Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Taylor.
Hi Teresa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a proud Austinite who grew up here in the “Keep Austin Weird” years. After graduating from the University of Texas Business School, I headed to Los Angeles (on a bit of a whim), thinking I’d spend a few years exploring opportunities & life, and ultimately getting my MBA.
Those few years turned into an incredible three-decade adventure in the entertainment industry. I started as an agent representing professional dancers before transitioning into television, live events, and commercial production. Along the way, I had the opportunity to work on amazing projects ranging from major television productions and international concerts to large-scale live events.
In 2023, I returned home to Austin and found myself asking an important question: How could I use everything I had learned in a new way? The answer came in an unexpected but perfect opportunity to serve as Executive Director of the Rotary Club of Austin.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of my biggest challenges was building a career in the entertainment industry while raising my daughter as a single mom in Los Angeles. The industry is demanding, with long hours and constant change, and I was equally committed to being an involved parent and seeing my daughter successfully through the public school system.
Professionally, I also experienced enormous changes in the entertainment business itself. As the industry evolved, I found myself thinking not just about what I had done, but what I wanted the next chapter of my life to look like. The biggest challenge was making a career pivot after more than four decades in an industry where I had built both a reputation and an identity. At the same time, I knew that whatever came next had to allow me to continue being creative, because creativity has always been at the heart of who I am.
The hardest part was finding a way for others to see that the skills I had developed as a producer were highly transferable. And yes – my past life had glamorous moments, but the entertainment industry is a business, first and foremost – with the same skill set and work challenges as roles outside of the industry.
We’ve been impressed with Rotary Club of Austin, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Today, I’m proud to say I’ve found a role that allows me to continue using both my business and creative skills. I can draw on the marketing skills I learned at UT and throughout my career – while finding new creative ways to bring Rotary into the community. My role is to raise awareness of what Rotary truly is at heart, tell the stories of our impact, and connect people to opportunities to serve – all while having a lot of fun along the way!
My career has taken me through two very different worlds that, surprisingly, have a lot in common. For more than three decades, through my work at TT Productions (www.tt.productions), I built a career producing television, concerts, and world events. What many people don’t realize is that producing is about bringing people together around a shared vision, building teams, solving problems, telling stories, and creating experiences that connect with audiences.
Today, I strive to bring those same skills to my role as Executive Director of the Rotary Club of Austin. While Rotary is known worldwide for its service work, scholarships, leadership development, and humanitarian projects, what truly sets our club apart is our culture. We are a community of people who believe in making a difference while also building genuine friendships and connections. Rotary creates opportunities to serve, learn, lead, and belong – and it does so in a way that connects people through both purpose and heart.
What I am most proud of brand-wise is helping shine a new light on Rotary, particularly for younger generations and people who may not fully understand what Rotary is today. I love finding creative ways to tell the stories of our members, highlight the impact we are making in Austin and around the world, and invite more people into that experience. Every new member brings new ideas, new energy, and new opportunities to serve. The more awareness we create and the more our membership grows, the greater impact we can have on our community. At the end of the day, that’s what inspires me most – helping connect people who want to do good with opportunities to make a real difference.
I’m also very committed to the ARTS in Austin and participate in the AACME Working Group, AEB (All Entertainment Business), and serve on the board of ATX Artists for Social Impact.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something many people don’t know about me is that one of the projects I am most proud of had very little to do with television or entertainment. Years ago, I founded a nonprofit called the Global Dance Initiative, which highlighted individuals around the world who were using dance and music to heal, connect, and inspire. These weren’t celebrities – they were everyday heroes using the arts to help people overcome disabilities, trauma, build confidence, create understanding, and improve lives.
I’ve always believed that creativity is much more than an artistic skill. Creativity can be a powerful force for healing, connection, and positive change. Through the Global Dance Initiative, I had the privilege of amplifying the work of remarkable people who were making a difference in their communities yet receiving very little recognition. Although the organization ultimately closed during COVID, the experience remains one of the most meaningful accomplishments of my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rotary-austin.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rotaryaustin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rotaryclubofaustin
- LinkedIn: @https://www.linkedin.com/company/40921266
- Other: www.tt.productions
