Loán Lake

Loán Lake Speechwriter. Public Speaker. Journalist. Communications Consultant. Communications/PR Strategist and Speechwriter at Gobi Marketing Group, LLC.

When the going gets tough, we can all use someone to fiercely advocate for us and help us through the trials. That's exa...
03/06/2025

When the going gets tough, we can all use someone to fiercely advocate for us and help us through the trials. That's exactly what clients have come to expect from legal eagle and former Baltimore judge William H. "Billy" Murphy, Jr.

In this candid interview for "Who's Who in Black Baltimore," we hear from Judge Murphy about his record-breaking wins, his celebrity clients, and his commitment to making his hometown of Baltimore better for future generations.

📌 Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments.

https://gobimarketinggroup.com/william-h-billy-murphy-jr-2025-whos-who-in-black-baltimore-living-legend/

I'm looking forward to chatting with TEDx speaker Emily Green of Love Means Business on LinkedIn about her public speaki...
02/06/2025

I'm looking forward to chatting with TEDx speaker Emily Green of Love Means Business on LinkedIn about her public speaking journey and how she uses consistent communications to build her brand.

Be sure to tune in in June 18th at 10am ET for our LinkedIn Live conversation and be sure to drop your questions in the comments or DM me so I can address it live.

See you then!

POV: The Power of social media and community. I met Rashad and Joy, the owners of Hilltop Coffee earlier this year after...
31/05/2025

POV: The Power of social media and community. I met Rashad and Joy, the owners of Hilltop Coffee earlier this year after seeing an IG post about their soft opening. As a former DMV resident and Howard University adjunct professor, I knew right away that Hilltop was a reference to Howard's newspaper.

The response to their coffee shop in the University City area has been warm and welcoming - as it should be. When you have a great product and exceptional service you have a winning combination.

Congrats on today's turnout for the grand opening! Cheers to outstanding success here in the Queen City!


#

💡 One of the things I love about being a journalist is learning about the lives of others. As a writer for the "Who's Wh...
29/05/2025

💡 One of the things I love about being a journalist is learning about the lives of others. As a writer for the "Who's Who in Black" series, it's been a joyful experience to meet and tell the stories of so many incredible Black Americans who are walking in THEIR purposes and changing their communities.

One such individual is Sharif Small, a mover and shaker I interviewed for the 2025 "Who's Who in Black Baltimore" issue. Sharif is teaching youth to build their financial muscle, creating new paths for Baltimore entrepreneurs, and reclaiming his block, one building at a time. I hope you'll take a moment to read his story and share it with someone as inspiration.

Thanks for reading!

https://gobimarketinggroup.com/sharif-small-2025-whos-who-in-black-baltimore-game-changer/

Your brand is more than a logo or a slogan. Yes, we've all heard, "Just Do It." However, our personal brand goes way bey...
28/05/2025

Your brand is more than a logo or a slogan. Yes, we've all heard, "Just Do It." However, our personal brand goes way beyond an image or a catchy phrase. Here are a few tips to uncover your authentic brand, whether you're promoting yourself, your nonprofit, your business, or your book.

Let me know in the comments which point resonates most with you! You've got this!



REPRINT: Going Beyond the Image To Uncover Your Personal Brand: 8 Easy Steps

By Loán Lake, Founder, Gobi Marketing Group Start from within. It’s a message we have heard in numerous iterations: On planes you are told first put on your own oxygen mask in case of emergency.

As a journalism student at the University of Maryland in the late '80s and early '90s, it wasn't uncommon to hear Cathy ...
27/05/2025

As a journalism student at the University of Maryland in the late '80s and early '90s, it wasn't uncommon to hear Cathy Hughes on the air at Howard University's WHUR Radio Station during her late night "Quiet Storm" format. In fact, as a young woman entering the journalism and communications space, it was fascinating to watch her build Radio One, TV One, and now Urban One.

So, to be asked to interview her for the 2025 Edition of "Who's Who in Black Baltimore" was the honor of a lifetime. Not only is Ms. Hughes extremely down-to-earth, she's full of life and amazing stories that only a media mogul could tell.

I hope you'll take a moment to read her story and share your feedback in the comments or on my website.

**And, if you're looking for an experienced writer/interviewer to bring YOUR story to life, let's chat!

https://gobimarketinggroup.com/cathy-hughes-2025-whos-who-in-black-baltimore-living-legend/

The best way to demonstrate your organization's impact is through storytelling -- from your clients, sponsors, alumni, o...
23/05/2025

The best way to demonstrate your organization's impact is through storytelling -- from your clients, sponsors, alumni, or constituents.

During Care Ring's 2nd Annual Maternal Health Conference, we heard from some of the sponsors about WHY the organization has such a tremendous impact in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

Thank you to Kristen Howard of Novant Health and Stephen Heeseman of Towne Bank for sitting down with me to share why your companies are committed to serving the community on this episode of "Maternal Health Matters" Powered by Care Ring.

https://youtu.be/r5a5g3qBzpo?si=MdXFe7sxvB8CzFbA


National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)
PRSA Charlotte

Host Lo'an Lake interviews Kristen Howard with Novant Health and Stephen Heeseman with TowneBank on their company's support of the Care Ring 2025 Maternal He...

