We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Erika Taylor. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Erika below.
Erika , appreciate you joining us today. How did you scale up? What were the strategies, tactics, meaningful moments, twists/turns, obstacles, mistakes along the way? The world needs to hear more realistic, actionable stories about this critical part of the business building journey. Tell us your scaling up story – bring us along so we can understand what it was like making the decisions you had, implementing the strategies/tactics etc.
People often assume that success follows a linear path. They see the highlights, the aesthetics, the polished final product—but they rarely see the storm that had to be weathered just to keep the vision alive. They don’t see the sleepless nights, the unanswered questions, or the deep internal battles that come with building something from the ground up.
Scaling Corporate Amerika Designs wasn’t born from a moment of ease—it was forged through adversity. My visions was propelled forward with an unexpected layoff from my corporate job, the very income stream that had been funding my business behind the scenes. In that moment, everything I thought was secure became uncertain. But instead of collapsing under pressure, I recalibrated. I made a decision that this was no longer just about building a brand—it was about building something sustainable and transformative.
Although I had worked from home for years, I quickly realized that entrepreneurship required a different level of intentionality. Working remotely under someone else’s leadership comes with structure, expectations, and direction. But when you’re an entrepreneur, you are the structure. You are the visionary, the executor, the strategist, and the motivator. That freedom is both empowering and overwhelming, especially for someone like me—a creative who was diagnosed with ADHD at 40. That diagnosis was a turning point. It gave language to the chaos I’d been managing in silence and forced me to implement systems that supported not just productivity, but progress.
I had to learn that discipline is the gatekeeper of destiny. Without systems and strategy, creativity becomes chaos.
One of the most pivotal shifts in scaling my business came when I stopped chasing profit and started pursuing purpose. My focus became clear: identify a need and solve a problem. How many people can I help? How can I make their lives easier, clearer, more confident? That shift wasn’t just powerful—it was profitable. Because when you lead with value, the revenue inevitably follows. There’s something deeply fulfilling about knowing your gifts are being used to serve others. When you stop gatekeeping and start giving the valuable knowledge you’ve learned through those tests, the return is exponential—both spiritually and financially.
As a result, I’ve been called into rooms I never imagined I’d enter. I’ve been approached by brands I once thought were out of reach. And I’ve learned that consistency is the real secret weapon. We live in a microwave generation—where instant gratification is idolized—but building a business isn’t about overnight success. It’s about long-term impact.
I’ve posted when I had two views, and I’ve posted when I had two million. But I’d rather have 10 views and change one life than go viral and impact no one. When you adopt that mindset, you unlock a new level—not just in business, but in your life.
I often say this: I had to bump my head so others don’t have to. Every test, every trial, every detour has become part of the blueprint I now use to empower others. I share my wins, but I also share the wounds—because I believe in using my story as a bridge, not a pedestal.
Scaling wasn’t easy. It required sacrifice, strategy, stillness, and self-awareness. But now, with a strong foundation, a clear vision, and unwavering faith, I’ve laid the groundwork for a powerful 2025—and I know the best is yet to come!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Absolutely! Thank you so much for the opportunity. My name is Erika Taylor and I am the founder and CEO of Corporate Amerika Designs—a multifaceted brand that sits at the intersection of fashion, empowerment, and legacy-building.
Corporate Amerika Designs is a conglomerate that houses fashion design, personal styling, and image consulting. It was created for individuals—women, men, and even youth—who are ready to take up space, walk in confidence, and show up unapologetically in every room they enter. I help people align how they look with where they’re going, because style is a silent introduction, and in today’s world, first impressions still matter.
This brand wasn’t born from a fleeting passion—it was shaped by lived experience. As someone who was bullied and teased for my appearance growing up, I learned early on the power of perception. And as a woman who has faced life-altering moments—like divorce—while managing a demanding corporate career and raising a child as a single mother, I understand what it means to fight for stability while preserving your identity. For me, looking the part wasn’t just a strategy—it was survival. It’s what kept me in rooms I wasn’t expected to be in and what helped me earn my place and keep my power.
Before launching Corporate Amerika Designs, I served as an award-winning executive in software sales, most recently as Vice President. I thrived in high-stakes environments—leading teams, closing multi-million dollar deals, and navigating spaces where I had to be twice as prepared, three times as polished, and four times as strategic just to be taken seriously. Every pitch, every boardroom, every high-pressure situation sharpened me—and I brought all of it with me into this next chapter.
However, instead of continuing to add bricks to someone else’s empire, I stepped into my purpose and now I’m building my own.
This is where the name comes from—Corporate Amerika, spelled like my name—because I made Corporate America my own. I didn’t just work in it—I used it as a masterclass. I gathered the tools, insight, and resilience to build the God-given empire I was always meant to lead.
Today, I’ve expanded beyond fashion and styling into digital strategy and content creation. I work with individuals and brands who are strategically ready to elevate to that next level—visually, vocally, and virtually. From wardrobe to brand strategy, I help people sharpen their image, tell their story, and confidently stand in their power.
What sets me apart is simple: I don’t just help people look good—I ensure they’re seen, heard, and undeniable.
