Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Reid.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story isn’t the “normal” story and that is perfectly perfect for me. I started my career before I attended college, which afforded me the opportunity to be in a management position with a Big 6 Marketing Agency before completing my Bachelor’s Degree. I graduated from Christian Brothers University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a 4.0 in my concentration while working full time, having a part-time business, and being a mother to two young boys. I began working on marketing campaigns in 2007 and quickly moved through the ranks to management. That allowed me the opportunity to travel throughout the United States and beyond to manage marketing campaigns for brands such as the Olympics, Adidas, Novartis, Remy Martin, Subway, Nissan, and more. In 2017, I became the first minority female to serve as a Marketing Advisor for the US Navy, and in 2018, was recognized by Google and Business Journal as one of the Top 50 Women in marketing in the US.
In October of 2019, I launched my own boutique marketing firm which specializes in marketing and communications for small to mid-sized businesses. I serve not only clients in the US, but globally in industries such as e-commerce, retail, consumer brands, and more. Outside of marketing, I also provide additional solutions to my clients based on my background and experience such as sourcing, operations, and financial analysis.
Has it been a smooth road?
As a minority female in the marketing industry, especially having rare skills and accomplishments, the road has been extremely hard. The marketing industry is a primarily male-dominated industry, and with most big agencies, the leadership teams are usually all-white males; which is usually reflected in the corporate marketing world as well. Throughout my career, I made the switch from working with an agency to corporate marketing and quickly discovered it wasn’t for me.
In the corporate world, I was denied Director level and above positions, but would always have more experience and education than those that were selected for those positions; therefore, I quickly grew disgruntled. It was amazing how much people would love to hear from me on the phone, but their expression would quickly change once they saw a young black woman come in for an interview. I also noticed in the corporate would, they did not allow for their employees in their marketing departments to actually BE creative which is a key part of success. A successful marketing team has to be innovative and be allowed to create; that’s what drives successful marketing campaigns.
A major breaking point for me was when I was told that having accomplishments on my resume such as being recognized by Google was considered to be boastful. I wondered to myself: would they say that to a man or to a white woman? Probably not. I was broken and always downplayed my own achievements and skillset trying to appease others so that they wouldn’t think I was trying to steal their spotlight. Looking back, I’ve realized my skill set and experience was intimidating to many and that’s why some of them attempted to derail me as much as they could; but I always came out on top.
My story is still being written, but I’m not ashamed of any part of it. I’ve accomplished much more than my naysayers and continue to make strides. My only regret was putting the opinions and wishes of others before myself.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the DR and Associates story. Tell us more about the business.
DR and Associates is a boutique marketing agency that specializes in marketing and branding for firms and brands. We provide everything from detailed data analysis of businesses to marketing campaign strategy and management. Our motto is “real results for real people,” as we believe in being truthful with clients, as well as providing the best recommendations for a client’s industry. Our services include branding, strategy, creative services, digital marketing, influencer marketing, experiential marketing, social media, and public relations. The major thing that sets us apart from most other boutique marketing agencies is that we are a data driven company. All successful marketing campaigns should leverage data, and with a heavy background in business analytics and data statistics, as a business leader I look to educate other business owners on what they need to be successful as a whole.
Every successful business owner has a team of people that each have their own specialty and expertise. DR and Associates provides a solution to allow business owners to focus more on their businesses and less on areas that they may not be experienced in or have the time for.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In the next 5-10 years, as the world depends more on data for everyday transactions, that shift will have a direct change in the marketing industry as well. Brands and firm that don’t focus on data and analytics will be left behind as those that are data driven will not only know how to predict how consumers react but help to guide consumers on how to react and why to select their brand over the competition.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.drandassociates.com
- Phone: 615-933-3681
- Email: info@drandassociates.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/drandassociates.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/drandassociates
Image Credit:
Rod Okoth Photography
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