Today we’d like to introduce you to Mae Haynes.
Hi Mae, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey in media and marketing began right here in Houston with an internship at a local advertising agency. About a month before graduating from college, I was offered a full-time position to begin once I received my degree, and that opportunity became the foundation for everything that followed.
From there, I continued working my way up in the industry by learning, building relationships, taking on new challenges, and developing media strategies for major brands. Each role stretched me in a different way and helped prepare me for where I am today: leading a media team and continuing to grow as a marketing professional.
At the same time, I’ve always had a creative and entrepreneurial side. My love for bringing people’s visions to life led me to begin to launch my own wedding and event-planning business. Balancing a growing career with entrepreneurship has not always been easy, but I’m building it one event, one client, and one day at a time.
My faith has played a huge role in every part of my journey. It has carried me through difficult seasons, opened doors I could not have opened for myself, and given me the strength to keep moving forward even when the path was unclear. Today, I’m most proud of the woman I’ve become a leader, a creative, an entrepreneur, and a woman of strong faith. I’m still growing and building, but I trust that God is guiding every step of the journey.
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 has definitely not always been a smooth road. As an African American woman in the media and marketing industry, there have been times when I felt I had to work harder, network harder, and prove myself ten times more to be seen and taken seriously. I’ve also experienced imposter syndrome, especially when I was the youngest person or the only woman in the room. In those moments, my faith reminded me that I had earned my seat at the table and that God placed me in those rooms for a reason.
With beginning to step into part-time entrepreneurship, it has brought a different set of challenges. Although I have always been the “event-planning girl” for my family and friends, establishing myself professionally and finding clients willing to trust someone new in the industry has required patience and persistence. Through every challenge, I’ve learned to trust God’s timing, believe in what I bring to the table, and keep building one step and one client at a time.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Professionally, I specialize in developing media and marketing strategies that help brands reach the right audiences and drive meaningful results. My experience includes radio and audio, podcasts, streaming, social media, OTT/CTV, linear television, affiliate marketing, digital, and offline media. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with leading brands across sports, retail, B2B, and several other industries.
One of my proudest accomplishments was joining a Fortune 500 company and within seven months, helping double revenue by introducing podcast marketing as a new growth opportunity. I’m also proud to have received a negotiator award while working at a previous advertising agency. Those accomplishments are special to me, but I’m equally proud of the overall journey and the fact that I continued believing in myself long enough to become the woman and leader I am today.
I’m also beginning to build my wedding and event-planning business, offering everything from full-service planning and day-of coordination to event design, décor, and vendor management. I’m very personable, so I take the time to truly get to know my clients, understand their vision, and make the planning experience feel personal to them. My goal is to bring their ideas to life so beautifully that they’re yelling, “MaeDay! MaeDay!”….but in the best possible way!
What sets me apart in both media and event planning is my combination of creativity and strategy. I’m organized, detail-oriented, calm under pressure, and skilled at negotiating and building strong relationships. I’m known for being someone who can make things happen while ensuring the people I work with feel heard, valued, and supported throughout the process.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next five to ten years, I believe both the media and event-planning industries will become even more personalized, technology-driven, and focused on creating meaningful experiences.
In media, audiences are already consuming content across more platforms than ever, so brands can no longer rely on one channel to tell their story. I see continued growth in streaming audio, podcasts, connected television, creator partnerships, and other digital platforms. Data, automation, and AI will also play a larger role in how campaigns are planned, optimized, and measured. However, I believe the human element will remain just as important. Technology can provide insights, but strong relationships, authentic storytelling, cultural awareness, and understanding what truly connects with an audience will continue to set great marketers apart.
In the wedding and event industry, I see clients moving away from one-size-fits-all events and toward more personalized, immersive experiences that genuinely reflect who they are. Social media will continue influencing trends, but clients will also want originality rather than simply recreating what they have seen online. Technology will make planning more convenient, but people will still value a planner who listens, understands their vision, advocates for them, and brings calm to what can be an overwhelming process.
Across both industries, the biggest shift will be finding the right balance between innovation and human connection. The tools will continue changing, but making people feel seen, understood, and connected will always matter.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Queen_mae90
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maegan-haynes-26032b90
