Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Place Hagen.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I spent the first half of my career in technology, working in digital during and after the dot com explosion. At hotels.com, I transitioned into marketing and fell in love with it. I also realized pretty quickly that having the technology background made me a more effective marketer – I could speak both languages. Since it’s nearly impossible to do marketing without a working knowledge of the enabling technology pieces, I was able to advance quickly in my career. The need was large enough that I started an agency 4 years ago that is dedicated to data, experience, and design.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting, owning, and growing your own business presents challenges that require a certain amount of intestinal fortitude coupled with emotional stamina. Entrepreneurs understand that, and being a woman in an industry dominated by men is as much an opportunity as it is a challenge because of the engrained paradigms and expectations about what women are capable of. Most of my days are spent trying to inspire and be inspired, but on the days I want to quit and be a barista, I think about where we are headed and how we can make an impact and get reenergized all over again. I take everything personally!
Please tell us about Tandem Theory.
We are the first integrated marketing services agency to elegantly blend data and design using omnichannel customer experience principles. There are a lot of amazing agencies who specialize in one or the other, so we have something marketers all crave but haven’t been able to find in one place. There aren’t many agencies who can pull off an e-commerce web redesign as well as a segmentation model. We’re an intriguing right/left brain kind of place.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My dad was also an entrepreneur. He was a veterinarian with multiple clinics, and I used to love going with him on emergency calls and see how caring he’d be for pet owners and animals alike. He used his entire savings to buy his first clinic – we had to live in it for a while. We have pictures of my brother and I getting a bath in the same place they’d wash the dogs. Looking back, my brother and I had fun, but his bravery to take that much risk will always be in my heart.
Contact Info:
- Address: 15400 Knoll Trail Drive #503
Dallas, Texas 75248 - Website: tandemtheory.com
- Phone: 972-701-0186
- Email: taylor.thompson@tandemtheory.com
- Instagram: tandemtheory
- Facebook: Tandem Theory
Image Credit:
Taylor Thompson
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
