Conversations with the Inspiring Dianne Myles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dianne Myles.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Dianne. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there:
I was born and raised in Colorado Springs. I look at my childhood now as all the beautiful complexities that make Dianne who she is today. I grew up code-switching before I knew it was a thing. Then I turned 16 and found myself pregnant, and that changed my life forever. Giving birth to my son brought on a newfound passion for making someone proud and not becoming the statistic everyone assumed I would be. Although by the age of 18, I was pregnant with my second.

I started a career in HR and worked my way up. I wasn’t passionate about it, but it was a good living to support my family. My mom unexpectedly passed away when I was 26 of an accidental opioid overdose. One day I was working in this hostile, racist environment and I heard my mom tell me to quit. I was going skydiving for my 31st birthday and none of my friends would go, all because they never seen anyone who looked like them do it. So, I decided I would start recording me and my kid’s adventures so my people had representation and would be able to see how much fun we had.

I went to school for video production and editing and started a video production company. While I was in school, I decided to bring a team together to do a mommy vlog called Dope Mom Life, an editor (who’s still with me today) and videographer.

On a shoot with a client, I overheard a conversation about a resource the owner had received. I went home and researched the grant/loan he received, and I thought, what could the people in that community do if they had access to resources and opportunities like that!?

I decided that Dope Mom Life would no longer be a mommy vlog. We would create dope, creative content that inspired, educated, and encouraged. That is who we are today.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Ha! Not at all! When I decided I was going to pursue my dream, I didn’t realize what I was getting myself into. I wasn’t working savings were gone, and bills were due every month lol. I found myself not knowing how I was going to pay rent some months. I don’t know how many times I cried at night, at my business coaching sessions, in the car. All I could do was hold on to the vision.

I had to show up and be Dianne. I was in leadership programs, and I was active in the community. No one knew what I was going through. On the outside, it looked good, and on the inside, I was trying to stay grounded. People talk about manifestation, but they don’t always speak of what you have to be willing to let go of to manifest what you want. The engine blew in one of my cars, and I hit a wall on I-25 and totaled my other car. Life was, for sure, happening to me in the pursuit of my happiness.

What should we know about Dope Mom Life? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Dope Mom Life is a creative content agency. We specialize in creating video content that is empowering and engages diverse communities. We work with organizations that have a diversity initiative, resource, service, or opportunity. I’m most excited about the content we will be creating this year. We are authentic content creators and storytellers. This year we will be putting that image forward. We aren’t your traditional content agency. We use our network to influence positive outcomes for the community and our clients. We use our ambassador video marketing to create culturally authentic content that sparks action in our community.

Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Dope question! Search for mentors. Find people and call and ask if they would be open to meeting. Let them know what you admire about them and the intention of the meeting. Most people will not turn you down. One of my superpowers is networking. What I learned is every room you step in you belong in. I make sure that my communities don’t all look like me. I, for sure, have that community of black people who I love and trust and who give me the nurturing I need. I believe that I am my best resource to my community by my network; it is our networth. I join organizations, I volunteer, I’m on boards and committees, I do at least one leadership program a year, this year, I’m doing two. Build your community! If you can’t tell, I’m all about community lol!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://dopemomlife.com
• Phone: 719.433.1602
• Email: dianne@dopemomlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dopemomlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dopeMomLife/

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