Meet Your ’25 Speak Up! Mentee
• Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc. (MIW) proudly introduces Presleigh Bearden, Social Media Manager and On-Air Personality for iHeartMedia Little Rock & Fayetteville, AR as the 2025 Speak Up! mentee.
Created in partnership with Media Staffing Network and the late Laurie Kahn, Speak Up! is a one-year program created for one mentee from any department in a small to medium radio market, and specially designed to encapsulate so much of what Laurie brought to the industry — a mentorship that encourages and empowers women to develop confidence and sharpen communication skills, honing the ability to effectively speak up in order to further attain her goals.
Presleigh is living proof that “talks too much in class” can become a career — she currently serves as an On-Air Personality and Social Media Manager for iHeart Top 40 duo KHKN (Hot 94.9)/Little Rock and KMXF (Hot 101.9)/Fayetteville, Arkansas. Beyond the studio, Presleigh shares her love of community and live entertainment as the On-Field Emcee for the Arkansas Travelers Double A baseball club.
MIW Board President Sheila Kirby commented, “Presleigh’s energy, authenticity, and commitment to her work make her a wonderful fit for the Speak Up! program. She has a clear passion for connecting with her audience and her community, and we’re looking forward to supporting her growth and helping her further develop her skills over the next year.”
Lisa Fields, President of Media Staffing Network, said, “At Media Staffing Network, we’re proud to continue Laurie’s legacy with fresh perspective — connecting top talent with outstanding media organizations. This program is a meaningful way to honor the industry she loved while carrying her vision forward for the future.”
Bearden remarked, “It’s an honor to be chosen for the mentorship! I’m so excited to learn and grow and soak up all the wisdom I can this next year. This is such an incredible opportunity to work alongside and learn from women who have paved the way in radio. I’m ready to challenge myself, strengthen my voice; both literally and figuratively, and bring that growth back to my community and my career.”
