Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominique Smack.
Hi Dominique, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story is a very unconventional one, but I think that’s what makes it mine. I’ve always been the girl who carved her own lane, even when I wasn’t quite sure where that lane was taking me.
I knew early on that I loved people, serving people, and finding ways to make an impact. I just wasn’t sure exactly what that looked like. I went from general studies to psychology, then marketing, and eventually journalism. Funny enough, I ended up right back in marketing! But looking back, the common thread was always there. I loved using my voice, storytelling, bringing people together, and finding creative ways to connect the dots.
I’ve always been a creative girl at heart. From writing poetry when I was younger to exploring different creative outlets, I’ve never really followed anybody else’s blueprint. My career has reflected that, too. I’ve worked jobs that weren’t necessarily aligned with who I was, stepped into entrepreneurship, owned an agency with my partner, freelanced, and eventually found my way back into the corporate world, this time as a creative corporate baddie!
One of the biggest turning points in my journey was simply learning to say yes.
My opportunity with Glam-Aholic Lifestyle actually came through someone I had previously worked for, a mentor and small business owner who ended up doubling back for me. And that experience taught me something I’ve carried with me ever since: how you show up and handle business matters in every room, whether it’s your dream job or simply the job you’re doing in that season. You never know which relationships or opportunities will come full circle.
At the time, I had never worked in influencer marketing, but I said yes anyway. That one yes opened the door to an entirely new chapter of my creative career. Over the last two years, I’ve had opportunities to lead campaigns, build incredible relationships, and step into rooms and roles I never imagined myself occupying.
There was a time when I genuinely wondered if I was too late to pursue certain dreams or career paths. But the more I learned and the more I challenged myself, the more I realized that the creative seed planted in me all those years ago was finally starting to bloom.
And I think that’s the beauty of my story. I’m still unfolding, still evolving, and still discovering new ways to use my gifts. I’ve learned that you don’t have to have it all figured out, and you definitely don’t have to limit yourself to one version of who you can become.
I genuinely believe I have enough time to live ten more creative lives if I choose to. And honestly, I just might!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not! And I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is that sometimes you have to trust yourself over and over again, even when the road ahead isn’t clear.
I’ve had to create my own opportunities, build my own businesses, and make space for myself in rooms where there wasn’t necessarily a blueprint for someone like me. I’ve always been the girl who would rather show you what I can do than spend all day talking about it. But when you’re building a creative career that doesn’t necessarily fit into one box, earning people’s trust and helping them understand the value you bring can be a journey in itself.
When COVID hit, and working traditional, in-person jobs wasn’t really an option, I had to lean into my gifts in a completely different way. I started thinking more intentionally about how I could use my creativity to serve my community while also creating opportunities to sustain myself financially. That looked like everything from running a small creative agency with my partner to hosting creative power hours, where I helped over 70 women gain clarity around their creative purpose and what they wanted to build for themselves.
And listen, sometimes the goal was simply to keep the lights on!
There were seasons when things felt foggy. I didn’t always know what was next, where the next opportunity would come from, or whether I was even moving in the right direction. But I knew I couldn’t give up on what I believed God had placed inside of me. I’ve always believed that God is my provider, but I also understood that I still had to show up and do the work, even when that work wasn’t glamorous.
One of my biggest personal wins was transitioning back into a traditional professional setting about two to three years ago, but this time in a career that actually aligned with my creativity. For so long, I had worked jobs simply because I needed a paycheck. To finally find myself getting paid to do work that felt connected to my gifts was a full-circle moment.
And even today, while working professionally in the creative industry, I still consult and work with clients who have trusted me for years. That means something to me because those relationships weren’t built overnight. They were built through showing up, delivering, and allowing my work to speak for itself.
So no, it hasn’t been a smooth road, but I wouldn’t trade the lessons. I’ve learned when to trust myself, when to pivot, and when to let my light shine. I spent a lot of years proving that I deserved a seat at the table. Now I’m learning that sometimes, the work I’ve done speaks for me before I even pull up a chair.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I like to think of myself as the girl who swerves between creative lanes but somehow manages to make every single one of them her own!
At my core, I’m a creative strategist, storyteller, and community builder. My work lives at the intersection of digital communications, marketing, content creation, and creative strategy. Currently, I have the opportunity to work in two very different creative spaces through Mural Arts Philadelphia and Glam-Aholic Lifestyle, while still consulting with businesses, brands, and individuals who trust me to help bring their visions to life.
I think my sweet spot has always been connecting the dots. I love taking an idea, even one that feels a little all over the place, and helping someone find the clarity, strategy, and confidence to actually bring it to life. Whether I’m developing a campaign, telling a story, building community, or working one-on-one with a client, I want whatever I’m creating to feel intentional, impactful, and authentic.
What I’m most proud of, though, is the relationships and reputation I’ve built along the way. To be able to work across different creative industries and have people continue to trust me with their ideas, their businesses, and their stories means everything to me. That kind of trust isn’t something you build overnight.
And I think what sets me apart is that I’m genuinely a creative cheerleader! I’m not just coming into a project to tell you what needs to happen. I’m coming in to help you believe in what you’re building, see the bigger picture, and recognize what’s possible for you.
I’ve also reached a place in my own creative journey where I’m no longer interested in shrinking myself to fit into certain spaces. Sometimes, especially when you’re new to a creative industry, it’s easy to question whether you belong or whether you’re qualified enough to take up space. But I’ve learned to spread my wings a little wider, trust the gifts God has given me, and show people what I’m capable of.
I’m not afraid to be my biggest, boldest creative self anymore. And if there’s one thing I hope people take away from working with me, it’s that they don’t have to be afraid to be theirs either.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I definitely believe technology will continue to evolve, but I also think we’re entering an era where real people, real stories, and real connections are making their way back to the forefront.
We’ve seen the perfectly curated feeds, the aesthetically pleasing content, and the super-polished everything. And while there’s absolutely a place for that, I think people are craving something a little more real. It’s almost like we’re finding our way back to that 2016 era of social media, when people were simply showing up, sharing their lives, being themselves, and building genuine connections along the way.
Over the next five to ten years, I believe the creatives, storytellers, and brands that aren’t afraid to show up authentically will be the ones making the biggest impact. People want to connect with people they can relate to, people they trust, and people who make them feel like they’re part of something. Just look at how quickly someone can go from being an everyday person or a personality on a reality show to becoming one of the most talked-about people on the internet. The power of relatability is real!
And of course, we have to talk about AI. I think AI is an incredible tool when used intentionally, but I don’t believe it’s the end-all, be-all of creativity. It should support our ideas, not replace our voices. You can have all the technology in the world, but if people can’t feel the human connection behind what you’re creating, what’s really the point?
I think brands will have to become more intentional about building actual communities instead of just collecting followers. And creatives will have to become more comfortable showing up as their full selves instead of trying to fit into whatever version of success the internet is selling that week.
For me, the future belongs to the people who aren’t afraid to be themselves. The ones who understand that authenticity isn’t something you manufacture for a campaign. It’s something you build through relationships, consistency, and genuinely showing up.
Technology will keep changing, platforms will come and go, and trends will always evolve. But one thing I don’t think will ever go out of style is the power of human connection.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominiquesmackk/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominique-smack-20175621a/
