Shadé Dixon, an “attorney to the creatives,” is the definition of a strong-minded woman. Through her faith and determination, she continues to excel both professionally and personally. Shadé currently runs a law firm, Tyree Hyche & Dixon, LLC, with her mom who manages their Birmingham location. She also simultaneously manages their Atlanta location where her law practice focuses primarily on servicing creative entrepreneurs.
A Birmingham, Alabama native, Shadé started playing the drums at age 3 and that began her love for music and the arts. Upon graduating high school (which is where I met her my freshman year as she was graduating), she moved to Atlanta to attend Spelman College. While in college, she met her husband, Jiwann. They currently run their company VisionFuel, an entertainment and creative content agency.
"I have always had a passion for the arts and entertainment," said Shadé. "That passion has morphed into a passion for contributing to the integrity and protection of the arts and those who create it; and, assisting with the birth of new ideas and helping them become a reality by way of small business growth."
Welcome Shadé as this week's feature:
Name: Shadé Hyche Dixon, J.D.
Title: Attorney and Partner at Tyree Hyche & Dixon, LLC and Co-owner at VisionFuel
Location: Atlanta, GA
Background: 2009 graduate from Spelman College - BA in Economics/2012 graduate from Samford University, Cumberland School of Law
YC: When did you decide that you wanted to go to law school?
Shadé: I knew around 13 or 14 that I wanted to be an attorney. The desire honestly stemmed from the fact that my mom went to law school and it was always something that I could see myself doing. As I got older, I realized that I wanted an avenue to operate in my passion without being a musician and law gave me that. Being an attorney allows me to protect the interest of the creative and still be around what I love most.
YC: What made you start your own firm?
Shadé: Shortly after graduating law school and passing the bar, my mom (who started her own firm about 2 years prior) asked me if I was interested in joining her. I never thought about running my own practice but figured that it would be a great opportunity to forge my path exactly how I wanted to. It has been challenging, but it is a decision that I don’t regret.
YC: Why do you love what you do?
Shadé: I love what I do because I get to do what I’m passionate about and I feel that it is aligned with my purpose as well. I get a lot of joy out of helping people create and sustain businesses, protect their ideas, grow their visions, etc.
YC: What does the first hour of your day look like?
Shadé: Since last year, I have been focusing on taking self-care and mental health seriously. For that reason, my early morning routine typically doesn’t involve anything business related. I wake up and often grab my phone but I’m working on that lol. Next, I start my prayer and devotion time, which includes a 5-minute meditation. I then go workout because I feel that it increases my mental focus and gives me a more positive attitude to tackle the tasks of the day.
YC: Do you believe that the people you surround yourself with make a difference in your overall success?
Shadé: Most definitely…I am a firm believer that “iron sharpens iron.” I surround myself with people that are like-minded and motivate me to be great.
YC: Who inspires you the most, and why?
Shadé: My mom. She is the most driven and hardworking person that I know. What I admire most about her though is her passion. She does everything with a certain level of passion that causes everything she touches to be great. Because of that, I’m constantly inspired to strive for that same level of excellence.
Additionally, my dad, in his absence, greatly inspires me as well. He passed last year and one thing that really stuck with me were the stories that people told about how he impacted their lives. My dad did so by simply operating in his purpose. Knowing that inspires me to keep pushing when things are tough, keeping in mind that me operating in my purpose can positively impact many lives as well.
YC: What’s the main thing holding you back?
Shadé: I try not to focus on anything or anyone holding me back, but to keep my focus inward. I focus on what I can do better and go from there.
YC: What's your definition of success?
Shadé: My definition of success is being able to do what you love to do. That’s it. It’s not tied to money. Instead, it’s rooted in happiness and the satisfaction that what you do is in alignment with your purpose.
YC: What's the biggest lesson you learned on your overall journey?
Shadé: The biggest lesson that I’ve learned is to not be so focused on the destination that you forget to appreciate the journey. The journey builds character and creates memories.
YC: What's the best advice you would give to anyone striving to reach their goals?
Shadé: The best advice that I can give is to be a student of your craft…never stop learning. That goes for life as well. You should continuously work on being the best version of yourself. Additionally, always remember your “why.” Why do you do what you do? Why do you want to achieve the said goal? Focusing on the why keeps things in perspective when the journey gets tough.
Wow, this was awesome, and definitely great gems to share. Thanks Shadé for being on Yvonne Camille's #FeatureThursday series. If you want to learn more about Shadé, make sure to check out her social platforms listed below:
Website: www.thdlegal.com / www.visionfuelent.com
Instagram: @ShadeEsq
Facebook: Shadé Dixon/@thdlegalatl/@VisionFuel
For all inquiries/services, email Shadé at shade@thdlegal.com.
Check back every Thursday for a new feature. If you know someone I should feature, email me via the Contact Page.
Sending love and positive vibes your way!
Yvonne Camille