We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Myca Williamson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Myca, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

Myca Raquel Consulting really began out of the need to survive.

A few years ago, I was teaching journalism classes at my old high school while working on my MBA. After I graduated, I accepted a position at a startup that ended up being an absolute nightmare. The owner was completely fraudulent, and I lost weeks of pay.

After dealing with feelings of shame and embarrassment, I decided that I wanted to take control of my own narrative and journey by investing in the skills and expertise I knew were valuable.

I worked with an executive coach to build out my action plan, which involved checking all the boxes like getting an LLC and bookkeeper, building a website, setting up business social channels, printing business cards and setting up a business banking account. I told myself if I was going to build this, that I would build it right.

From there, I also had to do the internal work on developing confidence and having clarity when talking about my business in public spaces and to potential clients. That is a challenge that me some time to overcome.

Fast forward to 2023, I am stepping into my third year of full-time entrepreneurship, helping organizations of all sizes tell their unique stories and engage with their target audiences through digital marketing strategies.

I’ve combined my experiences as an educator, journalist and strategic consultant to give businesses frameworks, tools and processes that help build a more holistic marketing approach!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

The summer of 2015, I returned home after studying abroad in France and graduated that December. With my graduation behind me, I embarked on a new adventure, one that would soon engulf my daily life: a project named FASH, which stood for Fearlessly Aspiring Something Higher.

What initially began as a gathering of like-minded creatives, coming together for captivating photo shoots, quickly evolved into a full-blown operation. Our initial focus was on model development, helping freelance models build portfolios to connect with modeling agencies.

Our productions eventually evolved into more than just pictures; they transformed into cheeky yet thought-provoking narratives. These stories ultimately become a printed magazine, aptly titled “Forward.” Over time, we produced three issues and hosted several launch events, bringing us closer to a diverse array of individuals within the Dallas community.

Despite the whirlwind of FASH, I continued to teach high school journalism courses, from photojournalism and journalism to broadcast, yearbook, and newspaper. Witnessing these young minds flourish was a special joy and honor that I cherish deeply still today.

During my time with FASH, I worked with several creatives who were trying to convey creative ideas to business-minded people and business-minded folks who were trying to get creatives to see the numbers. I wanted to be the one to bridge that gap.

I decided to pursue an MBA program at SMU, with a focus on strategy and entrepreneurship. In this new phase of my life, I made a promise to myself to embrace new opportunities and tackle challenges that would expand my understanding of the world.

One of these opportunities took me to Israel, the startup capital of the world. Alongside two classmates, I entered a pitch competition and won $5,000 for our app prototype. I also spent time consulting nonprofits, offering my expertise to organizations such as St. Philips School in South Dallas and the Dallas Hearing Foundation.

However, the pinnacle of my achievements during this period was being chosen as a Human Rights Fellow. My project, Generation Wealth, delved deep into the history of economic injustice in Dallas. I documented stories from community members and created digital resources to enhance financial literacy in black communities.

Following the completion of my MBA, I took a leap of faith by leaving my teaching career to work for a startup. While this role didn’t ultimately align with my aspirations, it led to a period of self-reflection and determination. Instead of dwelling on the past, I decided to bet on myself.

Over the past 2.5 years, I have embraced my role as a marketing consultant and strategist. My diverse experiences and MBA knowledge exposed me to unique problems that begged for creative business solutions. I’ve been fortunate to have a steady stream of clients who seek my expertise.

In my current role, I collaborate with clients to craft their brand stories, pinpoint their target audiences, and convey these narratives across digital platforms. Through my work, I help clients build trust, foster engagement, and drive sales.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

For me, the best source for new clients have been three avenues:

1. Referrals and Repeat Clients – I do my best to always deliver a premium client experience so that they will want to refer me to others in their networks and think of me for future projects.

2. Targeted Event Attendance – I have become more selective and intentional about putting myself in high value spaces that will put me in touch with my ideal buyer. Examples include supplier diversity galas and/or major industry conferences and summits.

3. Professional Associations – I have invested in memberships for accelerators and associations that will put me in touch with potential clients, strategic partners or just other business leaders who will refer me to others in their network. Examples include the 12% Accelerator for women in consulting, Junior League and the Entreprenista League.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I have a reputation for being thorough, creative and professional when it comes to delivering client solutions. Plus, I always ask for feedback and listen to what the numbers say. When my clients enjoy a particular part of working with me, I take note of that and do my best to consistently recreate that positive experience in all areas. Clients also allow me to leverage their stories in testimonials and case studies, so I am able to document my success with clients, which adds to my credibility and legitimacy. I have also created strategic partnerships with organizations like Comerica Bank to host free and low-cost events to position myself in the market as a thought leader.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mycaraquel.consulting
• Instagram: instagram.com/mycaraquelconsulting
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/mycaraquelconsulting

Image Credits
All headshot images of me by Hakeem Adewumi