Didier Morais
One glance at the entertainment industry will quickly inform you how prominent names, from Megan Thee Stallion to Fat Joe to E-40, dominate its landscape. A simple observation of the restaurant industry will undoubtedly prove that New York hotspot Sei Less is leading the pack when it comes to interspersing culture and quality. While these people and industries are vastly different, it should be noted that there’s one common denominator that connects them. That person’s name is Didier Morais, the founder and CEO of Vital Versatility, the full-service public relations agency home to the clients mentioned above and more.
Since its inception, Morais has used the tools of storytelling and creativity to spearhead colossal press opportunities for his clients. In the process, he’s positioned Vital Versatility as a highly sought-after PR agency utilizing skills he had previously picked up in another industry — journalism.
“Growing up, I dreamed of being a sports journalist and covering a professional sports team. Fortunately, I achieved that goal two years after I graduated college and when I was named the Boston Red Sox beat writer for New England Sports Network. Not only was I covering the team and writing articles, but I was also making on-air TV appearances to report on them. I loved it, but ultimately, I ended up changing careers and parlaying my written and speaking skills into publicity and took my first job at a tech PR firm. That experience made me much more well-rounded before I shifted into music, entertainment, and sports publicity a few years later.”
Most individuals may define journalism and public relations as two types of narrative art, but the Syracuse University alum prefers to look at them as interchangeable.
“In journalism, you're an objective reporter telling the story for the public whereas as a publicist, you're telling the story on behalf of the client to the public. But at the end of the day, many of the skills are interchangeable because they relate to storytelling, research, relationship-building, and preparation. In the same way as a journalist, where you're trying to develop sources to help with your reporting, as a publicist, you're also trying to cultivate strong relationships with different media members to help create opportunities for your clients. In both careers, you need to write quickly and efficiently on deadlines. So you're telling stories through both lenses and finding out the right news peg or the right way to do it, whether it's telling a story through print or broadcast and trying to understand the best way to tell someone's narrative.”
Throughout his longevous career, Morais has honed his storytelling into a fine art, weaving between industries and finetuning a legendary roster of clients along the way. To name a few, Megan Thee Stallion, Fat Joe, and Van Jones are only some of the iconic clients that Morais reps at Vital Versatility.
“At Vital Versatility, we represent the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Fat Joe, Ne-Yo, Druski, E-40, Too $hort, Joyner Lucas, Roc Nation, Sei Less restaurant, the Arena Football League, N Less Entertainment, and several others and I take lessons from every client. We can do music, sports, social justice, food, business, etc., and focus on the intersection of those worlds to tell compelling narratives. That's part of why I called the firm Vital Versatility because we are more than just specialists in one industry, and we want our clients to be viewed that way.
Just as these individuals carry renowned track records of achievement within their respective fields, thanks to Morais, they have the media coverage to match.
“I’ve been fortunate to have several career highlights with clients. A big moment was getting the cover of Forbes for Megan Thee Stallion as she became the first Black woman to be on the cover of the prestigious Under 30 issue. Also, spearheading the publicity for Fat Joe’s memoir was certainly special as he took over daytime TV programs such as CBS Mornings, The Tamron Hall Show, Good Morning America, and many more.”
Throughout his professional trajectory, it’s been made abundantly clear that Morais’ ability to maneuver working with people from a multitude of industries is something he’s mastered. So much so that his talents led him to lead the PR efforts for the #FreeMeek moment involving rapper Meek Mill’s troubles with the United States justice system. Morais’ professional journey has brought him many successes, and he advises anyone looking for similar gains to always be patient.
“It wasn’t always easy, and there were rocky times, but I was patient with the process and focused on the things I could control.”
