We recently connected with Brittany Applegate and have shared our conversation below.

Brittany, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

As I reflect on my upbringing, I’m deeply grateful for the intentional investments my parents made in my brother’s and my future. My mom’s commitment to our education was evident as she sacrificed a significant portion of her small income to enroll us in private schools, not only ensuring our safety but also providing an environment that constantly challenged us academically while strengthening our faith in God.

One remarkable investment from my father stands out – each summer, he would purchase workbooks for every subject corresponding to the upcoming school year. We were required to diligently complete a set number of pages each week before indulging in activities like playing or watching TV. These workbooks became our constant companions during vacations and road trips, transforming our downtime into valuable learning moments. Engaging in brain games to test our knowledge fostered a habit of independent problem-solving, turning both my brother and me into critical thinkers.

By the time the school year commenced, we already possessed a comprehensive understanding of the subjects, resulting in consistent straight A performances. The combination of my mother’s careful selection of schools and my father’s commitment to our academic readiness not only ensured our success but also shaped us into natural problem solvers, critical thinkers, and strategists. This foundation has undoubtedly been a key factor in our ability to navigate life’s challenges and pursue excellence.

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.

My journey into advertising unfolded during my college years, courtesy of my friend and eventual co-worker/supervisor, Johnnie Lovett. Shifting gears from accounting to marketing, I found myself at a crossroads until Johnnie shared illuminating details about his internship at a multicultural agency in Chicago. Spurred on by the encouragement of a woman named Ashley Johns during a fall break visit home, I took the plunge and applied for the Multicultural Advertising Internship Program (MAIP) through the 4A’s, securing a coveted spot at Ogilvy & Mather. This pivotal internship set the stage for my inaugural full-time role, working side by side with Johnnie.

Within the confines of this agency, Johnnie took me under his wing, imparting invaluable insights into brand strategy and research, and I absorbed his wisdom like a sponge. This mentorship proved instrumental as I navigated the early years of my industry tenure, working on prestigious brands such as Nike Chicago, MillerCoors, Corona Extra, Modelo Negra, and more, accumulating diverse experiences.

Simultaneously, I observed a trend—people were directing their entrepreneurial contacts to me for marketing and branding advice. This sparked a newfound passion for assisting small, minority business owners in shaping their brand foundations. Armed with experience garnered from multimillion-dollar brands, I began crafting comprehensive brand strategies, covering everything from defining target markets to developing brand identities.

In the summer of 2016, I orchestrated a virtual “brand camp,” sharing insights to empower budding entrepreneurs to launch their brands by summer’s end. The overwhelmingly positive response spurred me to organize a sold-out conference, Brand Chicago, in 2017.

This transformative journey fueled the launch of my brand consulting services, dedicated to assisting minority-owned businesses in clarifying, amplifying, and effectively communicating their brands. Over the past seven years, I’ve developed strategies for notable brands such as The Professional Diversity Network, Ladies of Virtue, We Build Homebuilders, McCormick Theological Seminary, John F. Hannah Ministries, and more. For my work, I was recognized in Bloomberg and ESSENCE.

Simultaneously, my advertising career reached new heights as Strategy Director at a multicultural advertising agency for prominent brands like Dove, Moet, Pepsi’s Starry, Shea Moisture, Pearl Milling Company, and many others!

Recognizing my innate ability to step into the consumer’s shoes and leverage my experience, skills, frameworks, and instincts to generate game-changing insights has become my superpower. Balancing this dual role, both as a full-time professional and an entrepreneur, feels purposeful and seamless—I consider myself blessed and fortunate.

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

One major lesson I’ve had to unlearn is the belief that working a full-time job and being an entrepreneur can’t peacefully coexist.

Back when the girl boss movement was all the rage, there was this intense energy that seemed to put a lot of pressure on everyone, almost shaming those who held down a 9-to-5. It felt like if you still had a job, you weren’t a legit entrepreneur. This mindset pushed me to prematurely dive into full-time entrepreneurship, only to realize I was still a rookie! I had a ton to learn. Honestly, I’m not sure who I thought I was at the time, but I had to care less about what others thought and more about what made me happy. I acknowledged that I genuinely loved my full-time gig in advertising, and simultaneously, I was an entrepreneur. The reality was, yes—I could survive with the income I made on my own, but no—I wasn’t going to thrive for long because there was so much more to learn. It was like I was living on a prayer.

Fast forward to today, and I see many women from that girl boss era walking away from consulting, coaching, and full-time entrepreneurship. Why? Because it burned them out. They weren’t happy. Some of the lengths they went to secure new clients started feeling a bit sketchy, and now they’re owning up to it.

Here’s the scoop—embrace the fact that you can thrive in the “and” spaces of your life. You can work full-time and be an entrepreneur. There’s way more power (and money) in that reality than there is shame. So, ditch the guilt and celebrate the magic that happens when you embrace both sides of your hustle. Who’s to say that won’t be your path in the next 5-10 years? Why does it have to happen right now? Who are you trying to impress? Care less about what others think and always do what’s best for you.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What really helped me carve out a solid reputation in my market was rolling up my sleeves and delivering work that not only hit the mark but left a lasting impact for my clients. Nowadays, I’m not out here churning out a ton of content or plastering my face all over the place. For me, it’s all good old-fashioned word of mouth. And you know what? I think more entrepreneurs and professionals, especially those with service-based businesses, should lean into this—invest your time where it matters most, in providing top-notch service.

And when I say service, I mean the real deal, both in the actual work you do and in how you treat your clients. It’s as simple as this: be polite, be accountable, be professional, be excellent, be fair. All these little things add up to creating an unforgettable client experience. And you know what happens next? Your clients become your biggest cheerleaders, referring you to other businesses in their networks facing the same headaches your stellar work just solved for them.

Now, that’s not to say I never throw out a case study here and there to showcase what I’m capable of. But let me tell you, the real hero is the work itself. You’ve got to roll up your sleeves, dive into the trenches, and knock it out of the park. That’s the secret sauce—doing the work and doing it well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brittanyapplegate.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/brandedbyba
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/brittanydapplegate