Today we’d like to introduce you to Asia Golden
Hi Asia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Everytime I am asked this question, it forces me to put my entire life back into perspective. I do a lot yet I always feel like I haven’t done enough. It all started back in the 10th grade of High School. I attended Fashion Industries High School where I majored in Illustration and Graphics. I thought about switching my major to fashion (because why else would I be in a fashion school?!) but my heart just wouldn’t allow me. Art just spoke to me and I was challenged for four years by one of the best teachers I ever had, Dr.Sieunarine. Once I left Fashion Industries I stayed local for college to help take care of my mom. I attended New York City College of Technology (City Tech) majoring in Art & Advertising. Long story short, I dropped out of college after a few semesters because I no longer felt challenged. My college experience was not what I thought it would be. The teachers were teaching too slow for me and the entire experience just felt like High School all over again. I was able to network, pick up a few new skills and sharpen my eye for design but in the end, the experience still wasn’t enough. I didn’t know exactly how I was going to have a full career in the Arts, but I knew myself and I knew that I excelled at anything I put my mind to.
After dropping out of college, I knew it was imperative that I figure out where I was taking my life. I felt disappointed in myself for not following all the way through and was trying to figure out how I was going to explain it to my Guyanese mother. Ultimately, life has a way of working itself out. I started working retail while putting myself out there to build my network (your network is your net worth). I found myself heavy in the entertainment scene. I modeled, walked fashion shows, starred in music videos, hosted parties – the list is endless. I was booking back to back gigs on craigslist and after booking one job it always led me to my next. After the hustle and bustle of running around the city building my network in my early twenties I knew it was time to shift gears.
It was on the set of a music video that I realized I didn’t want to waste my potential just being a pretty face. I disappeared for a few months and rebranded myself as a woman with many talents and to be taken seriously. I had just read Sophia Amoruso’s “GirlBoss” and it resonated with me so deeply. She became a self made boss by utilizing her available resources and learned how to run her business by reading all the “Books for dummies”. I was so inspired after reading that book (the series came outlander on netflix and it reinspired me all over again btw lol) Although I never addressed myself as a “Boss”, the people around me respected me and saw me as such. My dialogue with others — especially men changed. People were speaking to me like a business woman because I presented myself in that way. Other women would share their admiration and I would fully embrace them, while in my head I was living with imposter syndrome. I knew I was fully capable of being the woman everyone saw in me but I needed to convince myself of it. I fully immersed myself into work and took the lane of helping people run their brands and business.
I’ve always had the ability to see 10 steps, sometimes 15 steps ahead of those around me. I combined my knowledge and years of experience working in retail. I studied the corporate infrastructure of the business, sharpened my resume and business etiquette by joining free programs like Streetwise Partners & Workforce 1 Entrepreneurial Program that assisted me in creating opportunities for myself. I took the initiative necessary to help me build the confidence I needed to execute all that I had set my mind to accomplish. While helping others understand their own brands and businesses, I started my own jewelry line that made it all over the world. It made it to places like Vogue Italy, Afropolitan Magazine, AfroPunk and the Queen herself Beyonce (Shoutouts to my sister Stacy Armand Patterson for the connection and Zerina Akers for seeing it through) — just to name a few.
Fast forward a bit, life has its ways of teaching you lessons. Not only was I overworking myself all these years but I experienced complete burnout trying to do everything just because I could. I experienced major brain fog, my mental health was deteriorating and I physically got sick causing me to lose great momentum in my business. Once I lost momentum I no longer had the desire to make jewelry or even help others at the capacity in which I once was. The enthusiasm was no longer the same because the reward never matched my efforts. I would do so much and give so much of myself that there was nothing left. I ran several businesses including my own, I managed artists, I was managing events, festivals and several Tours — By the time the worldwide pandemic hit in 2020, I was already over what I was doing before and took the opportunity to rebrand and reintroduce myself. I soaked up all the life lessons learned, applying it to this new way of thinking and being. I was able to strategize how I was going about helping others while prioritizing myself and my own business.
