We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Nagy & Ami Kochendorfer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda & Ami, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

We both started working at a corporate office when it was still relatively small and didn’t have a lot of office politics. We were scrappy and got to try new things even if it meant failing because that meant learning. However, as the company grew, we witnessed a gradual transformation of the work environment into a landscape of politics that felt disheartening. Navigating this new territory proved challenging, and we constantly felt the need to be cautious, fearing termination or being perceived negatively, despite our genuine intention to excel at our jobs.

We both embody the values of diligent work ethic instilled in us from an early age. Our focus lies in being creative and having fun, while completing our projects and tasks efficiently and to the best of our abilities. We place very limited importance on status, prestigious educational backgrounds, or previous workplaces. Instead, we believe in the value of the skills and expertise we bring to the table.

So when we left that job together, we were determined to create an environment free from the burden of politics. Through our experience, we realized that such an atmosphere hampers productivity and creativity, and fails to foster a sense of fulfillment in the workplace. Our ultimate goal is to cultivate an environment where creativity flourishes, productivity thrives, and everyone experiences happiness with their work. Because office politics suck. And we think life is too short to have to deal with that crap. :)

Amanda & Ami, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

We are ami kochendorfer and Amanda Nagy. We started Finn & Gray in 2019 after leaving our full time jobs. We have a deep curiosity about the brands we work with, which fuels our creativity and drives us to create the best work, whether it’s designing a businesses logo, creating a user-centric website, and/or shooting photography and video content.

Finn & Gray helps you match your outside to your inside with creative visual approaches through colorful brand and logo design, web design, photography, and video content. We harness the power of our bold and playful style with our years of design experience while staying on top of the latest and greatest design trends. Our goal is to bring captivating and professional design to small and medium size businesses so they can reach their full potential with peace of mind.

Our goal is to bring big-agency design (without the big-agency budget) to small and medium size businesses so they can reach their full potential with peace of mind.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Our journey began with both of us juggling design and photography side hustles while working full-time on an in-house marketing team. As we took on more significant projects together in our corporate roles, the idea of pursuing our own venture gained momentum. The turning point arrived when we secured our first “big” job while still balancing our full-time commitments. This success fueled our determination to establish a formal business name and officially open a business bank account—a pivotal milestone that solidified our ambitions of starting Finn & Gray. With that first project and earning our first payment, we gained the confidence that we could thrive as independent creatives. But the decision to take the leap and commit fully to Finn & Gray wasn’t an easy one. We continued to work our day jobs for another year, toying with the idea of when to make the transition. Then, unexpectedly, our entire creative team was laid off on the same day—a bittersweet blessing in disguise. While the news left us blindsided and heartbroken, it also presented the perfect opportunity to embrace the chance we had secretly longed for.

Despite the challenging circumstances that unfolded just six months into our business journey with the arrival of Covid, we persevered and discovered a silver lining. Thanks to our valuable connections, we were presented with exciting opportunities to undertake larger projects. Notably, we secured a retainer client who entrusted us with their product launch, effectively becoming their dedicated “in-house-out-of-house” creative team. This partnership laid a strong foundation for our success during our inaugural year, providing us with the momentum we needed to continue growing and honing our craft.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For us, as creatives, one of the most rewarding aspects of our work is the ability to make a significant difference to the brand and identity of small businesses in Minnesota and beyond. Working with small businesses provides a unique opportunity to witness the impact of our creative expertise on their overall brand perception. Drawing from our experiences of working as an in-house creative team, we possess valuable insights into the creative needs that are necessary to enhance a brand’s presence.

Through our work, we have the power to elevate a small business’s image by applying our skills in both design and photography. Each project we undertake aims to create a brand that is not only trustworthy but also exudes a distinct personality. The transformation that occurs as a result is satisfying to see.

What truly makes this the best is the tangible impact it has on our clients’ businesses’ bottom line. Time and time again, we’ve observed that after we complete our creative endeavors, our clients experience an increase in their business whether that be leads or revenue. The visual representation of the brand contributes to its credibility and instills confidence in its potential customers.

Knowing that our creative efforts have played a role in legitimizing and enhancing the reputation of these small businesses is incredibly fulfilling. And seeing the positive outcomes and the growth that our clients achieve as a result of our collaboration is the ultimate reward for us.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://finnandgray.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finnandgray/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/finnandgray
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/finn-gray/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/finnandgray
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@finnandgray/videos
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/finnandgray/

Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/thrudeezlens/