Nathan Zucker
There’s no shortage of success stories in Nashville, and behind many of them are the incredible women who are paving their own way and opening doors for generations to come.
Whether they’re building an idea from the ground up, crunching numbers, creating content, or working to make dreams a reality, meet one of the trailblazing women of Music City.
Erin Dugan
Founder & Director, The Cast Collective
THE DAILY HUSTLE
Storytelling is interwoven into everything that I do, but on a tangible level, I do all things photography, videography, podcasting, and start to finish creative conceptualization for creative media. I give creative guidance to artists and other professionals as they work to define, develop, and execute their visions. I utilize video, image, and sound as mediums to help articulate their stories and advance them in whatever direction they are heading. I get just as excited seeing others reach their goals as I do when I reach my own. I guess that’s a glorified way of saying I am a hype woman, which I totally am. I am a listener, a helper, and a collaborator at heart. To my core, I believe that it’s not one idea but rather the combination of ideas that is where the magic happens.
THE NASHVILLE WAY
My Nashville community is the reason I haven’t had to spend a dime on marketing since starting The Cast Collective – no paid advertising whatsoever. New business has come my way through the power of human connection, my most valuable commodity. I always tried to support my friends, colleagues, and other small business owners with their ventures, both those who came before me and those who are just starting out. And, let me tell you, they have returned the favor. Nashvillians have your back if you have theirs. This community is as tight-knit as they come, and I am so grateful to be a part of it!
ADVICE FOR OTHERS
Don’t let a bunch of “reasonable” people weigh in on your dream early on. Keep your ideas close and sacred. People may think they are protecting you from failure, but that is often just a projection of their own fears, or regret for what they did or didn’t accomplish. Don’t listen. You can be thoughtful. Be smart. But if you have faith that you can do something, don’t let other people’s need for comfort and security deter you from taking the leap. Your moral compass should guide you always. Make sure you have enough quiet moments to hear it.