The Renaissance Podcast

Branding Over Everything: How Melissa Core-Caballo Built Dead Horse Branding and a Legacy of Credibility

Sydney Dozier

Send us a text

This week, we sit down with Melissa Core-Caballo, the visionary CEO and co-founder of Dead Horse Branding, an award-winning PR and marketing firm based in Nashville. Melissa has never followed the traditional path—she’s a high school dropout who knew from an early age that she was meant for something bigger: entrepreneurship on her own terms.

Alongside her husband and co-founder, Rick Core, Melissa has developed a cutting-edge branding curriculum that they currently teach in schools, equipping the next generation of visionaries with the tools they need to build powerful, authentic brands. At Dead Horse Branding, they take a holistic approach to branding, ensuring that every element—strategic planning, design, photography, website development, marketing, social media, publicity, and licensing—works in harmony to create a brand that resonates.

In this episode, Melissa shares why branding should be the foundation—not just social media strategy, the importance of building an identity before marketing, and how she’s worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment, music, and business—including Cyndi Lauper, Steven Tyler’s Loving Mary Band, The Today Show, Lionsgate, and Universal Music Group.

As Melissa puts it, "The only thing you cannot afford to lose is your credibility."

Get ready for an inspiring conversation about taking the road less traveled, disrupting the norm, and creating a brand that truly lasts. 

Support the show

About The Host:

Sydney Dozier the visionary behind Renaissance Marketing Group, a leading Nashville-based social media agency founded in 2014. Over 9 years, Sydney has curated a top-tier team, establishing Renaissance as a go-to agency delivering proven social media marketing results.

Renaissance offers a wide array of services, from social media management to content creation, professional photography and videography, branding, and more, serving clients across the nation. Their focus is clear: drive revenue, foster online growth, and exceed client expectations.

Sydney is not only a business dynamo but also the co-host of The Renaissance Podcast, aimed at empowering entrepreneurs. Her dedication to supporting women entrepreneurs led to The Mona Lisa Foundation, offering mentorship, grants, education, and a vibrant community. She's also the brains behind The Renaissance Women’s Summit, an annual event in Nashville with a mission in inspiring women entrepreneurs.

Sydney is a wife and mother to Sawyer James and has an unwavering passion for entrepreneurship, the color pink, and her two furry companions, Stevie Nicks and EmmyLou Harris.

Learn more: www.renaissancemarketinggroup.com

People on this episode