About

LaShaundra McCarty is a master communicator, focused on helping people cut through the noise of hesitation, fear and habit to clearly cast and implement a vision for their companies. At the age of 9, she made a proclamation. Yes, a proclamation that she would travel around the world. In her twenties, she lived in 12 cities and took several life-changing international trips including a homestay with a family in Morocco. Those experiences grew her appreciation of language, culture, and the artistic ways people express themselves. Just as her travels shaped her, so has her career. Her professional start was as a production assistant for Orlando’s WESH-TV, which led to the Institute for Simulation & Training. Over the years, she has held the titles of graphic designer, creative director, social media manager, coalition builder and pastor. 

In 2009, months after completing seminary, the recession threw her into the world of entrepreneurship. She leaned on her degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in Television Production from the University of Central Florida, Master of Arts in Digital Media Production from Emerson College and Master of Divinity with a concentration in Leadership from Columbia International Seminary  to develop marketing and social media campaigns for organizations. This led to opportunities to provide consulting, workshops, and keynotes across the U.S. and abroad. She, later, used this combination of experiences as the Public Information Officer/Community Relations Manager for the City of Gulfport Mayor’s Office to build transformative connections between the community and the City. Today, the owner of StraightForward is a powerful speaker, entrepreneur, and creative content creator, who helps brands tell their story and spur engagement with their audience. 

As a contractor for the MS Small Business Development Center, she offers workshops, webinars and counseling sessions for pre-venture and existing small business owners guiding them through the inception and marketing of their businesses. As a brand ambassador for Gulf Coast Woman magazine, she produces social media content and writes monthly articles on mindset and marketing for the thousands of  readers who engage the publication via print and online. For several years, she has been a partner with the email marketing service Constant Contact. 

LaShaundra serves on the boards of  the American Advertising Federation MS Gulf Coast, Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, and is president-elect of the National Speakers Association New Orleans Chapter.