Today we’d like to introduce you to Dianne McKay.
Hi Dianne, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After college graduation, I joined the fast-growing telecommunications industry, where I worked part-time during college. It wasn’t long before I owned a niche company that provided all on-site telecommunications, live distribution services, usually via satellite, and project management for Marquis live broadcasting–think pay-per-view boxing and concerts, award shows, telethons, and worldwide live corporate communications. After losing my dad early on, also my business partner, and growing the company to international recognition, and 20+ years of relentless travel, as a mom of four, I wanted a life with more time at home. Following a successful sale of the company in 2004, I spent time volunteering and working with local non-profits and in service to my community. In 2010, I joined Mustang Marketing. After the Great Recession, there was some rebuilding to do, and I was excited to do just that. By 2014, we were in discussions about a partnership/buyout that finally began in 2016 and was fully executed in January of 2020. Yes, just before the world shut down many businesses suffered, including my new purchase. It is taking time and patience to rebuild (again). With a talented staff and strong reputation, we are growing again in spite of a tepid economy. I look forward to working with our current and future clients to bring thoughtful and strategically driven creative marketing campaigns that help them achieve their growth goals. I also have continued to serve my community in elected and appointed positions, as well as nonprofit boards.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I graduated from colleges during a recession, I lost my dad five years after the formation of our new company, I was a single mom for a while, there were some catastrophic investments, and I bought a marketing agency just before the pandemic. I lived the advice to just keep going and handle the challenge in front of me, then the next one, and so on. I fought for my kids and others over homework policy in the early 2000s–and even made it to People Magazine. I am energized by positive change, whether it is education policy, helping a business succeed, or supporting the less fortunate in my community. I got through some of my worries during the early days of the pandemic by helping local businesses and nonprofits learn new ways to reach their markets and literally making hundreds and hundreds of sandwiches at my home over three months for kids that needed lunches for the weekend. It helped me keep perspective. I have a posse of super smart and a little sassy women I’m privileged to have as colleagues and friends, and I also have male friends that have been there for decades, years, or months that push me to be better.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Owning a small, regional marketing agency was never on my bucket list, even though I have a degree in marketing. Nevertheless, it is by design that we don’t focus on a specific industry or type of work. I prefer working with a variety of business types and diverse group of people. We work with our clients to figure out the key to their marketing puzzle and don’t try to fit them into what we might like best or find the most interesting or profitable. At Mustang Marketing, we keep up with trends, define achievable and quantifiable goals, and move forward. Our goal is to partner with clients for a long time so we can dig into their business. We will never know it as well as they do but we will invest the time to know it well. My leadership style is collaborative. I have a brilliant staff that does not need or want micromanaging. I am fueled by my work in the community. I am passionate about public education, a safe place for victims (Ventura County Family Justice Center Foundation), accessible food sources (Food Share), and showing the traditionally underserved that there is a path to success (Safe Passage Youth Foundation). As a member and current board chair of the Greater Conejo Chamber of Commerce, we support the business growth that ultimately helps my passion projects thrive. Supporting libraries and our county museum are also part of my list.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
Like millions, I love the podcast, “SmartLess.” Listening to Sean Hayes, Jason Bateman, and Will Arnett makes me laugh out loud for real. I like “The Daily” and “Headlines” for in-depth news and “Fresh Air” on NPR. I have been late to the podcast world, so listening to lots of new things.
My booklist is long, but my always-go-to favorites are “The Red Tent”, “East of Eden”, “Blink”, “The Good Earth”, “A Little Life”, “The Martian” and history or historical fiction.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mustangmktg.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianne-mckay-mustangmktg/
Image Credits
Dana Fineman
