We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aaliyah Landcekd. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aaliyah below.

Aaliyah, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned while working at a prior job?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned as a business owner is this:
Entrepreneurship isn’t just about building a business — it’s about rebuilding yourself.

When I stepped into entrepreneurship, I had no blueprint. I felt unqualified, insecure, and overwhelmed by doubt. I didn’t know how to sell my services, how to show up as a graphic designer — especially when trying to reach clients outside of the Netherlands. And let’s be real: most people only know my country for cheese or the soft drug policies. That alone made me feel like I had to work twice as hard to be seen.

The early years were mentally tough. Every step forward felt followed by a wave of self-sabotage. I’d grow a little, then shrink again — silencing myself, hiding my business, and questioning my purpose.

But the turning point came when I started rebuilding from the inside out — with God.
I went deeper into Scripture and allowed Him to speak into who I truly am.
Verses like Jeremiah 1:4-5, Psalm 119:73-74, and Jeremiah 29:11 reminded me that being different is intentional — that God crafted me with purpose, on purpose.

Since then, I’ve been learning to lead from faith, not fear.
I’ve built authentic friendships within the creative industry and drawn inspiration from designers I once admired from afar. Now, I continue to evolve — not just in design, but in confidence, purpose, and obedience.

So if you’re in that messy middle — wondering if you’re enough or if you’ll ever “get there” —
here’s what I’ll tell you:

✨ Don’t be afraid of uncomfortable growth. It’s the most powerful kind.
It shapes your character, stretches your faith, and aligns you with the purpose God placed inside you.

My reminder to every visionary out there:
“Entrepreneurship isn’t just building a business — it’s rebuilding yourself.”

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hey hey, I’m Aaliyah—your favorite God-led graphic designer, creative problem-solver, and the mastermind behind Jaliyah Graphics! 🎨✨
My mission? Dare to dream differently while embracing your creativity. Around here, we don’t do basic—we build with purpose, walk in excellence, and let God’s favor do the heavy lifting. 🙌🏾

For those who haven’t met me yet—let me introduce myself: I’m a full-time creative with a double life. By day, I’m with the kids; by night, I’m designing logos and building brands that make people stop and feel something. I go from “Miss Aaliyah, can we play?” to “This layout needs more white space” in under 60 seconds. 😆

How it all started (funny, but true):
One day I was scrolling on Instagram and saw a random ad about a graphic design course. I had always been fascinated by design, and something in me said, “Do it.” I signed up so fast I didn’t even blink—and that random click was the beginning of a God-planted journey. That’s how Jaliyah Graphics was born.

What I do:
At Jaliyah Graphics, I help entrepreneurs (especially women of faith) build bold, beautiful, purpose-driven brands. Logos, visual identities, launch graphics—you name it, I bring it to life with creativity and strategy. Whether you’re starting fresh or rebranding, I’m here to make sure your vision speaks loud, clear, and creatively.

The problems I solve:
Tired of blending in with basic branding? Let’s fix that.
Got the vision but no visuals to match? I got you.
Feeling overwhelmed trying to DIY your dream brand? Say less.
What sets me apart:
I don’t just design pretty things—I design on purpose. Every brand I create is rooted in strategy, creativity, and prayer. I bring serious attention to detail, real experience, and a whole lot of Holy Spirit-led intuition. I’m the girl who stays up late learning new skills, takes her work seriously, and still believes God is my CEO.

What I’m most proud of:
I’m proud of the way I think differently—how I see opportunity where others see limits. I’m proud of my resilience, my kindness, and my big heart for others. Helping people make their dreams come true isn’t just what I do—it’s who I am.
And yes, I’m proud of every brand I’ve helped come to life—especially the ones where the client says, “This finally feels like me.”

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

If you asked someone to describe me in one word?
Stubborn.
But not the kind that blocks growth — the kind that doesn’t stop until the dream is real.

When I was taking my graphic design courses, I was working a full-time job, taking care of my grandmother in her final days, and making every effort to create memories we could both hold onto. It was heavy, but I showed up — for her, for my dream, and for myself.

I did what needed to be done.
Then I set new goals.
And honestly? I’m proud. Proud of the woman I’m becoming.

Who else do you know takes classes at 2AM, gets ready for work by 5, works 12-hour shifts with children, runs an e-commerce store during the day, and uses the extra cash to invest in their creativity?

I did that.

And somewhere in the middle of the hustle, God whispered:
“You don’t have to carry it all to be worthy.”

That moment changed me. I realized I don’t want to live just for the grind. I want to build a life — a future, a family, and a business with real purpose. And I finally accepted that I’m not superwoman.
I’m just a woman with God-given dreams and fire in her bones.

So, am I proud of my story?
Absolutely.

Because it’s not just about surviving — it’s about choosing to show up, again and again.

I’m a dreamer.
The kind that turns big visions into small steps.
The kind that believes growth doesn’t always look pretty, but it’s always worth it.

I’m not superwoman — I’m Aaliyah.
A woman who knows what she wants.
And builds it with boldness, grace, and grit.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons on my entrepreneurial journey?
Unlearning the rush.

At first, I thought success meant doing everything fast. Launch quickly. Make money fast. Scale overnight.
But rushing cost me more than time — it cost me trust, peace, and money.

In my first business, I handed over control to someone who promised to help me build a successful online brand. I trusted her, invested in her — only to realize she was scamming not just me, but others too.

That moment hurt.
But it taught me everything I needed to know.

Instead of giving up, I went back to the drawing board.
I started doing my own market research.
I searched for the right products myself.
I made my own investments.
I learned to be patient.
And most importantly — I learned to trust God more than outcomes.

I had to let go of old habits, old timelines, and even that first business…
Not because I failed, but because I chose to follow the path God had for me.

And along the way, I discovered the true essentials:
A solid plan.
Deep research.
Confidence in my own abilities.
Trust in the process.
Unshakable faith in God.
And the strength to pivot when needed.

Sometimes, growth means pressing pause.
Sometimes, it means walking away from what you built… to step into what He is building through you

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jaliyahgraphics.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaliyahgraphics/

Image Credits

Special thank you for my dream team Milton Goedhoop en Narjara