Today we’d like to introduce you to Colleen Donald.
As a University of South Florida- media and communications- graduate, Ashley “Colleen” Donald started her journey as a CW 44 Creative Writing Intern blogging about the latest DIY projects and celebrity scandals. After her internship, she landed a job in promotions and within a year was promoted (after spending endless nights learning for free) to a Board Operator position at Cox Media Group- Tampa managing on-air commercials during the “graveyard shift.” At the time, it was her goal to work in media and television but she knew that radio could be a gateway. She built a pilot episode for an online show that corresponded with the radio station, but the leadership didn’t want to view it, and suggested her to be “overly ambitious.” After working several odd jobs at a time, no progress, battling unspoken rules and the like, she opted to move back home (Saint Petersburg, Florida) for a year and save money so that she could to move to Atlanta, Georgia.
At 24 years old, with no plan, three months’ worth of rent savings, and no family or connections she hit the ground running. Meeting with professionals from Radio One, WSB-TV, and volunteering, but was told: “I have interns that have been here for four years, I can’t just let you in.” Not to mention her last boss had no plans on helping her succeed (she didn’t like the move to Atlanta). Eventually, Colleen landed an unpaid gig with a start-up charter television station as an on-air personality, but it came to a close when her ideas were being stolen and used without permission. After this, again, she found some women in the area to create an Instagram show that also fell through because of time commitment issues.
In the financial responsibility department, her first paid gig was working at Lenox Mall and a part-time job working with the Atlanta Hawks’ promotion team. Colleen loved working with the ATL Hawks but the position’s pay wasn’t able to cover the bills in her shabby (and unsafe) neighborhood.
Taking a year off from media pursuits, she started working as an administrative assistant at a college. This is where her major growth happened; by this time she had met a man who broke her heart, gained over 30 pounds, with s rather grim outlook and was completely miserable in a job that she hated. However, she stuck with that job for a year and made the most out of the experience. She finished her book about her journey “31 Days: Breaking Negativity Creating Positivity and Making it a Habit” and was summoned by a divine intervention to heal, get in shape, and go back to school. Colleen has always been an overachiever and naturally, she was “overly ambitious” (as a former leader had once said) with these new pursuits.
Fast forward to today, Colleen Donald is 28 years old with a Master’s Degree in Integrated Global Communication (summa cum laude) from Kennesaw State University, has worked as an intern for the BBC in the United Kingdom and in Seoul South Korea, is a fitness competitor who placed top 10 in Miami Nationals, is a Co-host for the Dangerous Woman podcast with her dear friend, and a self-published author. Colleen has met many people from different industries and has recently started consulting with her company Dasher Mod Communications. She is currently looking to dive into a full-time opportunity in strategic communications and/or is considering IP/Corporate Paralegal opportunities to further her long-term goal to become a CEO of a media company.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Being alone in a city by yourself with no friends or family.
Having people steal your ideas or be threatened by your ambition.
Finding a stable career opportunity.
Meeting a lead and making a connection with people from WSB-TV, Deloitte, Golin, The Weather Channel, CNN, Turner and still not coming out on top but having to keep going.
Money and student loans.
Keeping faith and staying motivated.
…but in the end, regret is my biggest fear. I wouldn’t change a thing about my struggles because they have molded me to become the woman that I am today.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dasher Mod Communications “Dasher Mod” – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As a part-time consultant, I help businesses with their communication strategies: social media, branding, and I can also help with basic website creation. I specialize in intercultural communication and help companies communicate their brand with the right audience by method of CREATE. CONNECT. ENGAGE. Every culture is different and it’s important to know who you are talking to and what they value in brand messaging.
“Dasher Mod aims to create communication strategies that connect and engage with your target audience.”
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I plan to continue my pursuit with media on the business end, learn some legal knowledge and tapper my occupation to align with those two things. I’d also like to write another book, travel, look into investing, and become a fitness pro- nothing major.
Contact Info:
- Website: acolleendonald.myportfolio.com
- Email: a.colleendonald@gmail.com and dashermodllc@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/colleenxdonald and instagram.com/dasher_mod
- Facebook: facebook.com/dashermod
- Twitter: twitter.comcolleenxdonald and instagram.com/dasher_mod
Image Credit:
Colleen Donald, SAUPO, NPC NEWS ONLINE
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