An Award–Winning Storyteller, Communications Strategist and Host of Black Expat Stories on a mission to reshape how Black Diasporic stories are seen, heard, and remembered in media.

Courtney Bowden

Where My Work Has Been Featured

Together with my clients, I’ve helped bring culturally resonant stories to life that have been amplified by platforms that shape the culture.

My creative journey started with a deep desire to see Black people depicted as multi-dimensional human beings in the media we consume and the stories we share.

Here are a few moments that shaped how I arrived here.

  • Graduates wearing caps and gowns seated at commencement ceremony.

    I Studied Mass Media Systems So I Could Learn How to Disrupt Them.

    Growing up, I rarely saw Black life depicted with nuance in the media.

    The stories told about us were often one-dimensional, shaped by crisis, trauma, or lack.

    And I kept wondering: Why doesn’t the media reflect real life? Who decides what we get to see?

    That curiosity led me to study Communication and English Literature at Denison University, and later earn my M.A. in Media Studies from Penn State University. My graduate work focused on how mainstream media frames Blackness, including a thesis on how U.S. cable news racialized the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

    I realized that analysis could only take me so far.

    I wanted to shape what came next and create stories that show us as we really are: layered, human, and whole.

    read my thesis
  • On a film set with a woman sitting on a chair and a man holding a clapperboard, colorful neon lights and wooden decor in the background.

    Then, I Spent More Than a Decade As a Communications Strategist Helping Brands Say What Matters and Tell Stories That Stick

    Once I understood how media systems shape the stories we’re told, I became just as curious about how audiences engage with them.

    So, I started asking: What makes a story stick?

    That question led me into strategic communications, and I’ve spent over a decade helping purpose-driven brands turn their missions into language that resonates. I developed messaging and content for clients like Georgia-Pacific, McCormick, and Ford to drive revenue.

    But because I’ve always drawn to what lived beneath the creative brief, I also wanted to tell the kind of stories that challenge assumptions and catalyzed conversation.

    That instinct expanded my work into screenwriting, production, and story development across film, television, podcasting, and digital media.

    In 2025, my work on Ford’s “Dare to Discover” campaign earned a 2025 Silver Telly Award in the Automotive category.

    It was a reminder for me that the most memorable stories land and they linger.

    Explore my best work
  • A woman in a red dress reclining in a transparent canoe on green water, with the dress flowing into the water.

    Ultimately, I Left the U.S., Moved Overseas, and Reimagined My Creative Career

    In 2021, I relocated to Mexico in search of more freedom, peace, and possibility.

    What began as a personal leap turned into a powerful creative pivot.

    I created Black Expat Stories, an ethnographic podcast and cultural archive project documenting America’s Next Great Migration.

    I write, direct, produce, and host the podcast, capturing the emotional, cultural, and spiritual journeys of Black Americans who are pioneering one of the most fascinating modern migration movements.

    The project has been featured on NPR’s 1A, InvestigateTV, and led to my selection as one of nine leaders on an informal White House advisory committee shaping policy for Americans living overseas during the Biden-Harris administration.

    Watch black expat stories

My Core Capabilities

I’ve spent the last 15 years mastering one core craft: using story to move people. Across formats, industries, and continents, I’ve helped brands, leaders, and creatives say what matters and say it well.

My range runs deep, which is why some folks call me the Swiss Army Knife of Communications. I simply call it doing the work I’m called to with excellence and intention.

  • I help brands plan, produce, distribute and analyze their multimedia content to achieve their marketing and sales goals.

  • I provide messaging that attracts your audience and anchors your brand’s unique edge.

  • I design data-backed campaigns that move people and meet your business goals.

  • As an award-winning commercial screenwriter, I turn bold ideas into cinematic, story-rich content that captivates, connects, and converts.

  • I lead powerful conversations that amplify underrepresented voices and spark meaningful dialogue.

  • I translate audience insights into strategy that sticks, resonates, and gets results.

Ways To Work Together

  • Three people having a serious conversation in a cozy living room, sitting on a white sofa with a small table holding books, a glass of water, and a vase with white orchids and green leaves, by large glass windows revealing a lush outdoor area.

    Creative Direction & Story Development

    With a Creative Director’s eye, I shape raw ideas into story systems that connect and carry across platforms.

    So whether it’s a brand strategy, campaign, or film treatment, I build stories designed to move people and the work forward.

    Ideal for: Founders, marketing teams, producers, media orgs, and cultural institutions who want to lead with meaning and message.

    Start With Strategy
  • Two women having an interview outdoors, with one woman sitting at a wooden table and the other woman standing, while a camera on a tripod records the scene. There is a Mexican flag visible in the background.

    Pitch & Production Support

    Your story deserves to be seen, funded, and remembered. I support creative teams from pitch to production by shaping the narrative, aligning the visuals, and guiding the process with clarity and care.

    From nationally aired commercials to branded content series, my work brings stories to life with purpose, polish, and award-winning results.

    Ideal for: Brands, media companies, creative studios, and campaign leads bringing stories to screen or market.

    Bring Your Story To Life
  • A woman with short, curly hair wearing a teal patterned dress, sitting on a cream-colored sofa and holding a booklet with a black and white logo, engaged in conversation with a serious expression.

    Speaking & On-Air Engagements

    As a speaker, moderator, and on-air storyteller, I bring cultural fluency, clarity, and presence to every conversation.

    I’ve been featured on national platforms like NPR and speak on topics including Black diasporic identity, global migration, and media literacy through a decolonized lens.

    Ideal For: Virtual and in-person conferences/summits, panels, podcasts, and brand campaigns that need a voice with depth and direction.

    book courtney

For me, storytelling is a strategic asset that has the power to heal, build, connect, and liberate.

It doesn’t matter if I’m scripting a commercial, producing a podcast, or helping a brand clarify its voice, the throughline is the same:

I tell stories that reflect our complexity, restore what’s been erased, and remind the world of the power within the Black experience.

If you're looking for a creative partner who brings cultural fluency, strategic clarity, and story-first thinking to the table, I’d love to connect.