Meet Tia Dunn | Marketing Director and Agency Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tia Dunn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tia, what do you attribute your success to?
The women in my life are a key factor to my success. I can’t go without mentioning my mother, who was a boss and powerhouse herself. She is the most inspiring problem solver I know, commanding the attention of any room she walks into and possessing such an inviting spirit. She, by far, has been my biggest cheerleader. Thanks to her, I quickly notice the people who are in my corner.

My mother-in-law, although we come from different backgrounds and thought processes, has really played an instrumental role in making sure I have what I need, whether it’s assisting with my kids, my home, or my wardrobe (buying me clothes, ironing my shirts, you name it). She gives me the love and space I need to look and feel my best. My godmother wakes up at 5 am several times a month to ensure I make it to the airport on time, so I can attend an event or conference, and my Aunt Susan, who works for the airline, just so happens to always be in the right place to ensure I’m good to go. Can you imagine a support system that’s so selfless?

My best friend Tristin holds me accountable every morning, asking me my goals for the day. My best friend Rae sends prayers that invoke a sense of calmness. My client, Kim, is amazing. She went from corporate executive to a millionaire entrepreneur and her words of encouragement are so uplifting. I remember being laid off from my 6-figure job, and she invited me to an event called ExcelerateHer, which changed the trajectory of my life. Imagine a room full of the world’s most impactful black women, just pouring into you. It was there I met a woman I’ve looked up to for years, a marketing powerhouse, Ingrid Best (who is now my mentor). She is responsible for deals like Bacardi and Jay-Z’s D’usee partnership. I’ve looked up to her for years and thanks to Kim, I met her and have access to her. It is so full circle, and now I get to be inspired by her success with the wine brand she launched, IBest Wine.

There have been so many women through out my journey. My professors, Deborah Brame, Deirdre Guion-Peoples, Keisha Williams, My supervisors from internships to full time roles, Claire Fleming, Cecilia Gonzalez, Noreen Allen, Deirdre Clark, and Nikki Padula. and I’m sure many more I haven’t mentioned.

I can’t go without mentioning my amazing network, I’m in the most recent cohort of Fearless Fund Foundation Get Venture Ready Cohort and a Femme it Forward Mentee these opportunities have been a guiding light to my success in the past year.

The most important factor is the people, the women, THE BLACK Women in the background cheering for me and pushing me. They are my success.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My agency is called Hustle-Brand Marketing. I started in 2019, literally as a side hustle. It was a way to learn more and make extra money doing what I enjoyed and what I was good at. I started it with the intention of helping other side hustlers build and scale their brands without having to the time or money invest in a huge marketing team or a big agency. I was the underdog for underdogs. I was excited to be that. In 2021, clients began to come my way word of mouth with small projects, in 2022, out of nowhere I was getting new clients and projects every quarter all word of mouth, it was amazing, but I wasn’t ready to scale because I had a lot to learn. Not to mention, I had a full time job which was a lot to balance. I was laid off due to economic issues in 2023 and I like to say “Getting Laid Off, Paid Off” because it gave me the space I needed to really develop my brand and business. I didn’t search for jobs and went straight into strengthening Hustle-Brand, which was a blessing when so many agencies and companies were downsizing so finding a new role was tough. I found myself in a space where I had to reject potential clients or part ways with existing ones, so I could be more intentional about the kind of business I wanted. I spent the second half of 2023 focusing solely on my existing clients and opted not to take any new ones on because I really wanted to focus on being great a great business, a great partner, and a great leader, not mediocre. Being an entrepreneur is exciting, but a challenge EVERYDAY. As I build my team, it’s scary knowing that peoples livelihoods are in my hands in a sense.

Along the way, I had to learn to delegate, I had to learn how people learn and a process information, I had to learn hard lessons that may seem obvious, but weren’t like have contracts, and the biggest lesson was not to bite off more than you can chew. Say no if you don’t have the capacity. It’s better than saying yes and underdelivering.

My story is in it’s genesis, but it’s going to be a powerful one for the next generation of rising black women entrepreneurs. My company connects brands to culture. What sets Hustle-Brand apart and resonates most with our clients is our strong sense of teamwork and the deep care we have for their success. We prioritize building enduring relationships. Hustle-Brand Marketing Agency is dedicated to assisting brands in various ways, whether it involves bringing a new concept from idea to market, seeking venture capital support for a product, planning an engaging activation, or securing influencer or celebrity endorsements. We have the GRIT to achieve these goals effectively and efficiently and if needed we’re not afraid to find the partners to help get us there. We really want to get into the space of scaling fashion, beauty wine, and spirits brands know someone? Hit us up!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In NC I’m a sucker for the North Hills area! I can spend all night in that area between the food, bars, restaurants, a good time is sure to be had there. I love going to Level 7 on top of the AC Hotel on a Friday night. Then the Oysters across the street at Stir never miss. Most recently, I’ve been a big fan of La Buena Vida, what a vibe! The food is delicious, but that restaurant is an experience, the music, the staff, it is such an exciting place to be. I’d say a fun thing I really enjoy is late night 2 am visits in Durham, walking through 21c Hotel and checking out the art exhibits in the middle of the night is so much fun!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d dedicate my story to my dad who was my first cheerleader; he instilled the phrase ‘Never Be Afraid of Excellence’ in me at a young age, always encouraging me and letting me know that even the sky was not the limit. Thanks to his diligence, I’ve always lived life without bounds. He launched my first business venture at the age of 8, called Little Ms. Business Lady, and he taught me about black women entrepreneurs like Madam C.J. Walker. He put the fire in me and never allowed me to think I couldn’t be the best version of whoever I wanted to be, regardless of my race or gender, and I’ve been able to walk in that power because of my dad’s love.

Not to mention, I had the pleasure of watching his Marketing Career Growing up, he worked with major brands and agencies like Burger King, McDonalds, Pabst Brewing Company, and Yellow Tail Wine. I learned so much from him and he is exactly why I do what I do today.

Whenever I have an idea or exciting news he is always the first person I think to call, because he becomes so engaged. I’m really grateful that he’s my kid’s grandfather, so they get to see that same kind of support. My 2 year old starts peewee soccer this month and my dad purchased an entire soccer set just to prepare him, I mean if that’s not a dedicated grandad then what is.

Honorable mention, In memory of my late best friend, Tabitha, I would like to pay tribute to her. Since we met 12 years ago in college, she continuously inspired and encouraged me. Her impactful words, such as ‘You’re an icon,’ still resonate within me, a constant reminder to invest in my own growth and to always uplift others. Though she is no longer physically present, her spirit lives on in the enduring impact she has had on my life.

Website: Hustle-Brand.com

Instagram: LenaLaCeo

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiyyadunn/

Image Credits
Vernon Samuel, MaxRes Photography