We’re so pumped about our conversation with Donna Morris & Dwayna Williams. Donna & Dwayna are PR & Brand Image Architects and are also content partners. Content partners help Voyage in so many ways from spreading the word about the work that we do, sponsoring our mission and collaborating with us on content like this. Check out our conversation with Donna & Dwayna below.
Hi Donna & Dwayna, so great to have you join us again. For folks who might have missed our earlier conversations, can you please take a minute to briefly introduce yourself?
TGND Consulting is a full-service PR agency to help women juggle motherhood and the challenges of running a business, be seen in spaces and stand out from the competition through strategic brand development, media relations, image consulting, and kick-ass public relations and marketing tactics. Simply put – we turn emerging brands into influencers through innovative ideas.
Founded in 2016, TGND, which stands for “The Girls Next Door,” is the passion project turned full-time career of Dwayna Williams and twin sister Donna Morris. Together the duo has over ten years of experience in sales and marketing, public relations, media relations, social media management, image consulting, and strategic brand development, earning their clients features in nationally recognized and syndicated media outlets such as NBC, FOX, ABC, CBS, iHeart Radio, Tom Joyner Morning Show, and more.
TGND Consulting® provides public relations, brand imaging, and strategy to moms with lifestyle brands in Atlanta and Charlotte. With a passion for building a brand’s image through publicity, digital platforms, and style guides, these twins are taking over the PR industry. TGND’s mission is to cultivate a community of moms who have dreams beyond their at-home roles to be able to be seen, their voices heard, and define their identity beyond motherhood.
How do your company’s services enhance business for moms and women-led business owners?
Our approach is – to get clear, organized, and started. Our clients have passion and hustle but may feel overwhelmed and unbalanced. They need direction in defining their goals, creating their look, and developing PR strategies that get results. We are a highly skilled team of mompreneurs specializing in media pitching, influencer marketing, brand development, and increasing brand awareness and exposure. We are able to help our clients succeed because we know first-hand the challenges of wearing multiple hats at home and work. We work with our clients to help them discover their identity and find confidence and peace.
We view ourselves as an extension of our client’s brand and members of the team, and we take pride in being involved not only in the PR aspect of our client’s business but understanding how the brand image and digital presence drive marketing goals and company growth and strengthen sales. For our clients who are ready to grow, we have the resources, contacts, and experience of a more prominent agency with the personalized service of a boutique firm.
What are your company’s mission and vision?
Our vision is to help thousands of mompreneurs create magical brands through publicity, brand image strategy & style guides. Our mission is to cultivate a community of moms who have dreams beyond their at-home roles to be able to be seen vices and be heard and define their identity beyond motherhood.
How has your journey as a black-owned and women-owned business been?
Our journey as a black-owned and women-owned business has been rewarding and challenging. Throughout this insightful and progressive 5-year journey, we have learned so much as African American mompreneurs. When starting this venture, we had yet to determine what level of grit we would need to get to where we are today. We have been growing a business while experiencing the COVID pandemic and a mental health crisis. Doom and gloom news, coupled with racism displayed daily online, has been a challenge for us all while trying to find the resources and clientele willing to pay for services.
Facing all of these economic and societal factors while building the foundation of our business has tested us more than we could have ever imagined. We see all the lessons as blessings in disguise and find the silver lining. We have dealt with the hurdles of proving ourselves as we grow our credibility in this space, in which white women and men dominate. With African Americans holding only 10% of the PR workforce, much work is needed. We want to play a pivotal role in changing this narrative.
How has your background or life shaped your career as an entrepreneur?
I am a “millennial mompreneur” and enjoy empowering other millennial moms to pursue their dreams through entrepreneurship. With my extensive experience amplifying the public presence of change-makers, purpose-driven entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts, I constantly seek new and innovative ways to promote buzz-worthy ideas.
I’m an alumna of North Carolina Central, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications with a Concentration in Broadcast media, and Georgia State University, where I earned a master’s in marketing and a certificate in brand management. Before starting TGND in 2016, I worked in corporate and freelance settings developing the skills I needed to become the successful entrepreneur I am today.
Donna Morris is the Co-founder of TGND Consulting. She describes herself as a “mommi hustler” and enjoys being creative and building relationships. She’s passionate about helping women bring out their inner beauty through fashion and style by creating a cohesive brand image for women who are the face of their brands/businesses. Donna’s motto is “your brand is your image, so you have to make sure you show up in the world how you want to be perceived.”
A certified Image Consultant, Donna has always had an eye for fashion and fell in love with the world of media and communications at a young age while attending a media program for youth. She later studied communications at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, earning her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. During her undergraduate journey, Donna worked for one of the top luxury retail stores, where she learned the importance of having a great brand image and fell in love with merchandising. Since then, Donna has worked in sales and marketing, with a track record of driving company results.
How do you manage being a mompreneur?
We take it day by day and give ourselves a lot of grace. Trying to show up for our business while nurturing the kids and managing the household can be overwhelming, especially when your day does not go as planned. One thing that has worked well for us is setting boundaries with our clients and being ok with saying “no.” We don’t always get the “no” part right when we’re deeply invested in helping our clients reach their goals, but we can say we are improving. Boundaries have been a massive part of how we operate, and we can quickly tell if a client is an excellent fit for us by how they respond to those boundaries. Having client relationships where communication, expectations, and processes are clear is the backbone of our success. Another helpful key has also been allowing our children to participate in what we are doing – whether coming to work with us, being a part of marketing, or helping us with tasks. It allows them to understand what it means to work and understand what it means to be an entrepreneur.
Alright, so before we go, how can our readers connect with you to learn more and show support?
Website: https://www.
Instagram: @tgndconsulting
Facebook: @tgndconsulting
LinkedIn: TGND Consulting
Youtube: @tgndconsulting
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tgndconsulting.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TGNDConsulting/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tgnd-consulting/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/tgnd_consulting
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTJ4fXlM1v14CLLNS0uFgpw
Image Credits
MaxRes Photography
