Founder Feature: Britteny Dee

Welcome to the very first post in our Founder Feature series!

In this ongoing series, we’ll be highlighting female founders and their businesses. We’ll cover serious topics like how they create work-life balance, what struggles they’ve faced in business and more, as well as things like what they stock their fridge with and what they’re reading at the moment. 

First up, we have our company’s founder, Britteny Dee! Check out the full interview below, and if you know of anyone you think we should feature next, send us a message!  

What made you decide to start your own business?

I wanted more control over the types of clients I was working with. When I was working full-time for an agency, I just got assigned clients and wasn’t really passionate about any of them. I also wanted to be my own boss. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and knew from a young age I’d run my own business someday. The last company I worked for full-time was poorly run and management was awful, and I think that was the final straw. I thought, “I could do this better myself,” and so here I am. 

Describe your ideal client. What types of brands are you working with?

I’m vegan, and that’s a huge part of my life, so I love working with vegan brands, whether they’re in the food space or fashion, beauty, etc. Even if the brand isn’t vegan, if sustainability is at the core of their business, that’s also important to me. Finally, as a female entrepreneur, I am really passionate about using my skills to uplift other woman-owned businesses.

What sets Britteny Morgan Marketing apart from other social media agencies?

I think one of the biggest things is the quality of work we produce. My last full-time job was at an agency where they focused on doing as much work as possible in the least amount of time. They even outsourced work to other companies who produced horrible content for next to nothing. That was one of the main reasons I quit. I wasn’t proud of the work we were doing for our clients. So many other agencies are focused on producing massive amounts of content but none of it has a purpose or is meaningful. At Britteny Morgan Marketing, we create thoughtful content that’s unique for each client. 

What advice do you have for someone who is considering starting their own business but is hesitant or scared they will fail?

Just do it. You’ll never feel fully ready. If your plan is well thought out and there’s a need for what you’re offering, you’ll find a way to make it work. Also, talk to as many other people in the industry as you can — especially other business owners. You never know what advice they might have to offer, and hearing from people who have been in your shoes already and are successful now can help you visualize a path forward for yourself. 

Running a business is stressful. How do you stay sane?

I love to work out. I have the Lean with Lilly app and am obsessed. When I’m sweaty and pushing my body to its limit, I’m not able to worry about all my unread emails or my growing to-do list. The hour I spend exercising every day is the one time I truly feel present. Plus, the endorphins that get released give me a huge energy and mood boost. 

When you’re not working, what can you be found doing? 

I only live about a mile from the beach, so I try to swim as often as possible. I also enjoy having a few gin and sodas during happy hour at the Barrier Reef Sports Bar & Grill. Otherwise, you’ll find me in the kitchen experimenting with new vegan recipes I found on Instagram.

Speaking of recipes — what’s one you’ve been loving lately? 

I’m obsessed with Pinch of Yum’s 5 Ingredient Vegan Vodka Pasta. It’s one of my favorite pasta dishes and it’s so quick and easy to make. I’m also testing a ton of amazing recipes for Thanksgiving right now. There’s too many to list!

What’s always in your fridge?

Homemade hummus! I usually make a big batch on Sunday and use it throughout the week in pasta or grain bowls, as a salad dressing or a dip for veggies. I also tend to stock up on Schweppes club soda because if I don’t do happy hour at Sports Bar, I typically unwind at night with a gin and soda at home. The other thing I always seem to have in my fridge is a random assortment of leftovers. I like to batch cook things like brown rice, tofu, roasted chickpeas and maybe a salad dressing on Sunday and then mix and match everything during the week. 

What’s your morning routine like?

I always set an alarm but typically don’t need it. I have a cat who wakes me up between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. because she’s hungry. So the first thing I do is feed her. Then I make coffee and chug a glass of water. I wish I was the type of person who meditated or journaled in the morning, but I’m not. I usually dive straight into work, checking emails and all the social accounts I manage.

The pandemic has undoubtedly been tough for everyone — what’s one thing you’ve learned during this trying time?
Those who know me well might argue that I still have some work to do on this, but I think I’ve learned to slow down a bit. During the early days of the pandemic, my boyfriend and I weren’t allowed to open the liquor store we run, and Belize — where we’re living — was closed off to tourists, so the hotel we were managing was empty. Britteny Morgan Marketing didn’t exist yet, so I literally had nothing to do. At first, I went crazy. I worked out for two hours a day, covered our apartment in glitter and magazine scraps for crafts, etc. just trying to keep busy. But eventually, I embraced the opportunity to do nothing and there were days when I barely left my hammock. I’m the type of person who always has to be doing something, so it was a difficult adjustment. I’m trying to incorporate more rest time like that into my schedule now.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

If you know of anyone who needs social media, copywriting or content writing help, send them our way! We can create custom packages that feature everything you need and nothing you don’t.