Meet Cortesia Oxford, The Branding Architect | Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cortesia Oxford, The Branding Architect and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cortesia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
So starting a business first starts with mindset. Before you get your logo, your website or instagram you need to have the right mindset that will make you push yourself when no one else is pushing you and teach you to invest in the growth of your brand over only spending money on inventory or things that won’t allow you to scale later. Next, You will want to know what problem you solve so that you can position your self to your FIIRE Client to solve a problem or an issue that they can’t find anywhere else; although there may be 400 plus people in your field you may want to focus on a specific problem that you see with representation, quality or messaging. Then you need to thoroughly know your customer beyond the basic demographics age, weight, height, ethnicity and relationship status. In order to create a sustainable business you need to connect demographics to psychographics including personality, lifestyle, interests and values. Think about Fashion Nova, if we close our eyes right now we could see an image of what a person that shops at Fashion Nova looks like. I instantly think Cardi B, Ari Fletcher or Jayda Cheaves the influencer type girls that are popular for being fashionable and on the scene. That is how clear you want people to understand and connect with your brand by instantly saying that “This Brand is for me.”

What should our readers know about your business?
So with my business I get to combine all of me into one entire project: The Creativity + Strategy + Leadership ( Direction). My favorite phrase is Pretty don’t mean Sh*t if it doesn’t convert and many business owners or boss babes have accepted the lies of pretty is enough. With all of the elements of my services I make conversions possible, creativity tangible for female business owners and build confidence for them in themselves and their businesses. This is so exciting because I feel like I am finally in my feel good spot. I used to try and only create logos or only create websites then I saw more key elements were missing and people were looking the exact same then quitting their business 3 month after following the hype of if you build it they will come. Thanks to Clubhouse and divine intervention, I am in a position now where I am the expert and businesses trust, based on reviews and stats, that I am the one that will help them show up powerfully.

This was so difficult at times because I had to overcome everyday issues and then issues that I can’t believe I dealt with at the same time including imposter syndrome, life’s stresses: evictions, depression, being homeless, domestic abuse, COVID-19 diagnosis, physical and mental disabilities. At one point, I was bottling all of this up and I tried to be a superhero like nothing hurt me. This made me bitter and resentful at myself and others. In order to start the healing process, I have had to address my personal issues in therapy while checking in with my business coach to develop this framework. I have had to admit that I am good at what I do and show up without self sabotaging. I put in work to be good at this so why not show it. I have also had to learn to develop a better relationship with organization and not just fly by the seat of my pants. Currently, I have to organize my day around my physical and mental disabilities, although super difficult, communication and delegation has allowed me to set realistic expectations. With all this going on I gain balance through the creation of digital products and my template shops, The Content Sorority and My Branding Bank. I am optimizing my courses Canva Unlocked, Wix Wonderland and introducing more tutorials to optimize content creation and conversions for businesses. This allows me to be creative, run my business, spend time with the babies and handle all my issues.

On this journey, I have learned so many lessons about myself and business. Professionally and Personally I can say Own your Sh*t there are things that you are doing that are preventing your success it’s holding you back. So by owning what you are great at you have to also own what you are bad at. No one is 100% on everything all the time so you need to specialize in what you love to do and what you do and are the best at to take you to the next level. I know that I am not good at everything. I don’t have to do everything to be paid high-ticket or have all of the money. I look at basketball and I see that Steph Curry is known for his 3point shots, but not his defense the same way Shaq was known for being a terrible free throw shooter, but we all remember when he broke a basketball goal with his dunk or packing someone’s shot. So what did both of these players do: use the strengths of others on the team ( Delegation) and specialize, practice & strategize in their strengths. They are authentic players in their positions and industries and are respected because of it. That is why my slogan is Tangible Creative; I become the businesses’ team in developing creative assets that make it easy to communicate their value so that they can focus and specialize in what they are the best at in their business.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So my sis Jessica from Memphis is coming in September for The Black Entrepreneurship Homecoming Experience and last year when she came we didn’t get a chance to connect because we were so busy so this year I am showing her Atlanta from my eyes. We both love food so we are going to start breakfast each day either at Waffle House, Thumbs up or D’essence Cafe. She is coming a day early so I want to go to The Bakery Coworking Space to have fun + do a quick content day. Then we are going on Groupon to pick a spa to buy a massage, facials, mani + pedis and a wax. Then I am taking her to Benihana’s just because it’s my favorite place to celebrate on Day one. I have never been on the Ferris Wheel or the Horse and Carriages downtown so that is next just to see and show her the city. Then we are going to an indoor pool or a Jacuzzi so we can kick back and chill.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow there are so many people! I want to start with God, he’s my rock in a weary land. I prayed for help building a business and he blessed me with my amazing Coach Jalynn A. Jones that has coached me to where I am now leading creative teams and my sister-friends Akia Caillouette & Jessica Racquel that pray with me and for me. Through God’s blessings of great friends, a coach, my talent and opportunities I am here today. Next I want to thank my kids, Thaddeus and McKenzie, just for giving me the best hugs and saying. “Mommy you are the best!” with a kiss even when MOM GUILT sets in. My mom, brother and his girlfriend for just being a help because a lot of people don’t have any help whatsoever and have to struggle through without an ounce of me time or people judging them for bringing their kids to work. It’s been a long journey,but my kid’s dad, Thaddeus Henderson, is the FIRST person that told me to raise my prices. Last but not least, Craig Green when I first started full-time entrepreneurship you were the person I bounced ideas off of and paid to attend my very first webinar. You wanted to help grow the business so you learned how to design websites with me, you called clients and you even funded so many of my ventures. The support and love you gave through this has been unmatched and I will love you forever. Without these people I would not be here.

Website: www.thebrandingarchitect.co | www.thebrandingarchitect.com

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Image Credits
Credits: Photographer: Antoinne Duane Jones Media Models: Jalynn Jones and Hyphy Hippie