Divas That Care Network

Reinventing Work And Community

• Divas That Care Network • Season 15 • Episode 43

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Come and listen to our Host, Candace Gish, as she chats with today's guest, Amy Vaughan, for our "Season of Shift: Women on the Edge of Reinvention" Podcast Series.
This series spotlights women who used this reflective season (Oct–Dec) to make major life pivots—career changes, endings, spiritual awakenings, and brave beginnings.

A rebel with a cause and creative force, Amy transforms brands and leaders through 15+ years of enterprise creative leadership and purpose-driven innovation. As an award-winning Creative Director, she's created campaigns for global brands including Ford, P&G, Walmart, and Humana—consistently pushing boundaries while delivering measurable impact.


Today, she serves multiple missions: As CEO of Together Digital, she leads a platform empowering 500+ women in digital and tech through strategic networking and community building. As Managing Director of The Marketer Collaborative, she's creating a space designed for innovation, creativity, and community—helping professionals elevate their work by elevating their surroundings.

https://themarketercollab.com/

https://www.facebook.com/themarketercollab/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-marketer-collaborative

https://www.instagram.com/themarketercollab/

We explore a season of reinvention with Amy Vaughn, tracing how a clear vision, a timely introduction, and the courage to ask turned an empty agency building into a collaborative home for marketers. We unpack intentional community design, the rise of fractional work, and practical tools for making change stick.

• the power of networks to open doors
• missing in‑person collaboration and why it matters
• vision to launch the Marketer Collaborative
• rejecting the franchise path for a custom fit
• the industry shift to freelance and fractional roles
• designing spaces that spark creativity
• intentional events for deeper connection
• trusting intuition and asking for the no
• practical time management and protected calendars
• asking for and receiving help during big shifts

For more Divas That Care Network Episodes visit www.divasthatcare.com

SPEAKER_00:

It's Divas that Care Radio. Stories, strategies, and ideas to inspire positive change. Welcome to Divas That Care, a network of women committed to making our world a better place for everyone. This is a global movement for women by women engaged in a collaborative effort to create a better world for future generations. To find out more about the movement, visit divas that care.com after the show. Right now, though, stay tuned for another jolt of inspiration.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, hello everyone, and welcome back to the Divasat Care. My name is Candace Gish. If this is your very first time tuning into the Divasat Care, a huge welcome. We've been doing this now for gosh 15 years. Uh, we're listening to over 30 countries around the world. And we absolutely love what we're doing. We actually started a podcasting series now with the Divasat Care a few months ago because we wanted to be able to really engage our listeners in different topics. So this time we're going to be talking about season of a shift, women on the edge of reinvention. So this series podcast is going to be spotlighting women who use this reflective season, which is October to December, to make major life changes, um, career changes. They're doing endings, spiritual awakening, and brave beginnings. Amy Vaughn, this is her first time being on our podcast, and we just wanted to welcome her to our family. So welcome to the show, Amy.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you so much for having me here, Candace. I'm really excited.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh my gosh. I I you know what? I know that we've taken a while to be able to connect here, but I am so excited to have the opportunity to talk with you. Yes. Um, Amy, would you mind introducing yourself to our listeners?

SPEAKER_01:

Absolutely. So my name is Amy Vaughn. I am a mother of two children, uh, eight and 12, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, um, a chief empowerment officer of an amazing organization called Together Digital. It's a national network of women who work in digital marketing, advertising, and technology, um, who chooses to show up authentically every day, whether they're online or in person, and really share their knowledge, power, and connections so that everyone can succeed. Um, and then speaking of shifts and reinvention, um, I literally just stepped into an opportunity as the managing director of the Marketer Collaborative, which is a former agency space that we are turning into a coworking space that is really dedicated to the um just the embodiment of everything that is collaboration and creativity. Um, and so I'm really excited to be stepping into yet another new chapter of my life, adding yet another title to the resume or chapter in my book, however you want to look at it.

