Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitley Nicole.
Whitley, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Since I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed the world of communications; from creative brainstorming sessions to entertainment media- it was something that I thoroughly enjoyed. To be a part of helping businesses bring their ideas into fruition has always been something that I dreamed of. With experiences in multiple internships and jobs, I was able to learn more about branding and marketing and grew more in love with it.
In addition to marketing and branding, I was also doing public relations, helping brands secure media to tell their story. My first public relations job was a pivotal moment in my career because I learned the art of communication. It was a staple job that showed me that all areas of communications can bridge together to tell one’s story. That’s when I knew that branding and marketing were my thing! I loved public relations, but branding was more of an area that really caught my attention.
After parting ways with my PR job in 2014, Hellowhitley was born. Hellowhitley is a small business that helps other businesses with their brand development. I created Hellowhitley as a side hustle while I looked for employment. Throughout the years, I’ve worked with various clients, helping them establish and market their brand. Hellowhitley is not my sole job, but it is my passion. It’s satisfying to me to know that I’ve helped someone grow as a business owner and brand.
In addition to Hellowhitley, my friend and I launched a body-positive podcast called, Excuse My Thickness. We developed this podcast to encourage women to embrace themselves beyond their size, and share our views and experiences on multiple subjects, like body positivity, health, relationships, career, etc. This was another way to connect with people and help them in any way I could. I’ve always felt that I had a story that someone could relate to, and if I could help him or her with my experience that I felt like I have fulfilled a part of my God-given purpose.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Hellowhitley – what should we know?
Hellowhitley is a boutique-style, brand development company that specializes in helping small businesses find their creative voice through branding and marketing.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When starting a small business, whether it’s a side hustle or your full-time job, the road is not always going to be easy. You will have roadblocks, and at times, you will feel defeated and want to give up. You must always remember why you started in the first place, and get back to the fuel that got you where you are today.
When I first started Hellowhitley, I did it on a leap of faith. In the beginning it was hard and I had a couple of stumbling blocks, but it was worth it. When we decided to start our podcast, we fell into the same pattern of wanting perfection, as with everything, you have to crawl before you can walk. One day, my co-host and I had a discussion and we decided to just record and let it flow, and now we are 18 episodes in. Sometimes all you need to do is just take that initial step and everything else will just fall into place.
I encourage people to just put themselves out there. The first step, really, is to take that leap. Yes, it’s going to be scary, however, your passion and desires will guide you through. Everything is a learning process. You will make mistakes, but that’s okay. Continue to push through and roll with the punches because, in the end, everything will be so rewarding and you’ll be happy that you did it.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
Yes, I do feel like there are more opportunities for women. We still have more room to grow, however, we’ve grown as a nation in regards to the representation of women on various levels. We now have women of different ethnicities and various backgrounds holding high positions and leading multi-million dollar brands. Women are capable of doing anything that we want to do, and I think if we continue to work and build together, we can continue to do great things and break barriers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hellowhitley.com
- Email: hellowhitley.info@gmail.com // excusemythickness@gmail.com
- Instagram: @hellowhitley // @excusemythickness
- Twitter: @hellowhitley // @thicknesspod
- Other: www,soundcloud.com/excusemythickness
Image Credit:
Abina Leslie Photography, Greg Shaw Photography
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