He experienced a bit of culture shock when he moved to Hollywood and saw the multi-dollar vehicles and mansions around him. He lived at the University of California at Los Angeles campus. His stop was Bel Air.
“The environment is different. But I like it,” he said. “It motivates me to keep doing what I’m doing. Everything I want to do in my career is somehow and someway in California.
Paul has proven his leadership ability and travel skills as a Hokie. Paul is the Program Director for the 2022 Homecoming Board as well as the Executive Producer and Director of the 2022 Homecoming Board Films-The Homecoming Experience.
“It has been a true honor to watch Ryan grow in his role as Director of Programming,” said Caitlin Marzo, 2022 Homecoming Board President. “I’ve been on the board for four years and have great insight into all positions, but Ryan really took the role to a new level. He reinvented Homecoming week and added a level of talent that I believe only he can pull off.”
And it doesn’t end there. Paul served as resident advisor last year and consults on public relations and production for Virginia Tech’s Black Cultural Center, all while promoting his own companies – Mosaic Legacy Entertainment and OceanCap Media. Mosaïque Légacy Entertainment is Paul’s event and film production brand. He consults with Oceancap Media on event production, videography, public relations, visual design and creative strategy.
“It’s fun for me,” Paul said. “I’m learning and it’s a process. Instead of starting a business 10 years down the road, I’m figuring out how I want to brand myself and learn and fail. At work and other tasks, then it will be crazy. That’s why I started my career now instead of waiting.
Fun. That’s Paul’s key word, and it wasn’t always that way. In the year 2022 admits the amount of work he’s done before coming home has left him feeling overwhelmed to prepare for his “internship trip.” Now, he follows the insights of his role model and legendary singer-songwriter Beyonce Knowles-Carter and deliberately takes on projects that mean something to him.
“I was doing all this cool stuff and it was great, but I wasn’t really enjoying it,” Paul said. “I don’t want to burn myself out before I reach a certain age and I don’t want to do events or films. I’m just pushing myself to be strategic and say, ‘I like it now and I want to keep the momentum going.’
All this gave a greater purpose to Paul’s work. He is more appreciative of those who support him every step of the way – his parents, family and close friends. As a result, his confidence increased.
Paul wants to continue exploring film and production. There is another part of him that is fascinated by music and touring. Whichever path he takes, Paul has a Virginia Tech education, work experience, personal businesses and life lessons that can lead to many opportunities.
Paul says, “We tend to worry about things we can’t control in the moment, without realizing that the life we have now is what we are looking forward to.” “Anytime I’ve been nervous with the Emmys, I’ve been looking forward to this exact moment four months ago and I think there’s been a blessing.”
Written by Corey Van Dyke
