Influential Woman · Entertainment
Tiana Tiana
Professional voice actor, --
Atlanta, GA
Her Story
About Tiana
Tiana X is a professional voice actor who entered the entertainment field in 2013 and transitioned fully into voice acting approximately a year and a half ago after a career as a commercial model. She earned a BA in Sociology from Louisiana Tech University and a master's degree in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco, drawing on her background as an Olympic trials qualifier in the 100-meter hurdles to build resilience and adaptability that she credits for her success. Tiana is a SAG-AFTRA member and plans to join the National Association of Voice Actors. Her work includes audiobook narration, commercials, animation, video games, and AI voice cloning, highlighted by her recent contract to serve as a selectable voice assistant for a major tech brand. She values integrity, respect, and compassion in her professional and personal life, and previously volunteered with Hashtag Lunchbag in Los Angeles to support the homeless population on Skid Row. Tiana advises women entering the industry to negotiate their worth confidently and emphasizes networking while maintaining positive professional relationships.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tiana
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say I'm just a very resilient person. I'm somebody that is solution-oriented, so I never kind of settle for what people say is possible or what they say is the limit. I always feel like I can push past that or find a workaround. And I work well under pressure, so I really think that being an athlete in my younger days helped me to build the determination, the persistence, the dedication, the resilience, tenacity that was needed to continue to learn how to pivot when things don't go the way that you want. So I would say that's probably what I attribute my success to, is just my ability to be adaptable and be flexible, especially in the entertainment industry, because it's just one of those industries where one day you're hot, and the next day you're not.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
It's good to network, it's good to get to know certain producers and crew and things like that so they'll remember you. Being an easy person to work with, being somebody that people enjoy collaborating on projects with, because then it opens your world up to a lot more opportunities. Leave any professional situation with that relationship intact as much as I can.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't underestimate the power of your worth and your value when it comes to negotiating with large companies. You have a lot more power to negotiate than you think that you do. Don't take the first number that they give you. Negotiate what you feel is a fair value for what you are providing. Don't undercut yourself or undersell yourself. You are worth much more than you think that you are in this space.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is honestly not knowing what sort of opportunities are available to you in this space. The beautiful thing about voiceover is you don't need super expensive equipment to get started. You also don't need any formal training to book your first jobs. There's a lot of opportunity here, you just gotta dip that toe in, you just gotta take that first step. Especially in the AI space, there are several voice cloning opportunities where the budget is $115,000.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
For me, I think that being a person of integrity and always acting within your character is important. My integrity, my character, and being kind and compassionate towards people. The pillars that I stand on going forward in my life are always respect, integrity, and compassion. Lead with my heart and hope my head backs it up.
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