We were lucky to catch up with Tamika Hawkins Adu recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tamika, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Let’s go back in time to when you were an intern or apprentice – what’s an interesting story you can share from that stage of your career?

As a Broadcast Journalism major at Howard University, I was excited for my senior year. In my mind, it would bring me closer to my dream of being an on-air reporter and allow me to hone the skills that I needed to land and keep the job.

When the opportunity to intern at Dateline NBC presented itself, I was all-in. And the icing on the cake was that the NBC interns, regardless of geography, would have the opportunity to convene at 30 Rock. For a child who grew up on the Today Show, it literally got no better!

But my first day at Dateline was September 12, 2001–24 hours after the terrorist attack that would forever change America. In that moment, I realized the power and the critical importance of media. The unimaginable had happened. News coverage was how we communicated when the cell phones stopped working and the traffic stood still. The reporters and anchors who covered that day blanketed us in comfort, even when they needed what little was left for themselves.

My first assignment was to gather knives for a segment exploring how we had gotten there. I’ll never forget it. In the days and weeks that followed, we would attempt to slowly find some semblance of normalcy. I would also go on to learn how to move with urgency and why the follow-through matters. Sadly, I never made it to 30 Rock.

While I’m on the other side of communications these days, all of those lessons shaped who I am as a professional. Accuracy is important, but also speed. And even now, those Dateline learnings continue to ring true.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am Tamika Hawkins Adu, Co-Founder and Managing Member of Sixth & Bryant, a newly launched strategic communications firm. We are focused on helping clients maximize their potential and reach their objectives through targeted strategic communications, storytelling, and engagement. With decades of combined experience across sectors and industries, my business partner Thai Eileen and I understand the evolving communications landscape and how to navigate it.

The name of our firm was inspired by the two Washington, DC streets that intersect at Howard University’s School of Communications. For us, it’s an ode to both the place where we met and where we fortified our foundation.

I began my career in local television news, covering education and general assignment stories. When I decided to transition to communications, I landed at Edelman–the largest global public relations firm, where I focused on International Affairs for more than five years. It was my first foray into a Corporate setting and opened doors to work with some of the most sought-after political minds.

While earning my Master’s Degree at the Medill School of Journalism, I covered stories from a local courthouse, which fueled my interest in the law. After careful consideration, I left Edelman to attend Howard University School of Law, which afforded me an opportunity to delve deeply into the areas that I valued most. I took every constitutional law class I could find and developed an interest in housing.

After graduation, I worked as a Federal Government attorney for a few years, before returning to Edelman and then eventually on to Brunswick Group – the latter of which created space for a masterful mashup of law and communications that I sought. Brunswick gave me the room to grow, while working on some of the most critical issues facing top companies.

Each step in my professional journey prepared me for the biggest leap – launching Sixth & Bryant. I’m excited about bringing my experiences to bear for our clients and tackling their challenges together as a strategic partner.

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

I’ve had to learn the importance of honoring the fact that I run a business–this means not taking on new projects without a contract and an agreed-upon fee.

Being a business owner in professional services necessitates unlearning the proclivity to undervalue your offering or think that you need to “wait your turn.” It requires being ready to pivot when needed and betting on you, even when others don’t.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The absolute best source has been referrals! Whether it’s from former colleagues or former clients, or even people (friends, LinkedIn followers, etc.) who have awareness of your past and current work, these leads have been golden.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sixthandbryant.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sixthbryant/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamika-hawkins-adu-88960718/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/IamMsHawkins

Image Credits
Image Credit: Tamika Hawkins Adu