SPEAKER_02:

I love that. And I can't wait to hear more about that because that is so intriguing. So maybe we should just dive into that part of it. Look, what is this new step? Tell us more about that.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. So, you know, there's a lot to be said about, you know, we are constantly saying, manifest, manifest, put it out into the universe. And for me, I had been running a namely hybrid, mostly virtual women's community and organization online for about six years. I think it was actually six years this month. That's the longest I've ever been at any job. Um, within this industry, you kind of move from one thing to the next within two to maybe four years. Um, so coming into Together Digital and running the organization has been an absolute dream and a nightmare all at the same time. Um, or as some people like to say, a brutal experience. It has taught me a lot about me and myself and the world around me and what women need. And, you know, in that time, it was about the beginning of this year, January, which, you know, feels like a minute ago, but here we are, October. And I really started to miss in person. You know, even though I was running a community organization, running a business can be a very isolating experience. I missed teamwork. I missed being in person and collaborating. I missed having somebody over a wall to talk to. My cats and my dog never really were super interested in what I was designing or writing or creating. And, you know, I had said as much. Um, and, you know, at the time, I, you know, the having a network and community that believes in you and trusts you is like the best currency for your career, um, hands down. And for me, it came about because this organization outside of where I am, which is Cincinnati, Ohio, came to me and said, Hey, we are opening up a coworking space. Uh, we want to franchise and we would love to open up something in Cincinnati. Would you be interested in talking with us? And I thought, you know what? This could be the thing. You know, this meshes so nicely with what I'm doing with Together Digital. And, you know, it's something I could kind of do in tandem with this work that I'm doing there. Um, and I said, you know, I looked at the franchising model and I thought, ooh, those are some steep fees to start. I don't really have that kind of money. I'm a mission-based, you know, members-driven organization. Uh, I said, if I had a business partner that either had a space or was willing to invest, then maybe. And so they actually ended up introducing me to my now business partner, Jim Price. Um, and he is a former agency owner, sold the bill or sold the agency that was within the building. The agency left and the building was just sitting. And so here I had met somebody from other people out of state, guy in my own hometown in my own backyard, literally lives like 15 minutes from me. Um, fun fact my husband's company works out of the same building that he owns, and it is an investor in their company. And when we first were introduced, I was like, oh, this this guy isn't gonna respond. Like, what's he gonna be interested in, you know, me and this co-working space for? And he replied right away and was like, Amy, this is so funny. Like, I know your husband, I invest in Verve, they're in this building. I think you've been in the space. He's like, we have to meet. And as I'm sitting here writing you this email, I'm at another co-working space, and your picture just came up on the TV screen as I got this email because you're doing a talk here in two weeks. He's like, we have to meet. And so, you know, we sat down, we talked about, you know, both kind of agency kids growing up within Cincinnati marketing and advertising industry, just shared a lot of common connections and just really noticed how the industry has gone more fractional. Gig, um, freelance, contract, and there's more small independent agencies, right? We no longer have these big conglomerate agencies that are entire buildings, like, you know, his former agency was. Um, and they don't have a home. And so the second time I met him, we walked the space again and I kind of gave him my vision. And I'm Candace, I was such a dork. I literally spent the weekend because it was a quiet weekend, no kids' sports, surprisingly. And I threw together like the branding, the positioning, the vision, the mission, the business model. And I just threw it at him and I was like, here you go. What do you think? And he kind of like got a little choked up and he was like, This is, I don't know what to say. He's like, other than how much do you need? And then I fell on the floor and passed out. Just kidding. I kind of did, at least in my own head, because I'd never had those words said to me before, right? Um, and so we kind of be right. We looked at the model, we looked at the building, we kind of did some feasibility research and really felt like the initial franchise option wasn't for us and decided to kind of go this new marketer collaborative route. So that was the end of May. And here we are. We had our grand opening last week, October 15th. Congratulations. Thank you. And you know, it it was just one of those things where it's like the power of, like I said at the beginning, community and your network and really having the right people at the right place and the right time, make the introductions, speak your name in the rooms that you're not in, will absolutely be career and life-changing. This is not the first time something like this has happened to me. This is actually my second or third time, I would say. Third time, definitively, I can say. Um, and so yeah, go ahead.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I'm just thinking of like, that's why we weren't able to meet. You know, it was meant to be. We had to congratulate you on the because I care. Yeah. And what an exciting journey that you're on. Like, and that's exactly what this is all about. And I think this series, that's what it's about, is is this and what you're going through. And I'm just in awe of what you're saying because it is the brave beginnings. You've taken something and you are going with it. And that's if that doesn't encourage our listeners today, I don't know what will because I'm just blown away, just listening to you. I'm like, really? Really? I'm like, oh my God.

