UNDIPLOMATIC
“A revealing insider’s look inside the executive branch and its entrenched culture.”—Kirkus Reviews
“The book for those who think they don’t belong, they don’t deserve and they don’t qualify. An entertaining, inspiring and engaging story that boldly confronts imposter syndrome and gives readers the insight, motivation, laughs and guts to do the same.”
READ NOW:
UNDIPLOMATIC & DEESHA DYER LIVE EVENTS
PAST:
April 24, 7pm | Washington, DC | National Museum of African American History and Culture, Oprah Winfrey Theater & Streaming
April 25, 1pm | Washington, DC | The National Press Club ($5 - $10)
April 25, 7pm | Baltimore, MD | Enoch Pratt Free Library
April 30, 6pm | Philadelphia, PA | Barnes & Noble, Downtown Chestnut Street
May 22, 6pm | Washington, DC | House of 1229 - Invitation Only
May 29, 6pm | New York, NY | Ford Foundation - Invitation Only
June 12, 11:45am | Virtual | Girls Leading the World Chat - Register HERE
June 13, Jenner & Block, In Conversation
June 14, 6pm | Virtual | Girls Write Now - Register HERE
June 17, 6:30pm | Mystic, CT | Bank Square Books - Register HERE
June 18, 7pm | Washington, DC | MLK Library Juneteenth event - Register HERE
June 19, 4pm | Seattle, WA | Museum of Pop Culture Juneteenth event - Register HERE
June 21 | Bellevue, WA | Washington State Democratic Party Convention
July 8 | San Diego, CA | Taco Bell Foundation Live Mas Scholars Summer Connection Keynote
July 11, 7pm | Denver, CO | Soulfood Scholar Presents, Details and Tickets HERE
July 20, 11:45am | Alexandria, VA | Take Action for Animals - Details HERE
July 31, 1pm | Virtual | Power to Fly Chat & Learn - Register HERE
August 2, 10:45am | Atlanta, GA | National Book Club Festival, Website HERE
August 8, 5pm | Private | Martha’s Vineyard, MA | Undiplomatic on the Island
August 10, 3pm | Martha’s Vineyard, MA | Martha’s Vineyard Black Book Festival - Tickets HERE
September 4, 6:00pm | Detroit, MI | Email info@hookandfasten.com for details
September 5 | Keynote, West Michigan Black Legal Summit | Grand Rapids, MI | Details HERE
September 21 | Sistas In Sales | New York, NY | Details and Tickets HERE
September 25 | Private - U.S. Cellular Inclusion Summit | Virtual
October 15 | Washington, DC | Richard Wright Public Charter School and UDC
October 22 | Private - Protocol & Diplomacy International | Virtual
October 23 | Private - Netflix | Los Angeles, CA
October 26 | New York, NY | Well-Read Black Girl Festival - Details and Tickets HERE
November 7 | Keynote, American Association of Airport Executives - Inclusion in Aviation | Philadelphia, PA | Details HERE
November 14 | Private - Barnes & Thornburg LLP | Washington, DC
UPCOMING:
March 13 | Annual Career Exploration Conference | Allentown, PA - Details forthcoming
April 2025 | Book Festival | Atlanta, Georgia - Details forthcoming
ABOUT DEESHA
Deesha Dyer is an award-winning strategist, on-the-ground community organizer, and executive operations expert. She served as the White House social secretary during the Obama administration and is currently the founder and CEO of social impact agency, Hook & Fasten. She curated and instructed a study course called Imposter to Impact at the Harvard Kennedy School. Deesha’s entertaining and engaging style of storytelling allows her to inspire audiences around the world. She co-founded and operates organization, beGirl.world Global Scholars, which tackles the racial disparity in study abroad. Deesha was named Marie Claire’s new guard of women changing the world, the Root’s most influential African-Americans and profiled in Women Who Run the White House by Essence. She’s been featured in Vogue, Travelnoire, and The Washington Post and written for Oprah Daily, Glamour and Lonely Planet. Deesha was recently awarded the Women of Excellence Award by the city of Washington, DC. and lives in Maryland. Deesha can be found on Instagram!
ABOUT UNDIPLOMATIC
Without credentials, connections or a college degree, a hip-hop journalist and community leader conquered her imposter syndrome while landing one of the most exclusive, sought-after and fun positions in the White House. From the most unlikely person to end up as a senior official to President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama comes a candid, incredible and inspiring story. Moved by the election of the country's first Black president, Deesha Dyer applied for a White House internship in 2009 as a thirty-one-year-old part-time community college student, taking a leap that carried her through being hired in a full-time position, followed by three promotions landing her at the epicenter of politics. Deesha rose to the highly coveted role of White House social secretary, giving her a front row-seat to executing events that communicated defining moments in history while curating some of the flyest parties 1600 Pennsylvania has ever seen. With humor and realness, she peels back the curtain. Deesha reflects on how imposter syndrome threatened her survival until she realized that it was neither her fault nor her responsibility. More at the reader resource guide and media kit HERE.
BOOK DEESHA TO SPEAK
Through dynamic storytelling and hilarious anecdotes that have heartfelt touches of important lessons weaved in, Deesha has inspired audiences at organizations, corporations, academic institutions, conferences and gatherings for nearly ten years. Each engagement is customized to achieve the organizer’s goals while directly addressing how imposter syndrome affects an individual’s health & wellness. Dyer provides a roadmap of digging up the root of why we feel this way and even more important how we navigate and conquer confidence issues. At a time when everyone is talking about mental health of employees and students, this talk provides a platform for empathy, healing and restoration.
We’re currently booking Deesha for speaking engagements and book signings. Bulk book buys of Undiplomatic are also available at discounts up to 37%. See what others are saying about Undiplomatic and Deesha’s talks below! Also check out the reader resource guide and media kit HERE.
Reach out to info@hookandfasten.com to start the conversation!
"I’ve had a front row seat at many of the events that Deesha managed at the White House. And while I could be impressed by her ability to create and curate fly events, I’m most impressed by Deesha’s hardworking, enterprising and no nonsense approach to the world and her journey. This book is a guide for anyone who needs motivation to execute above expectations and to deliver high wattage results even when the spotlight is bright." - Bozoma Saint John, Hall of Fame Inducted Marketing Executive, Author, and Entrepreneur
"By telling the story of her own inspiring and unexpected path to Barack Obama's White House, Deesha Dyer offers powerful lessons about how to suppress self-doubt and chase one's dreams. Undiplomatic is powerful, smart, and very funny." -Dan Pfeiffer, Former Senior White House advisor/NYT Bestselling author/co-host Pod Save America
Deesha Dyer is a down-to-earth realist with the ability to address a wide spectrum of audiences. Connectivity is key, and she has mastered the art of storytelling that reaches you at the core of your deepest concerns. Our attendees laughed, cried and contemplated their desires to change the world after hearing from Ms. Dyer. She is unapologetically transparent and seeks to transform the closed-minded. We were so fortunate to have had the opportunity to hear her. - Toni Ellis, SOAR Conference