Courtney Richardson Tapped as Creative Director for Droga5

Creative Director and founder of “Do it for the Brand”, Courtney Richardson, is all about representing and showing up for the Black the woman whether it be in private or professional settings. Her Howard background and deeply rooted experience in creativity has led her to be one of the industry’s essential assets to moving the culture forward and telling Black stories with intention and purpose. 

Richardson has worked with Paper Magazine, Nike, Hulu, HBO, VH1, and many more. Only 11 % of creative directors in the U.S. are women, and for Black women that number is sadly smaller. 

 With pride and much respect, we are pleased to announce that Richardson will now lead the culture by working with creative agency “Droga5” but most importantly , will be working with icon Diddy Combs and other world-renowned brands such as “Hennessy”. 

Her to journey to working with large brands taught her many lessons both good and bad and, in this interview, held via zoom, we get to hear those stories first- hand.

You're first generation American, and your parents being immigrants and your family being immigrants, a lot of people get caught up in what their parents want them to do. And that experience of breaking the mold is so hard. So, what was the moment like for you?

Well, I think it also has to do with growing up being a dancer. I was in dance class, and for a short time, when I was younger, I went to Montessori school. And Montessori school is a type of schooling where they kind of allow you to kind of explore whatever your interests are. And I think that really kind of honed and crafted my interests in the arts. I didn't really feel pressure from my family. I feel like it was a little bit of an unspoken pressure, but it was never like, "Why are you doing this? You have no right to do this. This is safer. This is a better bet." I think they trusted me enough to know what I liked. And because I was so talented in the different forms of creativity and advanced and things like that, I was the lucky one to get support.

Your first job was in television with AMC Network after you were finished with your schooling. Being at this big company, this this young Black woman going to this big company, being in these rooms, obviously not only bringing yourself, but bringing Black women with you– what were some of the experiences that you felt that were like, "Oh, so this is how it really goes behind closed doors."

Yeah. When you get into the real world, I feel like, especially being a woman of color, being a Black woman, being a Black person, you know how more or less, we kind of have the talk with our parents, the talk being what happens if you get pulled over by the police, how to conduct yourself, and XYZ? I feel like we need a certain talk about when we get into the real world, because not that it was a culture shock for me, but maybe because I was super optimistic and bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Do you recall a specific situation where you spoke up and you were reprimanded for speaking up?

There was a situation I was in, in which it was after a company event or holiday party or something like that. And I was being the ambitious Black woman that I am. I was just finishing up some work so I could head home. And the event happened in the office, so it wasn't like we were out at a bar or something like that. Someone who was senior to me, a white male, tried to put himself on me. Kiss me, corner me, and kiss me. So, I immediately shared that with my supervisor and when I did (she was a white woman). When I did, I felt like I was reprimanded in a way where people weren't speaking to me. So again, being the only one, right? Being the only black woman, more or less at a company and not feeling supported because I could have immediately turned to a person of color, a sister of color. Right? And confided in her, but I didn't have anyone else to confide into. And I shared that information with my supervisor in confidence, right? Just letting her know, hey, this happened to me. And she went and told higher ups about it. So that definitely made me feel as a black woman, that a lot of times in our work lives, they're not necessarily sacred places.

Do you think that was the moment where you decided you were really dedicating your career to black women and upholding them and telling their stories in the way that you felt they should be told?

I definitely think it was a part of it. Uncomfortable situations have always reminded me like, okay, I got to keep rep-ing for black women. I got to push forward for black women. 

Being from California, you know what it's like to get caught up in the facade of what Hollywood or with working with celebrities can be. How do you stay so focused on your purpose and not be sidetracked about the accolades that come from working with celebrities?

Yeah. I think that's an awesome question. How do I put this? I think that one, I think it's important to show off and show out. You have amazing artists and icons who show up and show out. If Whitney Houston didn't show off her vocals, we would've never been blessed with our talent, right? But also at the same time, trophies glisten and shine for only a moment. But the impact that you can have for people and for women, especially black women last a lifetime.

Why is it important for you to connect your career to purpose?

For me, it's personally important because it allows me to like the work that I do. And it allows me to not just sort of look at my work through just a check. It's really about fuel. It gets me through the day, having that alignment and purpose.

How important is it for you as a creative director to be intentional in your work?

I think having intent is so important. I think as a woman of color, as a black woman, intent might mean a little bit more than other colleagues from other backgrounds, because my intent kind of rests on the shoulders of other people too. My intent isn't just, for me, my intent is for Courtney, for my little sister, for the people after her, for the people before me. 

You went to Howard University. Since the pandemic began more conversations about going to HBCUs, whether it be undergrad, or grad school have come up. Were there any lessons that you were able to take from attending Howard and being affiliated with the Howard name that you now carry in your career and just in your walk-in life in general?

I love this question because it has me just reminiscing about the yard and yeah, good times. I took so much away from Howard and honestly, I would not be the woman I am today had I not attended an HBCU. So, I think that the power of HBCUs, particularly Howard University and what has come from the institution has just been amazing. But as far as like the one takeaway from Howard that has made me the woman that I am today and has really allowed me to sort of solidify and hold strong with my intent and why I'm here on this earth, again, being a voice for the voiceless, is that there's so much beauty in being black. I know Ms. Tina, Beyonce's mom, the great said that, but that's what my experience was, is that there's so much beauty in being black, attending Howard University instilled so much confidence. The expectation is so high, but it's also achievable. Your professors and your friends and everyone at Howard, they allow you to feel that you can achieve anything because you are great because you are black.

What do you hope your career and legacy say about you?

I want my legacy to be something that black women and black girls can look back and say, "Thank you. Thank you for hearing me, for seeing me.”

I heard you have some exclusive information and announcements that you would like to divulge for Color Vision.

As far as exclusive, I'm leaving Paper and I actually have been tapped to be the creative director at Droga5, which is a really huge creative agency. But not only that I'll be working with P Diddy on his different project such as Sean Comb Enterprises, DeLeon Tequila, I'll be also working with other big-name brands as well.

Congratulations! That's major. How do you feel? You're moving into an upward trajectory. You've done your due diligence at Paper, and now you're moving on to working with Diddy. How does that feel for you?

Wow. It's maybe full circle a little bit. Me being a young girl and being on the set with my uncle and seeing all of these amazing hip hop pioneers and stars, and then having to work with a very well-known international, not only black man, but brand, because Diddy is a brand. So being able to touch that and work on that is something that is quite fascinating, and I'm so blessed. Then  also being able to possibly again, work with Janelle Monae. She was the voice for the New York Times, the 1619 Project. I'll be able to touch that as well. all of these amazing opportunities, I'm just blessed. Again, and I feel they sort of aligned with my intent– to have an impact on black people and to push the culture forward.  I'm just so, so grateful to be a top leading CD on this work.