Erica Smith is a trailblazing entrepreneur in the Shreveport-Bossier community, who humbly claims her proudest accomplishments are being a wife and a mother. Yet, she has accomplished so much more.
Erica is a native of Shreveport, LA and part of the historic Foppe’ bloodline. Her grandmother, Faye “Foxy” Foppe’-Fisher was a trailblazer in radio, being the first Black female on-air personality at KOKA and the second Black female radio personality in the State of Louisiana. No wonder Erica’s innate ability to start new endeavors and break down barriers comes so easily for her.
She started her career in advertising at The Radio Group, now Alpha Media, back in 2012 and quickly realized that she could use her experience in social media marketing as a powerful asset to create the station’s first social media marketing department. She later took her talents to Cumulus Broadcasting where she designed station websites and managed over 300K followers on the station’s social media pages.
After gaining more knowledge and experience she founded the first Female Black-Owned, digital marketing agency in Northwest Louisiana, Number 4 LLC, back in 2015. Erica continues to break down barriers in business and entrepreneurship as the Founder/CEO of PowerSight University, Inc. and PowerSight Marketing LLC.
She hopes her impact is one that encourages Shreveport citizens to see the beauty of our city and what you can accomplish here.
“Shreveport-Bossier is a very special place with rich opportunities,” she affirmed. “I often say the negative shadow of hate is really just misdirected love. We love our city so much that we hate when things are mismanaged or we lose our youth, friends and family to unnecessary violence.” Her hope is that her experiences will serve as proof that you can create the life you deserve, a life that you love, and you can live that life right here in Shreveport-Bossier!
Smith believes this next generation of Black citizens have been dealt a game-changing hand. “My generation was the first generation of Black children to experience the breakthroughs that our parents fought so hard for,” she explained. “I was blessed to attend South Highlands Elementary Performing Arts Magnet School and that changed the entire trajectory of my life.”
Growing up in the poverty stricken Cedar Grove neighborhood, while attending school and forming genuine friendships with white children whose lifestyles were totally different from hers, changed the game and taught her a valuable lesson.
“Not all white people are out to get you, and your life is determined by your choices — period.”
She thanks God for those teachers, both black and white, who showed her what life can be like when you’re judged on your performance, abilities and intelligence. She wants to influence this next generation of Black citizens to realize that there will always be battles to fight and obstacles to overcome, but we have accomplished a lot. “We must focus on education and take advantage of what has been afforded to us today, if we truly hope to overcome the “400 year gap” tomorrow,” she declared.
Her advice for others following in her footsteps is to be yourself, be creative, trust your intuition, and trust in Romans 8:28.
“All things work together for your good.”
