Virtual Veritas Vignettes 

Session 1 with Dr. Nola Haynes, HDS ‘14

Power, Platforms & Presence: Crafting Your Influence in the New Media Age

Virtual Veritas Vignettes, a year-long storytelling series that brings our community together through the power of narrative. Each quarter, our alumni experts will equip alumni with practical tools to capture, craft, and share their personal and collective stories through various mediums—children’s books, memoirs, podcasts, and TEDX mini-series. Each three-month session focuses on a different storytelling medium, fostering skill-building, collaboration, and self-expression.

FIRST SESSION with Dr. Nola Haynes

 

VVV Leader: Dr. Nola Haynes, Harvard Divinity School 2014
Session Title: Power, Platforms & Presence: Crafting Your Influence in the New Media Age (Podcast)

When: July 2025 - September 2025
* Saturday, July 12th, 11-1 or 12-2 (EST)
* Saturday, August 8th, 11-1 or 12-2
* Saturday, September 6th, 11-1 or 12-2

In today’s fast-moving media landscape, building your voice is more than likes and follows—it’s about creating substance-driven influence that lasts. In this dynamic two-hour session, you’ll learn how to craft a powerful personal platform, build a genuine audience, and launch a strategic podcast that amplifies your voice and values that stands out in the New media landscape.

We’ll dive deep into how to navigate the New Media ecosystem, where being visible isn’t enough—credibility, authenticity, and consistency are what set real influencers apart. Learn the critical distinction between influencing vs. endorsing, especially in the political and advocacy space, and how your expertise and identity can shape public conversations without compromising integrity.

Whether you’re a thought leader, change agent, or creative professional, this session will equip you with the tools to lead with purpose, build loyal communities, and show up as your unapologetic, influential self.

Walk away with:
* Tools to build and grow a high-impact personal brand
* A roadmap for launching a podcast that aligns with your mission
* Insight into the ethics of influence in political and advocacy spaces
* Strategies to turn authenticity into authority and audience loyalty

Don’t just follow trends—learn how to set them.
Join us, invest in your voice, and claim your influence.

COST: $200 per session
LOCATION: Zoom, a link will be sent to paid registrants
DEADLINE: Register before Wednesday, July 9th for the first session
MAX class size: 20 people

Speaker Bio:
Dr. Nola Haynes is a formidable political voice, media presence, and national security expert redefining influence in the new media age. With years of on-air experience across major networks—including NBC, MSNBC, BBC, NPR, and as a weekly guest on Roland Martin Unfiltered—Dr. Haynes is trusted for her clarity, credibility, and command of complex issues. She is also the dynamic host of Night Cap on the Persist Network, a trailblazing, all-women-led media platform originally founded as Women for Harris-Walsh to counter the rising influence of the manosphere.

Dr. Haynes is a sought-after speaker because she brings substance, strategy, and receipts. Her work goes beyond commentary—she’s building a loyal following through authenticity, expertise, and principled engagement. Alongside Katie Phang’s “Wait a Damn Minute”, Night Cap is one of the flagship shows of the Persist Network, a testament to her ability to grow platforms that center voices too often sidelined. In a media landscape filled with noise, Dr. Nola Haynes is a voice of clarity, courage, and consequence.

Why Virtual Veritas Vignettes: Our stories are our legacy. By joining this initiative, you become part of a larger movement to preserve and elevate Black narratives—both personal and shared—within and beyond Harvard. Rooted in HBAS's mission, this initiative strengthens connections among Black Harvard alumni while preserving and amplifying our narratives.

At a time when Black history is being challenged and erased, this program empowers alumni to document their truths, celebrate shared experiences, and contribute to a legacy of storytelling that enriches both the Harvard and broader Black communities. By providing a structured platform for storytelling, Virtual Veritas Vignettes embodies the HBAS mission creating a forum for engagement, mentorship, and impact that enhances the alumni experience across generations.