Marcia Masulla:

CEO of Roar Nashville, Founder & Managing Partner of Nashville Fashion Week, Founder & Executive Director of Tiny But Mighty Fund

About Marcia Masulla:

Marcia Masulla is an entrepreneur, non-profit leader and city-wide connector. For nearly 15 years, she’s dedicated her life both personally and professionally to serving our city and its people. 

Marcia moved to Nashville in 2008 and went on to build Nashville organizations such as Nashville Fashion Week and the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund, where she still serves as Co-Founder and Managing Director. She also founded the Tiny But Mighty Fund, a nonprofit that raises funds and awareness for animal welfare and rescue. 

Marcia has served as a mentor for Vanderbilt University’s Wond’ry innovation and entrepreneurship program since 2018. She was on the board of the Belcourt Theatre for 6 years, stepped up as the Fundraising and Community Engagement Chairperson for Tennessee Action For Hospitality in 2020 and has continued her work with food service workers in crisis as a member of Giving Kitchen’s Nashville Community Engagement Council to this day. Marcia was appointed to the YWCA, Inclusion Tennessee, and Arts and Business Council Board of Directors in 2022. She actively serves on the Community Benefits Agreement Board between Major League Soccer – Nashville Soccer Club and Stand Up Nashville since joining in 2020.

Masulla has been recognized by Nashville Business Journal as a Women of Influence 2021 and 40 Under 40 class of 2015. Other recognitions include:

  • Arts & Entertainment winner at the 2015 Nashville Emerging Leaders Awards (NELAs)

  • Nashville Lifestyles’ 25 Most Beautiful People of 2013

  • Julia Colton Animal Welfare Award recipient by Nashville Humane Association

  • Member of Tennessee State Museum Costume & Textile Institute

  • 2018 alum of Leadership Nashville program

  • Leadership Nashville Alumni Board member

  • 2023 alum of Emerge Tennessee 

She is a member of both The Table Action which focuses on making Nashville the model city for equity and inclusiveness, and BrainTrust, a national community of women business owners that champions and challenges one another to grow their companies to their fullest potential.

Marcia began her career in brand development and growth with global companies and organizations such as Yelp, USA Today, Tennessean, and Gannett. In 2017, she launched her own Communications, Strategy, and Creative Agency, Roar Nashville. Through April 2023, she also served as the Director of Outreach and Scheduling for the Office of Mayor John Cooper.

Marcia and her rescue pup, Reggie, reside in Chestnut Hill where she served on the neighborhood association board from 2020 - 2022.

To meet with Marcia, or any of our excellent mentors, please fill out this interest form.

Marcia Masulla Q&A:

  • I was so impressed with a concept that embraces what can happen when entrepreneurial opportunities collide with creativity. With all the leadership and interactive tools available to students, this innovative space is a gift that encourages bright futures.

  • With a background in fashion and culture along with my extensive experience in media, start-up culture and entrepreneurial ventures, I can help encourage students to mesh both innovative and renegade thinking with how to execute and activate. The process is vital and I’m all about it!

  • It’s a tie. Getting recognized by my peers (and so many people that I look up to) for the Leadership Nashville class of 2017 and also picking myself up back in April when I was laid off by the USA Today Network/Tennessean newsroom and starting my new business, Roar Nashville which is already thriving 5 months in!

  • Relationships are everything. I have started several projects and businesses from the ground up and while it certainly helps to have a vision and the tools to make it happen, you need to have strong relationships at the foundation to help you execute and be embraced by the community and industry itself.

  • Yep. Every mistake, disappointment and road traveled led me to exactly where I am now. And while, I have had many successes, I’ve also failed along the way and will continue to if I keep pushing through boundaries.

  • Work ethic. Can’t stop. Won’t stop. Einstein said, “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”

  • Fashion designer/sports broadcaster/attorney and what’s weird is that my journey has included nods to each of those professions along the way. Life has a funny way of working out that way!