D.J. Vaughn serves as Walmart’s Director of Cultural Engagement Media & Partnerships.  In this role, he executes an evergreen approach to inclusive storytelling and marketing.  D.J. leads with passion and a desire to create meaningful impact, a focus illustrated through the development of several emerging talent incubator programs with HOORAE, NGLmitú, and SiriusXM.  These initiatives offer opportunity, access, and professional development to influencers, creators, and creatives across linear, digital, social, audio, music, and film mediums.  Additionally, D.J. oversees multicultural program campaigns, talent integrations, influencer executions, brand partnerships, and content creation – all efforts that celebrate identity, intersectionality, ambition, and excellence.  He works to showcase the culture in the most authentic and positive light, resulting in successful collaborations with leading media companies and creators.  Formerly, D.J. served on Walmart’s National Social Media team during which he managed cross-category content development and curation, organic and paid media strategies, and innovative, never-been-done-before activations.  D.J. coordinated various social series, including features that accounted for 3 of Walmart’s top 5 live-streamed broadcasts.  

In addition to social and digital storytelling, D.J. served as a grantmaker for foundation and corporate givers, managing executive, domestic, and international philanthropic portfolios and communications for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and FedEx.  For the latter, D.J. created and launched the corporation’s first CSR strategy for the continent of Africa, which included developing the first corporate-sponsored university scholarship program for graduates of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy.

A native of North Carolina, D.J. is a Duke University alum, graduating with degrees in Public Policy Studies, Cultural Anthropology, and Documentary Studies.  He also earned his MBA at Wake Forest University as a Dingledine Positive Social Impact Scholar.