Tiana Reid, Editor and Community Manager of SocialBusiness.org (INTERVIEW)

I'm excited to be writing a feature on SocialBusiness.org's own Editor and Community Manager, Tiana Reid. In less than a year writing at Social Business and Trend Hunter, this McGill University International Development grad had authored over 1,250 articles and generated millions of views to her online portfolio.

Tiana has interviewed dozens of celebrities and social entrepreneurs, including TOMS shoes founder Blake Mycoskie, and award-winning musicians Aloe Blacc and Fashawn. Now it's Tia's turn in the hot seat.

3 Questions with Tiana Reid

1. How did you decide to join this sector?
In 2010, I interned at Trend Hunter and toward the end of my summer there, I was introduced to SocialBusiness.org's founder, Stephen, who was just starting up his business. During my last year at McGill University studying international development and cultural studies communication studies, I freelanced for Social Business and plumped up the site with business profiles. I was simultaneously taking a course called the 'Social Context of Business' in the Desautels Faculty of Management, so I was being exposed to alternative business models at the same time, which was eye-opening for me. I didn't come from a business background and have always had my reservations about its negative impacts. After graduating, I started working fulltime for both SocialBusiness.org and TrendHunter.com.


2. How do you get your inspiration?
I'm stimulated by things that challenge the status quo. While my formative years were characterized quite a bit by apathy, this year was a really invigorating one. With the Arab Spring and the global Occupy movements, we're seeing bubbles of opportunity for change. Obviously none of it's perfect, but it's important that my peers are taking action and actually giving a damn.

Also, I like reading: poetry, newspapers, magazines, fiction, non-fiction. I'm on the computer pretty much all day long for work, so it's necessary for me to tune out all of the nuggets of information that I get stormed by and concentrate on something more substantial.


3. How do you reset yourself to be creative? Do you have any rituals?
Is it boring if I say sleep? I don't ever get enough—but who does?

In terms of rituals, well, those are what I like to get away from. As an editor, consistency is important to me, but my life isn't the AP Stylebook (thank god!), and so I like non-ritualized rituals, if that makes sense.