Jocelyn Rivera, founder and CEO of Pressplay Company, The Feminine Supervisor Co., and Employees Stars, stands on the helm of three culture-driven companies she constructed from the bottom up.
Picture by Gvi Movies and Pictures
When Jocelyn Rivera launched The Pressplay Company in 2017, it wasn’t only a ardour mission — it was a motion. At the moment, she is the founder and CEO of not one, however three ventures: Pressplay Agency, The Female Manager Co., and Staff Stars, a staffing firm she constructed from the bottom up. Rivera, who proudly represents her Trinidadian and Dominican heritage, says her mission has at all times been clear: to bridge gaps, develop entry, and create area for tradition to shine via intentional and inclusive storytelling.
“I began in music,” Rivera stated. “I used to be writing bios, creating press kits, getting artists into rooms they deserved to be in. However I seen an enormous disconnect between the trade and unbiased expertise — no blueprint, no infrastructure.”
What began as a facet hustle PR work shortly advanced. Rivera realized she had an actual enterprise after a profitable showcase occasion in 2017 that led to artists getting signed to main labels like Atlantic Data and Empire. Document labels quickly tapped her for mission administration, artist rollouts, and artistic occasion planning.
From there, the work exploded. Rivera contracted with main manufacturers together with Nike, Google, Lululemon, and Peloton, all whereas championing culture-forward occasions rooted in group and creativity. “Folks saved asking me to do occasions,” she stated. “And I had a knack for marrying the inventive facet with the logistical facet.”
She credit her time within the music trade — particularly a stint at Empire Data — with sharpening her strategy to experimental advertising and model activation. Whether or not curating listening events for artists or producing large-scale model experiences like Curlfest’s tenth anniversary at Prospect Park, Rivera’s distinctive strategy blends flawless execution with genuine cultural storytelling.
“Occasions are the place logistics meet tradition,” Rivera stated. “It’s about ensuring the soundcheck is tight, distributors are supported, and the stage is ready—but in addition preserving the essence of the group that’s exhibiting up.”
Nonetheless, Rivera doesn’t draw back from naming her challenges as a Black girl on the helm of a manufacturing company staffed completely by Black ladies. “We frequently must work twice as onerous to show ourselves,” she stated. “We’ve finished huge occasions, model activation, summits — however we’re nonetheless having to advocate for what we deserve.”
To fight this, Rivera constructed a staff and infrastructure that ensures ladies of colour — particularly youthful creatives — don’t have to start out from scratch. “A lot of my staff has been with me for over 4 years,” she stated. “Some are launching their very own ventures now, and I get to help them as they develop.”
Her recommendation for different ladies of colour getting into the sphere? “Begin small — however present up massive,” Rivera stated. “Are available in as a manufacturing assistant, model ambassador, no matter will get your foot within the door — however let your power and professionalism converse volumes. Construct the relationships. That’s the way you land the contracts.”
Whereas she’s checked off lots of her dream purchasers, Rivera nonetheless has her eyes on the sports activities world. “I’ve labored with Formulation E and cherished it,” she stated. “Sports activities manufacturers don’t have any actual finances constraints – and I wish to present what we will do when there’s no cap.”
From grassroots beginnings to company boardrooms, Jocelyn Rivera is redefining what it means to steer with logistics and coronary heart. And as Pressplay Company expands, so does her imaginative and prescient — to construct a future the place ladies of colour not solely form the tradition but in addition personal the infrastructure behind it.
