Women's History Month | CEO's of Powerhouse Productions
“She Means Business” Spotlight Shines on Rochelle Brown & Sonia Armstead of Powerhouse Productions
March is a month of celebration — of intentionally showing love and appreciation for the women in our lives, and highlighting the contributions of women throughout history!
This year, TV One’s theme is “Dream On: She Means Business,” which honors powerful, trailblazing women who have shattered glass ceilings with their tremendous achievements.
Join us throughout the month of March, as we shine a spotlight on some extraordinary women who have embodied the power of dreams in action, capturing their evolution from young girls with aspirations to the monumental figures they are today. We celebrate their journeys.
Source: Powerhouse Productions, TV One, CLEO TV / TV One, CLEO TV
Rochelle Brown & Sonia Armstead, Co-CEOs of Powerhouse Productions
Powerhouse Productions is an award-winning full-service production company with a national reputation for high- quality and innovative productions. Compelling storytelling, a knack for developing new talent and fresh programming ideas for their network clients are just a few of their attributes. The company has produced many diverse series, specials, non-scripted, lifestyle, reality, and documentary programming in both the field and in the studio. They are the go-to “Women” for top notch Lifestyle Programming.
The company was launched in 2003 by Executive Producers Rochelle Brown and Sonia Armstead. The “dynamic duo” pride themselves on the passion and dedication they give to each project. They have proven that they have an uncanny ability to create and execute original programming that can be seen on top cable networks. Their slate of programming includes shows on TV One, CLEO Tv, Food Network, Cooking Channel, HGTV, OWN, Fine Living, DIY, BET, Netflix, Roku, and Disney. They were tapped by Nestle, Verizon, Citi Bank, Bounty, State Farm, Jet Blue and a host of others to create branded series and content. They are an industry leaders in branded entertainment.
Continuing reading to learn more about these “powerhouses”, in their own words.
Q: When you hear “She Means Business,” what comes to your mind? And share what it means to embody that phrase?
RB: When we hear “She means Business, the first thing that comes to mind is that this is a woman who gets the job done, and she does not play about completing that task! We embody that phrase because we are known in the business to always over deliver, on time, and a product that is next level. We don’t take anything for granted, when it comes to getting the job done “We Mean Business!
Q: Businesswomen face many challenges from flexible hours, motherhood (if a mom), relationships, friendships and just finding an overall work-life balance. How do you empower yourself and the women around you through it all?
RB: It’s so hard to find life and work balance. What we have done as women who own and lead this company is to make our family a priority every time we can. We have to show up and be involved, while juggling the big projects and deadlines. But we have an amazing staff, that we are thankful for, and we have each other. It’s a priority for us to empower each other when we must support and fill in for the other, and we empower the women on our staff to show up for their families too. It takes a village, and we all support each other as women sharing experiences and resources.
Q: Tell us about a pivotal moment in your career that will always stay with you.
RB: Sonia and I have always been the black women in the room, so when we first started the company folks would question us and our companies’ abilities, despite our successful careers and reputation in the industry. But now those same people have to knock on our doors for meetings and production needs. Sonia and I think about those moments in our earlier days, and chuckle because we always knew we would be successful because we had what it took to start a successful company, but we knew our talent and contacts would take us the distance!! Never judge a book by it’s cover is real!!
Q: Why is it so important for women to take time and smell their own flowers… to be proud of themselves?
RB: Sonia and I always go out and give back to the community and mentor young women who look like us, and have dreams in this business like we did. The entertainment business is rough and really hard for black girls to break in. But don’t let the fight deter you, all your experiences will make you a better producer and director. As black women, we don’t have the pleasure of just showing up. We have to stand-out and bring that “Black Girl Magic” to everything we do unapologetically. You have to be a Powerhouse, so that people remember your name, and they know that you deliver. You must seek out a Mentor that can spend time with you and open doors for you, and once you get in you have to do the same thing!! Try everything, be good to people, but most importantly be good to yourself and make your dreams a reality!!
