And Prays for the World – Our Cover: Sheila L. Brown

By Annette Pinder

Sheila L. Brown grew up in Buffalo’s Hamlin Park area, around corner from what is now called Canisius University. The youngest of three children, she attended Bennett High School, and then studied Communications and Journalism at Medaille College. She says, “I mostly learned by doing.”

Growing up with her parents, an older sister and brother, Sheila has fond memories of her childhood and the summer programs she attended at Canisius. “We were a two-income family. We weren’t rich, but definitely weren’t poor. Mayor Brown’s wife Michelle lived on our street, as did people who have gone on to become amazing pastors.”

Sheila’s knack for success was evident from the moment she set foot inside WUFO studios in Buffalo’s Broadway business district at age 21 to work in entry-level sales. When she managed to surpass her colleagues in sales, she was promoted to Sales Manager. With faith, determination, tenacity, and a never-say-never attitude, Sheila launched her own advertising agency in the 1990s and named it Visions Multi-Media Group (VMMG). VMMG is now the parent company of all of her current business ventures. In 2006, Sheila returned to WUFO, where she was promoted to General Manager, and subsequently purchased the station.

A visionary leader and history-making business executive, Sheila has fulfilled her longtime dream of becoming the first African American woman to own a radio station in Buffalo. But she isn’t stopping anytime soon. Her latest plan is to leverage her extensive radio and television experience to further expand, grow, and develop her award-winning influential media brand well into the 21st century.

On October 29, 2015, Sheila released her first book, “29 Years of Preparation, A Guidebook to Making Your Epic Dream Come True,” in which she details the road to her success. Consistently recognized for her contributions, Sheila is listed among Business First’s Top 125 Power Women and, in 2019, was inducted into Buffalo’s Black Achiever Museum. Her on-air programs include The Author’s Academy and SLB Book Review, and a live talk show featuring community voices for business, awareness, and entertainment. In 2022, she became the first African American inducted into the Buffalo Broadcaster Association. Sheila is also CEO and President of the WUFO Black Radio History Collective, a non-profit with a mission to preserve 61 years of the station’s recorded history. She also recently purchased a second radio station in Atlanta, Georgia that is being managed by daughter, and is working on her first movie, “The Barrington Brown Story.”

Sheila and her husband Kenneth Brown have 3 children, a daughter who is 30, and twin boys who are 26. Reflecting on her upbringing, she says, “My parents are still looking down on us and raising us. They taught us that hard work pays off, as is being kind, and praying for others.”

Sheila, who defines herself as a praying woman, loving wife, and mother explains that, in addition to praying for everyone she loves, she also prays for those who are not kind to others. She cautions against judging them, saying, “Don’t punish people for lashing out. You never know what someone has been through that would make them want to behave the way they do.” Thus, she prays for her children, their friends, her friends, relatives, all of her employees, the people throughout her community and globally, including the individuals running our government. As for those whose who are not aligned with her values, she says, “My prayers include everyone. As for those who are not living virtuously, I hope that their eyes get opened to realize what they are doing or what they have done, learn from it, and right their wrongs.”

When not at work, Sheila enjoys dancing, a glass of wine, shopping, getting her hair and nails done, hanging out with girlfriends, having Sunday dinner with her husband, and going to church on Sundays. Learn more about Sheila’s story at www.sheilalbrown.com.

Sheila uses her radio platform to host inner-city community events, including the Black Music Month Conference, holiday-themed luncheons, community giveaways, lunch and learns, and women-owned business events. She looks forward to the upcoming WUFO Annual Health, Wealth, and Education Expo on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Acqua, 2192 Niagara Street, Buffalo 14207. The event goes from 9am to 8pm, and features a Fall Fashion Show, Jazz on the Patio, a live radio show, panel discussions, great prizes, baskets, and more. Learn more and consider becoming a vendor at www.power965radio.com.