Meet Melissa Core-Caballo: The Visionary Behind Dead Horse Branding is this week’s featured Woman in Business interview
Tell us about your business…
At Dead Horse Branding, we pride ourselves on being an award-winning PR, management, distribution, and branding agency based in Nashville, Tennessee, and Sydney, Australia. Our focus is on providing comprehensive services that enhance brand visibility and success, utilizing our unique “DH7 Branding Formula.” This formula has proven effective across various industries, including music, fashion, culinary arts, and education.
Our target audience is diverse, encompassing the music business, fashion brands, startups, and established companies looking to refine their brand identity. We have a very strong music and talent-building division. I believe in the importance of aligning our branding efforts with the unique strengths of each client, ensuring their stories resonate with their intended audiences. By crafting tailored strategies, we empower our clients to achieve strong market presence and growth.
Please tell us what being a business owner means to you and why you became an entrepreneur in the first place?
A Nashville record label fired me for being too entrepreneurial. I started working for myself at a very early age of 16 and have never liked the feeling of a ceiling. Being a business owner means embracing both the challenges and the rewards of entrepreneurship. For me, it’s about creating a platform where creativity and innovation can flourish. When I founded Dead Horse Branding, I was driven by my passion for branding and the desire to help others tell their stories effectively, as in my family unit my voice has always been silenced. I saw an opportunity to use my experiences and knowledge to guide clients through the complexities of building a brand that resonates with their target audience and being their very large megaphone.
In this role, I feel a profound responsibility—not just to my clients but also to my team. I strive to foster a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to share their ideas. Each day brings new challenges, but my commitment to growth drives me to find solutions and inspire those around me. The most rewarding part of my work is witnessing the growth and success of my clients. Knowing that our efforts contribute to their achievements is incredibly fulfilling.
Ultimately, being an entrepreneur is about continuous learning and remaining passionate about what I do. I’ve come to understand that success is not solely defined by financial metrics but by the positive impact we can make in the lives of others. Every step I take as a business owner is fueled by the desire to uplift and empower those around me, and that’s what drives me every single day.
What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why?
My husband and co-founder, Rick Caballo is a great influence in business. His insights and expertise complement my own, allowing us to create a strong partnership at Dead Horse Branding. While I focus on the business aspects—strategy, client relations, and operational management—Rick brings his creativity and artistic direction to the forefront. His background in art direction allows him to create compelling visual identities that resonate deeply with our clients’ audiences.
Additionally, the legendary music producer Tony Brown has significantly impacted my career. His mentorship and encouragement have shaped my approach to branding and business strategy. Tony’s vast experience in the industry has taught me the importance of resilience and adaptability, qualities essential for any entrepreneur. Furthermore, I draw inspiration from trailblazing women in business who have paved the way for others, showing that it’s possible to thrive in a male-dominated industry. Their stories remind me of the power of determination and passion in overcoming obstacles.
Together, Rick and I blend our strengths to form a dynamic partnership. This collaboration enables us to offer holistic branding solutions that drive results and foster meaningful connections between brands and their audiences.
What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?
Keeping a company thriving, whilst becoming a Mom for the first time during a global pandemic. I dug deeper and held on for dear life stronger than I ever thought possible and I am really proud of myself for that. I would also say working with the legendary music mogul Tony Brown. It is mind blowing to wake up everyday knowing I get to be in his circle and be part of his team.
What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our readers?
Tony Brown: “You have to have blind faith”. I love that, it’s so true. People carry it with religion so why not carry it for yourself, your goals and business mindset.
What is your relationship with social media?
Social media is a vital part of my branding strategy and personal connection with audiences. I see it as a powerful tool to not only promote my clients but also to share my journey and insights as an entrepreneur. I believe in the importance of authenticity; when you engage with followers, you aim to build trust and foster genuine relationships.
Every post or update is an opportunity to tell a story, whether it’s about a client’s success or a lesson I’ve learned along the way. I also understand that social media is ever-evolving, and staying ahead of trends is crucial. By being adaptive and responsive, I can ensure that my messaging is relevant and impactful. This approach has helped me cultivate a community that feels connected, which I believe is essential for both personal and brand growth.
What is your favorite app?
BLINKLIST – Busy people want quick reads, quick information grabs and I love it for that.
What have been the most effective marketing initiatives or programs you have used to promote your business?
At Dead Horse Branding, we’ve implemented a variety of marketing initiatives that have proven highly effective in promoting our services and enhancing client visibility. One of our key strategies revolves around the art of storytelling. We believe that every brand has a unique narrative, and by harnessing this storytelling approach, we create emotional connections between our clients and their audiences. This not only helps our clients stand out in a competitive marketplace but also fosters lasting loyalty among their customers.
