Meet the Founder
My name is Raheem Veal and I’m the Founder and CEO of Razor Sharp Global LLC. I’m a career coach, content strategist, and programming executive who works with professionals and students to bolster career success, fulfilment, and confidence. My path has been far from conventional or straightforward, and you may be able to relate. Throughout my journey, I’ve made an impact at global brands such as Nickelodeon, HBO, Paramount, and BET as well as nonprofits such as Foundation Academies and Children First. I’ve helped dozens of individuals land opportunities independently and through organizations such as T. Howard Foundation, City Tutors, Varsity Tutors and more. As your coach and thought partner, I am confident we can build the career path made just for you.
Read more about my story below.
DRESSED FOR MORE
When I was just 11, Sunday School taught me a skill that quietly put me ahead of the game—and set the tone for everything that followed: how to tie a tie. This simple skill transformed my self-image and widened the scope of what I thought I could achieve–who I could be. Fast forward to my senior year at the University of Pennsylvania, I gained acceptance into the inaugural cohort of Paramount’s Marketing and Ad Solutions RISE Fellowship. Rotating through six roles over two years, I built comprehensive foundational knowledge of the media business. As one of six fellows selected from thousands of applicants, I must admit–I was feeling myself. But the night was young.
BREAKING THE FRAME
Upon graduation from the fellowship, I enjoyed my time in marketing at Nickelodeon with exceptional teammates–but my passion wasn’t quite quenched. I knew I could make a larger impact. Although I had comfortably built a strong network at the company, it was time to stretch. To inch closer to purpose-driven storytelling and get the promotion I’d earned, I took a leap and joined HBO Max’s award-winning Consumer Marketing team–leading promotions for key documentaries and docuseries. An unexpected layoff led me to a brief stint back at Paramount, leading promotions for BET+ programming and initiatives. And that’s when my first storm arrived.
FORGED IN THE VALLEY
After my contract elapsed, I found myself in a prolonged job search where I placed 1,200+ applications and chased down job recruiters like I was a debt collector. I earned my way to the final round an innumerable amount of times, all to be overlooked for reasons such as being “too senior”, not verbally agreeing to offers prior to extension, or euphemisms that boiled down to being too self-empowered and opinionated. I was devastated. I found myself in a dark place and unemployed for the first time in my adult life. As an Ivy League graduate who prided myself on high performance, this shook my identity to the core. But it was just a setback for the bounce back.
COOLED INTO CLARITY
After a particularly profound disappointment, I decided to take a step back and evaluate what I truly wanted. I ceased refreshing recruitment pages around the clock, copyediting cover letters, and running down recruiters for jobs that wouldn’t fulfill me. I refocused my energy on what truly lit me up: youth programming and personal brand coaching. I’d been quietly coaching colleagues pro bono and volunteering with mentorship programs for years–with powerful results. Now it was time to step out. As I pursued partners for career programming, I came across Foundation Academies Charter School–which recruited me to lead their marketing as the Senior Director during a high stakes rebrand. This was a great match, and it brought me back to my hometown: Trenton, NJ. After delivering transformative results–falling in love with the children along the way–the fire in my belly only smoldered more. It was time to get back to my mission, to burn the boats with only my pen as a sword and my hand held up to my creator.
SHARPER THAN EVER
Razor Sharp Global was born–a culmination of my passion for storytelling and my purpose to help others maximize their potential. At each step of my journey, I wondered why I couldn’t remain comfortable professionally as I gathered wins. Now I know I was being forged through a multitude of experiences and career arcs that would shape me into the perfect coach for you. The foundation of my career was built in constant reinvention and adaptability. I can empathize with the high performing professional whose been overlooked for a promotion. I’ve taken leaps from cozy seats that well-meaning folks in my life questioned. I’ve been the youngest amongst senior professionals and tasked with being a change agent in challenging environments. It has all made me sharper. It forged my edge.
Are you ready to find yours?
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