We were lucky to catch up with Miki Starr recently and have shared our conversation below.

Miki, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

After experiencing mass layoffs in 2015, I found myself navigating a challenging job market while freelancing and working in retail. Every interview felt like wearing a mask, trying to fit into what I thought hiring managers wanted. I realized I couldn’t continue this way. Whether for a project or a job, I decided to show up as my authentic self.

“If I call myself Starr because I shine like one”, then I needed to embody that fully. Thus, #BEINGMIKISTARR Creative was born. It represents my commitment to showing up as my whole self in every aspect of my work, regardless of the role or the interviewer.

Miki, 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 career journey has been diverse, starting with web design and transitioning into print graphic design. I’ve worked across various industries, including store display manufacturing, field services, healthcare, education, beauty, and food service. My passion for design even led me to teach high school students graphic design and language arts for a year.

Transitioning to digital marketing, through freelancing and eventually full-time employment, I faced a setback when I unexpectedly lost my role due to a lack of a higher degree. Despite excelling in my role and receiving positive feedback, this event prompted me to reassess my path. Instead of immediately seeking new employment, I dedicated the rest of the year to attending a UX bootcamp full-time.

While I was certain this would lead to the perfect role, the challenging job market proved otherwise. Despite facing continuous ghosting and rejection, I remained undeterred, working harder until it paid off.

Currently, I’m deeply engaged in the retail fashion sector, specializing in email marketing. This role allows me to leverage my skills in visual design, coding, copywriting, strategy, and analytics.

What sets me apart in any role, whether as an employee or freelancer, is my passion for continuous learning and skill development. Additionally, I am a published novelist with 9 novels to my name. This commitment to growth and creativity enables me to make meaningful contributions in any capacity I undertake, a quality I take great pride in.

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

One lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that everyone was better than me. This mindset stemmed from my college experience in graphic design, which I pursued to fulfill my mother’s dream career, as I was a young mother needing support with childcare. Despite my passion for architecture, I was discouraged from pursuing it and advised to choose a different major.

Initially, I struggled with graphic design, realizing that my drawing skills didn’t guarantee success in this field. I constantly compared myself to other designers and felt inadequate. This insecurity persisted for years, especially since my education was continuously interrupted.

However, after a challenging period that included a difficult experience at a marketing agency, a Creative Director gave me a book that transformed my perspective on print design. This experience made me realize that my belief of inferiority was self-imposed and limiting. It opened my mind to new possibilities and unlocked my creativity, showing me that the only thing making my belief true was my repetition of it.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of clients for me has always been referrals. When I started “freedom-lancing”, I hadn’t initially considered working for myself until a friend I met during my teaching year encouraged me to do so for her business. My second client came from a small business owner I bonded with. As I completed work for these businesses, others would see it and inquire about the work, leading to more clients through word-of-mouth referrals. This pattern continued to be the primary way I acquired clients.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @beingmikistarr
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/shawnmichellejohnson
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beingmikistarr?_t=8mIqz0hHfGp&_r=1

Image Credits
Me!