Name: Michael Jackson
Current Profession(s): Founder & Chief Creative Officer - Mya Kai Creative
Please describe your role(s) in your profession(s): As the owner of the only black-owned agency in Arizona, I wear many hats. I spend most of my time leading business development for the agency and as Chief Creative Officer leading the award-winning agency's creative team.
Please describe your pathway to your current profession(s): I started my design career as a museum exhibit designer in New Mexico. Then I was recruited to the famous Balboa Park in San Diego to become the lead designer for the park. After spending three years at the park. I took on a new role at The Upper Deck Company, where I was the lead designer for their high-end sports memorabilia products for the world's greatest athletes, such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods, and more. After my time at Upper Deck, I partnered with a few advertising agencies where I honed in on my skills as a creative, and strategist. I soon saw the lack of diversity in the industry and decided to create an agency full of culture.
What is your education / training background? I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Design with a minor in Marketing from New Mexico Highlands University.
Advice you'd give to your younger self: Do more... What you do today shapes your tomorrow.
Tell us about any challenges that you have faced to get to where you are today: A challenge I faced and still deal with today. Is a lack of diversity in the advertising industry when it comes to leadership. This affects how I engage in meetings and other spaces. Everyone is so used to seeing the same people at the table. I'm here to change that. The industry has been this way for years but at Mya Kai Creative we are genuinely trying to build an agency of change and help elevate the culture. As the only award-winning black-owned agency in the state, we hope to open doors for other creatives and marketers in the Phoenix market.
Who has influenced you? My mother is my biggest influence. She's always dropping gems. "If you don't focus on your dreams...Who will?"
Tell us about anything you are passionate about outside of your profession(s): Outside of work, I serve on a few boards in the community. I'm always looking to give back and advise whenever I can. I have a side project I'm working on where we expose/teach young minorities of color the world of advertising and marketing. In most situations, the youth, don't know what's possible until they see someone that looks like them making it happen.
Please feel free to tell us anything else that you'd like to share: You can learn more about Mya Kai Creative and the team at the following: Instagram: @myakaicreative and visit us at myakai.com.
Name: Deana Garner-Smith
Current Profession(s): Collegiate Athletic Administrator - Arizona State University
Please describe your role(s) in your profession(s): I serve as Senior Associate Athletic Director and DEI & Title IX Coordinator for Sun Devil Athletics. I coordinate educational programming, creating and implementing department inclusion policies and strategies.
Please describe your pathway to your current profession(s): I am an attorney with many years of professional legal and investigatory experience. Additionally, I have worked with athletic administrators, coaches, and athletes to create risk-prevention educational programming designed to promote awareness of collegiate and professional sports policies and to promote the use of supportive resources available to athletes, coaches, and administrators.
What is your education / training background? I became a trained victim advocate when I served as deputy prosecuting attorney. I learned how to support survivors of Domestic Violence and other crimes. I developed educational leadership skills working with athletes, coaches, and administrators. As a prosecuting attorney and NCAA Enforcement Services investigator, I gained valuable sports-related experience. My legal education and training have allowed me to comprehend sports-related conduct policies, create proactive educational messaging, and engage in constructive dialogue with sports professionals for better understanding.
Advice you'd give to your younger self: Taking business and organizational leadership courses in college and becoming proficient in Spanish and Mandarin. I would also maintain my proficiency in French. Having a working knowledge of foreign languages allows for more opportunities to communicate more effectively with others.
Tell us about any challenges that you have faced to get to where you are today: Establishing and maintaining a healthy work-life balance is very difficult.
Who has influenced you? My parents and grandparents have influenced me by instilling the importance of character, hard work, and being committed to finishing whatever task you face. Additionally, they introduced me to the critical pillars of my life: family, faith, and service to others.
Tell us about anything you are passionate about outside of your profession(s): I am passionate about meeting new people and exploring new places and experiences, traveling, and trying fresh foods. I love crafting!
Please feel free to tell us anything else that you'd like to share: I am learning Spanish to gain working knowledge and communicate effectively with others.
Name: Randy Gatewood
Current Profession(s): Chef/Owner - Randizzle's Food Truck
Please describe your role(s) in your profession(s): I am the Chef Owner at Randizzle's Food Truck. We are a mobile food truck specializing in gourmet burgers and tacos.