I’m no longer waiting for a seat at an expendable table. I built my own —and now I’m showing others how to do the same and I love it here!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
The most powerful lesson I had to unlearn was this: You can’t please everyone—and you were never meant to.
As a former corporate software sales executive and natural-born high achiever, I spent decades bending over backward to meet expectations that weren’t always my own. I was the “yes” woman—yes to the extra workload, yes to dimming my light so others could shine, yes to shrinking so others wouldn’t feel small. I thought being liked was the same as being respected. I thought being agreeable was the key to success. But the truth is, that mindset almost broke me.
At times, I was subtly expected to trade pieces of my integrity for the illusion of being a “team player.” I learned how to be a chameleon—adapting to environments that didn’t reflect my values—and how to smile through discomfort that deserved confrontation. I became a master at fitting in, even when it meant shrinking. But no matter how much I gave, it was never enough—someone was always dissatisfied. That’s when it finally clicked: people-pleasing is a form of self-abandonment disguised as professionalism. And it’s a race with no finish line.
So I stopped. I stopped performing for approval and started standing in my truth. I stopped begging for seats at tables where I was merely tolerated and began creating rooms where I’m celebrated. That shift gave birth to Corporate Amerika Designs. It’s not just a brand—it’s a movement.
Now, I help women, men, and even children understand their power and unlock a confidence that radiates not just from within—but reflects on the outside, too. Style + confidence is one of the most important tools we have. When you look good, you feel good—and when you feel good, you lead differently, speak differently, and dream bigger.
I turned my pain into purpose, my burnout into a blueprint, and my people-pleasing into unapologetic power. I no longer shrink, settle, or silence my voice to make others comfortable. I lead with authenticity and I walk boldly—unapologetically—knowing that when you stop trying to please everyone, you finally give yourself permission to please God, protect your peace, and rise in your full authority.
Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?
One of my favorite and most powerful marketing moments wasn’t planned, polished, or strategic—it was raw, emotional, and deeply authentic. My son’s surprise baptism.
This was something I prayed for for a very long time and I had no clue it was happening that day or any day in the near future. I stood there in shock, tears flowing, watching him make the most important decision of his life. And my family captured it all—the raw emotion, the sacred moment, the power of a young man choosing faith for himself.
I initially hesitated to post the reel—after all, I was conditioned to believe that personal testimonies were meant to be kept private. Yet, it was exactly that raw, unfiltered content that had carried me through my darkest days, igniting hope when I saw others, walking in my shoes and steadfast in their faith, emerge on the other side. In the end, I chose to share that sacred moment, and the video went on to become my most viral piece of content to date. But what truly resonated wasn’t the polished production—it was the authenticity that was seen throughout every frame.
It was the rawness of a mother—of a parent—who has prayed, fought, and hoped for their child, not always knowing which direction life would take them. People didn’t just see a baptism. They saw real life—a sacred, emotional moment that mirrored their own fears, their own hope, their own journey. It was relatable. It was human. And it reminded us all that sometimes, the most powerful thing you can post is the truth.
What made it even more meaningful for me was the irony behind that post. In corporate America, I had to suppress my faith. I was cautious about mixing business and belief, careful not to ruffle feathers or cross invisible lines. I learned to compartmentalize—faith on Sunday, strategy on Monday.
But here I was, no longer hiding, no longer filtering—and this side of me, the side I once protected in boardrooms, was now opening doors I never saw coming. That one post unlocked not only a wave of encouragement and engagement, but an opportunity to pivot my brand with added value and purpose.
I partnered with my son—who’s not only a teen entrepreneur but also a gifted content creator—and together, we birthed an idea that was both intentional and inspired. We saw the viral “Let Her Cook” trend taking off, and decided to flip it with purpose. We redefined it as “Let Him Cook”—not just as a trend, but as a statement. A reminder to let God work everything out.
That single phrase became the heartbeat of a new Christian apparel collection we launched together. Let Him Cook wasn’t just about fashion—it was about faith in action. We blended streetwear with scripture, combined marketing with ministry, and turned social media into our mission field. Every shirt tells a story. Every reel carries a message. We leaned into trending culture, tapped into storytelling, and used platforms like Instagram to spread the word.
And it worked!
People aren’t just buying the merch—they are bought into the movement. A movement rooted in authenticity and resilience. A space where the underdog rises, where faith becomes fashionable, and where everyone can stand unapologetically in their purpose.
But the most valuable lesson I learned, is this – People will always have something to say. Opinions are loud, but your calling must be louder. Your talents, your creativity, and your vision are yours—God-given and purpose-driven. And when you start walking boldly in that, not everyone will understand it, and that is perfectly fine! You weren’t called to be understood—you were called to be impactful.
I had to learn to tune out the noise, distance myself from the doubt, and lean hard into my faith. Because when I let God lead—when I let Him cook—the results will always speak for themselves.
And that’s not just marketing. That’s legacy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.corporateamerikadesigns.com
- Instagram: @corporateamerika
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erika.k.taylor
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@corporateamerika?si=4tCnhI8XuSLRhUo8
- Other: TikTok: @corporateamerika
Image Credits
Photo one: Rashid Tellis @righttimesolutions
Photos 2 and 5: Lois Campos Photography