Sonji Jacobs
Innovation, entrepreneurship and empowerment took center stage at the University of West Georgia’s 2025 Women Empowering Women Luncheon, where industry leaders and aspiring professionals gathered to share insights on shaping the future of media and business.
Hosted by the Richards College of Business in partnership with the School of Communication, Film and Media (SCFM), the event featured a dynamic panel discussion and a keynote address by renowned communications leader Sonji Jacobs.
The annual event, which began in 2016, has grown into a signature gathering for the UWG community, bringing together students, faculty, industry professionals and community leaders. This year’s luncheon, held in celebration of Women’s History Month, focused on the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in media, providing a platform for women to share their experiences and inspire the next generation of leaders.
“Events like today’s bring our mission to life by fostering conversations that challenge, inspire and equip us all to make a difference in our professions and communities,” Dr. Christopher Johnson, dean of the Richards College of Business, emphasized in the introduction.
Following a panel discussion featuring seven accomplished women in media and communications, Dr. Bradford Yates, SCFM dean, reflected on the importance of mentorship and perseverance.
“When I think about someone who is empowering, I think of my mother, who rose through the ranks in banking with perseverance and dedication,” Yates shared. “Today, we celebrate women, much like my mother, who empower one another in the arena of media and entrepreneurship.”
The highlight of the event was the keynote address by Jacobs, co-founder and managing partner of Incisive, a communications, marketing, brand and public affairs agency. With over three decades of experience, Jacobs shared her journey from journalism to executive leadership, offering valuable insights into the evolving media landscape and the importance of resilience.
Jacobs reflected on how the media and business landscape has transformed, noting that in 1995, “there was an invisible wall” between newsrooms and advertising, with traditional media largely family-owned. However, today, “legacy media is now increasingly consolidated in the hands of an even smaller number of corporate owners.”
She highlighted the explosion of digital platforms and independent content creators, acknowledging both opportunities and challenges.
“We now have far more individual content creators, podcasters, producers, creatives and influencers who sometimes spread misinformation and disinformation,” she explained. This shift has made it harder to discern “who to trust and what to believe,” which has serious consequences for democracy.”
Despite these challenges, Jacobs expressed optimism.
“We also have many more opportunities to reshape media and communications to protect our democracy and offer a pathway for smart, creative, and innovative students like all of you here at West Georgia,” she added.
The event concluded with Jacobs’ call to action for media, marketing and business professionals to stay ahead by leveraging AI, hyper-personalization and interactive experiences. And above all, “the folks who succeed over their competitors and over the long haul will remain authentic to their brands and their company values.”
Before the luncheon, attendees had the opportunity to hear from an accomplished panel of industry leaders who shared their insights on leadership, innovation and overcoming challenges in media and business.
The panel featured Kelsey Matthews ’13, founder and chief brand strategist of Kelsey & Company; Kelly Meigs ’08, vice president of marketing strategy and planning at Tanner Health System; April Ross, CEO and multi-media network producer of Honey Productions and BeeTV Network; Paige Watterson ’23, inclusion manager at Southwire Company; Jasmine Jones ’13, CEO and owner of The Organized Collective; and Angela Brooks Dailey ’11, owner and publisher of West Georgia Woman magazine.
