We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Naoma Serna-Zahn a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Naoma, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Being a successful business owner requires guts, grit, and a relentless spirit. You must embrace risk-taking, and not only take risks but also hold onto them for the long haul. Unfortunately, this is where many entrepreneurs falter and ultimately fail. The weight of making tough decisions can be overwhelming, but it takes a courageous and confident individual to weather the storms and come out on top.

As for me, I took the biggest risk of my life by diving headfirst into entrepreneurship. I was bold enough to admit that I didn’t have much business experience, but optimistic enough to believe that everything would fall into place. I was tired of feeling like a babysitter at my job and yearned for the freedom to call the shots. So I founded Nuevo Studio, with two clear objectives in mind.

First, I wanted to travel the world without the constraints of a traditional job. Second, I was determined to create kick-ass work for women in business. And although it was a daunting journey, I was unafraid to take that leap of faith.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Studying abroad in France for my French Literature and Culture degree was a turning point for me. As I immersed myself in the language and culture, I realized that I wanted to communicate ideas and emotions in a new way, without relying on words alone. I yearned to express myself visually and create a lasting impact with my work.

Upon returning from France, I made the decision to pursue a graphic design degree. From the moment I began, I was captivated by the power of design to influence business and culture. It allowed me to engage both my analytical and creative sides, a perfect harmony that I continue to appreciate to this day.

As I progressed through my studies and eventually into my career, I discovered a particular passion for branding. The process of combining analysis, psychology, and visuals to convey a business’s essence or feeling is an exciting and endlessly rewarding problem to solve. I take pride in helping businesses tell their stories and connect with their audiences in a meaningful way.

What drives me is my insatiable curiosity and love of exploration. I enjoy diving into different industries, encountering new problems, and finding the best solutions for each unique challenge. There’s no greater feeling than seeing a business succeed and knowing that I played a part in that success.

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

As a branding business, we are passionate about helping small businesses succeed. We truly believe that these businesses are the engines that drive our economy forward, and meeting other risk-takers always leaves us in awe. That’s why we are committed to putting our all into every project we take on, doing whatever it takes to make our clients’ businesses better.

One of the biggest challenges people face when working with a graphic designer is feeling like they’re not being heard or understood. That’s why we take the time to really get to know our clients, learning about their business, what sets them apart, and what they stand for. By creating a visual identity that champions these unique qualities, we help our clients stand out in their crowded marketplaces.

At the heart of our approach is a reputation for caring about our clients and helping them achieve their goals. We don’t see our clients as employers, but as partners in a shared mission. By understanding their problems and pain points, we work with them to find unique, fun solutions that set them apart from their competition.

Sometimes, all it takes is an outsider’s perspective to help a business leader find the right path forward. That’s where we come in, bringing a fresh perspective and a collaborative spirit to every project. By inspiring our clients to take bold, creative steps, we help them achieve success beyond their wildest dreams.

In short, my work as a graphic designer is all about building strong relationships, inspiring my clients, and helping them achieve their goals. By putting my all into every project, I’m making a difference in the lives of entrepreneurs and small business owners, and that’s a mission that inspires me every day.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Embracing change can be difficult, but it opens up a world of opportunities for growth and self-discovery. The more changes you experience in your life, the more adaptable and flexible you become. It’s like learning to go with the flow, to navigate the twists and turns that come your way.

For me, my unique upbringing as a Mexican-American has helped me develop this flexibility. Growing up, I often felt like I didn’t fully belong in either country. However, this experience has given me a unique perspective and has allowed me to see the world through different lenses.

When I decided to move to the US to pursue my college degree, it was a challenging transition. I had to start from scratch, without a high school degree, and with limited language skills. However, I embraced the challenge, reading and creating art to explore myself in the process.

Later on, I pushed myself even further and decided to live in France for a year, where I didn’t know anyone and struggled with the language. But once again, I embraced the challenge and learned to be resilient.

These experiences have taught me that starting from scratch can be scary, but it also opens up new possibilities. They have also prepared me for a life as an entrepreneur, where I have started from scratch multiple times. With each new challenge, I have learned more about myself and my capabilities.

Contact Info:

• Website: nuevo-studio.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/naoserna
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomaserna/

Image Credits
images of Nuevo Studio team: Qazi Islam clients: Elemental Coffee deadCenter Film Festival AMA Oklahoma Marketing Excellence Awards Siren Media