Successful UA Little Rock Alum Khim Reese Aday Named a Top 10 Professional to Watch
UA Little Rock alumnus Khim Aday declared the word “pivot” as his theme word of 2023.
It was an apt choice for the strategic communication graduate. This year, he pivoted his vast communications and public relations experience at top companies like Amazon, Walmart, and McDonald’s Corporation into a successful new career in entertainment.
Aday has transitioned to iHeartMedia, the #1 audio company in the United States, where he serves as manager of communications. His job includes developing communications strategies and publicity campaigns for iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally, with a focus on The Black Effect Podcast Network, the largest podcast network dedicated to Black voices and the Black Information Network, the first and only 24/7 comprehensive national audio news network dedicated to providing an objective, accurate, and trusted source of news with a Black voice and perspective.
In his new position, Aday looks forward to amplifying new and emerging voices from historically underrepresented groups and using the power of audio to connect with diverse communities. He is busy building awareness of the podcast networks and promoting new audio and TV partnerships with major production partners including the NBA, NFL, Imagine Entertainment, Black Entertainment Television and more.
For his accomplishments, Aday was named as one of The Ten to Watch in 2023 by Diverse Representation, which recognizes African American agents, attorneys, managers, and publicists who work in the sports and entertainment industry.
“I was honored to be named as one of the top 10 to watch,” he said. “I started my career in entertainment with an internship at Arkansas Educational Television Network. Now I am having that full circle moment. It really means a lot to me to be back in entertainment and to be recognized by such an important organization at this point in my career.”
Aday, a native of Little Rock, came to UA Little Rock as a creative writing major, recalling that he has loved writing ever since he was a kid.
“I was always a writer,” Aday said of his childhood. “I would write books and songs and poems ever since I was a kid. UA Little Rock had a great curriculum in the creative writing space. My advisor was Amy Barnes, and she asked me what I wanted to do with my writing career. I had no idea at the time. The university had recently started this new major in strategic communication and she suggested I take a class or two. I tried it and loved it. The hallmark of a true public relations professional is strong writing skills. I’m still in this career after all these years, so I’d say Amy Barnes was right. She was great at spotting talent.”
In addition to Barnes helping him pivot to a good career path, Aday also credits Dr. Tim Edwards, a professor of mass communication, with helping him “hone in on my journalism skills and understand what it means to put on a journalist hat.”
For Aday, working for iHeartMedia is a completely new experience that is livening up his career. Though he now lives and breathes podcasts, the 33-year-old media professional hasn’t even had the chance to be in a podcast yet.
“I listened to my first podcast in 2016, and I just fell in love with it,” he said. “The podcast industry continues to grow as more companies invest in original content. Transitioning from a fan to an advisor in the space has been a challenge, but it’s fun and exciting. I spend a lot of time having conversations with writers, producers, and podcast hosts to understand the business of podcasting so I can do my job to the best of my ability. I’m looking forward to seeing how the industry continues to grow and expand.”
For his next professional goal, Aday said that he is spending his free time learning about producing, which seems like a natural transition given his current position.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with some incredible producers, and I’m considering becoming a producer in music, TV, and radio on the weekends,” he said.
Aday credited incredible support from his family and friends as the key to his success.
“There have been many times where I’ve had to pivot and adjust and travel and move, and there have been highs and lows in my career,” he said. “I have what I call a personal board of directors. This is a group of people who have invested in me since the beginning of my career and kept me on track towards my goals. Professors, family members, fraternity brothers, friends, mentors, military leaders – these are the people who have guided me, advised on tough decisions, and ultimately helped me build a meaningful career.”
When asked what advice he would give to current students who want to be successful in their careers, Aday’s advice was twofold: start networking as soon as possible and find your passion.
“Start building your network now, whether it’s alumni who are currently working in the field that you are interested in, your peers, and other like-minded individuals,” Aday said. “The network that you build now will pay off in the future. Two, find your passion. If you figure out what your passion is early on, you can decide now how to make that into a career.”
