A Brand Growth Strategist is responsible for staying up-to-date on consumer research and market trends, and identifying insights, challenges and opportunities to stay ahead of the competition. But what does the day-to-day truly look like for this role?
Enter: Ahfeeyah Thomas.
Ahfeeyah Thomas is the CEO & Founder of Build Brand Design, a coaching and design company for startups and CEOs so they can help scale their business to seven figures and beyond.
Startup Boston (SB): What inspired you to choose this career path?
Ahfeeyah Thomas (AT): I chose this career path because I understood that there is ultimately a level of freedom that comes with being able to start, grow and ultimately build your own business. I am the daughter of a former educator and I learned that education and knowledge is power, so being able to share that with women and minorities has always been a goal of mine and something I’m passionate about.
SB: Who reports to you?
AT: We currently have a team of about seven team members, that is a mixture of independent contractors and full-time and part-time team members. The people that report to me are our Director of Operations, our Marketing Coordinator, and my Executive Assistant. The other roles typically report to one of those three.
SB: How did you know this was the best career choice for you?
AT: Some days you know this is the best career choice and other times you question it, that is the reality of being a CEO or entrepreneur, but you stay with it. You take a look at why you started it and why you’re doing what you’re doing on the days that you do question it. And then I stay committed to not only myself but the purpose for why I chose this career path.
SB: What is the type of person that does well in this role?
AT: As a CEO you definitely wear many hats. What is important is for you to be a developed leader. It’s important for you to have great communication skills and to also make sure that you can push forward the vision of the company. There are days when I’m behind-the-scenes and there are times when I’m in front of the camera and at the forefront. One of the things that I’ve learned is to adapt, adjust and overcome. You have to be able to adapt to what is shifting, adjust to that, and that is what leads you to overcome the challenges that I face on a day-to-day basis.
Additionally, the type of person that does amazing in this role, in my perspective, is someone who is a high achiever, analytical, and someone who is a great leader. To be a CEO or brand strategist, you have to be able to analytically look at the data, see where your clients are, understand where they want to go and be able to guide them along that process.
SB: What is some advice you’d have for someone looking to do a similar role?
AT: To make sure that you are taking care of yourself as a leader. Additionally, that you are clear on what your voice is and what you’re putting out to the world. Education is something that should always be a part of your development. For me, I recommend having a coach. I am the best at what I do because I have people who hold me accountable and because I have certain support in place that help me to continuously grow. So it’s important to take care of yourself as a leader so you can take care of your team and employees.
Curious what a day in a life looks like as CEO and Brand Growth Strategist? Check out what Ahfeeyah does on a daily basis in the video below:
Connect with Ahfeeyah Thomas! Did you love what Ahfeeyah had to say? I know we loved the conversation we had with her! Feel free to connect on LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter.
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