Deesha Dyer, Founder of Hook & Fasten
David Linneman / Obama White House
Deesha Dyer’s (she/her/hers) journey to starting her company, Hook & Fasten, has been anything but traditional. From a community college intern at 31, to the White House Social Secretary in the Obama Administration (among many other accomplishments) in a short number of years, Deesha has proven that grit, determination, confidence, and willingness to fail & learn (and a sense of humor) are completely invaluable when it comes to accomplishing your goals and doing your part to change the world.
Ryan Jones
At 31 years old, Dyer entered the Obama Administration as a community college student intern and worked her way up to serving as White House Social Secretary. In that role, she resolved to not only open, but build lasting doors of opportunity for others. Deesha coordinated the historic visit by Pope Francis and booked legendary acts including Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen and Aretha Franklin. Deesha recently 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.”
Named to Marie Claire’s new guard of women changing the world, her 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.”
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. Moved by Hurricane Katrina, she began a campaign to provide feminine hygiene products to women after natural disasters, and, to date, the campaign has donated a total of $15,000 in products. She recently volunteered as the acting operations lead for the Bronx Community Relief Effort , a response to COVID-19.
DEESHA’S FOUNDER JOURNEY
Deesha is the co-founder of beGirl.world , an organization that empowers teen girls through global education and travel. In 2019, beGirl.world awarded scholarships to two female college students studying abroad. She also oversees additional initiatives, including 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.
Deesha recently became the Founder and CEO of Hook & Fasten, a social impact agency that specializes in transformational relationships between corporations and communities, diversity & inclusion and executive operations. With her new venture, she specializes in transforming ideas into causes that create tangible change. Read more about Hook & Fasten below and how the LWL Community can help her grow.
Who or what was the biggest motivator for you when you started your business?
I would say the community in which I come from!
Book(s) that inspire you/your company?
Anything by Black woman authors especially Audre Lorde and Maya Angelou.
Other content, music, anything that is inspiring you right now?
Gospel music inspires me, as well as everyday conversations with friends and family, taking dance classes online and being witness to the many foot soldiers continuing to pound the pavement for justice.
photos: Pete Souza/ Obama White House, Patricia Little, Harvard Institute of Politics
photos: Obama White House
Hook & Fasten is a Black-woman-owned social impact firm. We are rooted in and from the neighborhoods in which we serve.
We’ve worked for a United States President and First Lady, coordinated the visit of a Pope and numerous world leaders, orchestrated performances with chart-topping entertainers, hosted championship athletes, fellowed at an Ivy League institution, advised at a top philanthropic foundation, curated parties, sat on Boards, collected awards and spoken on esteemed stages around the world.
But, there is more to who we are.
We are made up of public servants and community advocates. We have been on the cutting edge of natural disaster relief, worked at non-profits, started organizations and impact initiatives, arranged purpose-driven events, lobbied lawmakers, recruited diverse talent for companies, created educational scholarships and designed a corporate social responsibility program. We are authentic, transparent, direct and creative in our approach and delivery. We utilize our network and share our platform. Hook & Fasten is ushering in a new style of giving that represents real change with real solutions.
How do you hope that your company can create a better world?
I hope that Hook & Fasten will help to create a bridge of action between corporations and community organizations. We want to push the hard conversations and bring the communities to the tables of decisions to imagine and actualize how impact can be transformational, not transactional. We also hope to help corporations adopt and live out more social justice in their everyday operations.
Favorite business/leadership resources?
Definitely other women and just talking to them. I feel that by sharing our challenges and joys openly, it helps to not feel in a silo and often will help you come to a solution. Also, it truly helps me find the resources that I need.
What has been the biggest highlight running your own company?
The biggest highlight has been seeing corporations transform their DEI policies to be more inclusive of racial justice and apply that to local organizations.
What are your top three goals for your company this year? AND! How can the LWL Community support you in accomplishing them?
My top 3 goals are:
1) Acquire clients outside of the USA
2) Hire 2 staffers
3) Help companies usher in new diverse talent in to their fields through community recruiting.
LWL community can assist by continuing to provide outlets like this to expose the company to more audiences around the world!
Your favorite other women led businesses we should know about?
This is a long list! Salon C Kelly and Passport to Peace out of Philadelphia, Selfmade out of New York, Don't B Ashy out of New York, Rayo and Honey out of New York and so many more.
“Step away from the constant criticizing of yourself and your business. This is new territory for so many of us so it is going to be a learning experience. Give yourself some grace.”
- Deesha Dyer
above photo: Traci-Ann DeLisser
