Today we’d like to introduce you to Cierra Monay.
Cierra, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I always knew I wanted to work in entertainment even as a young girl. Surprisingly my college journey didn’t go like most aspiring media personalities. I actually went to school for nursing. I never showed interest in nursing but I let some family members talk me into it. It seemed like a great idea; job security, great pay, and helping others didn’t sound bad at all. Even though I was a nursing major, I still did things during my spare time that was entertainment related. I interned at a radio station, joined the National Association of Black Journalist and even took some communications classes. Most people are inspired by other people to go after their dreams but what made me want to follow after MY dreams (not my family’s dreams) was a book I had to read in one of my classes. The book was called Go For Yours and it was a small guidebook on how to chase your own dreams and not let others steer you in a different direction. Just reading that book made me realize that I had to do what would make me happy in the long run. It was also my fourth year of college and I still hadn’t got into the nursing program so I really had no choice but to go after my dreams or be in school for infinity! So I went to my school counselor later that week to change my major and that was probably the best choice I could have ever made!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There’s people that tell me that I moved up fast at the radio station, which I kind of agree because I’ve only been working here for four years, but I know the things I went through during those four years that made me feel like it took eternity to get here. I started out in 2014 as a street team member, then became a board operator in 2015. I felt like my faith was definitely being tested around 2016. I felt like I was at a standstill and nothing was really shaking for me as far as growing with the company. My goal was to be a radio personality and I felt like I was nowhere near close. Job opportunities for radio personalities are very limited because there aren’t a lot of slots available. The only way for a new personality to get hired is if someone gets a promotion, quits, or get fired. So it could literally take yearsssssss before you get your chance. In the beginning of 2017, I became so discouraged that I started applying for other jobs (including jobs that weren’t radio related) in New York. I was over everything and just wanted to change locations. I got two phone interviews with a marketing company and didn’t get the job. Discouraged once again, I kept working and eventually, things turned for the better. In spring 2017, I was offered a part-time producer position at my current job. I knew that this position would help me to get closer to my on-air dreams. Fast forward to the end of 2017 on New Year’s Eve, I FINALLY got my chance as a radio personality. In 2018, I am currently a full-time producer and a weekend radio personality.
Please tell us about Power 92.
As an employee at Power 92, one thing that I absolutely love about us is that we are connected close with our listeners. Most of us are from the Chicagoland area so it’s easy to relate to other Chicagoans. There’s people in the entertainment business who are disconnected from the real world and aren’t relatable, but we are the total opposite.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
When I think of my childhood, I think of how chaotic my house was growing up. I lived in a two-flat apartment building with my cousins, grandma, mom, uncle and aunt. I remember us driving my grandma crazy with our loud music, arguing and running in and out the house. Being able to live in a house with a bunch of family with different taste in music really was my introduction to music. I wish I could rewind the time just to relive those days.
Contact Info:
- Email: cierramonayonair@gmail.com
- Instagram: Cierra_Monay
- Twitter: cierra__monay
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