Today we’d like to introduce you to Donnelle Branche.
Hi Donnelle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a Dallas native and a graduate of Texas Tech University with a degree in Sports Management and Communication Studies. Following my educational career, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue my professional aspirations of working in sports and entertainment.
From a young age, I knew that a traditional career was not for me. The summer entering high school, I attended a week-long sports & entertainment leadership conference that gave me a lot of exposure to industry professionals. From there, my career path was set, and I have not looked back since.
While studying at Texas Tech, I tapped into my networking skills and was fortunate enough to gain experience at notable agencies like Octagon and Roc Nation, which eventually led to me working with our CEO & Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient, Rashida Gayle, and Twenty Six Partner & Chief Operating Officer, Kyle Jacobson. Soon after my hire, I was elevated to an executive role as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships within Twenty Six Entertainment. My responsibilities include leading the development of marketing plans and strategies, managing the sales & partnerships team, and fostering business development opportunities for our talent and agency. It has been an incredible journey sharpening my leadership and marketing skills. As we continue to build out the agency, I look to continue elevating my career and pushing Twenty Six Entertainment to the forefront of industry attention.
Alright, 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?
It is hard enough as it is to break into the industry and create a lane for yourself but last year posed a new level of difficulty. I accepted this role during the pandemic at the start of the lockdown. As brands were cutting their marketing spend, we were recruiting new clients and strategizing on how to get access to what was left of the marketing budgets for our talent. Through a lot of hard work, focus, and dedication, we are succeeding in establishing a culturally attuned and innovative agency. Obstacles are all about focus, persistence, and having a solution-based mindset. Regardless of it being an unconventional time, that is what it takes to thrive in this industry – it is a continuously volatile market.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Although I started my profession in sports, my passion has always been rooted in entertainment – specifically music, television, and content creation. The beauty of that has been finding innovative ways to merge opportunities in both mediums while diversifying our clientele and brand portfolio. This is what allowed me to carve my own lane at Twenty Six, leading our influencer division and negotiating contractual endorsement deals in addition to the day-to-day management of our talent. No day is the same, but that is the best part of the job. While brokering brand deals is my primary responsibility, my duties also include creative & strategic planning, public relations, social media management, and studying data analytics. I prioritize keeping up with industry trends to constantly drive positive results and exceed the expectations of both my team and clients. I am proud to say that since our launch in 2020, our client roster has almost doubled – ranging from athletes to influencers and entertainers – and I have overseen more than 100 brand campaigns and millions of dollars in partnerships.
Contact Info:
- Email: donnelle@twentysixent.
com - Website: Twentysixent.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/
dawnehl
