D.J. Vaughn serves as Walmart’s Director of Multicultural Media Partnerships. In this role, he executes an evergreen approach to inclusive storytelling and marketing. D.J. leads with passion and a desire to drive systemic change, a focus most recently illustrated through the development of several diverse talent incubator programs with HOORAE, NGLmitú, and SiriusXM. These initiatives combat inequities in the media, advertising, and creative industries by offering opportunity, access, and professional development to influencers, creators, and creatives across linear, digital, social, audio and film mediums. Additionally, D.J. oversees multicultural program integrations, influencer executions, brand partnerships, and content creation – all efforts that celebrate diverse identity, intersectionality, ambition, and excellence. He works to showcase the culture in the most authentic and positive light, resulting in impactful collaborations with leading media companies including, BET, REVOLT, Urban One, EBONY, ESSENCE, Group Black, the American Black Film Festival, and many more. 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 with ambassadors, creators, platform partners, and brands. 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.