Award-Winning Strategist & Community Organizer; Former White House Social Secretary
Deesha Dyer: Biography at a Glance
- Deesha Dyer is an award-winning strategist, on-the-ground community organizer, and executive operations expert who transforms ideas into causes that create tangible change.
- At 31 years old, Dyer entered the Obama Administration as a community college student intern and quickly advanced, ultimately serving as White House Social Secretary.
- In 2019, she founded Hook & Fasten, a social impact agency that specializes in transformational relationships between corporations and communities, diversity & inclusion, and executive operations with clients including Sony Music, Toyota, ByHeart, and Microsoft.
- Dyer completed a fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics where she designed and taught a study course entitled, “From Imposter to Impact.”
- Dyer is the co-founder of beGirl.world, an organization that empowers teen girls through global education and travel, oversees Black Girl 44, a scholarship fund for young black women seeking internships in Washington, D.C., and created the Deesha Dyer Second Chance Scholarship at the Community College of Philadelphia.
- She was named to Marie Claire’s “new guard of women changing the world”, recognized for her unwavering passion for servant leadership, civic engagement and social justice, and Essence called her “one of the most powerful women calling the shots in the Obama Administration.”
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Biography
Deesha Dyer is an award-winning strategist, on-the-ground community organizer, and executive operations expert who transforms ideas into causes that create tangible change. For nearly two decades, Dyer has produced successful campaigns across entertainment, politics, philanthropy, and business. In 2019, she founded Hook & Fasten, a social impact agency that specializes in transformational relationships between corporations and communities, diversity & inclusion, and executive operations. Her clients include Sony Music, Toyota, ByHeart, and Microsoft.
At 31 years old, Dyer entered the Obama Administration as a community college student intern and quickly advanced ultimately serving as White House Social Secretary. In that role, she resolved to not only open but build lasting doors of opportunity for others. Dyer coordinated the historic visit by Pope Francis and booked legendary acts including Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, and Aretha Franklin.
Her passion for activism predates her time in Washington. In 2003, she created Cover Your Lover, a hip-hop HIV/AIDS prevention program. In 2007, while at the forefront of corporate social responsibility for a Philadelphia company, she established an employee giving program and, moved by Hurricane Katrina, she initiated a campaign to provide feminine hygiene products to women after natural disasters. To date, the campaign has donated a total of $15,000 in products.
Dyer completed a two-year tenure at the Ford Foundation, and in December 2019, finished a fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics where she designed and taught a study course entitled, “From Imposter to Impact.”
Dyer is the co-founder of beGirl.world, an organization that empowers teen girls through global education and travel. She also oversees Black Girl 44, a scholarship fund for young black women seeking internships in Washington, D.C., the Deesha Dyer Second Chance Scholarship at the Community College of Philadelphia, and Impact of a Vote, which aims to expose African American students to non-traditional careers in public service and politics.
Named to Marie Claire’s ‘new guard of women changing the world’, Dyer’s personal journey has been guided by an unwavering passion for servant leadership, civic engagement, and social justice. In 2015, Essence called her “one of the most powerful women calling the shots in the Obama Administration.”
Dyer is a sought-after keynote speaker known for delivering engaging, fun, and relevant talks on a range of topics spanning women in leadership, confidence, diversity, and social change.
Topics
Imposter to Impact
Deesha Dyer's inspiring journey led her from community college straight to the White House. Suddenly finding herself in rooms she wasn't sure she belonged, Deesha was faced with feeling like an imposter. In this conversation, she digs deep into the root of imposter syndrome, how it has plagued her life, and how she has transformed those feelings to create multiple impact initiatives. Using relatable stories full of humor and reflection, audiences get a roadmap to activate their confidence and ditch their imposter syndrome.
The Blueprint to Life’s Pivots
Deesha Dyer’s story is unlike any other. After dropping out of college at 17, she returned to community college over a decade later and, while there, began an Obama White House internship that turned into a 7.5-year career. Like Deesha, we have all felt that tug to make a change in our lives at some point. In this engaging talk, Deesha entertains audiences with personal anecdotes and provides navigation on how they too can successfully pivot personally or professionally.
Race in the Workplace
The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery bubbled up conversations around racism in the workplace that left many companies rushing to state ‘Black Lives Matter’ but without understanding how to address the fundamental issues caused by racism. In this talk, Deesha discusses how to dismantle systems of oppression in the workplace, giving guidelines and actionable steps along the way. Additionally, she has designed a version of this conversation specifically for Black employees that takes a deep look at how their confidence, mental health, and work productivity are directly affected by racism.
The ‘Politics’ of Entertaining
As the former Social Secretary for President Barack Obama, Deesha Dyer welcomed the world to the White House— from Pope Francis to Beyoncé! In this light, funny, and detailed talk, Deesha gives a behind-the-curtain look into entertaining at “The People’s House” including what to consider when everyone is a VIP and what to do when you simply can't keep politics out of it.
