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

Brianna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I actually love this story. Ase (pronounced ah-shay) is an affirmation word meaning “the power to make things happen and produce change” in the Yoruba tradition. According to the Yoruba thought, there is a recognition of the uniqueness and autonomy of the Ase (think “spirit”) within individuals is what best structures a society. I knew that anything I created or offered to clients would spark conversations, educate the masses, or provide confidence and resources to underserved entrepreneurs and organizations. It was also important for me to articulate that all of my work is art. Digital graphics, photography, a business’ branding kit, or items from my forward-thinking clothing and accessory brand – all of it is intentionally curated art meant to represent the uniqueness of each client or concepts that shape our world. Therefore, Ase Artistry, which grew into Ase Artistry Collective.

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?

I’m a digital creative with over ten years of freelance experience in graphic design and photography and seven years of experience working alongside women-led, social justice organizations and small businesses. In 2019 graduated from the University of New Orleans with a bachelor’s in political science/pre-law with an additional public relations concentration. 

I typically credit a shocking death in my family as the inception of my business becoming a reality. At the start of my junior year in undergraduate at Spring Hill College my aunt who was more like a second mother passed away suddenly. I felt the need to be closer to family and just restore my person…you know? So, I ventured home to New Orleans and embarked on a two-year sabbatical from my studies. It was crazy to do because I was in what I believed to be “the height of undergraduate studies”.  Honor societies, extra-curriculars, LSAT prep, and building connections with judges and law clerks in Mobile, AL. 

Naturally, as my grief began to settle in New Orleans, I felt drawn to the passions and initiatives I began to curate in Mobile. In 2016, I was pursuing an internship with a Louisiana federal judge and the opportunity to create and structure a 501c3 non-profit that would support formerly-incarcerated women fell into my lap. I immediately said “Yes!” and as far as law school was concerned, I never looked back. Working in non-profits gave me the ability to be hands-on with individuals in direct need of resources and to strategize with the leaders charged with providing said resources. I wanted to attend law school to lead initiatives that changed and equitably progressed my community, and communities alike. I just didn’t know there was another avenue until I was thrust into it. 

After a lot of freelancing with nonprofits, small businesses, political campaigns, and individuals and two years of planning and structuring what felt like a million different pieces to incorporate everything I was set on providing into one entity – I moved from freelancer to CEO with formal filing of Ase Artistry Collective in early 2020.

The Collective includes Ase Artistry Agency, an all-inclusive digital + strategy firm geared at creating overarching success for Black, POC, Queer, and women entrepreneurs, businesses + organizations. The agency specializes in launching or restructuring brands to amplify their true purpose and potential in what we know is an ever-changing digital world. Whether it’s deliverables or coaching we help individuals expand their confidence in business and increase overall business success, productivity, and ROI. 

The Collective also includes our forward-thinking clothing and accessory brand with products created to spark conversations or reflect the current world we live in. This includes concepts like reproductive rights, pro-therapy messaging, astrology, climate change, millennial motherhood, and so much more!

It’s truly an honor to put my all into Ase Artistry Collective in a way I never felt I could on one-off jobs. I’m a forward thinker; and I’m rarely fearful of acknowledging and adapting to the dynamic, developing world around us. I’ve met so many people that don’t feel qualified to implement “new trends”. They prefer to seek a more familiar shelter even if it’s at the expense of their business. I enjoy standing in the gap, preparing my clients for the changes, and witnessing the confidence they gain by succeeding in the online digital market.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Absolutely! I actually love to seek these out and hear from different voices and experiences. I firmly believe that each and every person experience has something valuable to offer

Books
– Manage Your Day-To-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus & Sharpen Your Creative Mind – A book of short essays from thought leaders and creatives. Edited by Joceyln K. Glei
– Bamboozled by Jesus by Yvonne Orji

Podcasts – A combination of stories from entrepreneurs and methods to adapt and grow personally in business allows me to progress and think outside of my own box along the way.
– Dreams in Drive by Rana Campbell
– Unbossed
– The OPS Authority
– Journey to Launch
– Brown Ambition
– The Black Girl Bravado

Guided Meditations – Meditations help ground me on my hard days and inspire me on the great ones.
– Work – Shelah Marie
– Green Juice – Tracy G.
– Who Am I Without Work – Toni Jones
– Snapback Season – Tracy G
– Gratitude-Londrelle

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Planning from survival. The backstory there comes from continuing with clients or projects that were unfitting to my business protocols and personal well-being/boundaries. I allowed myself to continue with un-aligning projects at times that required a great deal of adulting in my personal life. I’d allow my responsibilities to direct my capacity and standards for work and would repeatedly find myself drained and blocked creatively. My graphics were boring and my brand designs felt basic. I had to grow confident in my commitment to entrepreneurship and investment in my survival. I knew that I’d never give up on myself and remembered that money can be made anywhere. My vision, however, cannot. That lit a fire under me to get serious about mindful survival. I also remembered that finances aren’t the only component of life that needs our intentional stewarding. When I take care of my overall wellness, home, finances, etc., I find myself in the right frame of mind to make the decision to take on or continue projects. In addition, I have the energy to seek out new clients while fine-tuning protocols before issues even arise.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aseartistry.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aseartistry/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AseArtistry
• Other: Email address: [email protected] | [email protected]

Image Credits
Brianna Jackson , Taylor Alexander