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Dwayna Haley's rich professional life is rooted in the foundations of her personal life. Married for sixteen years to her husband, Bryan, Dwayna's narrative intertwines the essence of empowerment with a desire for cultivating change. As children, she and Bryan crossed paths for the first time in fifth and sixth grade but it was at Middle Tennessee State University that their connection blossomed into a relationship

Her career has spanned two decades, and within this time frame, she has achieved an array of feats She has led brand marketing strategy, communications, and C-suite counsel for Fortune 500 companies at industry-leading global communications agencies But her success does not stop there

Her two children, Noah, who is thirteen, and Lillian, who is nine, add another dimension to Dwayna’s life. She and Bryan also have a family dog, King, adding to their full and vibrant home life. The same passion she carries for her professional life, she holds for her family as well.

The embodiment of her career so far has been shaped by her resilience and creativity, marking her as an exceptional storyteller, strategist and architect of end-to-end marketing solutions From launching the first go-to-market advertising strategy in videoon-demand, to guiding the integration of consumer trends for optimizing business growth, Dwayna's career has been a testament to mining white-space opportunities to spark innovation and deliver a competitive advantage

Dwayna’s empowerment platform is driven by an intense desire to demonstrate the intersectionality of Black women. She pushes back against the confining mainstream narrative of reality-television caricatures that often stereotype Black women. She emphasizes, "We are wives, mothers, sisters and friends and pillars of our community. There is rich beauty and depth to be found in embracing us as whole beings " >

At present, Dwayna holds the role of Founder and CEO of Haley Communications Group and AskthePRGirl. These platforms provide marketing, public relations, and business development consulting for corporate companies, nonprofits, and niche agencies seeking game-changing growth. Prior to her current position, she served as Chief Brand & Communications Officer for the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC). Before that, she was the Executive Vice President, North America Growth Lead for Porter Novelli.

Having graduated from Middle Tennessee State University, where she was later inducted into the College of Media and Entertainment Hall of Fame, Dwayna today resides in Atlanta with her family Dwayna’s multi-faceted identity as a marketing and communication professional, an advocate for Black women, and a dedicated wife and mother illuminates the depth of her character and commitment to her community

For this profile, Dwayna provided thoughtful answers to our questions.

What is AskthePRGirl?

I launched this brand years ago as a platform to express my intersectional perspective within public relations and marketing I was tired of seeing the same industry pundits give their take on business case studies I was also tired of seeing a monolith influence the face of our industry. It became my thought leadership platform to show a different side and personality within the PR and marketing field. Today, my focus has slightly shifted. AskthePRGirl now centers on Black women, and celebrates the dynamism of our intersectionality, all from the perspective of one PR Girl. Who better to tell our story than someone who tells stories for a living?

Why did you launch the AskthePRGirl Empowerment Series?

The “ angry Black woman ” trope, unconscious bias, and microaggressions that plague Black women in the corporate world have levied an undue level of emotional trauma as we attempt to build a career.

While the social reckoning after George Floydʼ s death in 2020 triggered exuberant, widespread corporate investment in diversity, equity and inclusion [DEI], three short years later, fatigue from DEI accountability has introduced increased performance scrutiny, predatory behavior, and retaliation particularly against Black women in the workplace.

Last year, I experienced unexpected job loss. After twenty years of navigating extreme bias, I was fed up No amount of code switching, being a chameleon, or creating comfort in majority-White spaces helped my career, saved me from punitive action, or spared me from disproportionate scrutiny I began interviewing other Black women in senior corporate ranks, and learned that they were also feeling alone, frustrated, trapped and hopeless I said, “Enough is enough ” I launched AskthePRGirl Presents: Empowerment for Executive Black Women to do something about the issue No one is coming to save us. It’s time we save ourselves.

Tell us more about the event. On May 22, 2023, I invited over 100 executive Black women to AskthePRGirl’s inaugural Empowerment Evening for Executive Black Women. The curated experience offered attendees a safe space to share their stories, opening the door to emotional healing and renewed empowerment Through a fireside

What can Black women do to change their circumstances and to address toxic environments?

It’s important to understand that the bias we endure is systemic Unless leadership in the company you serve is bullish about inside-out transformation and accountability, there’s not much you can do beyond documenting all things, and keeping receipts in case of litigation The most important thing we must all do is change our mindset The battlefield of the mind is where we must focus

Shift your beliefs of self and your value. Know who you are and Whose you are. Believing in yourself, and refusing to ingest the poison of toxic behavior as some sort of indictment of you, rather than an indication of that person ’ s flawed character this is the revolution we need.

