Going against the grain changed Tabitha Brown’s trajectory permanently.

The North Carolina native is a multi-hyphenate known for her work in acting, social media, and entrepreneurship. Just over a decade ago, she made ends meet as an Uber driver. However, her authentic review of a vegan BLT sandwich from Whole Foods was what ultimately changed the trajectory of Brown’s life, 21Ninety reported. She had been trying to find success as an actress for years, but through the simplicity of showcasing her personality from her phone she became an ambassador of Whole Foods. She also attracted the attention of the masses as she leaned further into social media, highlighting her vegan recipes with a positive outlook during the wake of COVID-19.

Brown revealed in a former interview with AFROTECH™ that her agent at the time initially discouraged her from finding comfort behind the lens.

“I wanted to be taken seriously as an actress,” she said. “So, I listened to my agent when she said not to record things for YouTube, for Instagram, for any social media. I wanted to do stand-up — I wanted a TV show — and, honestly, I just felt stuck. So, I prayed about it, and I said to God, ‘I will do whatever you want me to do.’ Then, my daughter told me about this thing called TikTok. She said, ‘Mama, why don’t you start doing some videos?’”

The rest is history for Brown. She has 9.6 million followers on TikTok and Instagram alone (at the time of this writing). She is now an author and content creator who secured 56 deals in two years and has a retail deal with Target. She also self-funded Donna’s Recipe, a clean vegan hair care brand she officially launched in 2021 with Gina Wood. The products are now being carried at Ulta Beauty.

In 2025, she expanded her portfolio with a fragrance brand co-founded with her husband, Chance. Additionally, she is the chief financial officer at Clover to empower small businesses, a press release noted. What’s more, she is accomplishing this all while still pursuing acting.

Reflecting on traditional industry advice she has refused to follow, Brown told AFROTECH™, “Stay off social media. I chose to lean in, and it changed my life.”

AFROTECH™ Conference

Brown will take the stage during the AFROTECH™ Conference, held Oct. 27-31 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX. Her panel session, “Culturapreneurs: How FinTech is Fueling the Next Generation,” will feature Stephen Love, a film and TV producer and founder of Made with Love Media, as well as Shannon Watkins, chief brand, marketing and communications officer at Fiserv.

Speaking of her attendance at the annual tech mecca, Brown commented, “It’s my first time, and I just know I will leave inspired as a black woman and entrepreneur.”

For those looking to attend this year’s tech event, click here.