Life and Work with Dana Dang

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Dang.

Dana, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The concepts of resilience and hard work have been instilled in my being from an incredibly young age. Who I am today is very much linked with coming from a family of refugees. In the 1970s, my grandfather fled from the war-torn country of Laos by swimming across the Mekong River to Thailand. Shortly after, he was captured and forced into a concentration camp for “reeducation” and forced labor. Eventually, he escaped, met my grandmother, had some babies at a refugee camp, and was sponsored to come to America.

The definition of the American Dream not only varies from person to person but constantly evolves. Because of the trauma and life experiences my grandfather went through, he had specific ideas of what the American Dream was. His recipe for success was to go to business school, get an office job, become rich, and be happy. As a second generation refugee, that was the start of what I also defined success to be.

I started on that track for “success” by going to school for business finance. Somewhere along the way, I realized that this path to success was not necessarily feeding my soul. Growing up, I took up every opportunity to learn from various individuals from different walks of life that were willing to share. From aunts to family friends to the parents of friends to bosses I had, you name it, they taught me something. Themes that resonated with me were: to not be afraid of failure, work hard when no one is asking, do good when no one is looking, and take care of yourself first.

I am forever grateful for those who have pushed me towards my growth as an individual. I am also grateful for the mistakes I have made and learned from. As of today, I am continuing to evolve, work hard, and persevere. I am remotely running a company I founded. Woah. My determination to succeed was built on everything my family has sacrificed to come to America. I stand proudly looking at the life I have created for myself as a Lao-American woman, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds.

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?
I wish I could say that it has been a smooth road to get to where I am today. From an extreme amount of independence with virtually no adult influences at age twelve to finding out that I cannot bear children at the age of seventeen (I was born without a uterus — MRKH Syndrome) to questioning my biological gender with my diagnosis to struggling with my mental health in this day and age, there were many obstacles I chose to overcome.

Every obstacle signified different choices I had to make. Was I going to let this struggle bring me down or persevere? Choices involve risk, and remaining confident with the choice you made is a conflict within itself. You must own the outcomes of your choices by embracing them or learning from them. Your reactions are what ultimately will define you as a person.

My advice for women, particularly young women who are just starting their journey, is to not be afraid of failure. You will only ever learn from those failures. No one is perfect. What you see on social media is someone’s curated version of their lives. Keep your real life aligned with your social media accounts. You will only secretly disappoint yourself if you constantly push to be that “perfect” version of you that does not exist. Embrace the good, the bad, the ugly. It is what makes you, you, and that is beautiful. Also, self-care is important. Take a bath. Meditate. Eat that donut. Take that nap.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I currently work in social media and entertainment public relations. I found that social media has been glossed over to be this superficial entity with a bad wrap. It is not true. However, I take pride in shining a light on those who use their platforms for the greater good. I acknowledge that social media can be soul-sucking. I also acknowledge that social media is vital to the success of brands in this day and age. I enjoy helping my clients tell their real and authentic stories in an unfiltered way. Now, thaaaat is soul satisfying. Thus, began the birth of my company, Digital Media Architects.

Digital Media Architects specializes in it all. Whether it be social media strategy and management, content creation, execution of brand deals, or even pitching interviews at red carpet events for clients, no day is ever dull. My career is fast-paced and heavily involves my attention at all odd of the day. That being said, I do make it a habit to nap once in a while, naps are my favorite. As one of my dear mentors would say, this career takes a young person’s pace with an older person’s calm. I would not have it any other way.

What sets us apart from others is the team of diverse young women who are self-motivated, innovative, creative, and most importantly recognize that all digital platforms evolve quickly and constantly. We don’t just have one cookie cutter strategy for our clients. We create forward-thinking strategies for brands and individuals with malleable foundations that can adapt to virtually any change. We like to say.. evolve or die.

Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
There is much to celebrate as a woman in 2019. However, there is also much work to do. Women are generally put in the box of caretaker and listener. Those are two qualities I embrace and am proud of as a woman working in my field today. When it boils down to human nature, everyone just wants to be heard. I hear you. Let me help you tell your story.

It is important to touch on the idea that opportunities should not be driven by sex. All are capable of doing the exact same job, just as well as one another. There are an endless amount of opportunities that women have the option of pursuing. There is enough success out there in the world for everyone. Regardless of gender. It boils down to work ethic, drive, and grit. Take accountability for your own successes AND failures. Stand up for yourself. The world is your oyster.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.digitalmediaarchitects.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @digitalmediaarchitects @danadang

Image Credit:
Hailey S Porter (@thehaileysimoneproject)

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