Dacía James Lewis is a creative executioner known for her professional poise, outgoing personality and infectious smile. After graduating from Texas State University with a BS in Sociology, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her passion of working in the entertainment industry. It’s here where she started her career as a production assistant while continuing to train as a dancer. She has served as creative director and choreographer on multiple marketing campaigns for brands such as Weight Watchers and Pantene Pro-V and has choreographed and graced stages with artists such as Tracee Ellis Ross, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Kanye West, Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige and more. Her recent performances include Coming 2 America and Genius: Aretha. Dacía is the president of Women Wives Warriors, an organization that inspires women all over the world to reach their potential in spirit, soul and body and is the owner of D.O.P. Entertainment. When The Game of Life author is not on television and film sets, she is busy creating content for her company and/or serving youth ministries. Dacía teaches and speaks worldwide at dance studios, universities, conferences and various church events. She resides in Atlanta with her husband Walter and is currently getting her MA in writing and digital communication.
What is the name of your business? Women Wives Warriors
What inspired your to start your business?
Being the only girl in a family of boys I struggled to relate to other girls at a young age until I crossed paths with some amazing women who taught me the power of sisterhood. Whether it was becoming a woman, becoming a wife, or facing the wars of life there was always a female warrior there to help lead the way. The support and mentorship of those ladies are the ingredients to the essence of who I am today. Women Wives Warriors was birthed through my desire to always keep strong women of integrity in my circle to hold me accountable and to encourage other women to do the same. What started off as a small circle of friends has now turned into a community of women on a mission to empower the next generation of women, wives, and warriors.
How did 2020 change your business? Was it for the better?
Absolutely! Being a choreographer/dancer I am used to moving and shaking. And with TV/Film industry being shut down (like most industries) so I was forced to take a deeper dive into creativity. I wanted to inspire the women around me to pick up a healthy habit of exercising and meditating during the quarantine. The inception of our free Saturday workouts and prayer calls was a direct result of the pandemic in 2020.
What lessons did you learn in your business in 2020?
Where there is a will, there is a way. Be creative, and find a way to keep it pushing.
What hurdles did you personally face in getting ready to open your business and how did you overcome them?
The biggest hurdle that I faced when starting my business was time management. When building a brand or a business there is a significant amount of time and money that one must invest. Chances are you might not see an immediate return on that investment so to avoid burnout I recommend scheduling your week in advance. By designating a specific number of hours a day to my business and writing down the plans for the week I was able to establish a good work/life balance. Preparation is key.
When did you realize entrepreneurship was right for you?
I knew early on that I wanted to work for myself. I remember in high school I worked at a department store and every day I had to dress us. I hated wearing stockings and one day as I was putting those itchy things on I said, “I will be my own boss, and I will wear what I want to work.'” Who knew my loathe for stockings would be the catalyst to dreaming a bigger dream for myself.
What would you say is your most driving motivation to keep doing what you do? The impact of affecting one person’s life, making a difference in their world is the fuel that keeps me on the journey of entrepreneurship.
What’s next for you in your business/brand? What can readers look forward to from you? I just published my first book, The Game of Life, through my company Women Wives Warriors. It has been a fantastic journey and the support has been overwhelming. Also, our podcast will launch this summer so be on the lookout for that.
