How this marketing entrepreneur went from being a party promoter at Howard University to closing seven-figure deals with multi-global companies

Going to college is a life-defining milestone. Balancing academic achievement with unprecedented independence is, at best, anxiety-inducing for adolescents transitioning into adulthood. For David Brock, the contrast between high school and college was more extreme than most.

Alaska-born Bullock grew up in one of the least populated, coldest-climate, and least-black states in the country. “When I was a kid, I think Alaska was maybe 5 percent black. My high school had about 2,000 students. We had less than 40 of him black,” he recalled. increase.

At 17, with Howard University admissions in hand, Brock moved to the densest city, sweltering summers and darkest city in the country. The contrast between his Shaw neighborhood in DC, where Howard’s campus is located, and Bullock’s hometown of Anchorage, Alaska, is as different as day and night. With a transition of this magnitude, expect some culture shock, especially at such a vulnerable age. But for Brock, the idea of ​​being intimidated by his new surroundings didn’t even register.

“When I went to Howard, it was the first time in my life that I had to inject a whole new, different group of people,” Bullock told ESSENCE. This kind of self-confidence and seeming imperviousness to intimidation is a repeat of Brock’s narrative. It is not arrogance or false bravado, but a trait reinforced by years of necessity and deliberate practice.

“I was born with cataracts, so I’m blind in one eye. Brock’s parents had cataract removal surgery, which left him with lazy eyes.” Statistically speaking, people with lazy eyes tend to be less able to make meaningful connections. Because of this, they are less likely to get a job and less likely to fit into society. “So I grew up differently. And I grew up making friends against the odds. Everything I’ve achieved has always gone against expectations,” he said.

Rather than let his disability beat him down, Brock embraced it. “I made amends. I read books on how to connect with people. I really focused on learning how to communicate with all kinds of people,” he told his ESSENCE. “I saw it as an opportunity to turn my greatest fear—my greatest weakness—into a superpower,” he said. has earned the marketing entrepreneur a coveted spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.

Today, the founder and CEO of 907 Agency boasts a high-profile client roster that includes Warner Music Group, Spotify, and Nike. The key to his success, he says, lies in his flexibility and substantial immunity to intimidation.

Here’s how marketing gurus used radical self-acceptance, likeability, and authenticity as superpowers to conquer the marketing world.

Basic self-acceptance.

David Brock is a realist and a self-proclaimed underdog. Some people spend their lives building defensive mechanisms to hide their shortcomings, but Block faces it head-on. In his view, flaws are simply the fuel for creating ambition, competitive advantage. “The way I gain confidence is by embracing being an underdog,” he said. If his business track record is any indication, his “underdog theory” has proven to be true.

By the end of his first year, Bullock was the kind of campus guy Howard’s hadn’t seen in decades, a bona fide Twitter influencer, and party promoter. A friend of mine and I were summoned to the administration building. [Howard’s Administration] They were worried when they heard about our next party, Project HU,” recalled Bullock. “They said this is the biggest party they’ve seen in Howard since Diddy went to Howard. Right? And this is my first year in college.”

Block’s reputation as a promoter was noticed by record labels representing Wale at the time, when the party trended nationally on Twitter. The label flew him to South by Southwest, where through networking he met world-famous singer, songwriter and industry insider Tony Williams, who undertook his marketing services. From there, Bullock influencer news of his marketing genius and party promotion expertise went viral. One occasion led to another, and by the summer of his sophomore year, he was accompanying Williams on his tour of Kanye’s Life of Pablo, Justin’s House of Combs, hosting his party, and Puffy’s ” Kombucherra’ came up with the marketing for the Coachella acquisition.

But the victory didn’t stop there. Brock has discovered a procedure that can align the eyes. The surgery did not restore his vision, but it did correct the cosmetic aspects of his strabismus. “Even with that surgery, all the skills I learned, the confidence I built, and the tools I honed really feel like my super powers in learning to communicate and build relationships with people. he said.

Favorability rating.

Brock is a likable guy. Less than 90 seconds into the conversation, he felt like I was chatting with his family rather than a formal interview. He has a likability that makes you want to root for him. His talent for making meaningful connections is rooted in his empathic ability to sense where people are and what they need. It’s a skill honed by his challenges. Still, while effective networking might get you in the room, excellence will keep you there.

Brock’s likability is backed by a track record of delivering exceptional campaigns that benefit his 907 Agency. The boutique firm recently signed a new deal with a large multi-global company. “Our company succeeds by developing campaigns that benefit our target audience while addressing our clients’ marketing goals. Recent additions include Microsoft, Xbox, and the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings. ” said Block.

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