Please describe your pathway to your current profession(s): I am an ex professional athlete that has transitioned to the the Chef world! I had very brief stint with the Miami Dolphins and I played 12 years here with the Arizona Rattlers! I was in retail fashion after that! I created and owned a clothing boutique called Moody Blues, A Denim Society! From there I also spent @ 7 years in the fine wine industry at Quench Fine Wines before launching Randizzle's Food Truck in late 2019!
What is your education / training background? I went to Tyler Junior College before transferring to the University of Nevada Las Vegas.. No formal training as a chef! All self taught and self trained over the last 7 years..
Advice you'd give to your younger self: When opportunity arrives do not wait. Chase every dream as hard and fast as you can.. And don't let anyone or anything stand in your way.. Creativity was my biggest asset, use that creativity to inspire others..
Tell us about any challenges that you have faced to get to where you are today: I've failed many times and I've learned there will always be challenges. Financial challenges, challenges logistically on how to operate, challenges with what to put on the menu. However, one of the biggest challenges is the staffing aspect in the mobile food truck world.
Who has influenced you? I've found inspiration through my family! Especially my mother! I've found inspiration through coaches and teammates who taught me to be accountable! I've found inspiration through other chefs like Bobby Flay and Mycal Simon!
Tell us about anything you are passionate about outside of your profession(s): I am very passionate about sports especially football! I love to travel and experience new things! I am also very passionate about golf! 😊
Please feel free to tell us anything else that you'd like to share: I grew up in a little town called Wichita Falls, Tx! I've been in AZ for many years, but I'm still rooted in Texas! My goal is to open 100 Randizzle's locations across North America! 90 locations in the US and 10 in Canada! It's a venture capitalist deal all the way! Not just because I own it and I created it, but it's literally one of the best burgers you will ever taste. Randizzle's is not just a burger, it's an experience.
Name: Nazira
Current Profession(s): Cardinals Cheerleader
Please describe your role(s) in your profession(s): I currently work for a private equity firm that specializes in senior housing. I am on the client relations team where I communicate with investors and advisors on any of their needs regarding their investments. I also am in my rookie year as an NFL cheerleader for the Arizona Cardinals.
Please describe your pathway to your current profession(s): I started working for my company after being referred by a former college teammate, I have loved learning about the private equity industry and being apart of such a great workplace culture. It has always been a dream of mine to cheer professionally. As my senior year of college came to a close I knew I was not ready to stop there. Which is why I decided to take the next step in furthering my cheerleading career. I am so thankful to have had such an amazing rookie year filled with great teammates, amazing experiences and opportunities of a lifetime.
What is your education / training background? I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sports Business Media Studies from Arizona State University where I was apart of the Cheer team all four years of college. Prior to college I attended Florence High School in Florence, Arizona where I won three AIA State Championships on the varsity cheer team.
Advice you'd give to your younger self: Never compare yourself, work hard no matter what and trust the process. We often get so caught up in whats to come that we seldom get the chance to take in what's in front of us and be proud of how far we've come.
Tell us about any challenges that you have faced to get to where you are today: Anxiety has played a major role in my hardships with self doubt and imposter syndrome. It has been a challenge trusting in my talents and believing I deserve everything I have worked so hard for. My anxiety has held me back from taking certain chances that I later regretted. But it takes practice and discipline to not let those negative thoughts take over. Once I realized that, it became much easier to succeed and believe in myself.
Who has influenced you? My mother is my biggest influence and role model. My mother somehow makes anything and everything happen no matter the circumstances. She has always been my number one cheerleader my whole life and has never doubted me. I am also thankful for all of the strong women who have led me on my path of success including my tia Emy and Tita, my former high school cheer coach Annie, and my mentors Miranda and Sara. All of them have encouraged me to chase my wildest dreams and to reach for the stars.
Tell us about anything you are passionate about outside of your profession(s): I am really passionate about giving back to the community and helping in any way I can. All through out college my work studies jobs included tutoring students grades K-5, giving campus tours and college readiness presentations to students grades K-12 as well as coaching young children in tumbling classes. Helping young children has always felt so rewarding to me, I enjoyed being able to help them in their journey. Which is one of the many reasons I love the Cardinals organization, we have been able to serve our community during various events throughout the season.
Please feel free to tell us anything else that you'd like to share: Feel so much joy in being an Arizona Cardinals Cheerleader, being a role model in my community means everything to me.