Why must we embrace this challenge?

Depression in Black women often appears as anxiety, frustration, short-tempered moods, or “bitchiness ” Our resilience and strength often don't allow for traditional sadness, or even suicidal ideation, which is associated with deep depression We persevere But we ’ re hell on wheels to deal with

We also suffer from the highest cases of heart disease, inflammatory diseases like lupus, and many autoimmunodeficiencies because our bodies are holding on to all of the anxiety, stress and trauma. We have to change our mindset for our health. Our lives literally depend on it. <

@asktheprgirl www.asktheprgirl.com

I’m that woman the-only-Black-woman in the meeting, the-only-Black-woman in the whole department—among a mix of men and women from other races. I was that woman when I started my career over twenty years ago working for a technology company. And twenty-five years later in today’s remote environment I’m often the-only-Black-woman on a Zoom or Microsoft Teams call.

I’m not the only Black female who has experienced the-only-Black-woman syndrome. Across many industries, Black women frequently are the only one in a department, in a meeting or at a conference. >

I

How do I survive being the only one?

don’t focus on being the only one.

I walk into a conference room and attend meetings like I belong there, even if there are upper management and executives in the room I have a skill they value and I’m not hesitant to share my knowledge

I am prepared.

Over the years, I’ve had experiences with people who cannot hide their disdain for Black people I will sometimes respond to an email that is what I call “intellectual fire.” I refuse to be intimidated.

I do my homework, I do the research and I prepare myself to address questions and make suggestions. I analyze related topics and scenarios and prepare responses for similar situations

Tips for the younger generation

Today’sworkforceismulti-generational withBabyBoomers,GenerationZ,Millennials,andGenerationXall workingtogether.Withinthismulti-generationalworkforce,therearestillthe-only-Black-womanscenarios. Herearetipstohelpmanageandthrivebeingthe-only-Black-womaninthemeeting:

Don't show fear. Exude confidence.

Remind yourself of your skills and abilities. Don’t be afraid. Don't allow them to sense your nervousness Read affirmations to boost your self-esteem. Find a mentor who can offer advice on meeting preparation and presentation skills.

Be prepared and practice.

The more prepared you are, the more confident you will feel. Conduct research on the meeting’s topics Memorize pertinent and relevant information

Know the corporate code.

Enter meetings with confidence. If you do feel nervous, put on the cloak of confidence and strut into the room with a mask of belonging

Remember the power of you.

Be proud to be that girl. Be proud of your accomplishments and skills to land in a place where you are the only one

Know how to communicate and operate in a corporate setting. Years ago, we were told to “fake it till you make it.” Today’s term is “code switch.” Code-switching is changing your behavior to appeal to a different audience—which translates to adapting effectively to a corporate environment

Talk that corporate talk. Elevate your language. Communicate with intellect. Regardless of your profession, be professional, flexible and respectful.

Why is The-Only-Black-Woman Syndrome Still Happening?

There are many reasons for this perpetual conundrum We are the minority There are more of them than there are of us. That’s the mathematics of the corporate equation and power. Black women adapt. But there are unexplainable nuances to the-only-Black-woman syndrome. I wrote this article to start the conversation Let's raise awareness and propel positive change that is meaningful and realistic <

Robin Allen

Robin Allen has worked as a full-time senior-level consultant in marketing and communications for Fortune 50O and high-tech companies. She is a freelance writer who has written 50+ articles for national and print publications Robin is a multipublished author of women’s fiction Her latest novel is It’sComplicated:ANovel wwwrobinallenbookscom

Adore your authenticity.

Be present and trust your gut. Make good solid decisions based on your heart's desires.

Be a fantastic verbal and non-verbal communicator of your thoughts and goals.

Learn to build rapport by respecting yourself and others. Choose your friends wisely, and interact with them as your team. Act like a lady and get ready for the real deal. It's near. Set your goals based on your decisions, and make it happen. Have certainty and faith in yourself and in your plans as you put it all together. Command respect by being authentic and turning up your "it" factor.

Be ready. Your vision is expanding. Do all of this and accomplish what you #DECIDED in Number 3.

ByElenaTaylor-Bagger ByElenaTaylor-Bagger

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