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

Isaiah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

In May 2023, I finally made it in mind. I had landed a role at Hearst Corporate in the newspaper division. Hearst is one of the largest cross media companies in the world. So while working on two of their top strategic teams, I learned a lot. I learned both soft & hard skills that I use in my business now.

However, the most important lesson I carried back to Zayam Design is catering to and nurturing your relationships with people. People truly do equal profit. But profit comes in both realized and unrealized gains. Your team, clients, and platonic relationships need morale and trust.

Granted, the start of all new relationships is unique, as the potential connection is mentally placed in a bracket. After we categorize where a person can go in our lives, we must further develop the connection. My last corporate job taught me to build both interpersonal & professional relationships with intention. This looks like me taking time to hear what a person is saying to me and not listening for points to respond to. It also looks like me remembering the small details a client or friend mentioned and then acting on them.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have always worked in frameworks with an abundant creative spirit. Since I was a young boy, I have configured solutions to my problems, and I enjoy finding solutions for others with passion. Passion doesn’t at first pay the bills and I needed to find a solution to that.

I had learned about personal branding sometime in my high school years, and it shifted my narrative. I was now the author of my story. This new applied knowledge set me forth on the search to find ways to monetize my craft- helping businesses change their narrative & find solutions to business growth.

I have a passion for media and the way it can shape our society. This passion led me to advertising and the art of advertising. I frequently throw myself in think tanks for campaigns and data strategies for cross channel campaigns. I bring this passion to each client account and the campaigns we create. I want to help my clients shape their brand image and drive business results. This practice also aims to community build with their audience growing their retention.

While at Mississippi State University, I started my first full service marketing agency. I honestly was great at simple designs, decent at strategy, and blooming with ideas. The business was decent but lacked structure. I was more passion first than data & customer centric. I also wanted an opportunity to showcase my skills outside of an internship or brain picking session.

Nearly every opportunity I’ve taken has been based around marketing & advertising with a flare of philanthropy at times. This leads us into 2025 where operations are looking amazing for me & ZD! Outside of my agency, I am the marketing director of Pride Houston 365! I am also entering my third year on the board for the African American Marketing Association.

Zayam Design is my advertising agency. We can service media spends past 7 figures and provide amazing strategy driving intentional business results. Zayam Design focuses on marketing & advertising strategy, management, and planning to transform your brand activations from amazing to profitable.

ZD serves small to large businesses daily, ensuring personalized solutions for all their marketing and advertising needs. We also offer consulting for business owners or team members who need help. We successfully relaunched in September 2024 and have been beating client performance goals ever since.

And yes, we offer full service digital marketing for select clients.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Growing up in poverty, I learned valuable lessons about resilience and determination. At 17, I took a bold step and moved out to finish my senior year of high school, a decision that shaped my perspective on life.

Despite the challenges, my childhood was marked by a sense of cheerfulness, largely because I didn’t fully grasp the extent of our financial struggles. However, I did absorb a subtle yet pervasive fear – the fear of living without hardship. This mindset influenced my outlook, making it difficult for me to dream big or openly pursue my aspirations.

My parents, driven by the need to make ends meet, focused on keeping their homes afloat and paying bills. I, on the other hand, felt an innate desire to break free from the constraints of our circumstances. As the ‘black sheep’ of my family, I often felt like an outlier, but this distinction fueled my determination to forge my own path set me free.

Through trial and error, I discovered the power of perception and the importance of creating my own reality. I learned to embrace failure as an opportunity for growth and to cherish every moment, person, and lesson that came my way.

Today, I live by the mantra that life is precious, and every experience – no matter how challenging – is a chance to learn, grow, and find joy.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

As a creative and innovative advertising professional, I bring a unique combination of skills and qualities to the table. With a strong foundation in building genuine relationships and crafting profitable ad campaigns across multiple industries, I’ve established a reputation for delivering results.

I firmly believe that trust is the cornerstone of successful partnerships. Time and again, I’ve seen talented individuals miss out on opportunities due to a lack of personal connection. My ability to connect with people on a human level has been a key factor in my success.

As my portfolio continues to grow, with an increasing number of successful accounts and publicly shareable results, I’m excited to be gaining recognition in my field. I’m looking forward to leveraging my skills and expertise to drive even more impactful results for my clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zayamdesign.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaiah-mcswain-zd/