SPEAKER_01:

And I've never done this before. Neither of us have, you know, not we've neither of us have opened up a co-working space. I mean, I've had a member-based business for the last six years that definitely primed me. Loads of transferable skills and experience, a marketer by trade, small business owner for the last six years. But yeah, I mean, we are just uh nobody knows what they're doing. We're all just figuring it out. And I think just finding the right people that will believe in you and, you know, to be able to earn his trust and, you know, really his time, his attention, his money, and his investment was huge, but it really stemmed from the reputation that I've worked hard to build, the trust I've worked hard to build with the people around me.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. You know what? I will agree with you 100%. You never know where life is going to take you. The journey is one that we can never predict. And there you should be have no regrets. You know, it everything gets us to this point. And it's funny, I had actually did a post on LinkedIn about that earlier today because you know, I have no regrets. You know, yeah, there's been a lot of ups and downs in my career going through so many different things. And I'm like, but it's brought me to this moment, and I don't regret that. I love the moment, I love the journey I'm on. I'm at peace. I think as we get older too, that it's like almost that wisdom, and you don't believe in it because I realize now in my life how much I didn't know. And if it wasn't for the people that I've met, and even with this podcast and all the other businesses I've been a part of, if I wouldn't have gone through that, I wouldn't be where I am today. So just listening to you, I'm like applaud you and congratulations.

SPEAKER_01:

Thanks. Yeah. Yeah. I have a friend, a good friend of mine, Lacretia. I always, she's like, you have to be, you have to be the little delusional. You gotta be a little delulu to just kind of like think and believe and trust and even just try. I mean, that's all you can do. When it came to coming up with the idea for the market or collaborative, it I mean, if I so what? If I presented that to him and he was like, Nope, that's not the right thing, so what? Like the next thing will come along. But I was never going to get the yes without asking. So I had to just ask for the no and cross my fingers.

SPEAKER_02:

I love that you the courage to do it. So tell me a little bit more about this because it's a unique thing. And I love that you feel that way too. It's I miss the connection. You know, when COVID happened, you know, we all had to isolate ourselves and we couldn't be around people, it really changed the dynamics of a lot of individuals out there. Um, me being one of them, it's like now I crave being by myself. And I was never like that before. And I at the same time, I miss the interactions because I'm like, I miss those coffee dates. I miss getting out there, I miss the one-on-one and face-to-face. And I I don't like Zooms, to be honest. I don't like just having a computer screen talk to me. I want to be able to, you know, actually visit with somebody. So are you able to incorporate? And that's the question I have right now is are you able to incorporate the Together Digital with some of the things that you're doing now? Like, is there going to be some crossover and how does that work?

SPEAKER_01:

