Dreena Whitfield-Brown has been named to the prestigious 2025 Inc. Female Founders 500 list, one of only eight Black women recognized in the PR category. Reflecting on her journey, she shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE that she is still processing the recognition. “I started my company in my living room. I didn’t have any clients and didn’t even know how to do a contract. Google was my best friend. For me to be featured as an Inc. female founder is nothing but God,” she said.
Whitfield-Brown’s entrepreneurial path was driven by frustration with the lack of opportunities for Black women in the workplace. A study from the Harvard Kennedy School highlights the unique challenges Black women face, including higher turnover rates and fewer promotions. After facing setbacks, she decided to start her own public relations agency, WhitPR, in 2010. What began in her one-bedroom apartment with no clients has now grown into one of the leading minority-owned firms in the country.
She credits much of her success to patience and the support from her inner circle. “It was a bit of trial and error,” she said, recalling her first clients, including a close friend who served as a case study as they both built their businesses. To support herself, Whitfield-Brown worked a retail job for three years while growing her brand. Her breakthrough came with a contract from former Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s nonprofit, which led to her first paying client and more opportunities.
WhitPR has since expanded into an integrated strategic communications agency representing clients in the social impact, personal care, lifestyle, and athletic industries. Some of its high-profile clients include Black Ambition, Hallmark Mahogany, Prudential Financial, and the Warner Music Group Social Justice Fund.
Despite her professional success, Whitfield-Brown balances her career with family life, supported by her husband. The couple often spends weekends attending AAU basketball games and birthday parties. To maintain balance, Whitfield-Brown emphasizes the importance of therapy, admitting that it has helped her establish boundaries, such as keeping work out of her sacred spaces. “My therapist has talked me out of bringing my laptop into my bedroom,” she explained.
Looking ahead, Whitfield-Brown is focused on continuing to scale her business while helping the next generation of diverse entrepreneurs. “It’s a major accomplishment that I’ve made the Inc. list,” she shared, noting that she is the only Black woman from New Jersey in the PR category. “It makes me even more passionate about continuing to do the work and to provide opportunities for not just myself, but for the next generation of Black women in PR and entrepreneurship.”
