How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield

Join Dreena Whitfield in an engaging interview with Shanae Ingleton Smith, a trailblazing media entrepreneur. Shanae shares her journey from dreaming big in Calgary to starting her own agency in Toronto. She turned her blog into a booming business, mastering marketing, advertising, and social media. After maternity leave, she fearlessly launched her own company, Kensington Gray. Get inspired by Shanae's finance-to-success story and her captivating insights on entrepreneurship. Tune in now!

Notable Quotes

- "I was always very intentional, and I believed I would always envision myself and manifest things, and I always wanted bigger and better for myself." Shannae Ingleton-Smith

Keywords

Keywords: Shanae Ingleton Smith, trailblazing, creator, strategist, multi-hyphen, entrepreneur, media space, Calgary, marketing, PR, CEO, success, influencer, followers, agency, manage, deals, opportunities, Gray Effect, talent.

Episode Outline

Growing up with big aspirations [00:01:16] Planning her exit strategy [00:07:08] Discovering the potential of being an influencer [00:08:33] Starting the agency by chance [00:09:11] Dreaming big with her husband [00:10:57] The benefits of signing with her agency [00:23:56] Proudly talking about the agency's success [00:24:13] Measuring the success of a campaign [00:30:20]

Connect with Shannae on…

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torontoshay/?hl=en 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannaeingleton/ 

Kensington Grey: https://www.kensingtongrey.co/ 



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Creators and Guests

Host
Dreena Whitfield
Dreena Whitfield-Brown is the Founder and CEO of WhitPR, an integrated strategic communications agency with 15+ years serving clients in the nonprofit, corporate, and political sectors. Recognized as one of PRWeek's 40 Under 40, a PR News Top Woman in PR, and named to Inc.'s 2025 Female Founders 500 List. She created How I Got Here to have the raw, honest conversations about entrepreneurship that nobody has on the record.
Producer
Keena Williams
Keena Williams is the founder of Struxa and the Executive Producer, Writer, and Creative Director of How I Got Here.

What is How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield?

How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield goes beyond the highlight reel with Black women founders, executives, and leaders. Real conversations about the pivots, the setbacks, and the purpose behind the work. From bootstrapping a beauty brand with $500 to leading a professional sports franchise, each episode explores the moments that shaped who they became and the cost of building something meaningful.
For women navigating leadership, business ownership, career reinvention, and the cost of ambition.

New episodes biweekly on Wednesdays.

Host: Dreena Whitfield
Executive Producer, Writer & Creative Director: Keena Williams / Struxa
howigotherewdreenaw.substack.com