Last year, I created the “Who to Watch” list, which spotlighted 16 creatives or entrepreneurs from Reading, PA. In honor of the new list approaching, I followed up with the 2018 class to see what they’ve done since we started watching them.
How has your company/ brand/ you grown?
My brand has grown into more than what I thought it would ever be. We decided to take the podcast in a more Black-Centric route and it was so fascinating to see the response and need from the Black community and other people of color that have really benefited from our conversation. This has also branched out into me handling more events and doing things to start creating opportunities in unfamiliar spaces.
What did you accomplish this year?
This year, I have accomplished a better sound! DearRDG ended up partnering with Pagoda City Studio and it has been such a blessing. We have an audio engineer that makes life so much easier and takes a load off of me. I don’t have to worry about taking time to edit the podcast anymore, when I trust him with everything. There has also been refining of the content as well. Each host brings a different kind of energy to the show, and I am excited to see each host grow into themselves and fully realize their potential.
What is the biggest lesson you learned?
I learned to stop standing in my own way and be excited with the growth no matter how small or large that may be.
Has your “why” changed?
My “Why” has stayed pretty consistent, but I am building up this community and amplifying their voices through more avenues. Not everyone is the best speaker, but if you give them a space to express themselves through art and entertainment, then it means so much more. So I’ve delved into more event curation and becoming more of a cultural architect.
What’s next for 2019?
2019 will be the year of setting the foundation and starting to cultivate what my legacy will look like. This includes venturing more into the music, art, and overall entertainment scene. DearRDG will be expanding into more avenues with each of our hosts, and I have big plans for our first live show! The partnerships that are coming up will be super exciting for the podcast, so I cannot wait unveil what that is going to be looking like in the future. For now, my main focus is curating more unique opportunities for emerging creatives to just learn.
You can read Marquise’s 2018 “Who To Watch” entry here.
You can follow Marquise on his personal Instagram here. You can follow DearRDG on Instagram here.
Be sure to subscribe to DearRDG wherever you get your podcasts!
