Tennessee Voices, Episode 249: Larry T. Robinson, founder and CEO, KUDZUKIAN
Kudzu is an invasive vine that has infiltrated the South, but it is also a metaphor for the things that connect diverse communities across the region.
When Larry T. Robinson was traveling from his hometown of Memphis to Birmingham and then to Atlanta, he decided to adopt the name for his company, KUDZUKIAN, which is an independently-owned virtual event production company.
The goal was to amplify the voices of southern Black people because there is so much attention already on the East and West coasts.
His enterprise has produced video and audio events, including podcasts, for national entities and municipalities. Robinson said his company focused on leaders in a community as Shelby County government.
In September, KUDZUKIAN produced the Memphis Education Fund's "Eradicating the Odds" conference.
On this episode of the Tennessee Voices podcast, Robinson spoke about his journey from college chemistry major to entrepreneur. He worked in the pharmaceutical industry, but when he accompanied his wife to her public relations conferences, he said he fell in love with marketing.
His company produced digital experiences before COVID-19, but the pandemic accelerated the pace and scope of his work.
Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.
Sign up for Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter: Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee.
Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter: Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee.
Your state. Your stories. Support more reporting like this.
A subscription gives you unlimited access to stories across Tennessee that make a difference in your life and the lives of those around you. Click here to become a subscriber.
About Tennessee Voices
The Tennessee Voices videocast is a 20-minute program, which started in March 2020 and invites leaders, thinkers and innovators who have written guest columns for a USA TODAY Network Tennessee publication to share their insights and wisdom with me and our viewers.
Please email your ideas for future guests to me at dplazas@tennessean.com. Thank you for watching.
Finally, our journalists are working hard during this pandemic to bring you accurate, verified and solid information. Please consider subscribing and supporting local journalism.
Watch past episodes: Tennessee Voices videocast
David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee and an editorial board member of The Tennessean. Tweet to him at @davidplazas.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Amplifying the voices of Black southerners with Larry T. Robinson
