Ex-Black CNN Executive Producer Talks Leaving Dream Job to Finding Her Second Act and More on ‘Auto Trends’ (Two Shows)

Tenisha Taylor (Photo Credit: TT)

While many companies are experiencing the ‘Great Resignation’ or the ‘Great Reassignment,’ where there has been a mass movement of employees resigning and/or finding other fulfilling income-producing opportunities, due to job dissatisfaction, the ability to work remotely and/or a myriad of other factors, it didn’t take a worldwide pandemic to cause the once fast track corporate executive producer Tenisha Taylor to shift gears and walk away from what many would consider a dream job.

In fact, at the height of her CNN career, Taylor was managing programs that were anchored by household names ranging from Don Lemon to Anderson Cooper to Susan Malveaux to Wolf Blitzer.

'Auto Trends’ Talks to a Former Editor of Two Iconic Black Magazines About Life, Legends, Career Pauses and More (Two Shows)

 

Tanisha A. Sykes (Photo Credit: TAS)

In recognition of Women’s History Month, Auto Trends with JeffCars.com, a weekly multicultural syndicated automotive program, goes one-on-one with Tanisha A. Sykes.

Sykes, a veteran journalist, currently serves as the editorial director of finance for T Brand Studio, a sponsored content arm of The New York Times. Before landing her current high-profile assignment, Sykes established her footing in the magazine industry with such Black household staples as Essence and Black Enterprise, serving as the money and finance editors. During the two-part conversation, the gregarious and gifted storyteller revisits how the show's host, Jeff Fortson, became a national automotive writer under her mentorship. 

Background Info About Jeff And JeffCars.com

Jeff Fortson is the host and the executive producer of the only and longest running syndicated multicultural automotive radio program in the industry, Auto Trends with JeffCars.com. The weekly program, which airs on SirusXM and several traditional radio outlets, includes one-on-one conversations with many of the industry's pioneers and influencers. 

Fortson, who considers himself to be a student of the business, has worked for the Chrysler Corporation and several dealerships. Currently he serves as the editor of JeffCars.com, an educational car-buying website with a new-car pricing guide and configurator. 

In addition to JeffCars.com, the car fanatic has also penned several extensive car-buying guides throughout the years for Black Enterprise, Ebony and Essence, three of the premier magazines in the Black community. Thus, this makes him the only auto writer who has contributed to all three magazines.

Moreover, in April 2009, Essence recognized him as a "The top guru for sound car-buying advice." His contributions and articles have also appeared in The Washington Post, Jet, Bet.com, BlackAmericaWeb.com and Aol.com. 

In fact, he was tapped in 2009 by AOL's BlackVoices.com to author a new blog, bvAuto. Added to that, he has appeared on such programs as CNN and NPR, serving in the role of an automotive analyst. 

Furthermore, he created a car-buying clinic, which is copyrighted with the Library Congress, as a means to combat predatory auto lending practices with minority consumers.

Lastly, Fortson has partnered with several schools throughout the years to create minority outreach educational school programs centered around STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) and financial literacy.