Meet Najah Rahmaan-Oneale

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Najah Rahmaan-Oneale a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Najah , so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

Despite being the only person who resembles my appearance in the room, I’ve managed to overcome my fear, self-doubt and imposter syndrome. This is because I firmly believe in my abilities and the achievements I’ve attained so far. My accomplishments serve as evidence that I deserve to be present and have a lot of value to contribute. This confidence in myself helps me to be effective, and my track record of success allows me to assert myself in any environment without hesitation or insecurity.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a Sr. Partner and Chief Executive Officer at Dedica Group; a global, boutique strategic marketing & design agency servicing some of the world’s largest companies across various business sectors including hospitality, food & beverage, consumer goods, retail, sports & entertainment, healthcare and technology.

I oversee all of the agency’s daily operations, internal business and legal affairs, MSA contracts and negotiations with clients, budgets, business planning, growth strategies and marketing initiatives. I also work very closely with clients fostering strong relationships, providing valuable marketing recommendations and creative executions to meet client business objectives and increase profitability.

I am really excited about the amazing team of diverse creative professionals and fantastic clients I have the privilege of collaborating with at Dedica Group. Our most recent achievement includes being recognized as one of the Top 10 Creative Agencies by Creative Pool. We’re thrilled about the expansion of our global team and the growth of our video/digital capabilities. Dedica stands at the vanguard of creative innovation, dedicated to crafting experiences that resonate deeply with audiences around the globe. Just this past March we unveiled the latest evolution of the iconic “Pre-Feature Presentation” in partnership with Coca-Cola and AMC Theatres. This collaboration marked a significant milestone in cinema pre-show entertainment, blending the magic of movies with the beloved tradition of enjoying a refreshing Coca-Cola and popcorn in theatres.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

As I reflect on my journey, my trajectory led me down a very unique path which allowed me to acquire key skills in various aspects of business. The Management Skills I developed throughout different positions of leadership held within various organizations paired with my previous experience working in the Financial Services industry and Marketing background have all been instrumental to my success.

For those starting out in their careers, my advice is to embrace the journey and adopt a mindset of exploration, being open to learning across different aspects of business. Identify what you’re truly good at and where you want to be, then by honing in on the skills that will drive your success and leveraging available educational resources, seeking mentorship and engaging with industry professionals and getting involved in relative industry organizations, you can align yourself with the right people and propel yourself towards your desired goal.

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 significance of hard work, belief in myself and maintaining my authenticity was deeply ingrained in me by my parents. Through their unwavering love and support and exemplary leadership it truly helped prepare me for adulthood, my journey throughout college and navigating my career. Additionally, they also taught me to stay grounded and to always remember to give back to my community.

Based on this foundation provided by my parents, what fuels my success today is not only driven by a passion to succeed but to also be a positive role model within the community. I am proud to say that I currently serve as a Youth Mentor for Chances for Youth, previous Board Member of The Kids League, active Board Member of Grace Children’s Foundation, board member and program director for United Luz Foundation. Additionally I serve as an ongoing Committee Member for Oliver Scholars programs and events, and I am an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – the largest African-American Women’s organization in the world and public service sorority.

Ultimately, I feel I have a responsibility to my parents and all of those who helped me along the way to pay it forward. I just want every young person who looks like me to understand, just as my parents enabled me to dream big and believe in myself, that if I can do all of these things, the possibilities are endless, and there are no limits to what they can achieve.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Adisa Mullings

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