Phaon Spurlock, BS 2007

President at Prototype MKTG and founder of BKLYN LEAGUE™

As one of Black Enterprise magazine’s 100 Modern Men of Distinction, Phaon describes himself as a marketer, entrepreneur, college adjunct instructor, speaker and social influencer. After receiving his BS in Organismal Biology in 2007, he worked for such companies and clients as Prudential Financial, Nintendo, Major League Baseball, McDonalds, Old Spice, Clinique, Island Def Jam Music Group and many more. Phaon has built several successful companies of his own, including Prototype MKTG, a creative agency that specializes in digital, experiential and multicultural marketing; and BKLYN LEAGUE, a socially-conscious streetwear brand that sells fresh apparel, accessories and home goods.

Phaon at Joshua Tree

Learn more about Phaon:

Why did you choose to attend Southeastern?

I chose to attend Southeastern because of the amazing pre-pharmacy program and also because it was close to home (Baton Rouge, LA).

Is there one thing or iconic place on campus that reminds you of your time spent at Southeastern?

The most iconic place on campus that reminds me of my time spent at Southeastern is, hands down, Friendship Circle. Friendship Circle (and the surrounding area) brings so much joy to me because it’s the area that many organizations tailgate for homecoming. It also happens to be the area where my first on-campus job was located. I also have memories of riding on the Hammond fire truck around the circle when I was our beloved mascot, Roomie.

What is your fondest Southeastern memory?

The first is when I made the homecoming court in 2004. I will never forget being on the homecoming court and all the excitement that came with it. The second was when I was able to bring a major recording artist, Rick Ross, to the campus to perform in the Student Center. I brought the artist to campus through my relationship with Island Def Jam Music Group from a previous internship. I remember the campus buzzing about the artist's arrival and performance. It was the talk of the campus for weeks!

Did a Southeastern professor inspire you?

The person who inspired me while at Southeastern was Eric Summers, although he was not a professor, he was very instrumental in my acclimation to Southeastern. Mr. Summers was the Director of Multicultural and International Student Affairs and the faculty leader for Project PULL. He became a mentor that I could go to for various questions ranging from college related to general issues. He was selfless and really went out of his way to help as many students as he could. He pushed me when I needed it and was there to make sure that I was getting the most out of my college experience. I’m truly grateful for Mr. Summers.

How did your Southeastern degree prepare you for success in your career?

My program taught me fundamental skills of research and being efficient and diligent. I was able to transfer my deep knowledge of research to marketing, which is crucial for developing successful campaigns.

What do you enjoy about your current position/profession?

As a marketer, I love being able to let my mind run wild to create marketing campaigns. The creative process of developing an experiential marketing is so freeing and liberating. I also love seeing someone experience an activation that I developed. As an entrepreneur, I love coming up with business ideas, developing a plan and seeing it through from conception to execution. Both equally allow me to create things that can be shared with the world, which gives me a lot of joy.

Has something about your Southeastern education surprised you since graduating?

I was able to build a solid community of alumni that I still keep in touch with. Be it my Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brothers, classmates or people from the organizations I belonged to, we help and support each other through personal and professional obstacles.

What advice would you give to a driven college student about to enter the "real world"?

I would say, surround yourself with people who are where you want to be or equally as driven, stay hungry and humble and always be willing to lend a helping hand. Also, make sure to have a mentor who can help guide you through your professional life.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

In my free time, I enjoy Traveling and immersing myself into different cultures around the world. Writing for online lifestyle magazine, LuxuriousPROTOTYPE. Hosting gatherings for friends and family.

Do you have a fun or interesting fact that you would like to share about yourself?

I was an actor and have been in over 12 films. I spoke at the White House. I sponsored and helped plan the launch of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.