We recently had the chance to connect with Tanya Djavadzadeh and have shared our conversation below.
Tanya, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Energy is the most important to me. I believe energy is contagious: it sets the tone for how we show up, how we connect, and how we create. When there’s light and positivity – I can feel a real shift happen which elevates my attitude and inspires me to keep moving forward. This helps me show up better for myself and those around me. There are moments when the vibes are off and that type of energy puts me into fight or flight mode. The hope is where there’s good energy – there is also good morals, values, and integrity to follow. Trust your instincts. True energy doesn’t lie.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a Digital Campaigns Manager at Hearst Newspapers by day and a Freelance Photographer with Tanya Djavadzadeh Photography by night. In my current role, I manage digital advertising campaigns on over 50 websites throughout the nation. I take great pride in knowing I’m helping both small and large scale businesses grow digitally.
Earlier in my career, I worked as a social media manager: curating content for local businesses and volunteering with former Congressman Beto O’Rourke’s Powered by People – which opened the door to incredible opportunities in the political field as a creator and field organizer. My ambition drove me to moments where I was able to photograph leaders such as Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and Dr. Jill Biden. My photography now allows me to capture powerful moments at concerts, political rallies, and events.
With a background in music, I’ve always been drawn to the energy of live performance – which is what connects my passion for concert photography. That path has led me to photograph musicians such as Beyoncé, Pusha T, Earthgang, St. Vincent, Slim Thug, and many more to come!
This year, I pushed myself to do something uncomfortable for me as an artist and I showcased my photography in two separate art shows. My focus is to continue to grow in a corporate setting, but also as an artist – with the dream of photographing a stadium concert (fingers crossed for Toyota Center).
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents taught me the foundations of work. My dad immigrated to the U.S. from Iran when he was 15 and has worked tirelessly – both for others and as a self-employed business owner. He’s had moments of triumph and loss, but has never given up on his pursuit of excellence. My mom followed him years later, with big aspirations for her education and career path. She’s a natural leader and her drive to help others succeed has always impacted my worth ethic. From both of them, I learned the importance of showing up, working hard, striving for excellence, and treating people with kindness: leading with kindness is the key to success.
They also taught me resilience – keeping your head up no matter what life throws at you and understanding that things don’t have to be perfect the first time around. Growth comes through trial and error, but above all – through consistency. That lesson has shaped the way I approach both my career and my creative work. I’m forever grateful for the lessons they continue to teach me.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering is a blanket I wrap tightly around me like a cape of strength. I could consider it a superpower. I’ve dealt with mental health issues for as long as I can remember and I know that feelings have their ebbs and flows. At my lowest, I feel a worthless numbness which spirals my mind into believing my hard work isn’t enough, I’m not talented enough, I’m not smart enough to succeed, or someone better will replace me. The struggles can drill a hole so deep I forget there’s light on the other end, but believe me – there always is. You just take things day by day, sometimes hour by hour and grow through what you go through.
Success comes and goes. You can achieve a major milestone in your career and lose it all the next day. But struggle? Learning to navigate life while struggling is a gift I’m grateful for – it reminds me that I’m alive, I’m resilient, and I can always find my way back through prayer and hope.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that my love and support for them and my family is what matters most to me. If my people are okay – I’m okay. I naturally put the needs of others before my own and while some might say I care too much at times: I’ve learned that this is actually one of my greatest strengths. It’s part of what makes me who I am. One of my biggest joys in life is bringing people together through shared passions – whether it’s music, film, politics, or Timothée Chalamet. Being able to communicate via song lyrics or film quotes is my love language. Most of my greatest friendships started by me asking – “what type of music do you listen to?” Followed by, “what’s your favorite Timmy movie?”
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What light inside you have you been dimming?
My voice. The light I’ve been dimming is my voice. I’ve always been outspoken when I saw injustices in the world – believing that my words could make a real impact. Sometimes, I still believe that, but other times, I feel a disconnect. I’m still not sure whether it’s because I’m in a more corporate setting or the current political climate of society – I feel like my voice have been diminished. It can be difficult, but I have to remind myself that everything I’ve believed in still matters, and yes – one person can be the change. I just have to remember it even when I forget. You never know who you’re helping by being vocal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tanyadjavadzadeh.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/tanyatd21
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-djavadzadeh/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/tanyatd21
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/tanyatd21
Image Credits
Tanya Djavadzadeh
