We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mikayla Morrison a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mikayla , great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.
When I packed two suitcases and boarded a one-way flight to New York with only a two-month internship offer in hand, I didn’t see it as a risk—I saw it as a declaration. A bet on the version of myself I knew I could become, even if no one else could see her yet. I gave my mom a hug at Monroe Regional Airport and left Bastrop, Louisiana behind, not fully realizing I was stepping into the unknown with nothing but ambition and a MetroCard.
I grew up in Bastrop—a small rural town in northeast Louisiana—where weekends meant dances at Dotson Park and candy runs to Miss Jackie’s house in Cherry Ridge. It was a close-knit place where people knew your grandparents, your business, and your likely future. Most stayed. Not because they lacked talent or dreams, but because staying felt safe. Safe felt smart. But I always felt a pull beyond the parish lines—a curiosity, a craving, a bold inner voice asking, “what if?”
That voice became my compass. And over time, my ability to take risks was shaped not by fearlessness, but by a growing belief that the possibility of what could go right was always more compelling than what could go wrong. My imagination didn’t just dream up new destinations—it dared me to go after them. To trust that discomfort, uncertainty, and a little delusion were sometimes the price of growth.
Looking back, that flight to New York was my first real leap. But it wouldn’t be the last. Risk-taking, for me, became a learned skill—rooted in resilience, a refusal to settle, and a deep desire to see just how far a girl from Bastrop could go… and the stories she could leave behind for the next curious and courageous girl from Bastrop.
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?
I like to think I have the coolest job ever.
I work at an agency dedicated to supporting Black and Brown designers by helping them identify opportunities across the retail landscape that amplify their stories and scale their businesses. In my role, I collaborate with brands that want to lean into culture in an authentic way—developing experiential marketing strategies that allow them to show up meaningfully, not just visibly. Together, we create initiatives that don’t just make a statement—they make an impact.
I don’t just broker brand deals—I build bridges between culture and commerce.
My work lives at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and community—where a runway becomes a rallying cry, and a dinner table transforms into a launchpad for legacy. Whether I’m curating conversations between emerging designers and retail giants, shaping campaigns that spotlight Black creativity, or architecting brand activations that feel like cultural touchstones, I bring vision into the room and invite others to dream bigger.
With a strong foundation in luxury fashion, I previously advanced brand and client strategies while working with iconic brands like Dior, Tiffany & Co., and LVMH. My background in digital communication, client relations, and market insights allowed me to deliver strategies that elevated brand positioning and cultivated meaningful engagement with diverse audiences. That experience sharpened my understanding of what it takes to build not just brand awareness, but brand loyalty—especially in spaces where culture and commerce intersect.
In every facet of my work, I aim to be a connector—of people, of purpose, and of possibility. I specialize in creating platforms where underrepresented voices can not only be heard but celebrated—whether that’s through New York Fashion Week activations, brand partnerships, or intimate experiences that shape how people show up and see themselves.
This isn’t just work to me. It’s a calling. And I approach every opportunity with strategy, heart, and the unshakable belief that the next generation deserves more than access—they deserve ownership.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, the three qualities that were most impactful in my journey have been: being a relationship builder, staying flexible in my path but firm in my purpose, and committing to always being a student.
First, I’ve learned that relationships are the foundation of everything. The most transformative opportunities in my career didn’t come from sending the perfect cold email—they came from real connections, consistent follow-ups, and showing up with intention. Building genuine relationships has opened doors that resumes alone couldn’t.
Second, I’ve stayed flexible in how I get to where I’m going, but I’ve always been firm about where I’m headed. There have been pivots, setbacks, and left turns, but my north star—creating space for culture to thrive and for underrepresented voices to lead—has never changed. That kind of clarity helps you weather the uncertain parts of the journey.
And lastly, I never stop learning. At every stage of my career, I’ve studied people whose journeys inspire me. Early on, I looked to women like Shiona Turini, who uses fashion as a storytelling tool for talent. Today, I look to leaders like Emma Grede, who began in sponsorships like I did, and has since built brands that shape the cultural conversation. I don’t just admire them—I study them. I figure out how their playbooks can inform my next move, in a way that’s true to me.
My advice for anyone early in their journey is this: find someone whose path inspires you and learn from it. Build relationships before you need them. And stay open—your route might change, but your destination doesn’t have to. Most importantly, commit to always being a student. Growth is constant, and humility keeps you ready for the next level.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was twofold: they gave me the freedom to dream, and the perspective to understand what that freedom cost.
From the very beginning, my parents empowered me to blaze my own trail. They never tried to dictate my path or force me into a mold—they simply let me find my way, reminding me at every turn that they would support me no matter what. When I chose to pursue fashion, I did so with full confidence—not just in myself, but in the unwavering support I knew would be behind me. I realize now how much of a privilege that is—to dream and explore in ways that may have felt unimaginable for them.
But they didn’t just support me in spirit—they shaped me through action. One of the most impactful things they did was take me to work with them. Both my mom and dad worked in a paper mill, often laboring twelve-hour days, six or seven days a week, in conditions that were either sweltering hot or bitterly cold. During my college breaks, I’d go to work with them to earn extra cash. Those experiences grounded me. They showed me what sacrifice looks like up close—what it means to work hard, to provide, to persevere.
It gave me perspective. And it lit a fire in me—not just to chase my dreams, but to do everything I could to make them proud. Their sacrifices became the soil in which my ambitions grew. And every bold move I make is rooted in that balance they gave me: the permission to soar, and the reminder of the strength it takes to lift someone off the ground.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mkla.mrrsn/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikayla-morrison/
Image Credits
@Iamtydavis
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