As part of my personal year of saying yes to things that will stretch me, I agreed to host the inaugural episodes of Car...
23/05/2025

As part of my personal year of saying yes to things that will stretch me, I agreed to host the inaugural episodes of Care Ring's "Maternal Wellness Matters" conference podcast to capture highlights from the organization's second annual Maternal Wellness Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. We filmed a total of seven interviews, and boy, do I have a newfound respect for talk show hosts!

While I've been interviewed on camera and spoken on stage countless times, there was something more daunting about being on camera for several hours, conducting interviews that I would not have thought twice about writing for a print or digital publication. 

In this inaugural episode of "Maternal Wellness Matters," Care Ring CEO Tchernavia Montgomery and I discuss the importance of her work to provide equitable and high quality care for Charlotte families. We completed a total of seven interviews which I'll share over the next few weeks.

🔗 Here's the link to watch the interview, and if you know any nonprofits out there that need someone to help them tell impactful stories about their work, send them my way!



https://gobimarketinggroup.com/trusting-the-process/

It's important to be flexible when telling your organization's story. Sometimes we capture our impact in print and other...
21/05/2025

It's important to be flexible when telling your organization's story. Sometimes we capture our impact in print and other times, we use video. Last month, I accepted an invite to host a series of interviews as part of a new podcast for Care Ring's 2nd annual Maternal Health Conference. Here's the first of 7 interviews about the work this incredible organization is doing to eliminate gaps in equitable, high quality care for Charlotte families. In this episode of "Maternal Wellness Matters," Care Ring CEO Tchernavia Montgomery and I discuss the importance of her work to provide equitable and high quality care for Charlotte families. Take a listen and if you know any nonprofits out there that need someone to help them tell impactful stories about their work, send them my way!

https://gobimarketinggroup.com/trusting-the-process/

Headline clipped from . There's been plenty of conversation around the pros and cons of the Target boycott, but here's t...
28/04/2025

Headline clipped from .

There's been plenty of conversation around the pros and cons of the Target boycott, but here's the thing...no matter where you fall in the discussion, it comes down to consistent BRAND VALUES.

Your messaging shouldn't be performative or trendy. It should embody the heart and soul of an organization. Therefore, if your leadership values diversity of thought, equitable treatment of employees and customers, and an inclusive environment that fosters growth and innovation, no amount of pressure would move your goal post and derail your mission and vision.

We all add value in our own way. That's the lesson.

STRETCH YOURSELF! Yesterday was nothing short of spectacular! I set down my laptop and traditional interview style to co...
18/04/2025

STRETCH YOURSELF!

Yesterday was nothing short of spectacular! I set down my laptop and traditional interview style to conduct interviews ON CAMERA, as host of the inaugural edition of the "Maternal Wellness Matters Podcast" - powered by Care Ring as part of their 2nd annual Maternal Health Conference at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.

That's the beauty of being a journalist - our training NEVER goes out of style! No matter the medium!

Thank you to Care Ring's CEO, Chief champion for families in Mecklenburg County, and a real ball of fire - my Soror Tchernavia Montgomery, MSW - for inviting me to collaborate on this project and thank you to my new BFF, Duvale Murchison, of Duvale Murchison Videography,for his superb production skills!

We gained so much insight into Care Ring's impact with each interview and it reminded me once again how POWERFUL a tool storytelling is. Whether it's in print 📰 or on video 🎥, being able to capture first hand encounters with your brand is priceless.

Congratulations to the Care Ring team for all that they do to serve Charlotte-Mecklenburg families without the means to access high-quality, respectful health care.

So…you’ve taken the leap to build your brand, and it’s time to let people know.What is it that you have to say, and why ...
10/04/2025

So…you’ve taken the leap to build your brand, and it’s time to let people know.

What is it that you have to say, and why should anyone care enough to read, listen, or view it?

Understanding your WHY is step number one in crafting your communications strategy. Doing so develops content that is rooted in authenticity, attracts and resonates with your ideal target audience, and creates value for all who encounter it.

Your brand – whether personal or for your business – is more than a logo or image. It is the set of characteristics that you and/or your company or nonprofit organization will be known for.

At Gobi Marketing Group, we refer to this as “Going Beyond the Image" - moving beyond the physical branding to the intangibles that can make or break your business.

Now, take a moment to evaluate your personal and professional brand:

🤔 Ask a few people in your circle how they perceive you and what words they’d use to describe you and/or your company/organization.

❓️Does their answer match your perception of yourself and your brand? Consider why or why not.

❓️What changes do you need to consider if there is misalignment?

Without knowing your WHY, you may find yourself like a windmill, going slowly in circles that never end. I encourage you to document the answers to these questions as embark on your communications journey and share them with me in my inbox or at [email protected].

Address


Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Loán Lake posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

  • Address
  • Alerts
  • Claim ownership or report listing
  • Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company?

Share