Marissa Nance

About

Marissa Nance: Founder & CEO Native Tongue Communications - 2023

During more than 30 years in advertising, Marissa Nance has invested into her own very special personal quest - driving representation in the industry’s workforce AND work. She creates pathways for BIPOC communities to have a seat at the table. In 2019, she left a 30-year career at Omnicom, where she was one of their first Black/Female, Managing Directors, to launch the FIRST and ONLY minority and female certified media agency, Native Tongue Communications (NTC). Built on her decades of success, NTC is THE place where Marissa and her team can now advocate for clients that have included Amazon, Pine-Sol, Burt’s Bees, Peanuts, Nike, Microsoft, Intel, Eli Lilly, McDonald’s and Clorox. She serves as protector, advisor and champion for countless women and BIPOC people, all through the lens of media, branded content, DEA&I and marketing communications. She is an industry leader and a voice for the future. Perhaps most importantly, NTC is 100% owned by Marissa, which means no matter the challenges faced as a small independent agency, she is able to remain steadfast in her NTC commitment to empower those who need it.

In 2022/23 alone, some of Marissa’s award-winning achievements include:

- $1,000,000 invested in Black Female entrepreneurs by creating “The Legacy Program” with Essence Magazine and Pine-Sol.

- Launching, “The Armstrong Project”, named in honor of Peanuts character Franklin Armstrong, to establish six-figure endowments at multiple HBCUs.

- Creating the first ever MICROcultural^™ native campaign for Burt’s Bees, which drove their year-to-year product sales growth.

Throughout her career, some of Marissa’s more iconic work includes:

• Launching reality TV’s two longest running competition series, "Survivor” and “Top Chef”.
• Launching the two highest-grossing independent films in recent decades, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "Castaway" with Tom Hanks.

Marissa has continuously been recognized by her peers during her career. This includes:

- Elections to the Boards of “She Run’s It”, “GLAAD” and “The Harlem YMCA”

- Winner, Cup Catalyst Award

- 3x Black Enterprise Top Woman in Advertising

- Member, Cannes Lion and Effie Juries

- Reggie Award Winner

- ANA Multicultural and Reggie Judge

- Campaign’s 40 Over 40 and Female Frontier Awards

- Creative Media Award Finalist

- Cynopsis Model D and IT List Awards

-  Forbes Women “50 Over 50” Honorable Mention

-  Ad Age 2023 “Leading Women” Honoree

Marissa’s writing appears in the anthologies “International Sponsorships,” “What I Know is Me,” “Digital Marketing Tactics” and “The Art of Branded Entertainment.”

Marissa has appeared on several Podcasts and Interviews. Here are a few:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOZRTg3kWhc | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtxGhYUihXY | https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-own-it-94081287/episode/how-marissa-nance-of-native-tongue-110008856/