First Friday Female Founder Feature: Terry Bradley Dunn
Each year, the National Association of Women Business Owners hosts a Women’s Business Conference (or WBC). Back in October of 2019, WBC was in Jacksonville, FL, and that’s where I had the joy of meeting Terry Bradley Dunn. From the first moment we met, Terry’s energy was contagious, and we bonded over our shared passion for advocacy work. As Chapter President for NAWBO’s Greater Raleigh Chapter in 2021-22, I got the true honor of Terry serving as Director of Public Policy on my board of directors, and everyone was the better for the vision and strategic mindset she brought to the role. Terry truly cares about lifting up those around her and making the world a better place. She continually keeps in mind the desired outcome and focuses on utilizing all available resources for the organization as well as its members to be successful. Enjoy this peek inside the mind and heart of this absolute rock star!
About Terry Bradley Dunn
Terry Bradley Dunn is a distinguished leader, organizational strategist, and celebrated advocate for women business owners in North Carolina, renowned for her expertise in board authority, effective governance and economic empowerment initiatives. As the President & CEO of Tai-Lynn HR Solutions and former Director of Public Policy for NAWBO Greater Raleigh, Terry leverages her advanced certifications—SHRM-SCP, SPHR, and Black Belt in Diversity & Inclusion—to drive strategic growth and operational excellence for both businesses and nonprofits across the state.
Terry champions the power of organization as a transformative force for both professional and personal life, emphasizing that getting organized boosts productivity, supports better decision-making, and sparks creativity. Organization allows individuals and teams to maximize time, streamline workflows, and achieve improved work-life balance—laying a strong foundation for sustained professional success and personal growth.
A strong believer in purposeful productivity, Terry advocates for setting clear goals, prioritizing high-impact tasks, delegating wisely, and maintaining an organized workspace. She underscores the importance of leveraging technology, limiting distractions, and developing healthy routines like taking regular breaks and implementing digital detoxes to fuel excellence and sustained performance.
A member of NAWBO and this year’s recipient of the prestigious 2025 Gillian Rudd Advocacy Award at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Terry is widely recognized for her dedication to advancing women business owners. On November 8, 2025, she will be inducted into the North Carolina Women Business Owner Hall of Fame in honor of her decades-long commitment to advocacy and impact. Whether leading NAWBO Public Policy, collaborating with regional boards, or spearheading empowerment initiatives, Terry continues to inspire others to build systematic habits that drive resilience, organization and lasting impact.
First Friday Female Founder Feature:
Terry Bradley Dunn
How would you describe the company you founded and its products?
Tai-Lynn HR Solutions is a full-service HR Boutique that drives strategic growth and operational excellence for businesses of all sizes.
Why did you start your company?
My why included making HR solutions available to all companies, not just the ones that have big budgets.
What has been the most rewarding part of your journey in founding this company?
This has been having the autonomy to offer HR solutions that are sometimes unique to each specific company.
About what are you most proud?
I’m most proud of the clients Tai-Lynn HR Solutions is currently partnering with or has had the privilege of doing business with on this journey. Serving all of them has been the greatest honor because we chose each other.
Are you naturally organized, was it a skill you learned or is it something with which you regularly struggle, and what tips or tools do you use to stay your most organized?
I champion the power of organization as a transformative force for both professional and personal life, emphasizing that being organized boosts productivity, supports better decision-making and sparks creativity. Organization allows me to maximize my time, streamline workflows and achieve improved work-life balance — laying a strong foundation for my professional success and personal growth.
Who’s the one person who changed your life and why?
My mother! She had only a high school education but had the courage and grit to start multiple companies. Although she is no longer with me, I think about her when fear tries to grip my courage and grit.
What words of wisdom would you have for someone who is overwhelmed with staying organized and / or productive?
Pace yourself but do something. Movement is honorable.
Do you use technology to help stay productive or organized? If so, what’s your favorite program, app or tech tool?
None other than calendars.
How do you feel about work / life efficiency or integration in your life, including any tips or challenges for managing the personal and professional commitments in your life?
Doing both your personal and professional commitments is imperative, but you cannot choose one over the other all the time.
About what causes are you most passionate?
Causes that are most important to me include Advocacy (like Social Action), Habitat for Humanity (for how it supports Affordable Housing) and Big Brothers Big Sisters (which features Mentoring Littles).
What have you found to be the most effective way to relax after a long day or super long week?
Walking on a lake near my home.
What is your favorite author / book?
One book I’ve enjoyed is entitled When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting by Brian Fikkert.
What is your favorite inspirational quote?
One of my favorites is by Mark Twain - “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks and, then, starting on the first one.” It’s important to do something towards your organizing goals. Therefore, you have to start and do it in a mode that’s most comfortable to you but do something.
What is your go-to accessory?
Comfortable black shoes.
What are the fundamentals of your beauty routine?
After washing my face, I put on my (1) hydrating eye cream, (2) Vitamin Enriched Smoothing Serum and (3) Vitamin Enriched Face Base before putting on makeup.
What is your favorite food?
Salmon
What is your favorite place that you have visited?
Every time I visit any country in Africa is exhilarating. My very first trip was to South Africa. I went to Durban in 2002 with the Jimmy Carter Work Project. We built a hundred Habit for Humanity homes in a community on land that was once used to separate blacks and whites doing Apartheid. The community helped us build.
Of the locally-owned and -operated establishments in the place you currently live, which are your top 3 favorites and why?
Skin Sense Day Spa, which offers the opportunity to flush out toxins from my body
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern because food there is amazing and I feel special when I eat there
J’Adore High-End Resale, where I love finding clothing treasures
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
The more I mature in life, the more I have learned that having a super power could be dangerous so I do not wish on this level.
What advice would you give your 21-year old self?
Start now, whatever your dream.
If you could have lunch with anyone (living or deceased), who would it be and why?
The 22 founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Why? To thank them for having the vision for this organization and ask what, asking about what we should be doing that we are not.
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