Ryan Reynolds, Dionna Dorsey Calloway & David Griner Are On A Mission To Change The Face of The Creative Industry - Are You In?

01/11/23 • 36 min

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message here and let me know what you thought about the episode. :)

What happens when you combine the genius of Ryan Reynolds, David Griner (Adweek's International Editor and Host of the Adweek Podcast), and Dionna Dorsey Calloway (Founder of District of Clothing)?
Together, they co-founded an incredible nonprofit called The Creative Ladder, focused on making creative industries more reflective of the communities they serve, while connecting, inspiring and elevating a new generation of creative leaders.
Today, I am honored to speak with Dionna about the launch of The Creative Ladder, its mission, and more importantly, how we can ALL play a part in changing the future of the creative industry together. Episode Partner: This episode is presented by Feathr. Feathr is trusted by nonprofits of all shapes and wing-spans — from the Humane Society and Meals on Wheels to IJM and the American Epilepsy Society, plus over a thousand more! Don’t rely on magic to hit your goals next year. Use Feathr to elevate your digital marketing campaigns and grow impact in 2023.
Join me and Noah Barnett on January 26th for a free webinar, all about creating effective re-engagement campaigns. Click here to register.
In This Episode:

How a chance invitation to Adweek’s Brandweek led Dionna to connect with Ryan Reynolds and David Griner
Dionna shares a behind the scenes look at what it was like to launch The Creative Ladder at the Cannes Film Festival
The power of intimate events and why The Creative Ladder focused on these tracks at their bootcamp: Advancement, Authenticity, and Focus
How we can help recruit the next generation of creative talent from underrepresented communities
Why having a strong sense of self leads to maximum creative output
The importance of making connections (including how I landed a senior position at a top PR agency through a LinkedIn message!)

Resources & Links
Check out The Creative Ladder and follow them on Instagram at @creativeladderorg, along with their sister organization, Group Effort Initiative. And see what co-founder Ryan Reynolds wants you to know about his nonprofit in this short video.

Check out my $27 mini course, Visible Reach In A Week. In 30 minutes, you’ll learn how to create a $3 a d

This show is presented by LinkedIn for Nonprofits. We’re so grateful for their partnership. Explore their incredible suite of resources and discounts for nonprofit teams here.
My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
Let's Connect!

Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!
Head to YouTube for digital marketing how-to videos and podcast teasers
Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message here and let me know what you thought about the episode. :)

How a chance invitation to Adweek’s Brandweek led Dionna to connect with Ryan Reynolds and David Griner
Dionna shares a behind the scenes look at what it was like to launch The Creative Ladder at the Cannes Film Festival
The power of intimate events and why The Creative Ladder focused on these tracks at their bootcamp: Advancement, Authenticity, and Focus
How we can help recruit the next generation of creative talent from underrepresented communities
Why having a strong sense of self leads to maximum creative output
The importance of making connections (including how I landed a senior position at a top PR agency through a LinkedIn message!)

Check out my $27 mini course, Visible Reach In A Week. In 30 minutes, you’ll learn how to create a $3 a d

Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!
Head to YouTube for digital marketing how-to videos and podcast teasers
Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

Previous Episode

Let's Get Intentional: Money, Mindset & Marketing with Ellen Yin, Renee Bowen, Tiffany Napper & Elise Armitage

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message here and let me know what you thought about the episode. :)

Are you ready to get intentional with your money, mindset, and marketing? Well, I can’t wait to introduce you to some of my best friends in business, Ellen, Renee, Tiffany, and Elise.
As we step into 2023, we thought it would be fun to co-host a 2-hour workshop on January 12th, and today, we’re giving you a sneak peek. Whether you are a CEO, a founder, a business creative, or a nonprofit marketer, this is designed for ALL of you. And shocker? The price point is $23!
If you’re ready to get in on all of this amazing goodness, be sure to tune in and click here to sign up for the workshop.
Episode Partner: This episode is presented by Feathr. Feathr is trusted by nonprofits of all shapes and wing-spans — from the Humane Society and Meals on Wheels to IJM and the American Epilepsy Society, plus over a thousand more! Don’t rely on magic to hit your goals next year. Use Feathr to elevate your digital marketing campaigns and grow impact in 2023.
Join me and Noah Barnett on January 26th for a free webinar, all about creating effective re-engagement campaigns. Click here to register.
In This Episode:

Renee explains how our “upper limit” can self-sabotage and negatively impact our ultimate career success, wealth, and happiness.
Elise reveals the three things that often prevent people from achieving their goals (plus, if you join the workshop, you’ll get the exact visioning and goal-setting strategy she used to leave her job at Google, buy a house, and grow her multi-six-figure business).
Tiffany shares about her secret formulas (typically reserved for her top-paying clients) that will transform your approach to pricing.
Ellen tells us about the impact of building her business in public through sharing quarterly income reports.
I share the top two social media platforms I’m focusing on in 2023, and why I changed my thinking around feeling like I needed to be on EVERY platform.

Resources & Links
Join me and my personal mastermind group on January 12th for a 2 hour workshop: Let’s Get Intentional. With (5) 20-minute personalized workshops, you’ll walk away with a 2023 mantra, a visioning workbook, clarity on your offerings, an understanding of your business numbers, and a social media plan uniquely crafted for you. Sign up here for only $23!
Connect with Renee Bowen, Elise Armitag

Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!
Head to YouTube for digital marketing how-to videos and podcast teasers
Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

Next Episode

Branding vs Marketing - Where Should You Start with Taylor Shanklin

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message here and let me know what you thought about the episode. :)

Taylor Shanklin is THE perfect person to talk to about creative trends, branding, and marketing. As the CEO & Founder of Barlele, a brand strategy and content marketing agency, she helps mission-minded companies and nonprofits create the most interesting and powerful brands possible.
Today, Taylor inspires us to audit our branding and marketing efforts from the ground up. What do you want your vibe to be? What actually matters to your audience? Is your content speaking to their aspirations and motivations? Branding and marketing are not the same thing - and they need to be thought about separately. Let’s dig in.
Episode Partner: This episode is presented by Feathr. Feathr is trusted by nonprofits of all shapes and wing-spans — from the Humane Society and Meals on Wheels to IJM and the American Epilepsy Society, plus over a thousand more! Don’t rely on magic to hit your goals next year. Use Feathr to elevate your digital marketing campaigns and grow impact in 2023.
Join me and Noah Barnett on January 26th for a free webinar, all about creating effective re-engagement campaigns. Click here to register.
In This Episode:

What you NEED to ask yourself if you’re planning to audit your branding and marketing efforts this year.
The importance of “dumbing down” your brand positioning statement to a 5-year old’s level, without the jargon.
How the simple act of refreshing your logo can instantly level up your credibility and professionalism (and newsflash? You don’t need to invest in a 6-figure agency to get something that looks great).
A behind the scenes look at how Taylor helped Alzheimer’s New Jersey reimagine their social media presence by transforming their message to be more human-centric.
The incredibly affordable “unlimited graphic design” service Taylor created through her off-shoot brand, Creative Shizzle. Pricing starts at just $99 per month!
Why we have to have a consistent drumbeat in our branding and marketing in order to play the long game.

Resources & Links
Check out my $27 mini course, Visible Reach In A Week. In 30 minutes, you’ll learn how to create a $3 a day ad campaign that will drive brand awareness with your supporters.
Learn more about Barlele if you’re looking for white glove branding or marketing strategy services a