Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Khan.
Hi Vanessa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Originally, I was born in San Antonio, TX. While having an absentee father, I grew up with my wonderful mom, who immigrated here from Mexico before starting her life here. She worked tirelessly to take care of my siblings and me. She was (and still is) a hard advocate for immigrant and women’s rights, working on political campaigns for the Bexar County, Texas Democrats. Additionally, an abuse survivor in multiple situations from her previous marriage, to her career in finance which led her to publish her book, In Jail for My Own Truth, where she shared one of her horrific stories. She did everything she could to take care of us, and I love her for it.
Once I got older, I got into my own abusive story while at the same time trying to make a name for myself as a broadcast journalist…
Starting my career as an intern for Ammoland Shooting Sports News in Virginia, to then move on as field reporter for The South Pittsburg Hustler/The Jasper Journal in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, Evo News in New York City, New Brunswick Today in New Jersey, Tejano Nation in Texas to name a few before moving on as a Field Reporter turned News Director for Cromwell Radio Group (ESPN, JACK-FM affiliates) in Effingham, Illinois. However, I didn’t get to where I wanted to be until I got my first break in television as a producer for WEEK 25 (NBC affiliate) in Peoria, Illinois, just south of Chicago. I met some of the most incredible people and made some true friends along the way, including my mentors Charlie Kratovil from New Brunswick Today, David Riley from South Pittsburg Hustler/The Jasper Journal, and John Henry Medina from Tejano Nation. At times, I was a reckless [sometimes aggressive] reporter, often putting myself in sticky situations where I would get hurt on multiple occasions, but I loved every minute of it.
Yet there was another side of my life that was kept away from everyone…
While all of this was going on, I was living in a personal hell as I was in an engagement where I was truly miserable. Dealing with physical, emotional, mental, psychological, and even financial abuse from my now ex-fiance. I was living in the same world my mom had warned me about for so many years, yet to the public eye I was the happiest girl who many thoughts was living a perfect life. I lived in denial for years, living in my trauma, constantly blaming myself for what I was going through. Worst of all, I felt like I had to keep quiet about it to everyone because I was so ashamed.
It wasn’t until my home life took such a toll on me that I lost my first job leading me towards my dream that I finally made the decision to get myself out. I remember applying to TV stations all over the country before finally getting my golden ticket early 2019 at Entravision Communications (Univision) in Santa Maria, CA. I took a job as a commercial producer and had two weeks to get everything together to escape to my new life.
When I first arrived to California, in many ways it was a culture shock, but at the same time reminded me of home. I came with whatever I could fit into my car, and my dog, with very little money. I just wanted to finally be free. Unfortunately, it took a long time before I could finally be free from my abuser to begin to truly live once again. I made some wonderful friends turned family along the way, and I was excited about the future for the first time in years.
My time at Entravision was hard but taught me many valuable lessons about the sales side of media that is often forgotten about. It wasn’t until our staff was let go due to COVID-19 that I was really able to see those lessons for what they truly were and put them to use. When I lost my job, I felt lost, but I kept thinking about my old life, and it made me feel like a complete failure. “Maybe I am nothing without my ex” was a thought that hit me all the time…
At that point, I wanted to do more with my career, but more than anything I missed being in the field as a journalist. In my spare time away from Entravision, I had started my own YouTube channel, Reventon Y Mas, and I was able to do what I wanted once again. Focusing on the entertainment world, I had brought back that drive that made me want to get into journalism in the first place. Now, once I lost my job is where the story of my company truly began.
Unemployed, I decided to adapt my channel from YouTube to a news media blog, working with some amazing people. While being in quarantine made it a lot harder, there was still so much we were able to do. (gotta love technology, right)
From there, in the middle of the worst months of the pandemic in July 2020, I make the plunge and move to LA County. First working in a back studio in a boutique to getting my website and web show picked up by a local media organization to realize that I wanted to create my own Media Network.
In late 2020/early 2021, I went back to the original boutique originally known as Royal Shoes and Gems in La Puente, CA now known as Rancho Alegre Western Wear/Rancho Alegre para damas. Where I was able to start from scratch. The owners of the establishment, Gizel Ventura and Veronica Ramos, took me in and let me grow my business while I did my best to help them grow theirs. They both worked so hard, and continue to do so, not only for their business but for their community. Their locations created real families for their community. While yes, we butted heads at times, they are both still some of the most incredible people and I truly want to thank them for everything they did for this lonely girl from Texas with a dream.
In that time, we had begun the process of creating programming (mainly Facebook live). There were some successes and a lot of failures, but it was a learning process. Being in LA was a totally different kind of crazy compared to the other 38 states I lived/worked in. I still wanted to build more and do what we could to grow this network into a real competitor in the world of media. From there, we added more shows to our lineup from all over the country with 2 of our shows filmed in Tucson, AZ and Texas.
Now, we get to today. RYM went from a YouTube channel to a blog to a full-on digital network with our own channel on Roku with original programming. As we set our sights on bigger opportunities, now all the teams are working together to grow and get as far as we possibly can. I learned a lot from some great people including PR dynamos Tony Rocks and Barbara Sanchez to name a few. However, I appreciate the most is the opportunities we have had to tell stories from so many from RB Music, VDiscos to even Banda El Recodo with the best team a girl could ask for. My talents in this network have become my family, and I want to succeed as much as possible for them: Griselda, Mary Hershey & Eunice, Strella, Nathan, Elisa, Anas, I love you all so much and thank you for everything.
Above all, I want to mention the person who sticks by me day in and day out. My wonderful husband, Wajahat Khan. A noted film producer in his own right with his company, Red Shadow Pictures. He has been by my side since we first met. My biggest supporter, and honestly my best friend. Together, we both have gone through so much, but I couldn’t imagine my life without him.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The struggles were so real, from my abuse to my failures professionally. To even the daily struggles of running the company with so many people counting on you. It’s been a rough road, but it will get better,
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a journalist before anything. But above all, what sets us apart is the refusal to show our bias while still being honest with ourselves. In media today, we are often attacked if we show any kind of emotion or side on anything. Yet, if we don’t show that, then we are criticized for that too. (Seems like journalists today are stuck between a rock and a hard place)
Besides that, it’s the ruthlessness to want to succeed. We keep our standard at the highest level at all times because we know where that will take us.
Above all, it’s the teamwork. I am a firm believer that no one can be successful 100% alone. You need a support system. People to back you up and you them.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Honesty and Passion. My passion was something that was tried on time and time again. To the point where people around me even tried to burn out my flame in order to add to theirs. If you lose the passion then you just lose.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.reventonymas.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/vanessakhan_rym
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/networkrym
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_Yhz82rmC4TBHTYRY9YLBA
