As a pre-med student at the University of Miami, Jarrod Matthei probably thought that his friend Lionel Moise would be graduating alongside of him with a medical degree. But Moise’s love for the newsroom outshined his love for the examination room. “He realized that was not his passion,” says the now-MD of his friend’s initial pre-med career choice. “And he pursued broadcast journalism, with some push back from his family. Good thing he followed his intuition because look where he is now!”

Where he is now! Lionel Moise is the morning anchor at CBS Chicago, the #3 news market in the nation. Not bad for someone who started out as a mere intern at NBC’s Miami affiliate WTVJ six years ago. A dedicated member of the National Association of Black Journalists, Moise is also a skilled entrepreneur, having founded the startup Sock Concierge. Moise has won two Emmys for his work at WXIA-TV in Atlanta—the station where he worked as a reporter, before moving on to WLTX News 19 in South Carolina.

“I have seen many if not most of his broadcasts, especially many of his tapes throughout college,” says Dr. Matthei, MD of his friend. “I fondly remember him preparing tapes his senior year of college in order to send to potential employers. He has truly come a long way and is on his way to perfect his craft. I am extremely proud of him and excited for what the future holds.

And now, let’s hear from the man himself!

K. St. Fort: How did you get interested in broadcasting?

I kind of fell into it, but immediately fell in love! From a child, I always wanted to be a doctor—or at least I thought because I loved helping people. I quickly learned that all of the blood, guts, and gory things doctors deal with—just weren’t for me. Junior year- while trying to figure out my goals and career path—I shadowed a friend who was a reporter on campus. I immediately fell in love with being able to highlight things going on in the community, while getting to interact with so many different people each day. I changed my major to Broadcast Journalism and never looked back.

Above: Lionel Moise and some of his CBS Chicago colleagues attend the MLK Scholarship breakfast.

K. St. Fort: How instrumental do you think internships were to your career? And what did you do to stand out from other interns?
Internships were pivotal for me—especially in this field. They gave an insurmountable amount of training and also exposure to the day to day of news. I was able to work hand in hand with some of the best in the business while learning as much as I could from them. I think what really made me stand out- was being genuine and open to learning. That allowed me to form relationships and get mentors who still give guidance on my career years later.

K. St. Fort: Are there any broadcasters you admire?
I admire one of my close friends/mentors DeMarco Morgan—who works for CBS network. Not only has he achieved great success in his career—but he immediately invested in mine and a lot of the younger broadcasters coming up behind him. He pushed me and challenged me to reach heights that I didn’t even see as a possibility for myself at the time. And in all of his coverage—he is always himself. Not playing news anchor on TV—but really there with the viewers as he covers the stories. His comfort and truly being natural on air is something I’ve come to appreciate when I’m watching. It’s something I hope my viewers also get—the real me.

The Anchor as a young man.

K. St. Fort: Your career has been milestone after milestone. What would you say to those out there who feel like they’re in some kind of professional rut…the ones who thought they’d be so much further in their lives than they are now?
I have been very blessed to have been given the opportunities I have. Working in Chicago, for such a legendary company with amazing journalists is a dream come true. But my career has not always been a dream. I have had plenty of frustration as I figured—and still try to figure out—what I want for myself long-term. I also dealt with the uncertainty of beginning a career that I knew nothing about. It’s not like my parents were journalists or news anchors to offer the calming advice during times of freaking out! The one piece of advice that I always give to people feeling weary is: “Never accept no for an answer.” Plenty of doors will close in your face, any plenty of rejection. With tenacity and perseverance—you can always find a way to open another door to get a yes. Sometimes you have to create that door. My career has been somewhat of a surprise to even me—when I really focused on growing and achieving as opposed to the roadblocks in my way.

[All photos courtesy of subject.]

