GirlCode Digital Studio, LLC is an innovative digital creative studio built by women and for women. We help women entrepreneurs grow their businesses by creating memorable and impactful branding, detailing strategies, and making beautiful yet user-friendly websites. We empower women to be their most authentic selves through their brands. GirlCode was founded by Dwan Jones and Tiara Richardson in 2019. Combined, Dwan and Tiara have over 30 years’ experience in the areas of marketing, writing, web design, communications, strategy, and UX for companies in the non-profit, government, and retail industries.
Anytime we see women collaborating we get excited, let’s dig into these questions:
PWH: Tell us a little about yourselves, how did you get started in the branding business?
GCDS: For Dwan, her journey started back in high school with branding her high school’s image and reimagining their story, which brought about a positive image of the school. After college, she went into in-house communications with corporations and governments and launched her first successful branding and communications agency. Tiara started her journey in 2004 with her first job out of college with a large fashion retailer as a marketing coordinator. Our journeys collided in 2014 when we met at our previous job where we worked on brand, communications, and digital efforts.
PWH: Describe your brand in 3 words?
GCDS: Empowering, Boss, Feminine
PWH: Where did your vision for Girl Code Digital Squad come from?
GCDS: We worked together for 4 years and both were doing our own side hustles. We realized we were doing similar and complimentary services. We decided that we would be better together and could build something great that would focus on women and elevating their brands. Most of the agencies we’ve worked with were owned by men and lacked diversity in their staffing. With the rise in women-owned businesses, we felt now was the time to get out there.
PWH: How can a new business stand out from the crowd in terms of branding and marketing?
GCDS: They need to always be authentic and focus on what they do that is unique and different. How can you do what’s been done but in a different way? What is your passion and what does your community around you need? Focus on those things and you can position yourself to stand out.
PWH: What is your number one recommendation for entrepreneurs to elevate their business?
GCDS: Make sure your brand truly reflects your business values and your target audience. And make sure you have a website, social media – some type of online presence for people to reach you. If you don’t have the experience to do your branding and web design, reach out to a professional to make sure you are putting your best self out there.
PWH: What is the most rewarding and challenging part of your business?
GCDS: The most rewarding parts are creating something meaningful for ourselves and our clients and seeing how much what we do for them really helps them to build their business. The challenging parts are juggling client work with running the business and our personal lives.
PWH: Where do you see the Girl Code Digital Squad in Five years?
GCDS: We want to continue to grow our team, to give women opportunities and to make a global impact. We want to be able to give back and bring people up with us.
PWH:Bonus: Describe your definition of a Pretty Woman Who Hustles?
GCDS: A woman who knows her passions and her worth, goes for what she wants with no apologies and pulls women up with her along the way.
