Q&A With Archer Sierra, Founder of Dark City Media Group

Tell us a bit about Dark City Media Group.

DCMG is a social venture company which develops art and media projects to raise funding for philanthropy and human rights projects. DCMG develops projects for producers who support philanthropy. I saw areas that needed advocacy and that the government wasn’t addressing. After being forced to step away from my acting career I flocked to journalism studies in 2001 and then private investigation in 2005 in order to increase my skills. By 2006, I moved to the Washington, DC area to put those skills to good use. I also accepted a position as a media director in order to create a diverse set of skills in media. I knew the long game was DCMG but I also knew that every job I took to fund the path to creating DCMG would provide me necessary experience to run the dynamic business model I had in my mind’s eye.

What gave you the idea for your business and how did it start?

DCMG began in 2003, shortly after working with ABC News where I began to learn about child trafficking. In order to protect a proprietary business model, I will offer you this, I created a business model similar to a spiders web in order to catch bad guys by fueling it with the power of media and technology. Prior to finding out about human trafficking I had intended DCMG to create an underground railroad for assisting stalking survivors and journalists to safety. Over time, as my knowledge and professional experience matured so did the DCMG business model.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

I love the creative process and developing creative ideas in an industry I love. What I love even more is being able to put the profits and invest in social good projects that will create brighter futures for future generations. I consider myself and old soul and a futurist. We cannot change the past but we can change what has driven failure in the past.

What are your keys to making yourself productive?

Like many, I have a process. I realized long ago that I think a little different than people. I’m known for being the queen of bringing all the right people to the table. I meditate daily, believe in flow and neuro hacking. Our mind the most powerful machine on earth. We have the ability to push ourselves by facing challenges head on, conquering fear, embracing pain, etc. I am a huge advocate for the warrior spirit and and apply this philosophy to my personal and business life.

Tell us one long-term goal in your career.

My long term goal is to find strategic partners to scale DCMG and The Olympia Awards into a global brand. DCMG is organizing The Monster and Heroes Ball which will take place in all 193 UN Countries. This project will allow us to donate a substantial amount of money into human rights projects and fund some unaddressed areas. We want to focus on strengthening families. In 2017, I set the goal of making myself a more accessible CEO. It’s not that I am reclusive but I am often focused on my business because I am passionate about helping others. I know the impact DCMG can have and a grind away daily kicking in doors to walk through that threshold.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned through the course of your career?

I have learned you must become an army unto yourself and often your own hero. Only then are you an asset to others. And know when it’s time to knock on doors and when it’s time to kick them in. Just make sure you are prepared first. Patience is power, so bide your time, make a plan and then go kill it!

What advice would you give to others aspiring to succeed in your field?

One must learn kill your fear, naysayers, and listen to your gut. I say embrace opposition and resistance. As they always say, planes take off against the wind. If you believe in something, GO FOR IT! That idea you have may be the answer to a problem that other have been seeking answers to for decades. An innovator will always come along that will disrupt the status quo…and it may be you! When I went for a moonshot to 10X DCMG, I ended up alone. My team disbanded and some of my closest family and friends abandoned me. I knew that I was on the right track because because everyone thought I had gone mad. I kept moving forward and didn’t take time to cry about it. I knew that if I persisted that my work would speak for itself and the success of DCMG would let them realize that they were wrong. Just do you. I took a stand for human rights and reuniting families torn apart by U.S. Family Court Corruption and Child Protective Services. I am passionate about creating funding to drive innovative Autism research. I want to focus specifically in the niche area of assisting Autistic children who are victims of crime in overcoming crime related trauma. Find your niche and fuel it with your passion.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

I am a huge art fan and love to travel in order to explore different cultures. I like to think of the world as a global community that I have yet to meet. Although, I love meeting people, I also like my quiet time in order to have balance with my busy bee side. You will often find me with a good book in front of a fireplace or purposely reserving the darkest corner booth in a restaurant enjoying a glass of wine and some healthy cuisine, walking, hiking in nature, urban exploring or hitting the gym.

Name a few influential books you’ve read and/or websites you keep up with that you’d recommend to readers.

There are SO many. I haven’t had cable in my house for years and rely on internet and my personal research for current events. I am a business junkie and I’m m a huge book nerd. A few that come to my mind is The Spiritual Laws of Success, Crush It, ancient literature, Napolean Hill readings, poetry. Being a busy startup CEO, I LOVE podcasts of leadership influencers like Gary Vaynerchuck and Masters of Scale and rely heavily on audio books. I have often been inspired by Keynote Speaker Greg Reid and influencer Marsha Wright. I follow dozens of daily smart briefs to keep up with multiple industries. I like to stay ahead of the curve. I advise individuals to find what you are interested in and follow the knowledge that will lead you to your long term goals.

Follow Archer Sierra on Twitter @ArcherSierra