Absolutely. I mean, so I'm running both businesses. So we're headquartered here now, essentially. We are a part of the ecosystem. Um, we are hosting events here for our local Cincinnati chapter as well. Our national conference will be right across the street. Um, and we'll probably be hosting some events the day before and day after in the space as well. Um, a lot of my members will likely and hopefully become members here at the Marketer Collaborative. And, you know, I totally hear you, Candace. I think what I've noticed, getting that 30, 30,000 foot view that I've been able to have running a networking organization over the last five, six years, is that we are really starved for connection. Um, there's like this whole research study that the Surgeon General did that talks a lot about this and how perceived isolation, which is not even like actual isolation like we were doing during COVID, just perceived, which is essentially when we feel alone in a crowded room, which we've all been there. Um, perceived isolation can shorten your life by up to 15 years and can be the same thing as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Do you remember how we used to say sitting was the new smoking? Yeah. Now perceived isolation is the new smoking. And it's really stemming. It's satisfying. It is. And it is stemming from the lack of quality connection, right? Our families are going more and more nuclear. We have, at least stateside, I will say. I will speak for like the western half of the world. Is it's it's very much self over everything else. It's very highly individualistic. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, but at the end of the day, we are hardwired to be in community, to be needed, to be in service of others, to feel seen and heard. And you can't undo that. It is literally encoded in our DNA and how we survive. And so it's hard to get away from. So, what I have seen, and what's beautiful about Together Digital is that some of my best friends don't live in the United States anymore. They are women who have joined our organization and become members. Like, for example, one of our the woman who got me on this podcast with you, Molly Rowland and her amazing team at Heartcast Media. She is in Costa Rica. Her team is global. We have partnered on business together. We have started another podcast together. She produces our podcast. And then in September, I went down and stayed with her for a whole week in Costa Rica. Like I've met her in person twice, but I literally talk to her every week. And she is one of my nearest and dearest friends and an amazing human. So shout out, Molly. I love you if you're listening. But like there's so much power in the ability to connect. But what I'm seeing is that we need to make it more intentional. I think since COVID, we've all had this full circle of like everybody's like, whether you're past midlife or not, we've gone through a bit of a midlife crisis. Cause part of midlife crisis is you're like, I'm halfway there. This could be like, how much life do I have left? And how am I going to live it well? COVID put all of us in jeopardy with our health and our wellness. And, you know, we were seeing people die, like young, old, you know, it didn't matter. It hit all of us. And I think that has really changed the ways in which we show up, where we show up, when we show up, and why we show up. And so I'm even seeing this within the events arena where, you know, we used to usually pull like 120 people for an event, a happy hour, whatever. Now people are being so much more deliberate about not just how they're showing up online, but how they're showing up in person and where and when and how they're spending their time. And that's why I love the idea of the marketer collaborative and the space we're creating, because Jim and his family, when they built this building, it was so intentional. You know, I know we're on a call and on a podcast, so you can't see the space, but everybody that walks into the space gets the vibe. They understand the purpose of the space. It was all very designed intentionally for creativity, for collaboration. And to me, like that is the stage. It's set. And really now it's just a matter of bringing, bringing the people. And I think this goes for anything when you're kind of trying to create a space for others. Another great book and read out there. Um, I'm probably gonna end up recommending more books, but um, The Art of Gathering um is an amazing book that talks a lot about that intentionality and how we create space and how we show up to foster connection. So, some things we've done with Together Digital even is we've limited our national conference tickets. I want it to be a small conference. I want the women that come into the space to get the chance to meet each other, talk to each other, be together, feel seen and heard in a part of the day. They're not getting spoken at, they're being spoken with. And it's just really changed the way I see a lot of ways in which we move in the world between networking and events and now this co-working. You know, even before the pandemic, we all did not want to have to go into the office every day. Now that we're getting that urge to go back, and or companies are saying you have to go back, all I can think is like, why don't we create a space where people actually want to come and show up every day?

unknown:

Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

So that's what we're doing here.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, I love that. And you were mentioning that it's a franchise. So tell me about that. Like, how did that's a really interesting thing? Like, I love the intention of how this all came together. But who came up with the idea and how did you really get involved?

