Meet Rakeem Harriott | Producer/ Personal Assistant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rakeem Harriott and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rakeem, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Taking calculated risks has played a major part in my ability to excel and grow in my career. As a personal assistant for a RHOA cast member, it takes an extreme level of confidence in what I am doing to be able to effectively coordinate someone else’s life as well as execute my own personal ventures . I started as a production assistant, and my persistence as well as my character put me in the necessary space to be able to showcase my talents and have my name in rooms that I hadn’t opened yet.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Currently I am a producer’s assistant as well as a personal assistant for a new real housewives cast member. I have worked with some of the best Producers and Directors in Atlanta to assist in the creation of music videos, films, tv series, and commercials. This year alone, I assistant directed on a major Nike web Series with Legendary Olympic Gold Medalist Sanya Richards-Ross, who I now work with as a campaign manager. I also worked on the BET Hip Hop Awards 2019 with Lil Baby, as well as a series with actor Craig Robinson on Hulu and a plethora of music videos from Rick Ross, Gucci, Young Jeezy, and many others. I have worked on a project on almost every network this year, from Hulu to Bravo. I was able to work with Shaq and coordinate and work on an ESPN project with Justin Fields. My teams have won a slew of Independent Film Awards and currently I am working on two nationally syndicated tv shows. My biggest accomplishments this year would be my two major appearances as talent for two of the projects that I have worked on this year, both airing on Bravo.

I got where I did today by staying consistent, focused and getting up every time I fell down. It takes an extreme level of sacrifice and a great deal of positive self talk to be a successful entrepreneur. It was not easy. When I was offered my first position as a production assistant, I was still working a 9-5. After going back and forth I no call no showed at the warehouse I was working at , to work on my first production at the legendary Tyler Perry Studios. I was scared and I didn’t know what was next but this was my transition moment and I never stopped after.

In the face of adversity, rely on your resources and your friends. I would not have kept up this long in my path if it were not for my close circle reminding me of why I was going so hard and keeping my spirits lifted through all the trials that life brings. Most great things in life can’t be done alone. Consistently work on your environment and surroundings and play close attention to what is around you and what’s effecting you so that you can control how you react to situations and deal with things.

One of the biggest lessons and by far the most important is to to Stick to the Plan and execute effectively. One of my biggest issues is catching myself wavering with different potential opportunities and spending to much time and energy on things that did not align with my original plan and focus. It is okay to take pit stops but make sure they are calculated . If you are getting gas, get the gas and go! You don’t need to stop for the chips and drink all the time, metaphorically speaking .

My favorite quality and something that I promote across my brand is our ability to be solution based. You provide the problem. We will always provide and create a solution based plan for you to effectively execute all of your needs and satisfy you as a client.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Atlanta is by far one of the greatest cities in the entire universe and I absolutely love it being the location for my business. There are so many sites to see including our Coca Cola Museum, Historical Trap Museum, and our Mercedez-Benz Stadium. If you love food, you ABSOLUTEY need to try Slutty Vegan, Krab Queenz, and Ann Maries Jamaican Quizene is amazing as well . Atlanta is home to some of the most famous celebrities and studios. We house the likes of many of the worlds most popular production studios now as well. Tyler Perry Studios, which Ive worked on, does tours and I was personally able to work in one of the same studios that Captain America Winter Soldier was filmed in for another project. We have an amazing and cultural city . Between Little Five Points, and Lennox Mall , there are also a million places to shop at! I could go on and on, but ultimately I love the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This ShoutOut would have to be dedicated to my mentor Khaleel . He is the owner of Imagine World Studios, an internationally recognized production company. His counsel and guidance have ultimately changed my entire life. Growing up with little to no positive male influences is a continuous struggle within the black community. His leadership skills have assisted in helping me transcend in my field and my life overall. His consistency in creating positive environments in order for people to flourish and his ability to create opportunities for others has impacted and changed my life in more ways than one. He encourages mentorship as well which has led me to create a curriculum and a program that I want to implement that promotes and protects youth of all generations and cultures. He has inspired me and shaped me into a future producer and I cannot express my gratitude enough. I also dedicate this too my late stepfather because as traumatic as the loss was, I have used that energy in order to build and push myself harder than I ever have .

Website: imagineworldstudios.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/keemo.sabe

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rakeem.forrester

Image Credits
Wahid Malik