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

Alright, Kayla thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Learning how to do what I do with MIKO Creative came from trial and error. The work we create is made up of videography and photography that intends to represent the soul and personality of the clients we work with. It can be a challenge to present one’s authentic self with the pressures and demands of today’s major market platform, that being social media and content creation.

Upon starting MIKO Creative, I sought out my expertise by gaining it in the field. I bought a camera and I just started shooting whatever I could find, or whoever I could find that was willing to give us a shot. This process included many out of focus photos and over-exposure in videos, but it gave me invaluable perspective and reinforced my learning. There’s nothing I would do differently to attempt to expedite the learning curve that comes with self-teaching. It’s one of the most beautiful and self-fulfilling parts of the journey.

Of the skills I have acquired, the most essential would have to be patience. The frustration of not fully understanding every nuance of this industry I have entered was imminent, and that is the biggest thing that can get in your way. The feeling of not being capable, or not understanding fast enough, that is the obstacle to overcome. Patience is key, the rest will follow.

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 name is Kayla Taitt, and I am the Founder and Creative Director of MIKO Creative. MIKO Creative is a digital marketing and production studio that was born in 2023 in Long Beach, CA, one year after I graduated from UC Riverside with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.

Throughout my years at university, I had every intention to continue work in the field of Psychology and to conduct research regarding health and wellness. I was a Division 1 Volleyball player throughout my college years, and it truly reinforced my dedication to physical and mental well-being.

But, as I got closer and closer to graduation I began to question what I really wanted for my life; I questioned what would make me happy. Upon graduating in 2022, I began my walk into the world and sought out work until I could go to graduate school. However, during this time I found myself getting more in touch with my creativity, as I ended up seeking odd jobs in business development and marketing. This experience exposed me to the creative ways to connect with people and businesses, and how to help those who don’t know how to connect in this way. I then focused my attention on what parts I loved most, and my plan for my life completely changed.

At MIKO Creative, we create digital marketing collateral for clients to be used in a variety of avenues, such as a social media content, email marketing, digital advertisement campaigns, etc. Our approach combines mindfulness and creativity in order to truly connect our clients with their consumers. We map the ever-changing climate that is today’s digital frontier, and make sure to keep our clients ahead of the Gen-Z and Millenial curve. This approach incorporates mainly videography, photography, and copywriting.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe what helped me to build my reputation within this market was my ability to network and make genuine connections. It is absolutely essential to not only let your work speak for you, but for you to present yourself to others and create relationships. We often forget that it is real people that your are wanting to bring into your business, and real people require authenticity. Along with who MIKO Creative is as a studio, it is equally important for everyone to know who I am and what I value. I have made new friends throughout this journey, and these friends have made it apparent that they support me every step of the way. That is what created my reputation, and what continues to do so.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

One key resource that has absolutely impacted my entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy is the team at Fuller Management Corporation. I have fostered a professional relationship with their CEO, Kena Fuller, and she has had such a positive impact on the small business climate of Long Beach, CA. Kena has been a guiding light throughout my process of building MIKO Creative into what it is today, and still is as I continue to morph and change the studio into what it will become. I would recommend anyone who has a dream of entrepreneurship or any sense of creating their own work to connect with Fuller Management Co. . The time I have spent learning from Kena Fuller has helped me rid my self of the misconceptions I once had about creating a business, and it gave me the tools I needed to create something beautiful that can change and grow across time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mikocreative.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymikocreative/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

Image Credits
Personal Photo of Kayla Taitt : Captured by Casey Liu 8 Other Relevant Photos: Captured by Kayla Taitt