We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rachel Pesso. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rachel below.

Hi Rachel, thanks for joining us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

Back in 2012 I was working in the corporate world and was not feeling connected to what I was doing at all. I was being paid really well and at a very reputable company in NYC but energetically I knew I wasn’t even close to tapping into my creative potential. I decided to reconnect to an amazing women I graduated with from the School of Visual Arts and she shared with me that she was working for Marie Forelo, an amazing entrepreneur who at the time I had never even heard of. I was so impressed that my friend was able to work for such an awesome job and asked her how she did it. She shared more and asked me if I wanted her help. I of course said YES! One of the absolute best things I ever did was find a mentor to help me create my business. She took me through a branding and strategy process that I use with clients to this day! We worked on my mission statement, ideal audience, brand identity and all the ways I wanted my ideal clients to FEEL when they interacted with my brand. She pushed me creatively and inspired me not to give up when things got really challenging.

That brings me to the next part of this story. One day I asked her how will I actually get clients? I was so afraid of failing and having to go back to my old job. My friend told me that I have to go this Women’s retreat in Sonoma California where 60 other entrepreneur women would also be heading. I was terrified. I had never been to anything like this. I had never stood up in a group of people and shared how I felt or what I did for a living. In fact I was starting a website design company and the truth is I had only designed ONE website when I arrived at that retreat ( and it was my own! ). I felt like such a joke. I remember feeling so embarrassed. To clarify, I did not go to the event only to get clients, I went to the event to be around other women who were also creating something amazing and many others I could learn from. It was the best decision and investment I ever made. I not only found my first client in that room, but I ended up over the next few years creating life long friendships and collaborating with 10 other women from that one retreat. Once I realized that I had such a special gift to share with others, I was able to just focus on connection and being present. My first paying client, just had me on her podcast this past month and we are still in touch almost a decade later!

I don’t want to paint such a perfect picture. This process was challenging and at times I truly didn’t think I would get through some of the rough parts of the early stages of building a business. The truth is, this retreat taught me that I was not alone, my dreams can come true if I take risks and that being YOU is truly everything when it comes to launching a unique brand.

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?

Hi I’m Rachel Pesso. I’m a visual storyteller, designer, and art director. I help entrepreneurs create and launch their brands online so they can truly embody their mission and purpose.

With 10+ years of experience, we blend high-level strategy, collaboration, and deep love to design who you are online. Recent clients include Laverne Cox, Lori Harder, Jen Gottlieb, and Jadah Sellner. Each woman is a trailblazer leveraging her voice to create an irresistible impact in a world that deeply desires it.

The way we support clients are:

1. Custom Brand + Website Design:
Our ideal clients are on a mission for global change that starts from within. They run their businesses online, are ambitious, creative and value the importance of authenticity while helping humans thrive. They want to look as good as their message feels! Real talk: you have a divine mission on this planet. It’s time for your people to actually see it.

2. Soul Themes Websites:
A 14 day design experience for launching your unique beautifully branded website using the Soul Themes templates and Rachel Pesso.

3. Website in a Day
This is perfect for get sh*t done bosses who are looking for a website quickly and efficiently that takes their business’ needs, prioritizes user experiences and leads to more clients and sales.

4. Digital Products ( DIY )
This is your one-stop shop to create an eye-catching logos and professional brand that’s authentic to you.
Products include: A branding course, Canva logo templates and social media templates

We love being able to support you where you are in your business. What sets us apart from others is that everything we do includes collaboration and heart.

We can help you:
Bring your vision & story to life
Create a impactful brand that helps you stand out and disrupt the industry that you in.
Design a website and brand that really feels like YOU
We keeps things simple, fun and effective :)

Important Links:
tiktok.com/@rachelpesso
rachelpesso.com – Custom Projects + Website in a Day
soulthemes.com – Soul Themes
rachelpessobranddesign.vipmembervault.com – Digital Products

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Honestly, there is so much that I have had to UNLEARN with my business. Most of it has to do with mindset. One thing that took me a while to grasp was being my own boss. I struggled with making decisions. When you work at a company, often times this part of your brain turns off because you are always taking directions or orders from someone else. When you have your own business everything falls on you.

It seems silly but I had to re-train my brain and remind myself that I get to decide. I get to decide the process, the deadline, the hours, the terms. This took me a few years to learn and many failed processes and f*ck ups.

What I learned was everything though.

Having boundaries with clients, contract terms, processes, and scheduling really helped me thrive. I am a firm believer that nothing I want will happen without a plan. Learning what works for you early on is KEY,

it will keep changing over time but the more clear you are the more clear everyone that you work with be.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clients for me is a mix between referrals and attending live events that my ideal clients hang out at. It’s truly a win – win scenario if you can hang out in the same room as your clients and be able to learn, connect and work on yourself and business.

I will say that I never just go to an event with the mindset of “finding new clients”. I am only attending events that really are in alignment with something I want to learn, people I would like to connect with or an epic experience.

Referrals have always played a huge role in new clients for me. Clients love to share with others their websites and brands and I make it a point to ask if they know of anyone else who is in need of my support right now.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rachelpesso.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/rachelpesso
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelpessodesign
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelpesso/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr5ybCj9k7Y0FQjbzfiBGag
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelpesso https://soulthemes.com/ – Done For you Website Experience https://rachelpesso.com/introducing-soul-brand/ – Logo + Social Media Templates https://rachelpesso.com/thesoulexperience/ – Branding Course