Akela Hankins, a brand designer, started as an entrepreneur from the backside. At the age of 19, she released her first blog “Releasing the Victory.” In it, she shared her story which helped her gift of creativity bloom.
With her strong talent for graphic and website design, she created a powerful business. She Is Brand is a creative studio that specializes in branding and rebranding businesses starting at the fundament.
They offer the tools necessary to build a sustainable and scalable business. When she’s not helping businesses with their branding needs, you’ll find She is Brand hosting a private Facebook group. It’s a safe space for business owners and future business owners to share their knowledge, trouble, and experiences.
What do you want people to know about you and your business?
I am a godly creative woman and was created to be a resource for those around me. Within my business, I build sustainable and scalable brands for entrepreneurs who are on the rise or ready to go to the next tier. I also provide tools for entrepreneurs who are stuck in their business journey and ready to propel forward.
Why did you create She is Brand? Did you have a purpose behind the company or something you strive toward?
She Is Brand was created from my love to creatively help others. Our goal is to help you establish a brand that can last 5+ years. Our niche in branding design results in luxurious brand identity for each of our clients. We don’t want to just create; we always want to help you surpass.
Our current top-selling resource is The Perfect Meeting Journal. It’s designed specifically to help the admin, business owner, school teacher, business coach and more to keep track of their daily meeting notes. This is just an overview of what we do to be a resource. We have a lot more resources, and as we grow the list will continue.
Tell us more about She is Brand. How does the process work when somebody hires you?
She Is Brand uniquely helps build the substructure of your brand before we begin the design process. For all our clients, we provide a general consultation to address your brand and the issues you’re facing. This offers you profitable solutions to help you better scale your business.
If you’re interested in the full branding experience, we then take you through a deeper development process that will allow you to reach clarity and confidence in delivering your brand. After the development process, we then start designing.
For our website clients, we make sure they have a solid foundation. We send over our website checklist for them, and have them send us their brand files so we can begin working.
We also provide other services such as consulting, social media management and social media coaching. Our services are priced per project and we offer reasonable payment plans for our clients to easily take care of their investment.
What message can you send out, to step forward with a new business and grow your confidence as an owner?
Everything you put out is really about confidence and perspective. If you see yourself and think like you’re a successful entrepreneur, you’ll operate your business like a successful entrepreneur.
I know a portion of business owners, including myself at times struggle with just showing up (imposter syndrome). In order to effectively accomplish your goal ahead, you must dismantle the thoughts of self-doubt and replace them with powerful and positive ones.
You may not do everything right. Instead, memorize how to quickly dust your shoulders off and implement a new change and continue to soar. The more you grow as an individual, the more your business will grow in strategy and revenue. Keep learning, it will carry you far.
Was there a major challenge you went through while building your business? Or was it a series of smaller challenges?
The major challenge I dealt with while working on brand creation was the thoughts of not being secure enough or equal to my competitors. In order for me to fully operate in my lane, I had to step out of my own head and be myself, regardless of what others thought or supposed.
Being an entrepreneur and/or a woman of influence, there will be people who love you and people who are annoyed by you. As long as you’re putting your best foot forward and keeping your focus on the goal, you will constantly win the race!
Comparison is a killer for the creative mind and soul. You won’t be able to operate to the best of your ability if you’re perpetually trying to measure up to the next person. There are more than a billion people in the world, you’re going to reach the multitude you’re called to.
How do you handle the financial aspect of your business?
I began my company on a leap of faith and prayer. Within two months, I was generating 2x the income I made when I had a job. Two years and a month later, our company revenue is continuously growing. Being a Christian, I stand strong on Deuteronomy 8:18 and Romans 13:8, so I prefer not to accept any funding. Plus, my business is service-based and people are always in need of a proficient design.
Where do you see She is Brand in the future? Do you have any specific goals?
She Is Brand values will always remain the same. My future goal is to build an agency of designers who are as passionate about branding and marketing as I am, without the hassle of feeling like it’s a steady job. My goal is for us to be a resource for every entrepreneur and future entrepreneur who is ready to take their brand to the next level.
What advice can you give new business owners?
When embarking on something of your own and making a living through it, be the solution not the trouble! Solutions will sell faster than anything, but you cannot be a solution with a copy and paste business. You have to know what makes your brand unique, therefore you can attract your dream clientele.
Don’t try to rush into it because everyone is doing it, your well-thought-out strategic plan will carry you through more than you just winging it. Whatever you’re destined to become will happen, as long as you stay the course and keep pressing, even if you don’t see a million sales when you first launch.
Anything else you’d like us to know?
For the year 2020, we are offering 30% off of our Fempreneur Branding Package which is designed to help female entrepreneurs start or elevate their businesses. Check out our work via social media or on our website if you’re ready to trust a professional to guide you through your branding process and book a call today!
Company Name: She Is Brand
Email Address: akela@sheisbrand.com
Website URL: www.sheisbrand.com
Instagram Handle: @sheisakela
