We recently connected with Ihamna Cubillos Valencia and have shared our conversation below.

Ihamna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

When I first started my business in 2014; I was fresh out of college, with no real idea of how to build a business. I struggled to find someone who could honestly help me build a pricing model. Everywhere I searched, anyone I asked, would always hit me with the “top secret” attitude. At the core of every article I read and the many conversations I had, was the, whatever works for your structure, “what does that even mean?” The most frustrating part for me was realizing that none of those pricing models, were fully invented by them, so why gate keep it?
I’ve made it my mission to help young entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of pricing strategies. I share openly how I charge my clients, from exact project numbers to my thought process getting there. I fully understand that the knowledge I’ve gained shouldn’t be my little secret. Yes, I know it took me years of research and experience, but why make someone else go through that when they can start off on the right foot.

I hope to leave a legacy of she cared enough to honestly help me.

Ihamna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Ihamna Cubillos Valencia, and I’m originally from Cali, Colombia. I moved to the USA when I was 8 years old with my mom, in the hope of better opportunities. I’ve always expressed myself creatively, I started playing music when I was very little (and I still do). I’ve also enjoyed all things art making like pottery, box design making, drawing…etc. I started my career as a graphic designer/photographer/business owner. I’ve had to work hard to build a path for myself, as creative outlets can be very competitive. I quickly climbed the ranks and I’m now on the executive team of a social impact communications firm in Washington, D.C. I lead and mentor young creatives, who are building their careers in the arts. In my role as a small business owner, I offer services like graphic design, photography, video, and web design. I focus on elevating businesses/individual brands, while also developing a plan for manageable upkeep of key things like website updates or social media plans.

As an Afro-Latine, diversity, and representation is so important to me. What makes me the most proud is helping people be seen. I see the world through the lens, that everyone has a space in the world, and everyone deserves to be represented. When I make ads or build websites I make conscious choices to change the status quo and feature those who don’t always get a chance to be seen in advertising. When I take photos, I seek to find what makes people special, unique, and authentically them. I recently got asked to co-lead a workshop about capturing diverse skin tones for my local church. The church has a growing community and an equally growing photo/video team. They wanted to learn how to authentically capture their community and I very much align with those values.

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

I’ve had to unlearn that my work doesn’t define my worth. I still struggle to find a natural balance, and I still end up losing myself in all the timelines and deliverables I’m striving to consciously acknowledge what doesn’t need to consume. I’m allowed to rest, I’m allowed to just BE, and I’m allowed to be more than my work.

I grew up with a strong desire to make my family proud of me. I never felt like I could pursue the sciences like my mom or become a teacher like my grandma and aunts. So I pushed to stand out in other ways. All of the women in my family are so accomplished and educated and knowing that I couldn’t fail my family, shaped me in many ways.

I believe many of us can relate to seeking the approval of those who raised us or whom we admire. However, I’ve come to understand that my worth isn’t defined by meeting expectations. It’s about embracing my path and finding fulfillment beyond external validation.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Honesty, is my rule. In my role overseeing a team of both seasoned professionals and interns, I’ve found that honesty goes a long way. It’s super scary as a supervisor/manager/leader..etc. to admit where I lack expertise. The corporate culture of managers is that we have to know everything and that’s frustrating. As a director within my firm, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that I don’t need to be a master of every domain.

With the team I’m building, I prioritize acknowledging their expertise and strengths, even when they surpass my own. I’m leading without the need to micromanage tasks that my team excels at. My job as a director is to hone one skill and that is leadership. Recently, I came across a video where a creative team member highlighted how the freedom they were given to innovate, elevated their company’s design standards, positioning them as leaders in creativity within that industry. This reinforced my belief that empowering my team truly benefits everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chiladesign.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ihamnacubillos/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ihamna-cubillos-valencia-44043478/

Image Credits
Personal Photo – Photo by Edward Mark Samples 4 – Model (Aysia Kenner)