Meet Maía E. Bush | Brand Strategist + Webdesigner for Lifestyle and D2C E-commerce Brands

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maía E. Bush and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maía, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

I believe taking risks is pivotal to evolving whether in your life or career. Whether you’re looking to make a change that will dramatically change the quality of life, or securing the business opportunity that could change the trajectory of your growth or global presence, it all comes down to making the decision, and what we do after we take the risk.

I believe where the resistance creeps in, is when we associate risk with failure and the fear of the unknown. This resistance can be tied to a not-so-positive previous experience or doing something new/left field.

Risk requires us to trust to move to an area of the unknown and to change what we’ve done previously. This can paralyze some people into inaction. I believe It’s the best life teacher as it provides the opportunity and the data you need to learn and improve. The risk you take allows you to face your fears and has the potential to create radical and positive change in your life.

One of the risks and rewards was starting my online business. The logistics, designing, and even talking to people face-to-face were exciting. But one of the biggest fears within my business for me was marketing by using my public appearance and speaking. Anything from social media, going live, and video would leave me in shambles.

After overcoming my scariest mountain by just pushing the button, and allowing room for imperfections, I witnessed heartwarming messages of encouragement from strangers about how my message inspired them.

This breakthrough encouraged me to move past my decade-long insecurity and completely changed the way I did business. This breakthrough also allowed me to create a 100% digital business that supports women business owners globally.

The fear of being seen as imperfect kept me stagnant in my business. No one heard my message, or received the support they may have been looking for because of my fear of risk failure. Once I finally moved passed this with risk-taking, support, and lots of prayers, my business grew past what I could have ever imagined.

 I started to receive dream clients, partnerships, and opportunities that led me to speak at a women’s empowerment retreat in west Africa.
I became more comfortable with taking big risks in my professional career and personal life choices to design the life and business that I want.

Taking a risk can be scary! That’s why it’s so crucial to assess your risks.

When you decide to leap please remember that if it doesn’t go as planned, you’re not a failure, it’s a lesson.

Failing isn’t tied to your character. Use risk as a tool for measuring your personal success.

If you allow it, taking risks can support you in designing the life and career you envisioned for yourself.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Absolutely! I’m Maía (my-ee-ya).

I run a brand development consultancy for BIPOC women visionaries in launching conscious, wellness, lifestyle, and beauty brands. I build both personal & D2C (direct to consumer) E-commerce brands that expand their impact while helping them live intentionally. I support my client through brand strategy, web design, and personal development.

I love the joy my clients get when we create the brand of their dreams.

What makes me unique is my process of developing a people-first brand for my clients that directly align with their values and personal story.

Before the re-branding and design process, I conduct a thorough business and life audit. We start to remove outdated practices in her current business that are culprits of burnout and create a more simplistic business model. I also assess their brand values. This process will ensure that future businesses decisions align with the brand experience they seek to provide.

Secondly, I create a brand strategy that uniquely positions the company’s value in the market by integrating their personal story, profession, and strengths to construct a high-impact personal or product brand presence.

For example, re-branding a lipgloss brand for women into a vegan lip care brand for women with skin sensitivity and eczema. The story was already present, it just needed to be articulated.

I follow brand strategy plans with strategic web design and systems that create a captivating audience and high converting marketing machine on autopilot.

I’ve always been passionate about helping women create businesses that create global change while improving their wellbeing.

Being a woman, a BIPOC woman, and a small business owner came with its own unique challenges.

I saw the burnout, the depression, and unhealthy hustle practices that left the high-achieving women leaders in hospitals.

Because of this, I’ve created an integrated approach that supports BIPOC women in creating a lifestyle free of the hustle culture, while developing an iconic brand filled with intention and radical impact.

I’m also proud of my own pivots. I’ve gained skills through self-teaching which supported corporations large and small. Now I get to take my 7+ years of experience in global e-commerce marketing, website strategy, and supply chain operations to help founders with small to medium-sized businesses compete in the global landscape; and I’m obsessed.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I’m a certified serious foodie and a food/travel blogger in my mind so I love when people ask me what’s good to eat! You going to want to save this! Here we go!

For breakfast, we would go to the buttermilk kitchen for their amazing pickled fried green tomatoes, fried buttermilk chicken, and thicker than texas toast french toast. We would then eat at the Atlanta breakfast club for their chicken & waffles platter but the whole menu is simply divine.

We would drink coffee at Just add honey or coffee and Urban grind cafe. The Chattahoochee river coffee company is lovely as it overlooks the Chattahoochee river if you want to escape the city. We would have breakfast at Breakfast at Barney’s for a classy fun girls’ brunch night!

For Lunch, We will have pizza night at Fellini’s (as a native Chicagoan, I approve of this pizza spot.) Next is YouChef’s wing spot for their amazing spicy feta cheese shrimp tacos. Then we would go to a Latin American Tapas spot called Calle Latina located in downtown Decatur for their shrimp & grits with a Spanish flair, empanadas, and paella.

We’ll then eat at a Black generational family-owned french inspired restaurant and marketplace called Le Petit Marche. For a more live feel, head over to the Hive in Buckhead where there’s brunch and hookah. D92 for mouth-watering Korean BBQ in downtown Decatur, GA. For great wings, I’ll take you to one of my fav Chicago wing spots with locations in Atlanta called J&J’s, and well make sure we get you some mild sauce.

For activities, we’d go to the first Black-owned burlesque show at @thelovebelow for exciting adult-friendly entertainment.

We will stop in Parlour and JoJo’s beloved. These are Black-owned cocktail lounges with speakeasy vibes.

We will people watch on a rooftop overlooking Buckhead village at a tapas spot called Gypsie kitchen. For walking with entertainment, nightlight, and electric scooters at the beltline Eastside trail that runs into Krog Street Market.

My favorite place to stroll outside has to be Decatur square in downtown Decatur, GA. Are you hungry yet? There’s so much to experience here.

Just stick with me!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I’m grateful to have a village of amazing people that have supported me in elevating my personal life and career.

I have to give a shoutout to my mother. My mother empowered me to travel globally and use my gifts to create a business. Although she’s passed away, she instilled so much in me to live big.

My grandparents would echo encouragement and support me by investing in any resources I would need. I also have two wonderful uncles. They served as amazing support and business mentors that catapulted my career in global supply chain and E-commerce

I’m also grateful for my first business consultant and mentor Joseph Phillips. He mentored me in creating a consultancy-based business from scratch. Wendy Alexander( @InspiringDecisions.) Wendy has supported me in aligning business opportunities overseas. I’m also grateful for Vee Kelly (@Veekellycoaching_ ). She’s supported me with incredible mindset shifts and personal brand pivot. I’m so grateful for their support and encouragement.

Website: https://linktr.ee/savvyceo.co

Instagram: instagram.com/savvyceoco

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maiabush/