We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cindy Nañez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Cindy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you have any thoughts about how to create a more inclusive workplace?
As a woman of color with a Hispanic husband and two beautiful children, diversity is my life. I encourage diversity through the staff I hire and the clients I serve. I work with women, men, and people of different races and ages. I am also a member of the Rotary Club of Clayton and A Company of Women, both very diverse. By fostering relationships with diverse people, I encourage others to do the same.
One question I always get is what are you? I say I am JOY. Because I am mixed with so many cultures, I have experienced so many types of relationships, food, traditions, dances, and fun. To answer their question I tell them I am Indian, European, Belizean (Caribbean), African, and that is just the starter list.
When I started my business in Downtown Clayton, NC from L.A. I did not see or meet one female diverse business owner. I said I will be the first. By being very involved in the community and starting a shop local movement here, I engaged my staff and contractors to dive in to community service projects, and to this day we give back to 7 organizations to show our support and commitment!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am from California and moved to Clayton, NC in 2007. I have been immersed in the sales and marketing field for over 22 years. I started Divine Marketing Group in 2009 with a vision to offer “Divine Intervention” to small business owners who were struggling with their company’s brand, by offering them additional marketing help and expertise. Many people thought it wasn’t a great idea to start a new business in a new place during a recession; but in July of 2009 when I had the dream to start DMG I knew this is what I was supposed to do.
As you know starting a new business is a lot of work and comes with many struggles but those can turn into strength and perseverance. I tried to move in joy, positivity, excitement, and passion throughout every day, and I love to share that with my clients, friends, and family. Can something really be turned out of nothing? The answer is yes. It starts with a dream and the faith to create and the power from within to innovate and bring those things to an accumulation.
As the owner of Divine Marketing Group, I strive to help small business owners build & expand their branding/marketing efforts locally and online. My passion is to teach others how to grow their small businesses and help give small business owners & management teams access to the tools that will help them become more successful. I have a strong desire to help people reach their true potential. Our company offers over 25 years of marketing, sales, website design, and branding experience. With the DMG team’s strong background, we bring our clients a well-rounded approach to marketing and sales to help solve all business challenges.
I also believe in the power of giving back. I encourage my clients and friends to dive into community service projects, and to this day we give back to 7 organizations to show our support and commitment!
I am thankful to have a supportive husband of 21 years and two beautiful children that believe in me and my dreams and encourage me every day. We have a saying here “Go where you’re celebrated not tolerated.” Surrounding yourself with the right people whenever you are giving birth to a vision is so important. We look forward to continuing to grow here at DMG and in our community efforts.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
When I first moved to Clayton, NC, the small business owners here needed help with marketing. I made it my mission to physically go into the stores in downtown and meet everyone in person so I could make connections. I started a Shop Local campaign and held local events to connect more business owners with the community. Fostering these relationships gave me the foundation I needed to get established here.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
We have a saying here “Go where you’re celebrated not tolerated.” Surrounding yourself with the right people who understand and share your vision is the key. When I started my business, I wanted to create a place where I would want to work. I strive to maintain open communication with my team and collaborate with them regularly. I make sure they know they are heard, seen, and valued. I also celebrate them and talk about their work and personal lives with them because we are all human, and I make sure I remember that too. It’s important to have that grace and understanding for others, including your team members and clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://divinemarketinggroup.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divinemarketinggroup/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/divinemarketingclayton/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divinemarketinggroup/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DMG_Divine
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxSOJq6IRRmNcPh_ca9c2Rg
Image Credits
Brian Bethea – Headshot and DMG Group photos