Corporate Graphic Designer + Entrepreneur + Small town boy with BIG ideas + Dedicated to giving back + Black Male = ROLON SULLIVAN!
Rolon Sullivan is more than a talented graphic designer with a resume that speaks for itself, he is a man that understands what it takes to be successful and how to overcome the hurdles that so often stomp the "black community." How the journey began (in Rolon's words)...
"I’m from Greenville, SC. I attended Lander University in Greenwood, SC and received a B.A. in Visual Arts (concentration in Graphic Design). I accidentally became a graphic designer in elementary school. In third grade there was an art contest and all the winners would get to go on a field trip to the art museum. I wanted to go so bad! I found a good book cover deep in the library shelves and I traced it and turned it in knowing that they would pick me. Well I did get picked but along with that I was asked to be in the art club. Lol..so after that I had to learn how to be an artist or get in trouble. Well here I am 22 years later and I’m still doing graphic design. It just goes to show that a little lie can last forever!"Ernst & Young - Feb. 2001- Aug. 2001, Atlanta, GA, Graphic Designer/Document Specialist
Gerber Childrenswear, Inc. - April. 2003 - April. 2008, Greenville, SC, Senior Graphic Artist
1.) Before I could even dive into highlighting your graphic design career, you were eager to talk about motivational speaking and giving back to the community. Tell FAB about your passion.
My passion is to encourage young African American men & women to put themselves in positions to push & pull each other up. As I began my journey through corporate America I noticed that I was never interviewed or hired by anyone of any minority ethnicity. I’m also usually the only African American male at a company along with a couple other minority women. This was a very discouraging sign. I would like to go around to universities and high schools to speak with students and let them know that we must keep. The question I would ask them is “if you needed to get a job today, is there someone that could give you one today”? Most of us as African Americans don’t have anyone to turn to when we are in need of employment. We need to get ourselves in a position that we can hire others and stop letting mainstream America tell us that we’re only good enough for call centers and factory jobs. Not there’s anything wrong with that, but even if you go into the factory jobs the managers are usually not minorities. I would just want to let them (minority community) know that they can be the leader and in control too, just like our new black President!
2.) Does race matter?
Yes RACE MATTERS! It’s the main reason we still have to work 5 times as hard and still get a little lower pay. It’s the same reason why a Harvard law school student that graduated at the top of his class and is pushing for equality for all had to work so hard to beat an old angry, stuck in the old days, with views that only involve the wealthy, graduated fourth from the bottom of his class senator. The funny thing about race is that it’s coming 360. The same reason it hurt minorities will be the same reason it will help us excel.
3.) Coming from a small town myself, I can understand the difficulties of pursuing a career path with little opportunity in my area of interest. Aside from your full-time job, how were you able to start your own company (My Artist Side)?
Coming from a small town it’s difficult to pursue a design career. But my company is able to be successful because I understand that African Americans saturate the economy in many ways, so I am able to utilize my talent and provide a service to the minority community . In return, I try to focus on getting business with minorities and giving them the best deals possible.
4.) I can see that clocking in from 9-5 doesn't totally fulfill you, what more do you need in order to feel professionally complete?
In order to feel more professionally complete I will need to grow and expand My Artist Side and began employing people. I want to be the person that the people can depend on to give them that opportunity to be more than they thought they could be.
5.) Here's your chance to speak to FAB readers, what message do you want to leave behind?
I want to tell FAB readers that I’m not your usual suspect! Parrhesia (phrase used by Cornell West, meaning speak your mind!) is going to be my way of life. My ability to think critically for myself & common sense means more to me than any amount of money.
Check out Rolon's art designs...
Check out Rolon's websites for more info, http://www.myartistside.com/ OR www.myartistside.com/rolonresume.html
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