We were lucky to catch up with Shar Biggers recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shar, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

One of the most meaningful projects of my career was serving as Deputy Creative Director and Head of Design for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. It was significant to me for many reasons—I was the first Black woman to hold this role in a general election, a position traditionally known as “Design Director.” This election mattered so deeply to me that I stepped away from running my brand design studio to take on the role, fully committing to shaping a visual identity that reflected the moment’s urgency and historic significance. But this wasn’t my first time working to help elect the first woman president. In 2016, I was a designer on the Hillary for America campaign, where I remember hearing whispers and speculation that Kamala might be next. I never imagined that eight years later, I’d return to oversee design for two presidential campaigns—Biden-Harris and later Harris-Walz. It was the most challenging job I’ve ever taken on, but the sense of accomplishment in overcoming those challenges made it all worthwhile. Still, that achievement is just a footnote compared to the historic impact of Vice President Kamala Harris’s groundbreaking journey.

Watching her rise as the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first South Asian woman to serve as vice president blew my mind. And seeing her make history again as the first woman of color to become a major-party presidential nominee left me completely speechless. We’ve not taken a moment to let sink in how she shattered a 236-year-old glass ceiling, becoming the highest-ranking woman in U.S. history. It’s powerful for women of all backgrounds to see and worth celebrating, regardless of the outcome. We know that the odds had to be stacked against her because we live through it every day; watching her gives us all hope that we, too, can do it! She helps us to envision ourselves in leadership roles, even those that feel like a million miles away. She represents progress, and that is meaningful, not only for me but for every woman. 

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 Shar Biggers, and I am the founder and creative director of Saleah, a brand design company. We specialize in ideation, brand identity, brand strategy, packaging, and web design. While we work with various successful clients across multiple industries, our mission-driven team is also dedicated to supporting businesses and individuals facing financial challenges. One of my proudest achievements is our Bridge Program, which offers our services at more accessible rates. This initiative helps clients build strong, lasting brands without compromising quality.

Our process is deeply personal, and we view our clients as more than just projects; they are individuals with purpose. We work closely with them, especially founders, to clarify their brand and leverage it effectively. By the end of our collaboration, they gain a clear identity, renewed confidence, and a deeper connection to their work. It’s not uncommon for our clients to shed tears of joy during the process as they uncover their deeper “why.” We take our role seriously, strategically building brand equity, driving growth, and helping clients create a lasting legacy.

How I got into Design:
My design journey has been quite unconventional. I started my career in psychology and was preparing to begin a doctoral program in neuroscience when I had a profound realization: “I’m in the wrong field!” In my spare time, I engaged in creative activities, such as designing blogs on WordPress and Wix. This scared me because I felt so different from my peers in the sciences, who were completely immersed in their research.

As a woman of prayer, I remember reaching out to God for guidance, and I felt directed toward a new path. I left the scientific field behind when I recognized that my career didn’t align with my true self. Deep down, I had always been creative and driven by ideas, and I realized I could no longer ignore that part of myself. I needed to stop living for others and pursue what truly inspired me. So, I boldly decided to embark on a new journey in the creative world. I later earned an MBA and graduated from the Portfolio Center of Design. Throughout my career, I have worked with some of the biggest brands, including Coca‑Cola, Amazon, and Condé Nast.

Inspired by my time working for Hillary Clinton, I founded my design studio in 2019 with a mission to support small businesses and underrepresented founders. I witnessed women and people of color launching businesses at high rates but struggling to sustain them due to systemic barriers and limited resources. Too often, they had to cut corners in their branding—decisions that carried significant long-term consequences. This realization led to the creation of The Bridge program, which later expanded to support entrepreneurs from all backgrounds facing financial hardships while working to launch and scale their businesses.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Working on the Harris-Walz campaign was one of the greatest tests of my faith and resilience. I was tasked with building an entire design department from one person to twenty in just two weeks and rebranding our candidate within three weeks—an almost impossible task. Honestly, it often felt like a job I couldn’t win, one where mistakes were inevitable. But even in moments of doubt and imperfection, it reinforced something unshakable within me: I am a woman of destiny, built to persevere. I refuse to question my purpose, no matter the challenges or how misunderstood I may be. Just as I was preparing for this role, life threw a series of unimaginable blows my way—forcing me to step into this challenge with more strength and faith than ever before.

Just three days after accepting the job, my apartment caught fire, leaving everything I owned covered in soot and smoke. Three weeks later, on my way to work, I was struck by a 600-pound tractor-trailer tire barreling toward me at over 70 miles per hour. By nothing short of a miracle, I survived with only minor cuts and bruises—God spared my life by half an inch. The trials didn’t stop there. Days later, I was rushed to the hospital after a sudden hemorrhage. And just when I thought I could catch my breath, I received a diagnosis that shook my faith to its core.

My role continued to present immense challenges—managing three rebrands, navigating a high-stakes candidate shift from Joe Biden to Kamala Harris, and leading a young team through it all as a first-time manager. The learning curves were steep, and the pressure was relentless. In reality, I was barely surviving. I had lost everything—no furniture, possessions, just a mattress on the floor. But in that moment of emptiness, I heard a voice ask, “Will you trust Me with nothing?” And despite every reason to walk away, my answer was yes.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

When I launched my studio, I gave myself six months to make it work. I built my company website in two weeks, determined to prove I could do it alone—no relying on connections, no shortcuts. I needed to know I could build something from nothing and survive.

I sent up to 300 cold emails a month, reaching out to people who had never heard of me, armed with little more than a portfolio of personal work. I asked companies to take a chance on a hungry creative director willing to give everything to their brand. It took eight months—nearly 2,400 emails—to land my first client. By month nine, I had four clients, no savings, and had somehow managed to keep a roof over my head. But that’s a story for another time.

There were moments when I wanted to quit before I even got started. It was definitely a struggle, but I held on—and I’m glad I did.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://saleah.agency/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saleah.agency/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saleah

Image Credits

Emilynn Rose – Client Lifestyle Photography
Halves Studio – Client Product Photography