We recently connected with Taniah English and have shared our conversation below.

Taniah , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

Some of the most unexpected problems I faced in my business were related to my own mental health. As the head of the company, I fell into a serious depression that affected my ability to run the company effectively. This led to a decline in business numbers and strained relationships with partners, competitors, and clients. My team carried me for months, but eventually, they started running into their own problems.

During this time, I struggled to function and relied on self-medication to sleep. I couldn’t properly take care of my child and cried myself to sleep. My reputation was on the line, and I felt like I was losing everything. I battled with depression for two years until I reached a turning point.

It was through the grace of God that I was able to find the light at the end of the tunnel. I realized that I was going through a transformation that changed my perspective on life. I turned my pain into art and started designing digital artwork that captured what I had been through. In fact, my first Art Show will be take place May 2024. This series is a celebration of love, beauty, femininity, growth, and transformation.

I rebranded myself and anchored my faith to the ground. Since then, God has been blessing me and my business.

The unexpected problem of my own mental health taught me the importance of taking care of myself and seeking help when needed. It also showed me the resilience and strength of my team, who supported me during my darkest times. I learned that it’s crucial to prioritize mental well-being and create a healthy work-life balance. Through this experience, I grew personally and professionally, and it has made me even more determined to achieve my dreams.

Taniah , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Nia, and I am a jack of all trades. I studied graphic design and photography, including traditional photography I spent a lot of time in darkrooms developing film at Antonelli Institute. I also pursued a degree in English literature at Grand Canyon University.

Coming from an artistic background of poets, painters, and musicians, my love for reading and writing was formed. However, I accidentally entered the design industry when I founded a non-profit organization with no budget. As a result, I had to handle all the design work myself, which led me to learn about business development and branding firsthand. This was over a decade ago, before the term “branding” became a trending topic. People started admiring our organization’s brand identity, and I was eventually hired to design brand identities for friends. Through referrals, my design career took off.

Today, my agency is a full-service design agency specializing in creative marketing, creative directing, brand design, and business development. We excel at creating compelling brand stories through design. Our main focus is helping clients scale up their businesses by providing them with effective branding and marketing strategies.

One aspect I am particularly proud of is the structure of my company. The foundation is so strong that the company can run itself, as well as my partnership with Wix.com. It allows me to focus on delivering high-quality design services to my clients. This level of organization and efficiency sets us apart from others in the industry.

Overall, I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know that I am passionate about what I do and dedicated to helping businesses succeed through strategic branding and marketing. I bring a unique blend of artistic creativity and business acumen to my work, ensuring that my clients receive not only visually stunning designs but also effective solutions to their business challenges.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

One book that has had a profound impact on me is “Start with Why” by Simon Sinek.

In “Start with Why,” Sinek challenges the traditional approach to business and leadership by suggesting a reversal of priorities. Instead of focusing solely on features, services, and price, Sinek emphasizes the importance of starting with why – understanding the purpose and values that drive a business.

This book has taught me that successful businesses and leaders inspire others by communicating their why, which goes beyond the products or services they offer.

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

Emotions play a significant role in building and maintaining relationships with customers and colleagues.

The backstory behind this lesson is that I used to believe that being emotionless and solely focusing on facts would make me more professional and efficient in business. I thought that showing emotions would make me appear weak or vulnerable.

However, I noticed that people responded better when I showed empathy, understanding, and genuine care. Building strong relationships required me to connect with people on an emotional level, listen to their concerns, and address their needs.

I learned that emotions are not a hindrance in business but rather a valuable tool for building trust and loyalty. This led to increased customer satisfaction and retention.

So, the lesson I had to unlearn was that being emotional in business is a weakness. Instead, I discovered that emotions can be a strength when used “appropriately” (that’s key) to build meaningful connections and foster a positive business relationships.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.iamniae.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nia_e/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/niaecreativedesignstudio/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taniahenglish/

Image Credits
Ricky Codio (Photographer)