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

Alright, Toni S. thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My mother worked at the Department of Energy in Washington DC for over 30 years. She would take me to work with her and I noticed how much of a boss she was. As a kid, I didn’t have the terminology that characterized her actions, but when I think back on it my mom had things and people in check. For example, she’d always tell people “I don’t work FOR you. I work WITH you.” That has stuck with me to do this day. When I work with clients, sure they’re paying me to do a job, but I still don’t work FOR them. I work with them as a creative partner. My mom had an entrepreneurial mindset even though she had a 9-5. My dad always pushed education. He was very proud when I graduated from college. He’d always say to people, “this is my daughter. She graduated from one of the top schools in the country” (University of Maryland). He also was a learned man. He graduated from college and continued to educate himself by reading and intellectual debates and conversation.

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 Toni Brown, and I’m a brand strategist and designer. I work primarily with Black women in Corporate America who want to build a brand based on their passion, personality, and perspective. I know this very well because that’s where I was about 10 years ago. After leaving the corporate environment, I began to focus solely on my branding agency, Skye Media Group. Over the past 3 years, I’ve ignited my personal brand to build a platform where I educate, motivate, and package women to construct their personal brand. I believe that everyone, especially women, deserve to be seen and heard in business. It’s important that they connect with their words and not only focus on visuals. I believe developing a strategic brand message is the key. It’s vital for business owners to express honesty, grace, and empathy in their communication. I stand for those women who have lost their voice (possibly in their lives) at work and are ready to reclaim it through personal branding.

Up until 5 years ago I was in a space where I lost my voice in life. Once that part of my life was over, I re-emerged as a more confident and energized woman. It moved me to ignite my personal brand to help other women do the same. I’ve specifically worked on brand messaging as a component of brand strategy for the past few years. I’ve found that brand messaging and storytelling are underrated and misunderstood among women building brands. I’d love to be a voice that motivates women to use theirs in a persuasive and empathetic way.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

The ability to unleash creativity is underrated and taken for granted. Everyone can be creative, but not everyone can hone in on that creativity. Artists and creatives bring our realities to life, yet the impact of creativity on our society, lives, and businesses is cheapened. Society, as a whole, can start by paying for the creative impact by not undermining the value of creativity. First, that means paying people their value (not “worth” because we’re all priceless), but paying for the results a creative project or campaign can generate. That also means not haggling over price or trying to get a creative project done “on the cheap.” Before society can support artists and creatives, it’s important to understand how valuable creativity is to solving problems, connecting people, and generally improving the world around us.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I have a few goals that I want to accomplish along my creative journey, and they’re ever-changing. The two that are constant is 1, wanting my freedom, and 2, helping Black women present themselves in the best light possible through personal brand development.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.brandcoachtoni.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/brandcoachtoni
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mstonisbrown
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYm4zcQpRkqsItvfGFx0xBA
• Other: http://www.skyemediagroup.com

Image Credits
Photo credit: Jon Will Photography