Award-winning event strategist, community leader, author, speaker, founder & CEO
Photo by Colville W. Heskey
Photo courtesy of Paper Monday
Deesha Dyer is the Founder & CEO of Hook & Fasten, a social impact firm. Dyer is an award-winning event strategist, community organizer, and sought-after keynote speaker who specializes in transforming ideas into causes that create tangible change. A 2019 Resident Fellow for the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, her career, and personal mission reflects an unwavering passion for servant leadership, civic engagement, and social justice.
Her journey began at a community college and led to her role as social secretary for the Obama White House. Dyer worked with the President and First Lady to plan and arrange all official and personal events hosted at the White House. She coordinated the historic visit of Pope Francis, State Dinners with leaders from China, Canada, Italy, Singapore, and Italy, and booked legendary acts like Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, and more.
Dyer is also the Co-founder and Executive Director of beGirl.world, an organization that empowers teen girls through global education and travel. Additionally, she oversees Black Girl 44, a scholarship fund for young black women seeking internships in Washington, D.C., and the Deesha Dyer Second Chance Scholarship at the Community College of Philadelphia. Her work has led to her being named Marie Claire’s new guard of women changing the world and the Root’s most influential African-Americans. She has also been featured in Vogue, Travelnoire, and The Washington Post and in 2022, Deesha was awarded the Women of Excellence Award by the city of Washington, DC. Her debut book Undiplomatic from Hachette Book Group is due out April 23, 2024.