Meet Kristen Mikayla | Artistic Director I AM the Brand

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristen Mikayla and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristen, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
“I Am the Brand” was something God gave me when I was 16. From a young age, I knew I wanted to have my own business in the arts, specifically dance. Over the years, I prayed for clarity and confirmation about this name and what He wanted me to do with it. Through friends’ dreams, random people mentioning it around me, and my time with God, I felt a strong call to pursue “I Am.”

At first, I didn’t fully embrace its potential and instead started selling clothes in college, partly out of fear of the larger vision I sensed. However, my college venture was quite successful and provided significant financial support during that time.

Now, after a 1.5-year break to seek clarity and understand the full scope of “I Am,” the brand has evolved into a house of creativity that emphasizes dance through project-based works, workshops, and intensives. This season has been incredibly rewarding. I’m excited about this rebrand and ready to embrace everything it entails to the fullest.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I AM is a creative house dedicated to embracing all things creativity, specifically dance and movement. Founded on the principles of 1 Corinthians 9:24 and rooted in Christian values, our mission is to push artists in their artistry through community, professional experience, and collaborative projects. We offer valuable opportunities for artists’ development through visuals, workshops, and intensives for both youth and adults, all aimed at helping individuals discover and pursue their purpose as artists.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A big shoutout to the leadership I’ve had over the years. My mentors have a go-getter mentality that has been incredibly inspiring. Their approach—praying, taking risks, and learning from failures—has really encouraged me to keep pushing forward.

And of course, a huge shoutout to my mom. She is my safe space in this world. I can always turn to her for support, prayer, and guidance. When it comes to my dreams, she never confines me to a box but instead supports all my ideas and helps in every way possible. I love you, Mom!

Website: https://kristenmikayla.com/iam

Instagram: https://iamthebrand.co

Youtube: KristenMikayla

Other: TikTok: Iamthebrand.co

Image Credits
@xotic.certified – instagram