Some grit. A little struggle. Persistence. And innovation. These are at the heart entrepreneurial journey, and that Think and Do spirit is at the core of the Wolfpack.

November is National Entrepreneurship month, and we’re highlighting NC State Alumni-owned businesses and the alumni who are using their degrees to impact their communities.

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Mack Garrison ’11 | College of Design | Dash Studio

Tell us about your business and your pathway to get there.

Dash Studio is a high end animation and video production agency that simplifies complexity for enterprise level brands. As a College of Design grad with a bachelor’s degree in Art and Design, I knew I was meant for a creative career because I loved people and problem-solving!

In 2015, after working as a freelancer and eventually in-house at another creative agency, I saw an opportunity in the Raleigh market for a premium creative vendor. Animation and video content are the perfect conduits for explaining complex subjects. And with the rise of tech, finance and healthcare groups locally and regionally, we seized the opportunity and have now been in business for over 11 years. This is a direct result of producing amazing work with even better people.

What inspired you to start your business, and when did you know it was time to take the leap?

Burnout is a very real hurdle in the creative industry. After working my way up from a Junior Creative to a Senior Art Director, I realized the way I was working was not sustainable. That led me to deeper conversations around what brings me joy and where do I want to commit myself professionally. The result? Building a creative agency that believes in the power of creativity and community. When you invest in people, you create great culture. When you have great culture, that’s when the best work is produced.

What’s something you learned at NC State that has helped you as an entrepreneur?

The College of Design prides itself on solving problems and it’s something I carry with me today. The business world is changing so fast as new technologies and approaches are coming out monthly, if not weekly. But when you are comfortable in ambiguity, you can turn subjectivity into objective outcomes, and I credit my time at NC State with that proactive thinking.

What has been your biggest “Wolfpack moment” in building your business?

When Jim Valvano and the 1983 Men’s Basketball team went on their incredible March Madness run to win the NCAA tournament, they did the impossible. How did they do it? To put it in Jim’s words: “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” That, to me, is one mentality every entrepreneur should know. You will run into hardships, but keep things moving forward, and don’t ever give up on yourself. 

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to an NC State student or alum who wants to start a business?

There will never be a perfect time to start, and, in fact, you’ll find that excuses are easy to come up with. The best advice I can give any rising entrepreneur is to embrace friction and get used to people telling you that you can’t and instead, tell them (and yourself) why you can.

What does “Think and Do” mean to you as an entrepreneur?

Think and Do means putting ideas into action. It’s solving ambiguity, working through problems and bringing innovation to life.

Editor’s note: You can find Dash Studio on Instagram @dash_nc.

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Have a business you’d like to add to the Alumni Business Directory?

From construction to consulting, if you’re looking for an NC State Alumni-owned business, we’ve got you covered.