We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chris & Maya Dawson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chris & Maya below.
Chris & Maya, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
In 2021 we shot our first short film “The Dress.” We had no idea what we were doing, but we were passionate about the story we wanted to tell and surrounded ourselves with experts that we could trust. As a black man and woman who were producing and directing a project of this caliber for the first time it was very intimidating. We chose to walk in the confidence of our expertise as creatives and own the process. We were open to hearing and learning from others, but also not afraid to disagree or choose to go another route. As sole investors of the project, we stood our ground and worked to get the final product that we wanted. As a result, we earned the respect and admiration of those around us. We also built solid working relationships with experts in the industry. It was a challenging but beautifully rewarding process.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Husband and Wife Team Chris and Maya Dawson both knew from an early age that they were called to positively impact the arts and entertainment industry. When they met as friends and later married, they began collaborating to create original content while helping others to brand and market themselves. Since then, they’ve helped countless artists become best sellers and numerous business and organizations generate revenue while building momentum around their brands. Meet the Co-Founders of Creativaire…
Creativity is the word that comes to mind when you hear the name Chris Dawson. Hailing from East Orange, NJ Chris is a dynamic creative with experience as a recording artist, DJ, producer, writer, and radio personality. He holds a degree in Recording Engineering from Full Sail University (Winter Park, FL) and takes pride in exercising his gifts and talents to bring the best to the world. Chris specializes in ideation and knows a great idea when he hears one. He constantly works to innovate and push forward ideas that will help clients. He loves collaborating with others to bring the best ideas to fruition. Great ideas, great collaboration and great concepts is Chris Dawson at his core.
Maya J.T. Dawson is a vocalist, spoken word artist, writer, director and communicator. Having worked both on the mainstage and behind the scenes, Maya understands the importance of seamless storytelling and impactful production. Born in Gary, IN and raised in Richfield, MN Maya holds degrees in both Music (Vocal Performance Concentration) and Economics (Focus in Entrepreneurship) from Spelman College. Maya specializes in creative strategy and project management. She is passionate about building brands and creating original content with excellence.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Our ability to bridge left-brain thinking with right-brain thinking continues to make our company stand out. We are innovative and strategic all while being authentic and personable. These traits help us to attract and retain clients. Those that have worked with us want to work keep in touch and work with us again which has largely contributed to our success thus far.
Our advice to those early on in their journey would be to consistently learn and grow. Stay cognizant of new trends and master making them easy for your clients to understand and incorporate.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
A few years ago we were fortunate enough to meet another couple with a similar business dynamic. They came alongside us and challenged us to refine our business plan while taking the necessary steps to scale-up our business. It was such a blessing to find like-minded people that were passionate about seeing us grow and win both personally and professionally. We highly recommend surrounding yourself with other entrepreneurs that will both challenge and encourage you in this journey. It can be lonely and overwhelming at times, but extremely rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Creativaire.com
- Instagram: @creativaireinc
- Facebook: @creativaireinc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creativaire-inc/?viewAsMember=true
- Twitter: @creativaireinc
- Youtube: @creativaireinc
Image Credits
Waywater Entertainment (Atlanta, GA)
Jaidot Media (Atlanta, GA)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
