Story & Lesson Highlights with DeAndra Giselle of Inland Empire in California

We’re looking forward to introducing you to DeAndra Giselle. Check out our conversation below.

DeAndra, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
I think one of the biggest misconceptions about my business is the belief that social media is marketing. While it’s certainly an important piece, it’s just one tactic within a much larger strategy. To use it effectively, you need research, data, and a deep understanding of your target audience.

For beauty brands in particular, success comes from moving beyond trends and focusing on what truly resonates with their audience. Trending posts may bring temporary visibility, but lasting growth comes from intentional strategy. A strong marketing agency studies the data, interprets it, and makes informed decisions about which platforms and approaches will best reach your audience.

My goal is to help entrepreneurs and small businesses understand that marketing can’t be done in isolation. Posting on social media isn’t enough; you need a strategy, insight, and an outside perspective to help your business grow in a meaningful way.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m DeAndra Giselle, founder of DG Marketing & Consulting, a boutique marketing agency that helps beauty and self-care brands build meaningful connections with their audience. I bring over 17 years of experience in the beauty industry, having worked as a licensed cosmetologist, salon owner, and brand educator. Today, I’m also a professor at a leading beauty school, where I teach future professionals how to merge creativity with business strategy.

My journey has truly come full circle. My very first interview with VoyageLA happened when I opened my salon years ago. That was the start of my entrepreneurial path, and since then, I’ve evolved from working behind the chair to helping other professionals and brands grow through strategic marketing.

I launched DG Marketing & Consulting after seeing so many talented beauty professionals burn out while trying to do it all themselves. They have amazing ideas and incredible skills, but without strategy and support, it’s easy to lose balance. My goal is to give them the tools, systems, and marketing insight to grow beyond the chair—and to keep working behind the chair as a choice, not as a ball and chain.

What makes my agency unique is our approach. We don’t chase trends; we create strategies rooted in data, storytelling, and authenticity. While we proudly serve minority-owned and purpose-driven businesses, we also partner with brands that want to lead differently—those who value innovation, inclusion, and impact over imitation.

Right now, my focus is on helping beauty and self-care brands clarify their message, align their strategy, and scale with confidence. Because great marketing doesn’t just sell products, it creates freedom, longevity, and legacy.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
There was a defining moment I had recently with my sister that shifted everything for me. We were sitting at a winery, having one of those “no work, just food and wine” kind of days. Our conversation turned to goals and the things we wished we had accomplished by now. I started sharing how I wished I was further along in my consulting journey — how I have so many ideas and plans, but everything seems to need my attention at once.

My sister, in the most loving but big-sisterly stern way, looked at me and said, “Why are you so afraid to just do it?” Then she started listing out all the excuses and distractions I’ve used over the years. She said, “Imagine where you’d be now if you had just stayed consistent.”

In that moment, I realized she was right. I had been stalling. Not because I didn’t believe in myself, but because deep down, I was scared. Scared of rejection. Scared of putting my family in financial distress. Scared of what would happen if I really went all in.

But that conversation helped me see that fear doesn’t have to be a stop sign. It can be fuel. I may still be afraid, but I’m choosing to do it afraid anyway. Because growth doesn’t happen in comfort. It happens when you show up — even when your voice shakes.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be this: Don’t be so hard on yourself — in the end, you win.

And by “win,” I don’t mean success measured by money or status. I mean, you’ll have a loving husband, beautiful and healthy children, and a supportive family who keeps you grounded. You’ll have peace, purpose, and the kind of joy that makes you want to help others find theirs too.

I’d also tell her to stop trying to do everything alone. You don’t have to carry it all by yourself. Put your mental and physical health before work, because without you, none of it thrives.

Keep going, even when it’s hard, and don’t look back. Every experience, every lesson, and every delay is leading you exactly where you’re meant to be.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I admire Ted Gibson. I remember watching him on What Not to Wear, and when his segment came on, it was never just about the hair. He took time to connect with each person — to put them at ease, listen to their concerns, and reassure them with a calm, confident “I’m here, I got you, and I won’t let you down.” He would sit eye level with them, look them in the eyes, and make them feel seen. In that moment, the cameras disappeared, and it became about genuine human connection.

I love that about him. I used to watch those moments and think, I want to connect with people like that. When I owned my salon, I built my business around that same philosophy. I trained my stylists to hold consultations with empathy, presence, and care — just like Ted Gibson.

My agency is no different. The relationships I build with my clients and their brands go beyond strategy and contracts. There’s a genuine connection, trust, and shared purpose that fuels the work we do together. Because at the heart of every great brand is a story — and my job is to help tell it with the same authenticity and care that Ted brought to every transformation.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes, I could — and I have. My motivation has never come from recognition; it comes from purpose. Whether I was behind the chair, teaching in the classroom, or now leading my marketing agency, I’ve always believed in showing up fully, even when no one is watching.

I come from an industry where impact often happens quietly — in the transformation, in the confidence you help someone rediscover, or in the growth you help a brand achieve behind the scenes. Those moments may not always come with applause, but they matter deeply.

For me, giving my best isn’t about being seen. It’s about integrity, legacy, and knowing that I’ve honored my calling with excellence. Praise is temporary, but purpose is lasting — and that’s what keeps me going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dgmarketing.group
• Instagram: @deandragiselle
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deandragiselle/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DeAndraGiselle
• Other: Podcast: Life After Beauty School