Visionaries in Media

From Print to Purpose

Kevin Benoit is a natural-born self-starter based in Harlem, New York, with a go-getter mentality. He has a deep love for helping others and a passion for media and entertainment. Growing up, he originally planned to study law and graduated college with a degree in criminal justice. But the idea for a magazine kept growing. At just 17 years old, Kevin launched Parle Magazine, focusing heavily on local print distribution.

His early success opened doors, including an opportunity to volunteer with a youth-led media company, where he quickly rose to editor-in-chief. Nonprofit work became the cornerstone of his career, and he’s worked with the disabled community, homeless youth, formerly incarcerated youth, and in education.

Throughout the growth of Parle Magazine, Kevin faced major struggles—from social channels being hacked to keeping up with the unpredictable shifts in media. But nearly twenty years later, he’s still standing strong.

Recently, he merged his skills to create Parle Endeavors, a nonprofit aimed at empowering young adults and supporting youth development through mentorship, scholarships, grants, and real-world experience. Their focus is providing opportunities in the arts, media, journalism, entrepreneurship, and beyond. Kevin’s mission today is to help build the next generation of media-makers while shining a brighter light on local stories through Parle. Personally, he’s thinking about finally revisiting his original plan—pursuing law, but this time with a focus on entertainment.

The Blueprint for Empowered Women

Rhonesha Byng is all about going above and beyond—in fact, she built her entire brand around that idea. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Rhonesha founded Her Agenda, a digital platform that shines a light on powerful female leaders and provides resources to inspire the next generation.

She started her career writing for outlets like NBC and HuffPost but quickly noticed a gap in how women, especially Black women, were being represented. That’s when Her Agenda was born. Through her platform, Rhonesha offers tools, mentorship, and stories that encourage young women to push past obstacles and claim their space.

Beyond the site, she’s become a sought-after public speaker, appearing at The White House, Google, Adweek, and more. Over the years, she’s earned awards and recognition while focusing on highlighting others and building a space where women can thrive.

Flying High: The Business of Entertainment

Lynnwood Bibbens has always had a solution-driven, strategy-focused mindset. Before launching ReachTV, he built and sold multiple tech companies, learning the ropes of entrepreneurship early on. But founding ReachTV—the largest airport television network—became his defining move.

Lynnwood’s goal was to create something fresh and positive. Today, ReachTV streams in airports and hotels across the U.S. and beyond, airing everything from live sports to original shows. He’s played a key role in taking the company global, working closely with big names in tech and media to keep ReachTV ahead of the curve.

In addition to his business moves, Lynnwood has produced various TV series and shows and frequently appears on air himself. He’s also working on his first book, continuing to expand his mission of connecting people, entertaining audiences, and making every journey a little brighter.

Creating the Life You Love Through Bold Leaps

Gabrielle Amani’s “plan” was to immerse herself in the world of architectural engineering—a “safe” career choice, especially important to any first-generation immigrant family. But she turned that plan on its head when she launched MEFEater in 2012, calling it “an act of rebellion” and using it as a space to express her creativity.

At just 20 years old, Gabrielle was already making waves on Wall Street, quickly moving up from social marketing manager to head of marketing at a hospitality company. Still, corporate life didn’t feel right, and something new was calling. After prayer, family talks, and some bold steps, she launched MEFEater Magazine with helpful support from her mother.

Along the way, she’s seen major success, gained industry respect, and learned hard lessons about leadership, growth, and accountability. Today, she’s expanded MEFEater into an agency, working with top-tier clients and providing services that uplift others. Gabrielle is looking forward to motherhood and continuing her entrepreneurial journey. Her advice to young creatives is to be self-aware, stay focused on your niche, and prioritize balance through self-care and faith.