Collaboration has also been a cornerstone of our marketing efforts. Working with industry veterans like Tony Brown has enabled us to expand our reach and credibility. These collaborations result in co-branded campaigns that not only showcase our branding expertise but also highlight the strengths of our partners. By aligning ourselves with respected figures in the industry, we enhance our reputation and attract new clients who are eager to leverage our innovative branding solutions.
Additionally, our commitment to education has set us apart. We’ve integrated our branding formula, the DH7, into educational programs at institutions like Kennesaw State University. This initiative not only positions us as thought leaders but also equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed. By sharing our knowledge and expertise, we help cultivate the next generation of branding professionals, ensuring that our impact extends beyond our immediate clientele.
Social media plays a crucial role in our marketing strategy as well. We actively engage with our audience through platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, sharing valuable insights, client success stories, and behind-the-scenes content. By being authentic and transparent in our communication, we cultivate relationships that translate into brand loyalty and increased client referrals.
What one thing have you learned as a small business owner that has served you well over the years?
To protect everyone—staff and clients—everyone is right, and you have to be the mediator to make everyone feel right. It’s not easy, but it’s the best way. Unless there is a clear “you know what” type of person, then that goes out the window.
How has your routine changed since covid?
Since COVID-19, the team at Dead Horse Branding has adapted its routine significantly to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic. Like many businesses, we had transitioned to remote work at the time and adopted various digital tools to facilitate seamless collaboration and ensure everyone stayed connected, regardless of location. Regular virtual meetings and check-ins helped maintain our team culture and keep projects on track. This shift also allowed us to enhance our efficiency, as we learned to utilize technology in ways that streamlined our processes.
Additionally, we embraced a more flexible work-life balance, recognizing the challenges many faced while juggling work and personal responsibilities. As we moved forward, we continued to integrate the lessons learned during the pandemic into our operations. We have staff in the office 3 days a week and work remote the other two days.
What productivity tools do you use?
At Dead Horse Branding, we rely on several productivity tools that enhance our workflow and collaboration. Asana is a key project management tool that helps us organize tasks, set deadlines, and track the progress of various projects.
For document storage and collaboration, we utilize Google Drive. This platform allows our team to create, share, and collaborate on documents in real time. It streamlines our workflow and helps us maintain a centralized repository of important files. Additionally, we also use Dropbox for secure file sharing and backup, ensuring that our documents are accessible and safely stored.
To manage our media relations and monitor our brand’s presence, we use Cision. This tool provides valuable insights into media coverage and helps us identify opportunities for outreach, ensuring that our clients receive effective publicity. Zoom has become indispensable for virtual meetings and consultations, enabling us to connect with clients and team members seamlessly.
On the social media front, Sprout Social is our go-to for managing and analyzing our social media strategy. It allows us to schedule posts, monitor engagement, and gain insights into audience behavior. Lastly, Chartmetric offers powerful analytics that help us track music performance across various platforms, providing our clients with data-driven insights to enhance their branding strategies.
Are there any other resources/tools that have helped you run your business?
At Dead Horse Branding, Canva and Photoshop play pivotal roles in our design process, allowing us to create impactful visuals for flyers, events, and release shows.
Do you have any new projects coming up?
We are now working in the documentary space and launched a production leg to Dead Horse Branding “Short Cut Productions”. Our first story to come off the production line is Tony Brown’s life story documentary.
How do you prepare for the next day?
I am a big planner, I look at things weekly and have many systems in place for weekly work life balance. But the best way for me to prepare for the next day is to make sure I sleep 8 hours the night before.
What is the number one meeting you never miss (and why)?
Our internal Dead Horse weekly meetings – here we go over all brands, concepts, goals, updates and work as a fierce team to keep Dead Horse and our clients on track.
What do you do for fun/relaxation?
I love water, so anything with water.
How would you describe yourself in a single sentence?
Earthy clean freak who is highly strategized and loves people please.
What is the Number One Business Goal you plan to accomplish over the next year?
To continue to be lucky enough to choose who we want to work with – that is a HUGE WIN for me and my team.
You want to write a book on … The Caravan Kid
I was raised in a caravan in Australia, my odds were very much stacked against me to even come close to some of the goals i have achieved and happiness i have created for myself and family. Family rejection and a feeling of not belonging anywhere filled me and I managed to transform my pain into passion, some people go the other way. I have started writing it so stand by it.
What is the number one book you recommend to our readers? And why?
How to Win Friends and Influence People – it’s all about how sales is not really sales when you put psychology into the mix.
What practices or boundaries have you implemented in your personal life to create more work/life balance?
It’s definitely been in the family space over the last couple of years. As I mentioned earlier, I love to people-please, which stems from an interesting set of childhood traumas that can explain why some people are that way. I started to understand why I was like that and made the decision to accept that it’s part of who I am and how I’ve been built. I enjoy doing it, but only for those who appreciate it. Learning to rule out the people who don’t deserve it can be tough, especially when they are the family members who shaped you to begin with.
What’s the best way for the readers of WE Magazine for Women to connect with you