SPEAKER_01:

So the franchise, it's not actually we we ended up going the opposite direction of the franchise. So I was initially introduced to Jim as a possible partner to pursue the franchise. And then when we met and we looked at the space, I was like, no, no, no, no. This the their audience wasn't really right for the space. It's a very large building, 39,000 square feet. Oh, and it was designed and built, you know, for people who are in like kind of more the innovation and creative and agency and marketing space, um, although it's definitely for all professionals. But that was kind of what came about through that introduction from this other co-working franchise was why don't we take this agency that now is sitting empty and kind of a ghost town and give it new life, new purpose by creating a home and a space for people who are fractional or um working within the gig economy or independent agencies. So we already have a couple small independent agencies that are tenants in the space right now that are under 25 people.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. See, that makes sense to me. I that is even bet better than what I was envisioning.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. Yeah. It's like I said, it's to me, it's a it's an answer to a new need in the way in which we are now working, which is remote, hybrid, and you know, um, gig. You know, it's it's just it's everything's so volatile right now. We we are in the city of of PG. We are Cincinnati. We are we live and breathe PG and have for decades. However, they've had, you know, over 2,000 jobs laid off in like the manufacturing and plant space. And then they're gonna do another 7,000 over the next year or two within the branding and marketing space. So our industry between AI and the economy, we're seeing some major shifts. And as somebody who's gone off and you know, now works for herself, I think entrepreneurship and small business ownership, it's gonna hit like it's already the numbers are starting to peak and people going fractional and gig within this industry, especially. I think we were sitting at 40% at the end of last year. We're due to go upwards up to 60% of our industry is going to be freelance contract or fractional. Yeah, but I can definitely see that. So yeah. Wow. And they need a home, they need a space. Like, why do sitting at home? Creativity does not work in a vacuum, strategy does not work in a vacuum. You know, the best ideas don't come from you sitting alone, staring at your wall and your basement. You know, you need to be like the your surroundings matter. And I think that was like a big thing that I noticed when I came into this space. It was just so well done. I was like, I would be devastated to watch this place get mutilated into like tiny offices or something that just didn't serve what it was built and designed for. They literally called the building the marketer, and then I just threw on the collaborative.

SPEAKER_02:

That is brilliant. I love it.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh my goodness. Amy, you're absolutely fantastic. I love that. And I know that a lot of our listeners may not necessarily be in your area because we are global things. I want you to encourage the other women out there globally to help them maybe come up with an idea or maybe they could connect with you. How can they do this in their area?

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. I mean, speaking of franchise, I've already had I've talked to so many Together Digital members about this idea. And some of them are excited. They're actually have one coming from Cleveland. Um, oh my gosh, she's coming tomorrow. Yay, tomorrow to visit and hang out because she's in town and she's like, I'm gonna come by because I'm already in town. Um so you know, the marketercollab.com is the website. Um, togetheranddigital.com is the together digital website. That's such a phenomenal community. It's kind of like all the vibes of what the marketer will be, but virtual. So it's that much more accessible for wherever you are. Um, if people want to connect with me, they can connect with me on LinkedIn. And yeah, maybe someday we'll franchise the marketer collaborative. Who knows? Like all of my members that I've talked to about it within Together Digital, like when is it coming to Cleveland? When is it coming to Detroit? You know, um, so maybe someday, I mean, we've got a lot of agencies that are, you know, shuttering up and or downsizing. And then you've got these big, beautiful spaces and nobody in it to kind of give them that sense of purpose. Um, so yeah, I mean, to me, it's you just kind of have to go for it. Like I said, you got to be a little delusional. If you, if you have that gut feeling, especially you women that are listening, we we downplay intuition far too much. But it is our biggest superpower as women. We can read the room better. We we are always thinking five steps ahead of everyone else. Um, but we can also be present and in the moment. And I think all of those are um really ways in which you can hone in and find the right opportunities. I think we keep thinking that opportunities have to, they find us, but you really find them through action, um, through trusting that gut, through just trying things, you know? And, you know, I I've definitely gone down different rabbit holes and and chased other things. And it sometimes it doesn't work. And for me, it's not about, it's not a failure. I didn't lose. I learned something, you know, that maybe now wasn't the time for this thing. Or the next time I try this, I need to know this instead. Um, so a lot of it is just really making the effort because nothing happens if you do nothing, right? It seems so basic, but it's the God's honest truth. Oh, I have a book, I'm gonna write it. Are you putting time on your calendar to write it? Are you researching editors? Have you considered publishing? Are you talking to other people about the book that you want to write? Because if you're not talking about it, if you're not putting it on your calendar, it's never gonna happen. And so you really just have to kind of make those, and it's not anything huge. It's not just one day I'm gonna wake up and be like, I'm writing my book. I literally I am working on a book too, by the way. And it is pause for the moment because of all this fun. Um, but you know, it's been a process and it's been me taking intentional time, you know, out of my days or nights or whatever I need to do to do that, you know. And it's not always easy, but if it's like, if it's the right thing, it doesn't come hard. Like that's how you know it's the right thing. It actually comes easy.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh my gosh, Amy, this has been so much fun. You know, and the way that you're talking about it, you know, I had a mentor of mine years ago, gosh, probably over 20 years ago, said, Yeah, you know, just break your day down into 15-minute increments. It's all you need to do. If you want to do something in there, put it for 15 minutes and just focus on that, and then you can work your way through everything else. And you know, I've always focused on doing that because I was always so inspired by her because she was one of the most um amazing women I've ever known, you know, really got me into entrepreneurship. And I love that I'm able just to hear your advice because that's what the women need. They need to hear women like you and inspired by you. Like that's what I think that you've done today is you've really inspired myself, but then our listeners uh in the season of shift because I really see that you have done that. And I just one well, last minute thing um you did mention your social media, and I want to post that on our social media just so that make sure that our listeners go and check that out. I think that's really important. But do you have any last minute tips or tools for our listeners today?

