “I hope to additionally put out some authentic content material that I’m producing in home with my inventive producer, Haley Poole.”
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