We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kaylyn Hill. Check out our conversation below.
Kaylyn, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’m being called to take up space—fully, unapologetically, and in ways that once felt too bold or too vulnerable. For a long time, I poured my energy into amplifying other people’s visions, which I still love, but now I’m being invited to prioritize my own. That means showing up as an artist, a storyteller, a creative strategist, and a voice for my community—not just behind the scenes, but in front of them too.
There was a time when being “seen” felt risky. I worried about being misunderstood or not fitting into the boxes people tried to place me in. But now, I’m learning that the very things that once made me shrink—my perspective, my heritage, my creative instincts—are the things I’m being called to lean into.
It’s not about chasing perfection anymore. It’s about being present, being real, and being willing to step into the unknown with a full heart and a clear vision.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey y’all, I’m Kaylyn Hill—a creative producer, visual media director, and brand strategist, but above all, I’m A Dope Black Creative. Through my studio of the same name, I bring bold ideas to life at the intersection of art, strategy, and cultural storytelling. Whether I’m leading as a creative director, building brand worlds from scratch, or producing dynamic visuals and experiences, my work is rooted in intention, collaboration, and creative freedom.
What makes my approach unique is that I don’t just create—I help people see their vision clearly and guide them through the process of expressing it across mediums. From original series’ and film to editorial photography and campaign development, I’m called to help creatives, brands, and communities bring their stories to life in powerful, beautiful ways.
Outside of my studio work, I proudly serve on the board of two arts-based nonprofits, Redeemed Women Dallas and The Current Event Nonprofit that uplift community, culture, and creative access. I believe deeply in the power of storytelling as a tool for transformation—and everything I do reflects that. Right now, I’m focused on expanding ADBC’s impact and building a space where strategy, soul, and storytelling meet.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that believed I had to overprove my worth in every room. The part that stayed quiet to keep the peace, that dimmed her ideas to make others comfortable, that delayed her own vision to support everyone else’s first.
That version of me was rooted in survival and service—it taught me resilience, humility, and how to work behind the scenes with grace. But now, I’m being called to lead with trust, not tension. To move with alignment instead of overextension. That old version of me served her purpose, but she’s no longer the vessel for where I’m headed.
Now, I’m embracing ease, ownership, and creativity that flows from a place of wholeness—not hustle. I’m learning to believe that my presence, my ideas, and my artistry are enough—not because they’ve been validated, but because they are mine.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of being too much and not enough at the same time. For a long time, I wrestled with the idea that my creativity, my voice, or even my presence might be overwhelming—or worse, unworthy. That fear had me second-guessing my instincts, shrinking my vision, and holding back my truth in spaces where I should’ve been shining.
It kept me stuck in perfectionism, chasing approval instead of trusting alignment. But the moment I started honoring my fullness—my Blackness, my artistry, my leadership, my imperfections—that fear started to lose its grip. I realized I wasn’t meant to fit in, I was meant to build something new.
Now, even when fear shows up, I let it ride in the passenger seat—but I don’t let it drive.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
Fads move fast and loud; foundational shifts move deep and consistently. I’ve learned to pay attention to what sticks—what continues to resonate after the initial hype fades. Fads often rely on urgency, trends, or aesthetics alone, while foundational shifts are rooted in a real change in values, behavior, or how people see themselves and the world.
As a creative director and strategist, I look for patterns. If something keeps showing up across different industries, communities, or conversations—and it aligns with a deeper cultural or emotional need—that’s usually a signal of a shift. Foundation shows up in the quiet moments: how people build, how they pivot, how they stay.
I also check in with my own gut. Am I excited because it’s new and shiny—or because it opens up new possibilities for meaning, access, or connection? That inner compass is a powerful filter.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I made room—for ideas, for voices, for visions that didn’t always have a place. That I used my creativity not just to build beautiful things, but to build bridges—between art and strategy, between culture and community, between who we are and who we’re becoming.
I want folks to remember me as someone who led with intention, who poured into people, who didn’t just talk about possibility but lived it out loud. Someone who told the truth, even when it was uncomfortable. Who made people feel seen, inspired, and a little more brave just by being herself.
And above all, I hope they say: she created work that mattered—and helped others believe that theirs could, too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thekjh.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.kjh/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thekjh/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ADopeBlackCreative
Image Credits
Kaylyn’s Headshots: Imani Black
Remaining Photos: Kaylyn J. Hill
