Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Errin Davis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Errin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
Am I happier as a business owner? The honest answer is—it depends on the day. Some days, I wake up feeling deeply fulfilled, knowing that I’m building something bigger than myself with the potential to create a real impact. On other days, the weight of running a business and not always knowing if I’m making the right decision can feel overwhelming.
There have been moments when I’ve wondered what it would be like to go back to having a regular job, to clock in, do my work, and leave without thinking again about my responsibilities until Monday at 9 am. No worrying about securing the next contract, making payroll, or handling the constant pressure of growth and sustainability. And if I’m being honest, that feeling isn’t something that happens once—it’s a thought that sneaks in often, especially when things feel uncertain. When my husband started this business, he didn’t have the safety net many people take for granted—no health insurance, no retirement plan, no guaranteed paycheck. There was no roadmap; no one in our families had done this before, and no mentorship guided us step by step. We are attempting to break generational curses, walking into rooms where we weren’t just the youngest but often the only faces of color in the room, constantly battling imposter syndrome.
But here’s the thing—working for yourself is hard, but so is working for someone else. At least in my business, I have autonomy. I get to say in choosing what clients we work with, where my energy and time are invested, and how I want to show up in my community. I’ve worked in environments where good ideas got buried under bureaucracy, impact took a backseat to office politics, and people couldn’t be themselves. And that’s something I will never go back to.
The truth is, as a business owner, you won’t always know the next best step. You’ll question yourself. You’ll make mistakes. But that doesn’t mean you should quit. If anything, it means you’re growing. The reward of building something meaningful, having control of my destiny, and creating opportunities for myself and others far outweighs the uncertainty I experience. This journey isn’t easy, but it’s worth it, and I will never let doubt stop me from a purpose God has given me.
Errin, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m the Chief Operating Officer of The Davis System, LLC, a Black and woman-owned social impact firm specializing in project management for political candidates and community organizations nationwide. My husband, Anthony Davis Jr., founded the company in 2021 after years of working on and winning political campaigns nationwide. He saw firsthand how few people of color held leadership roles in campaign strategy and decision-making—even though our communities are often the backbone of political movements. His vision was clear: to create a firm that not only elevates and trains Black and brown professionals in this space but also ensures that communities like ours are engaged authentically and meaningfully.
I came into the business soon after as COO, bringing my business entrepreneurship and political operations expertise to help build and scale our company. What sets The Davis System apart is that we don’t just consult—we embed ourselves in the work, meeting organizations and candidates where they are and helping them develop fundamental, impactful strategies to engage their communities. We specialize in grassroots organizing, community engagement, campaign training, and messaging—empowering our clients with the tools and capacity they need to win and create lasting change.
One of the biggest challenges in political organizing is bridging the gap between campaign strategy and community engagement. Too often, candidates and organizations rely on outdated, cookie-cutter approaches that don’t resonate with the communities they need to reach. We change that. We help our clients craft messaging that speaks directly to their audiences, develop organizing strategies that meet people where they are, and build coalitions that turn energy into action.
We are unapologetically authentic in the way we do this work. We’re not a corporate firm sitting in an office miles away from the communities we serve—we’re on the ground, working side by side with our clients, ensuring that the people they aim to mobilize feel seen, heard, and respected. We’re also proof that young Black business owners belong in this space—despite the doubts people had when we started. We were told we were too young, that there weren’t many people of color in these roles, that one of us needed to keep a “stable” job, or that working together as a married couple would be too difficult. But we pushed past those doubts, and now we’re not just running a successful firm—we’re creating opportunities for others and building generational wealth. Ultimately, The Daivs System isn’t just a business; it’s a movement. We are here to empower the next generation of organizers, activists, and leaders with the tools they need to make a real impact. And we’re just getting started.
Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?
One of my favorite marketing and sales stories is less about strategy and more about values—the decision that defines your business and character.
Before my husband founded The Davis System, I had worked closely with a first-time candidate in a local race. We spent countless days and late nights together, and through that experience, I developed a deep respect for their leadership. Fast forward a few years, and that same candidate was running for a highly contested higher office seat, with about a half dozen people in the race. Our business was still relatively new, and we were working to establish our name. I had spoken with my former boss about working together again, but they had already hired a more established consulting firm for their general consulting.
Then, another candidate—one of their opponents—approached us with a lucrative offer: a monthly retainer larger than anything my former boss could afford, already having another consulting firm on the payroll. The business side of me knew that taking that contract would have been a smart financial move, especially when that is the only way we have income. But at my core, I couldn’t do it. I believed in my former boss, not just as a candidate but as a person and leader. So, we turned down the contract, walked away from the money, and stayed out of the race.
Months later, my former boss found a place for us on their campaign and brought us on to consult on organizing strategy—at a fraction of what the other candidate had offered. But when I tell you, I have never been more grateful for a decision. Doing the right thing isn’t always easy or what seems like the best business move, but it always brings the greatest reward. Our campaign won, and beyond the victory, it cemented an even stronger relationship with someone now serving in higher office.
That experience reminded me that in business—especially in political consulting—it’s never just about the money. It’s about making the right choices, aligning with people and missions you genuinely believe in, and trusting that integrity will always pay off in the long run.
How did you build your audience on social media?
When we first started building our social media presence, I looked at more established firms. I noticed a significant gap—many didn’t have an Instagram page, newsletters were rare, and most of the content on Twitter or Facebook was just political commentary. There was little focus on showcasing business success or genuinely educating the community. Some firms claimed to center minority communities, but from what we heard from candidates and nonprofits, that didn’t always feel like the truth. Many strategies seemed to come from an “old playbook” that didn’t fully incorporate younger voices or the power of social media in grassroots organizing.
As the business visionary, Anthony focused on securing the contracts while I built our brand and public presence. Within our first two years, we hit 1,000 followers and started getting recognized in the community. People would stop us to compliment our newsletter or a recent post or congratulate us on an accomplishment. Soon, we were asked to share community events and political job postings because people trusted us to help spread the word. We also heard from the community that they learned something new about the political process because of our content—our platform’s real impact.
Our social media isn’t just a promotional tool for our business; it’s a bridge between resources and information for the communities that most need it. It allows us to educate, engage, and expand our brand authentically. For those just starting, the most significant advice is to identify what’s missing in your industry’s digital space and fill that gap. Be intentional about how you show up, create value for your audience, and make sure your content aligns with the impact you want to have. The consistency and authenticity of your brand will always speak louder than just having a presence online.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thedavissystem.com
- Instagram: ladywithambition_
- Facebook: Errin Davis
- Linkedin: Errin Davis
Image Credits
Myles Made Productions