Ryan Stewart serves as vice president for the Terrie Williams Agency. Working for the public relations mogul for seven years now, Stewart is making his own moves in the profession.
Stewart’s work entails strategic communications with agency clients, coordinating red carpet events, writing proposals and writing the agency’s newsletters spotlighting clients. He also handles Williams’ extensive schedule.
“She mentored me through my communications career,” he said of Williams.
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, Stewart is of Barbadian and Jamaican descent. When he went to college at St. John’s University, Stewart said he did not have aspirations to be in public relations. “Before I became what I am now, I wanted to be an attorney,” he said. “I had that aspiration since I was in high school.”
With multiple internships with a state Supreme Court judge, working as a paralegal and even working for Hillary Clinton, Stewart appeared to be on his way to becoming the nation’s next top lawyer. However, he became bored with legal work.
“I quit my paralegal job and decided I needed a change in my career,” he said. “I also wanted to embark on a career where I could be creative and help people at the same time. I thought, ‘Maybe I should explore communications.’”
Stewart enrolled in graduate school, where Williams’ book, “The Personal Touch,” was brought to his attention. After reading the book, he contacted Williams on faith, hoping to become her protégé.
To Stewart’s surprise, he got a response. Williams wanted to meet him. He was soon hired by Williams as an intern at her agency. One of the first major events he worked was one for Oprah Winfrey and Susan Taylor.
“I’ve worked with every Black star you could imagine,” he said. “I realized this was where I wanted to work, and this is the industry I wanted to embark on and continue with.”
Stewart started out as Williams’ assistant and moved up the ranks of the company. He has traveled with Williams across the country and to Africa, helping her with her campaign of mental health advocacy.
He has become a mentor to young people, managing interns for the agency and giving advice to those looking to enter the fast-paced public relations industry.
So, what’s next for Stewart? “I want to start my own agency in the future,” he said.
