When David Tann thinks about his entrepreneurial story, he references many factors that culminated in the birth of his company, Tantrum Agency, where he is the Founder and the CEO. He grew up in retail watching his mother design floor displays, create seasonal campaigns and manage inventory. This exposure — and admiration for his mother — would set the direction for his career path, which would lead him to spend more than 15 years in retail branding and marketing before founding his own branding agency and creative consultancy.
Tantrum Agency is an Atlanta-based creative consultancy and boutique brand identity agency that helps businesses of all sizes find their voice. The firm is a multi-disciplinary firm that does not focus on a specific type of client or industry. As a result, the company is able to cross-pollinate ideas, trends and learnings from one industry to another.
“This is where the true innovation lies,” said Tann. “We believe that the best work considers both the head and the heart, and we promise to be curious in our approach, but emotional in our execution.”
Tann’s 20-year career prior to founding Tantrum Agency included holiday campaigns for Bath & Body Works, branding for Abercrombie & Fitch, revitalizing the OshKosh B’gosh clothing brand and directing e-commerce for Carter’s. His last stop before founding Tantrum was with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks where he was vice president and creative director.
“Working in all of these different companies and for all these different brands, I didn’t really see many other people in the industry that looked like me, and I never really felt like I fit in,” said Tann. “I wanted to create a space that celebrated diversity, authenticity and talent. I never wanted to be put in a box, and if you look at Tantrum’s clients, they are a reflection of that.”
Tann said he aioms to lead with humility. “If my team only sees me as their boss, then I am failing them,” he said. “As a leader, we should be stewards first. I work for my team — not the other way around.”
According to his staff, Tann is never about accolades or recognition, but more about making a difference. “Throughout his career, he’s always made it a point to be a voice and advocate for others, despite his stature within the company,” said his staff. “He is guided in his decisions by compassion and empathy, which are true characteristics of superior leadership.”