There is so much depth to my story which may inspire me to write a book about it someday but I wanted to sum up a few of my successes and struggles in this interview. One thing I’ve learned is If we were able to see into the future, we would all manipulate it. This reminder forces me to not fight against the things God wants and has already ordained for my life. As fast as my life used to be, I love the space I’m in now. I’m not sure how to better explain it but I’m still sitting in life’s discomforts but I’m at peace with all my decisions. I have clear boundaries and I know what I want to achieve moving forward. I have simplified a lot of things in my life. I’m practicing slow mornings, not getting upset with things I can no longer control, accepting people for who they are but distancing myself if who they are doesn’t respect my boundaries. I believe I am in the season now of doing all that I ever put off wanting to do for myself because I was so focused on doing for others. I am in a place of Peace and my micro contribution to making the world a better place is sharing my journey with those ready to receive it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road I chose was never smooth before I even arrived. I saw it, I knew that it wouldn’t be easy but I was and I am always up for a challenge. One of my biggest struggles throughout my journey that I am still working very diligently on is people pleasing and overextending myself. I never want to disappoint anyone. Although my efforts haven’t always been seen, appreciated or valued, it never discouraged me from giving it my all. The hardest part is, loving what I do so much that it creates tunnel vision. But while I’m so focused on the execution of things, people with not the best intentions or that dont have me in their best interest around me take advantage of that. I’m an extreme empath that feels everything intensely. Having tunnel vision didn’t allow me to see in the past how others would e*ploit that.
My greatest struggle was choosing whether I wanted to turn ruthless and treat others the way they treated me or to maintain and protect the best parts of me who is kind, giving and compassionate. In the end, I chose to protect the best parts of me because I truly believe that my reservation for those deserving of it would continue to help me nurture that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
About US – AGLDN
AGLDN is a Multiplatform Branding & Design Agency that takes you on a cosmic journey where realms of creativity, strategy and innovation connect. We breathe life into brands, weaving narratives that resonate authentically with a primary focus to help create, develop, maintain and improve brands. Our services of Branding, Graphic Design and Production are offered to forward-thinking founders, strategic thinkers, and well-established brands seeking transformative improvements.
About HER – Asia Golden
Asia Golden is a highly motivated entrepreneur renowned for her exceptional creativity, effective leadership and unwavering commitment to ethical business practices. Her versatility and diverse skill set have earned her a reputation comparable to that of a swiss army knife, enabling her to tackle various responsibilities with ingenuity and resourcefulness. As a dedicated advocate for business growth, Asia specializes in small business branding, brand redesign and ensuring brand consistency across multiple platforms.
Throughout her illustrious career, Asia has held esteemed leadership positions teaming up with many businesses across a wide range of industries including Music, Entertainment, Film, Sports, Wellness, Fashion and News Media. Her journey into these mixed fields was prompted by others witnessing the transformative impact of her leadership on the success of various projects and events.
Asia Golden’s exceptional expertise, leadership acumen and relentless dedication have established her as a trusted and sought-after entrepreneur in the industry. With an impressive track record of delivering outstanding results, she continues to thrive while helping businesses flourish and achieve their goals.
What am I most proud of?
Finally prioritizing my own needs before others.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Yes! If you’re reading this then this message is for you:
Be patient with the version of who you are today. You may not fully like who you are or you may love who you are but trust the process. You won’t be the same person tomorrow. All phases of our lives are strategically designed to teach us important lessons. If you miss those life lessons, you will be forced to keep experiencing it until you do. It may show up in the same form or it may transform itself until you finally pay attention and receive the message. No one is perfect so you can relax a bit lol. All the beautifully edited photos and videos you see of others are manipulated for their acceptance of self and validation of others. Give yourself a chance to fully embrace all stages of your life. Who you become after every milestone will help you to shift your perspective. Attract all that you want by working on yourself. The more you learn about yourself the more you understand others. I have more to share but I’ll stop here for now lol Tap in with me IG: @asiagolden | If this interview spoke to you, let’s chat!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.agldnbrand.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asiagolden/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/agldnbrand/
