Meet Ayanna Dutton-Diaz

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ayanna Dutton-Diaz. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ayanna, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I didn’t find my purpose in one big “aha” moment. It’s been an ongoing process, one that revealed itself over time through lived experience, trial and error, a lot of reflection, and trusting what felt aligned.

In many ways, my purpose found me in the small in-between moments. The late-night texts with my co-founder venting about toxic workplaces. The clarity that would come after a client session where someone felt seen for the first time. The long stretches of burnout that forced me to ask, is this still working for me?

That’s what birthed Non-Corporate Girls™ — a podcast and platform that gave voice to the complexities of being first-gen, creative, and ambitious in a world that doesn’t always make room for that. What started as a side project between two friends navigating the chaos of corporate life became a space rooted in truth, identity, and duality. That container gave me the courage to experiment, speak up, and explore the parts of myself I hadn’t been able to fully express in traditional spaces.
My journey has never been linear, but what has remained consistent is my need to create space for myself, and for others, to explore who they are beyond the titles, the roles, the performance. For a long time, I thought I had to choose between my 9 to 5 career and my 5 to 9 passions. But it was by navigating corporate structures and getting honest about what I loved and what I didn’t that I began identifying the transferable skills that gave me energy and meaning. Over time, I learned to connect the dots and craft a narrative that felt fully mine — across and outside of brands. That shift gave me permission to build something that truly felt like mine.

My purpose became clear when I realized my superpower is helping people tap into their potential. I’m a creator and vision builder at my core. Whether it’s developing a brand framework, guiding someone through a visibility strategy, or crafting a narrative that makes someone say, “Wow, that’s me,” I thrive in the space where clarity meets possibility. That’s when I launched AD Consulting, my brand consultancy focused on clarity, visibility, and leadership. I now work with professionals and founders to build their brands from the inside out because I know how powerful it is to see yourself clearly and show up with intention.

Finding my purpose has meant giving myself permission to evolve. To question. To pivot. To own the duality of who I am — a strategist and a storyteller, a mother and a visionary, a marketer and a truth teller.

Purpose isn’t a destination. It’s an ongoing relationship with your values. It’s the compass I return to, especially when things get hard. And for me, it always comes back to this: creating space for people to step into their whole selves and helping them share that truth with the world.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I run two brands that are extensions of who I am. First up is Non-Corporate Girls™, the podcast and media platform I co-founded with my business bestie to bridge the gap between our 9 to 5s and 5 to 9s. It has grown into a platform that amplifies professional and entrepreneurial wellness for women of color. We’ve built community, shared unfiltered truths, and held space for the messy middle, ya know, the part of the journey that doesn’t always make it to LinkedIn.

We’re currently gearing up for Season 7, and we want to do it right. That means gathering the support, partnerships, operational and financial resources to bring this next chapter to life with intention. If you’ve ever vibed with the pod, learned something from an episode, or just want to see more honest conversations in the world then we’d love your support.
Then there’s AD Consulting, my personal brand consultancy where I work with professionals, founders, and creatives to build their brand from the inside out. Think brand storytelling, visibility strategy, and thought leadership all rooted in clarity. Helping people articulate who they are, what they stand for, and how to show up with purpose is my beat. I’m especially passionate about working with multi-hyphenates, new founders, and executives navigating change.

Right now, I’m open to working with new clients, leading workshops, sitting on panels, and collaborating with organizations that are just as purpose driven as I am. Whether you need a brand refresh, help showing up on LinkedIn, or support clarifying your story — I got you.

Here’s how you can support or connect with me:
For Non-Corporate Girls™
Share your favorite episode
Introduce us to a brand or partner you think we should connect with
Email us if you’d like to support Season 7 or collaborate

For AD Consulting
Explore my services (brand storytelling, visibility strategy, and more)
Book me to speak, host a workshop, or facilitate a panel
Follow along or slide into my inbox — I love meeting aligned humans
Let’s build, grow, and thrive on purpose.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Just three is hard, but here are the ones that have shown up the loudest for me:

1. Self-awareness (with a side of gut checking)
The biggest game changer has been learning to tune in and really trust my intuition. Not just to what I’m good at, but to what feels aligned. I’ve taken jobs that looked great and felt right for a while, but I had to learn (sometimes the hard way) when something wasn’t serving me anymore. And I don’t stay in spaces that don’t value me.

On the flip side, I’ve said yes to passion projects that lit a fire under me, until the mutual value wasn’t there, especially when the paycheck didn’t match the energy I was pouring in. That inner knowing is your compass.

My advice: Cultivate it. Journal. Reflect. Go to therapy. Talk it out. Take a beat before saying yes. Do what helps you hear your own voice louder than the noise.

2. Communication as a power tool (Your voice is your value)
Being able to tell your story whether it’s pitching yourself in a meeting, writing your bio, or posting on social media is a skill that will serve you everywhere. Learning how to articulate who I am, what I bring, and why it matters has opened so many doors. And not just professionally it’s helped me feel more grounded in my identity. So start before you feel ready. Write that About Me. Speak up in the brainstorm. Post the thing. Clarity comes from doing.

3. Relationship building (Your network is your net worth)
I’m where I am because of the people I’ve built with. Mentors. Advocates. Collaborators. Clients. Friends turned cofounders. Networking doesn’t have to be transactional. The real magic happens when you show up with intention, add value, and nurture the relationships that are reciprocal. You never know who’s watching, who’s rooting for you, or who’ll remind you of your brilliance when you forget.

If you’re just getting started, remember: you don’t have to have it all figured out. Stay curious. Stay open. And give yourself permission to grow.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes, always. Whether it’s through my platform Non-Corporate Girls™ or my consultancy AD Consulting, collaboration is at the heart of everything I do. For Non-Corporate Girls™, we’re currently gathering support, partnerships, and resources — operational, financial, and beyond — as we gear up for Season 7 of the podcast. If you’re a brand, platform, or person who believes in amplifying the voices of women of color navigating their 9 to 5 and 5 to 9 lives, we’d love to connect. You can support by leaving us a review on your favorite streaming platform, introducing us to aligned partners, or reaching out if you’d like to collaborate.

On the AD Consulting side, I’m always looking to connect with professionals, founders, and organizations who want to get intentional about brand clarity, visibility, and storytelling. If you’re planning a panel, workshop, or event and looking for a strategic speaker or facilitator, I’m your person. And if you’re building your brand and looking for a partner who brings clarity and care to the process my services are open and rooted in impact.

The easiest way to connect? Explore my work, slide into my inbox, or hit that Calendly link. I love meeting aligned humans and building together with purpose.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

https://www.instagram.com/photosbycohen/
https://www.instagram.com/_artofmemory/

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