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, I love what you emphasize there. Time management. Um, you know, if you don't respect your time and your calendar, nobody else will protect it fiercely. I don't care if you're working for yourself, for somebody else. Um, you know, I am definitely juggling between two kids, a husband, a mom that I'm caretaking for, literally leaving right after this to go to her house, get her stuff, and then take it to her rehab house where she is because she broke her femur last week. Um, you know, it's a lot. And I do it by creating time and space for myself to do the things that I know that I love and want to do and accomplish. Um, and I don't do it alone. I have a lot of great support. Um, shout out to my in-laws for doing all a lot of childcare in this shift and this season in our loot lives. Shout out to all of my Together Digital members, our volunteers who show up. Um, you know, I and don't be afraid to ask for help. When you feel overwhelmed, you don't have to do it all and you don't have to do it all alone. People really do want to help you. If they, if they know you, they love you, they hear your idea, you have to share it. You have to make time for it. And then you have to ask for the help and then be willing to receive it. I would say that those are kind of like the most key things to take away for anybody that's looking to make any kind of shift.

SPEAKER_02:

This is perfect advice. Thank you so much, Amy.

SPEAKER_01:

My pleasure.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I hope that you come back on the Diva Zet Care. We really enjoyed having you today. And I know that with a lot of our next podcast series, I think that you would fit in perfectly for them. So I'm just kind of throwing it out there. Sure. I would love to have you back.

SPEAKER_01:

Anytime, Candace. I love this. Yeah, I just I love the the mission and who you're trying to reach. I love that it's a global audience as well. That's super exciting. So yeah, anytime you want me back, yeah, there's more to the story. I got two other big shifts that we never even got to. So I'm so thrilled that you were willing to have me on and and let me share this because yeah, super excited about it, as you can tell.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, thank you so much. This was wonderful. And I want to do a shout out to all of our amazing listeners. Thank you so much for being with us, a lot of you for the last 15 years. Uh, we appreciate all your support, all your amazing um emails that you send us. You know, thank you so much. You you've definitely kept us going all these years, our hosts and our podcast series. They're always excited to hear from you. Uh, so make sure that you not only check out this podcast and send it to your friends and family, but send all the other ones also, because there is so many amazing women on the series that are talking about the shift. Uh, and we want to share that and collaborate and support as many people as we can. So thank you so much to my amazing guest Amy. I I loved having you on the program, and thank you to all of you guys. Remember to do something kind today. Until next time, everyone.

SPEAKER_00:

Thanks for listening. This show was brought to you by Divas That Care. Connect with us on Facebook, on Instagram, and of course on divas that care.com, where you can subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss a thing.