Dee Patience
Dee Patience is a strategist and growth architect for Amazon-first CPG brands, specializing in TikTok Shop launches and scaling initiatives. As the founder of Cart Culture, a TikTok-approved partner for women- and minority-owned brands, she helps businesses expand their digital presence without straining cash flow. Dee combines Amazon’s trust engine with TikTok’s attention engine, guiding brands from cold starts to consistent growth through affiliate networks, creator activation, and go-to-market strategies tailored to their budgets.
Before founding Cart Culture, Dee cultivated a diverse and impactful career spanning technology, real estate, and public service. She began at Apple, where she worked on global project leadership and operations alongside Tim Cook during Steve Jobs’ return. Transitioning to real estate, she grew an investment brokerage and worked closely with industry leaders, including Gary Keller. Later, she managed the State of Texas Housing Trust Fund, overseeing multimillion-dollar affordable housing programs and leading a team that implemented statewide policies and risk management strategies.
Dee’s current focus blends her operational expertise with a passion for empowering women founders. Through her Grounded Growth newsletter, she shares actionable insights on e-commerce, TikTok Shop strategy, and brand storytelling. She also launched Vela Ritual™, a consumer brand designed to support women executives with wellness and sleep solutions. Dee’s philosophy centers on clear messaging, creative storytelling, and leveraging community-driven growth to help brands reach six- and seven-figure milestones while maintaining sustainable operations.
• Introduction to Social Media Marketing
• Texas State University - BA
• Ambassador of the Year
• Featured Panelist
• Interview/Business Profile - 2007/2008
• Service Award Finalist
• Televised Interview
• Featured Interview
• Startup CPG
• Shelf Mate CPG
• Naturally Austin
• Brand Builders Group
• Content Growth Engine
• Leadership Austin (Class of 09)
• Greater Austin Black Chamber (former Black Technology Council chair)
• Local Black MBA Association
What do you attribute your success to?
I’ve built my success by navigating change and turning challenges into opportunities. From growing the Texas Housing Trust Fund to its largest-ever level of affordable housing funding, to helping my husband pivot his business during COVID, I’ve learned to adapt and act decisively. I now lead a talented team launching and scaling women- and minority-owned brands on TikTok Shop, creating meaningful impact and real financial growth.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is simple but powerful: work hard. I’ve found that dedication, persistence, and giving your best effort in every opportunity consistently open doors and create meaningful impact.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to network relentlessly, seek out new clients, and put yourself in the public eye. Focus on creating impact, building confidence, and cultivating empathy—these qualities will set you apart and help you thrive both personally and professionally.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is stepping into the spotlight as a personal brand. As an INTJ strategist and operations-focused leader—more like Tim Cook than a public-facing personality—I wasn’t naturally drawn to self-promotion. But to teach storytelling on my YouTube channel, I realized I needed to live what I teach. Sharing my “Phoenix story,” a rise-from-the-ashes journey, led to speaking engagements and new clients within hours. Even posting just once a week on LinkedIn for a month has opened doors I never expected. The opportunity I see now is building an ecosystem for women founders—through a podcast and YouTube channel—showing them how to launch products from scratch using both my experiences and my clients’ successes as real-life examples.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
As a strategist, my core value is empowerment—I aim to help everyone I work with achieve significant growth, with a goal of reaching six- to seven-figure success. Beyond results, I value collaboration, integrity, and creating opportunities that allow people to thrive both professionally and personally.
Locations
Cart Culture
Austin, TX 78747