Social media has birthed many talented influencers who are inspiring the masses. Austun Reid is a business owner, content creator, and social media personality who has built a successful two-year-long career that continues to blossom. He has graced the presence of some of the entertainment industry’s gems and helped market their brands and projects. Though his journey is just beginning, his resume and determination are testaments to his desire to be great in his craft. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Austun Reid to discuss his journey as a content creator, entrepreneurship, his marketing career, and future aspirations.

Who is Austun Reid? Beyond the TikTok timeline and 16.9K followers, he is the product of a large, loving family. He is the oldest of 22 grandchildren, including six siblings. His roots extend from the Motherland to the South, a soulful union that thrives in his family’s kitchen. The lineage of his Nigerian grandfather and his grandmother, a Mobile, Alabama native, is marinated in spicy recipes. Good food brings them all together while they share good laughs and make memories. This cornerstone has molded Austun into the honorable man that he is today.

“I am truly blessed for the continuous support that my parents have given me. They have been so instrumental in this entire process,” he expressed.

An HBCU grad from the illustrious Oakwood University, Austun understood the importance of furthering his education and obtaining the necessary tools to be a successful businessman. He laid his entrepreneurial path, starting his business, The Urban Tee Company LLC, in 2017. His internship with DeVon Franklin opened doors that revealed his true calling. One day, a week into his senior year of college, he glared at the board in his Principles of Finance course, and it became painfully clear that he needed to make a change. In May 2022, the former finance major walked across the stage with a marketing degree.

“As a Black man, I want to make sure that I put my best self forward,” said Austun.

What compliments Austun is his willingness to take the leap or, as he puts it, “do it scared.” Every opportunity he obtained was due to his desire to go after what he wanted, even amid fear. Reaching out to DeVon Franklin for an internship despite potential rejection was risky, but he went for it. Changing his major during his senior year of college, so close to graduation, was chancy, but he changed it. Leaving his internship and job to pursue content creation full-time was daring, but he did it. Moving to a big, bustling, cutthroat city like Los Angeles from Huntsville, Alabama’s small, slow-paced, gentle surroundings, with a one-way ticket and only $2,000 in his pocket, was terrifying. Still, he embarked on the unforeseeable trip with only one goal: to make his dreams a reality. 

And he is living his dream! In two years, Austun Reid has decorated his portfolio with life-changing experiences. The hustling 23-year-old has worked with the startup marketing firm Kona Rise Digital and has excelled as the lead digital marketing assistant for DeVon Franklin and his company Franklin Entertainment. Austun’s passion for the entertainment industry and talent management grew, and eventually, A. Michael Agency and A. Michael Management were born. Tabitha Brown, Kirk Franklin, and Anthony O’Neal are among the many entertainers and influencers he has done marketing projects for. He courageously sought and acquired clients from Issa Rae’s Sweet Life: Los Angeles. This was yet another example of the go-getter that he truly is. 

“The answer is always no unless you ask,” Reid said. 

Austun shared his gratitude for the paths he crossed, the connections he made, and the wisdom he gained from networking with the people he has worked with so far. He took seeds from each relationship and planted them into himself. “I learned from DeVon that I can still serve God and be involved in the industry,” explained Austun. 

“DeVon also taught me that there are certain compromises you may or may not have to make but keep your morals and what you know and love first and foremost. That will get you far,” he said. “So the fact that I can navigate this industry without compromising my morals and values allows me to have more pride and be more excited about being in the industry. My main goal is to be authentically myself, and if I’m compromising values and morals, then I am not myself.”

Austun is true to himself, which is the blueprint driving his influencer career. He has built a massive following of supporters who respect his transparency. “What inspired me to become a full-time content creator was that I could be authentically myself throughout it all,” Reid mentioned. ”The same person you see sitting in front of you right now is the same person you will meet in person, the same person on TikTok, and the same person on Instagram.” The charisma and confidence that he displayed were an indication of why he is so admirable online.

“What drives my content creation is the ability to showcase my entire life. Getting my content and face out there inspires me because I do it alone. So, I want to be the best I can be,” Austun explained. “Also, my followers who always support me drive me as well. The money is starting to come in too. So that is also motivation.”

Austun’s career as an influencer has become lucrative with his recent monetization on TikTok. This is an accomplishment that did not come easily, however. Content creation is a booming field that is continuously increasing. Creators have many odds stacked against them regarding the fluctuation of likes and followers, the pressure of staying viral, comparing their success to their counterparts, staying motivated, and several other factors. Austun has faced these obstacles but has learned how to conquer them. 

“I try not to compare myself to others because everybody’s on a different journey. Some people have 1 million followers on TikTok because they blew up overnight, and others have to work harder for it,” he explained. He gives himself grace in knowing that as long as he strives to be the best he can be, that is enough. 

“The main thing is to enjoy the journey. For a while, I was focused on a destination where I wanted to be. It took me a while to realize that,” said Austun. “I don’t want to get to where I want to be and think I didn’t soak in what I have done. So, I’m enjoying this journey in getting to where I want to be.”

Austun trusts the process and aspires to add more professions to his resume. In addition to flourishing businesses and marketing and content creation careers, he wants to get into acting, reality television, and production. His determination to succeed in all facets is unmatched. He presented some valuable advice to aspiring content creators and entrepreneurs.

“Experiment a little bit. Don’t be afraid to divert from your usual content because you might appeal to a different audience and new followers. At the same time, avoid getting caught up in followers and likes,” he stressed. “Lastly, it’s easier said than done, but try not to compare yourself to others because that stifles creativity. Originality is essential when creating content and being an inspiring creator.”

In sharing his journey, he has inspired so many people worldwide. He is giving his followers what he didn’t have when he began his content creation career, a mentor who can offer insight that may make the road a little bit easier. It won’t prevent them from facing stumbling blocks along the way, but it will show them how to cross them when they get there. His family, faith, education, HBCU principles, and tenacity continue to shape his unwavering path. Austun Reid is the positive influence that the generation needs!

Follow and support Austun Reid on TikTok (@amor_aus) and Instagram (@amor_aus).

Photography Credit: Divinity Portraits