Her Story
About Augusta
Augusta Renee is a political organizer, community advocate, and entrepreneur, based in Newport News, Virginia. She serves as Regional Organizing Director for the Democratic Party of Virginia leading field operations across Virginia's Second and Third Congressional Districts. Her work involves coordinating voter outreach, recruiting and developing volunteers, supervising organizers, strengthening relationships with community leaders, and supporting campaign goals through grassroots engagement. With approximately 17 years of experience in community advocacy and politics, Augusta has built her career around mobilizing people, expanding opportunities, and addressing issues that affect individuals and families. In addition to her political work, Augusta is the Chief Executive Officer of ADM Beauty, a business she founded in 2020. Her entrepreneurial journey followed an earlier career in engineering at Continental Automotive and reflects her ability to navigate career transitions and turn challenges into opportunities. Through ADM Beauty, she aims to create a welcoming environment for diverse individuals while challenging stereotypes in the beauty industry. She has served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Peninsula Football Foundation and participates in community and nonprofit initiatives. Her reported community involvement includes serving on the NAACP executive board and nominating committee, supporting economic empowerment and poverty alleviation initiatives, and volunteering as a special education advocate who assists families with IEPs and Section 504 plans. In 2020, she was associated with community relief efforts recognized by the City of Norfolk through its Community Uplift Award. Augusta attributes her success to resilience, determination, and her ability to connect with people. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes integrity, accountability, compassion, and service, alongside a commitment to creating inclusive environments where individuals feel supported and empowered. She recognizes that challenging stereotypes, retaining talent, and balancing compassion with accountability are important considerations in leadership. Through her political organizing, business ownership, and community advocacy, she continues to focus on helping others access opportunities and build stronger communities. Outside her professional responsibilities, she enjoys content creation, reading, vacationing, and spending time with her family. She also creates social media content focused on history, politics, and current events, with a reported audience of approximately 70,000 followers across platforms.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Augusta
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work,
resilience, consistency, and the people who have believed in me along the way. I’ve never been the smartest person in every room, and I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I’ve always been willing to learn, listen, and put in the work. I’ve made mistakes, I’ve had setbacks, and I’ve had people give me opportunities I probably wouldn’t have given myself. I don’t take any of that for granted. I think a big part of my success is simply being willing to do the work, even when nobody’s watching, and remembering that there’s always more to learn.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women is not to wait until they feel completely qualified before pursuing something they want. Apply for the position, walk into the room, speak up, and take the opportunity. Never make yourself smaller just to make other people comfortable. Be confident in your abilities while remaining teachable, seek out mentors, and build genuine professional relationships. Most importantly, do not be afraid to fail. Failure can be an opportunity to learn, grow, and become a stronger leader.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In the beauty industry, one challenge I have encountered is navigating prejudice and stereotypes when leading a team of women who may not fit people's expectations of what a nail salon team should look like. It is important to challenge these assumptions while creating an inclusive environment where everyone has an opportunity to succeed.
More broadly, leadership requires balancing compassion with accountability. Sometimes, doing what is best for a team or organization means having difficult conversations and making unpopular decisions. Although these situations can be uncomfortable, they also create opportunities for growth. I believe progress comes from being willing to face challenges, learn from them, and keep moving forward one step at a time.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are integrity, accountability, compassion, and a commitment to service. I believe in doing the right thing even when no one is watching and holding myself to the same standards I expect from others. As a leader, I also believe in taking responsibility for my decisions and actions, especially when things do not go as planned. These values guide how I work with others, serve my community, and approach my responsibilities as a leader and entrepreneur.
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