Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elsa Mehary. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elsa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

This is a great question! As a creative I think that we collectively rely on the greatness of the product or service offered to speak for itself. But often this exists in a vacuum. And often a less perfect product with more PR and marketing will have more impact. If I were to go back in time, I would focus on PR, marketing and sales. And being more vocal in my business. I had the luxury of free marketing because of my industry that has shifted considerably now that I work remotely. It is an essential part of your success.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Thank you so much for inviting me to share my professional journey on this platform. I am a Creative and Visionary. My mission is to influence the realm of work where feminine energy and contributions will hold as high regard in the professional landscape. I am part of the collective that will reclaim the voices of the uncredited. I consider myself the Olivia Pope of small businesses (shoutout to the brilliant Judy Smith).

Upon moving to NYC in my 20s I entered the rarified doors of commercial publishing. My career highlight was a constant stream of collaborations with stylists, designers, photographers, makeup artists, editors, writers, models, artists, and sometimes celebs, on photoshoot sets and in the office. To be clear I was a work horse and not a show pony. My job was to make sure everything was seamless and all teams had their vision plan.

Fortunately, having an exquisite sense of style worked to my advantage as I weaved my non-linear way through the worlds of Time, Inc, Condé Nast and Hearst as an Art Director. I enjoyed a healthy pre-retirement dose of global travel which expanded my sense of fun and aesthetic. If only instagram was around back then.

We were dictating the new and next, with invitations in hand. I didn’t look too far into the future as the present was bright at NYTimes, Harpers Bazaar, InStyle, Real Simple, Lucky Mag, Essence and many others.

I loved the work, the lifestyle, and sometimes the people until digital became the unnecessary death of the industry. This pushed most of us from a comfortable golden gated community into a long realm of pivot.

I started two businesses during the first recession of 2009; one jewelry line MeharyJewel (shout out BlackGirlMagic necklace) and another Integrative Nutritional Coaching business where I learned about client acquisition and systems while dipping in and out of perma-lance in magazines.

I left NYC for Miami for a well needed 9 month survival break and returned just before Covid. Many new hats were tried during the pandemic; as an interior design product developer to translating technical investor pitch decks into comprehensive stories to working on For Social Good projects. I feel very fortunate to have all of that experience during that period of chaos. And I realized that I’m very resourceful in challenging times.

My client base now is tech, creative, and wellness professionals who are navigating a realm of constant innovation. I bring them into alignment with more refined visibility, branding and messaging for their expanding businesses. I am unusual in that I mix intuitive knowledge with astrology, and integrative wellness modalities for sustainability and mental health along with my design and strategy work. .

My new identity as Creative Strategist is ready to lead others into the realm of ethical AI and commitment to creativity. With our constant all access platforms we are quietly delving into sameness and mediocrity. I am here to help keep that from happening. I work with clients one on one currently and developing additional digital workshops. Visit me on Elsamehary.com. Also have a new Radiant Genius Podcast where I hope to inspire and encourage new entrepreneurs and create more of an audience for my new artistic developments. Trying to have fun in the chaos and forge a new path ahead.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

So working behind the scenes/camera as a Art Director workhorse it was my job to make everything and everyone else highly visible. The writer and editor would get on page credit and now I think they even credit the styling team but the person who actually produced or designed that page will not put their name on the item. Not sure who is responsible for this trend but it has severely impacted many a designer in the modern realm of marketing PR and having a voice. I had to learn and am still working thru putting myself out there in front and claiming my space as a woman of color. Because really we are responsible for the emotion of the visual experience which hits you before you read one word. You pick up a book based on the cover, the movie gives clues to the content even if its the energy of the typography. Designers do that. We create that experience!

Everything now is face in front of the camera with a focus on individual personality and authenticity. I don’t have a Sasha Fierce persona (Bey reference) to transform into so I have to push myself to share and be vulnerable. It’s a constant challenge to transform this conditioning which kept me safe and protected from the hostile bots and vicarious curious but also disconnected from communities and future clients.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to infuse feminine goddess energy into our work life and systems so that there is more balance in life. Now that women are here in full force we need to be allowed to express as women and not only in fashion (while on the executive levels are run by men). But the schedules, the structures, the feeling, the softness is something that I want to return to or begin in our professional culture beyond the skirt and red lip. There will be respect and honor for what we have been offering and our vision will be the new normal.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://elsamehary.com
• Instagram: @elsalovesyou @radiantgeniuspod
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elsamehary/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RadiantGeniusPodcast