Real Life Branding in Practice
I founded Bynum Strategic Media to help individuals and organizations harness the power of social media and strategic communication to show up with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
As a university professor and communications strategist, I bring a blend of academic insight and real-world experience to every project. Whether I’m guiding a first-time professional on how to craft their digital presence or helping a nonprofit team develop a message strategy, my approach is grounded in intentionality and informed by what works.
Grounded in the belief that strategic communication is “the purposeful use of communication by an organization to fulfill its mission” (Hallahan et al., 2007), I specialize in social media strategy, content development, digital storytelling, and personal brand coaching. I work with clients to shape narratives that are not only effective but also aligned with their values, audiences, and long-term goals.
At the heart of my practice is Real Life Branding—the idea that your brand is more than a message; it’s how you live your purpose out loud. Whether you’re an individual aiming to lead with authenticity or an organization striving to build trust and relevance, I help ensure your communication reflects who you are and what you stand for. When purpose and presence align, you don’t just gain visibility—you create meaningful impact.
Figures of Nashville, Inc. is a community-centered nonprofit initiative founded on the belief that every voice holds the power to lead, heal, and inspire. FONI, Inc., exists to cultivate meaningful expression and purpose-driven leadership among youth and underserved communities.
FONI (established in 2004) offers cost-effective trainings in strategic communication that encompass public speaking and personal branding. These programs are designed to help youth strengthen their communication skills, act with authenticity and intention, and grow in confidence.
In many respects, this emphasis on honing authentic communication skills echoes TED’s call for “ideas worth sharing”; by equipping participants to articulate their passions and lived experiences, FONI positions them to contribute meaningfully to dialogues that shape our community.
At the heart of FONI is my Real Life Branding philosophy: the belief that branding is not about performance—it's about living life in purpose. That means aligning what we say with how we live, and using our voice as a tool for civic responsibility and service, not just visibility. Every workshop, talk, or youth gathering is an invitation to step into that alignment—where communication becomes a reflection of character, and leadership begins with lived values.
Our Goals for Youth Participants
When you give a speech, you’re not just practicing for class or a one-time event, you’re building real-life skills that can help you in college, careers and everyday life. Here’s how speech goals connect to the skills employers and leaders look for:
- Learn how to share your message | Communication
- Practice talking with confidence | Self-confidence & Public Speaking
- Explain, inspire, or convince others | Leadership & Persuasion
- Connect with others / audience | Relationship Building
- Develop new skills | Adaptability & Lifelong Learning
Our Signature Program
TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet is organized by Trenay Perry Bynum, under license from TED, and produced by Figures of Nashville, Inc., a company dedicated to developing young communicators and elevating underrepresented voices.