I am Mikayla Weary, business owner, filmmaker, and change agent. My professional goals reflect community building with the incorporation of the arts. Creativity and storytelling are rooted in black culture, from styling our hair to cooking and music. I dream of creating spaces that allow black youth to make a career in the arts from what we know in our culture to generate black wealth. This dream will come true with a four-year education at a Historically Black College. I am currently into film analysis as it pertains to potraying social issues. The absolute favorite scripts that I have analyzed include Citizen Kane (1941), Cleopatra Jones (1973), Get Out (2017), and Ma (2019) because of the masterful interactions with genre and sociology. I believe that people benefit from seeing the downfalls of human behaviors and systems in films whether it is satirical, abstract, or straight to the point. This observation corresponds to my academic background in advanced writing, world literature, and social sciences.
Current Whereabouts:
I am Mikayla Weary, business owner, filmmaker, and change agent. My professional goals reflect community building with the incorporation of the arts. Creativity and storytelling are rooted in black culture, from styling our hair to cooking and music. I dream of creating spaces that allow black youth to make a career in the arts from what we know in our culture to generate black wealth. This dream will come true with a four-year education at a Historically Black College. I am currently into
Life & Professional Aspirations:
Through a film career, I hope to accomplish representation of intersectional Black stories across the diaspora. Diaspora itself begins with dispersion, meaning that there are Black stories to be told everywhere. When we are seen we are connected and liberated, and that is exactly what I want to do through the power of Black filmmaking. I want to show the diversity that is in the Black diaspora that comes in many shapes, sizes, and colors. On a personal level, I have seen Black people in film but I still rarely see myself due to colorism in casting. My goal is to portray a multitude of Blackness in the industry. The Black film industry needs a push to further represent all Black stories and that is difficult in a historically white field, but it will be done. My work in media has so far landed me a teen vogue article, Disney internships, and a chance to work with Lizzo. In addition, I have balanced my high academic standing by having a 3.8 GPA and a spot on the dean’s list at Dillard University.
My "claim to fame" in college is being one of the only few people on campus from Seattle, Washington. Most people that go the school at Dillard are from the surrounding states in Lousiana so it was definitely different. However, this has caused me to connect with people and network around campus.
Most Memorable Moment:
My most memorable college moments are the spontaneous ventures in the amazing city of New Orleans. There is so much culture and music to explore and I greatly appreciate the city. As a filmaker I aspire to capture Black cultures and history so it is very invigorating to view the culture of New Orleans.
High School: Shorecrest High School in Shoreline, WA
class of 2021
Activities & Accomplishments:
In 2020, I organized protests and demanded racist ordiences to written out of the system in the city of Shoreline. Most of my demands were met by the city and I proclaimed juneteenth to be an official
Best Memories:
My best high school memories involved Black joy and excellence. As the president of the Black Student Union, I was able to organize events and assemblies to empower my black peers to gain success. One memory in specific was the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. rememberance assembly where black creatives at school organized poetry, music and dance all for the purpose of representation. I was also the step team and founder for the school so we also performed and got a standing ovation. Weeks later we went into lockdown and I am so happy that we had a chance to change the narrative.
Experience
I currently work with Black Coffee Northwest
as President
I have 7 years of experience working in the
Sales industry.
Sales associate|
Seattle City Sightseeing
From January 2025 to Current • 1 year(s)
Generate $1K+ in weekly sales by closing tour package deals online and in person, consistently exceeding quotas through upselling and tailored pitches.
Sales associate|
Noir Lux Candle Company
From January 2024 to Current • 2 year(s)
Met weekly sales targets through in-store and online retail, assisted in launches and marketing campaigns contributing to seasonal sales spikes.
Independent Japanese Language Tutor|
Independent Tutoring
From January 2023 to Current • 3 year(s)
Created, marketed, and sold online language courses generating consistent enrollments, negotiated rates and closed contracts directly with clients.
Business Owner|
Freelance Filmmaker & Photographer
From January 2020 to Current • 6 year(s)
Sold creative services to small and mid-sized businesses, managed full sales cycle from client outreach to invoicing, built repeat client base through relationship management.
Sales & Wholesale Associate|
Black Coffee Northwest
From January 2020 to Current • 6 year(s)
Managed wholesale accounts with local cafes and restaurants, drove online and retail sales using Square POS, and coordinated brand outreach campaigns.
Fund Development Fellow → Communications Fellow|
New Orleans African American Museum
From January 2021 to January 2024 • 3 year(s)
Designed and pitched membership package strategies to increase donor retention, advanced to Communications Fellow for strong performance in donor engagement.
Work Study - Alumni Giving Campaigns|
Dillard University
From January 2021 to January 2022 • 1 year(s)
Conducted cold calls to alumni to secure recurring donations, consistently surpassed weekly fundraising goals, strengthened persuasion and negotiation skills.
Program Participant|
Young Executives of Color Program (YEOC)
From January 2018 to January 2021 • 3 year(s)
Developed early professional and sales skills through structured workshops in marketing, consulting, and leadership, collaborated on outreach campaigns.
Political Campaign Volunteer|
Political Campaign
From January 2018 to January 2020 • 2 year(s)
Conducted 500+ outbound calls to community members persuading voter participation, strengthened cold-calling and persuasive messaging abilities.
Membership Sales Associate|
YMCA & Yost Pool
From January 2018 to January 2020 • 2 year(s)
Sold and renewed 100+ individual/family memberships annually through outbound calls and tours, consistently exceeded weekly quotas driving recurring subscription revenue.