Be sure to look out for PART 2 of this interview with Lionel Moise. Meanwhile…

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW LIONEL MOISE ON TWITTER | LIONEL MOISE ON INSTAGRAM | CLICK HERE TO WATCH SNIPPETS OF HIS BROADCASTS|

Follow along and read PART 2 of the Lionel Moise interview. Get some career and life lessons courtesy of this Kreyolicious achiever. Lionel Moise holds an MBA from the University of South Carolina, and is a morning anchor at CBS Chicago. The son of Haitian parents, Moise was born in Miami and graduated with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and Psychology from the University of Miami. Go Canes!

His career launched with internships at two Miami TV stations. From there, he worked in Haiti for the Clinton Foundation before moving on as a producer and reporter in Atlanta, and then to South Carolina as an anchor for News 19.

If you missed Part 1, CLICK HERE.

Read on as Lionel Moise discusses entrepreneurship, and dishes career advice.

K. St. Fort: You founded Sock Concierge. Do you think that one day—at one point in your career—you’ll leave broadcasting to pursue entrepreneurship full-time?
I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur and that the time that we launched the company—it just felt right. I had just gotten my MBA- and wanted to focus on things even outside of work that would interest me. I really love journalism and TV- so I don’t see myself leaving it. It’s been amazing! But I would love to continue to focus on launching businesses that solve a problem for consumers—but also challenge me in different ways. I think that going through this process also gave me more perspective when covering stories that affect small businesses and the economy. So it’s been a unlikely yet great pairing for my broadcasting career.

K. St. Fort: What are some books that you have in your collection that you’ll never donate, or let anyone borrow, or part with…in any kind of way? What did you learn from each of them?
Believe it or not—it’s the Harry Potter series. I have plenty of motivational and self-help books that have given great advice. But that’s all too serious. J.K. Rowling was the first author who inspired me to even want to read 800 pages of anything in a day. While I’m a lot older than I was when I read the series, the books still lighten my mood. We have so many serious decisions to make every day, we’re hearing of the bad things happening around us—and it can really take a toll. Almost like a never ending cycle of trying to reach a goal, while also being in the moment. It’s always a reminder to just take a second a relax—and not try to solve all of your problems in one second. Even Harry Potter waited seven years in the series for his victory. If I ever feel down, one is just a few feet away.

With co-host Marissa inside the CBS Chicago newsroom.

K. St. Fort: Do you have any advice for those out there who love the idea of being a television journalist, but who are camera-shy? Like, in terms of getting over it.

I say go for it. I’ve learned we can be the biggest roadblock for our success. I has no clue that I would be a journalist. In fact, I grew up wanting to be a doctor. Initially, it was a steep learning curve. I knew nothing about the industry, and had not worked on growing in broadcasting since it was never a goal of mine (I was busy thinking of the kind of doctor I wanted to be). The coolest thing about this job—is that you learn so much on the job. In the beginning, I hated my voice, my writing, my delivery, my weight, the way my clothes fit. With a little patience and a lot of work—I feel we all naturally fall into our style and beging improving so quickly. It’s hard to even watch video from just two years ago because I can see the growth. And I may be a big-mouth on TV, but I am also a very shy person naturally. I would say stay focused, don’t overthink it, and spend a lot of time talking to yourself in the mirror—feels weird, but gets you comfortable.

K. St. Fort: Do you visit Haiti often? How do you stay connected to Haitian culture?

I have not gotten a chance to visit Haiti since my time there after the earthquake working for the Clinton Foundation. It’s something I think about every day. I would love to go back to visit or work on projects helping those in need. In the meantime, I stay connected by trying to stay as close to family as possible. Learning about the culture, hearing the music, and of course—enjoying the food.

K. St. Fort: What advice do you have for students graduating in December? Do you think they have a disadvantage over those who graduated in the Spring?

I actually think you’re at an advantage. It may not be the time that most people think of graduating—but at least you’re not competing with the wave of May grads looking to land that first job you want so bad. You can use it to your advantage to really brand and differentiate yourself from others in the job market. And again, be patient—but don’t give up. There are so many opportunities out there—and this is a demanding yet extremely rewarding career.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW LIONEL MOISE ON TWITTER | LIONEL MOISE ON INSTAGRAM | CLICK HERE TO WATCH SNIPPETS OF HIS BROADCASTS|