Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shauntel Barron. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shauntel , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s go back in time to when you were an intern or apprentice – what’s an interesting story you can share from that stage of your career?

Where do I begin? Upon graduating college, I relentlessly pursued internships and apprenticeships, gathering each experience like infinity stones. Breaking into the professional world proved challenging, and with a background in design, marketing, and advertising, I felt overwhelmed by the myriad career paths before me.

My journey encompassed a spectrum of experiences, from foundational roles enhancing skills like print production and out-of-home design to daring apprenticeships that pushed me beyond my comfort zone. These experiences bolstered my confidence while magnifying areas for growth. Whether safe or bold, each opportunity left an indelible mark, offering lessons I still apply to my life today.

Maintaining lasting connections with mentors and colleagues has been paramount. Their guidance and support remain invaluable as I navigate my career path, a testament to the enduring impact of every step taken along this journey.

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 Shauntel, and I’ve lived many lives. I’m not sure; I could’ve planned my life now, nor could I imagine that it existed. But here we are.

Like my previous question, the many design and marketing internships/apprenticeships right out of college fueled me with the tools and resources necessary to propel me into my professional career.

Aside from my professional journey, college kicked off freelance design/social media for me. What started as my college roommate paying me to design wedding invitations for her sister’s wedding turned into me planning and social consulting for many non-profits, podcasts, small businesses, start-ups & more.

The services that I provide currently are focused on art direction, content creation, video editing, social media strategy & planning, and a bit of print collateral (i.e., exhibition design, large format, and small-scale printing)

Since the beginning of time, the problem that I’ve been able to solve is helping clients bring their vision to fruition. I’ve often worked with clients who don’t know what they are looking for, so I’ve always been able to help alleviate the stress behind figuring out the “what” and the “why” to help make for an easy, breezy process.

What sets me apart from others is my eye and natural knack for identifying what looks and feels good. I know it sounds weird, but it’s just something that I have built innately within myself to help people create. Even in my everyday life outside of work, everyone, and I mean everyone, looks to me for creative advice.

I’m proud that I’ve continued building my business to what it is now, continually being challenged with new client asks, growing my skills to evolve my craftmanship, and having fun. I’m an adventurous spirit at my core, so I will always find an opportunity to bring life and fun to my work.

My motto since the beginning of time, which continues to represent my brand, is “creating purpose-driven design and media strategies for people out in the world doing.” I still live by that in 2024. I’m always happy and excited to work with new and familiar faces, and I want to continue to do great work that feels good at the end of the day.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The aspiration to craft a life centered around creativity consistently fuels my creative journey. From the moment I realized my desire to immerse myself in all things creative, my aim has been to expand my skills and knowledge while paving the way for individuals who share my background to thrive in innovative environments, providing them with opportunities to create and earn. Furthermore, I’m committed to realizing my vision of establishing a brand, business, and personal identity through purposeful design and marketing strategies. Regardless of my pursuits, I remain dedicated to giving back to my community and opening people’s eyes to the creative world.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had a deeper understanding of running, building, and sustaining a creative business. Despite being paid for my creations before officially establishing a company, I hesitated to take that step for quite some time. I longed for resources like a supportive network of fellow emerging entrepreneurs from diverse fields, guidance on project management, and a grasp on financial and tax logistics. Over the years of navigating my business, I’ve gradually acquired valuable tools and knowledge that have propelled its growth over time, and I’m reaping the benefits now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nota.world/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nota.world/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauntelbarron/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@somethingaboutshaun