Hi Ali! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:
Ali Hicks-Wright is the Founder and Creative Director of Amari Creative, a branding studio that specializes in building strategic brands and websites for ambitious entrepreneurs by pairing engaging copy with striking design. Since starting Amari Creative in 2016, Ali has worked with hundreds of small businesses and solopreneurs to help them go from a mere idea to a full-blown brand. As a seasoned Brand Strategist and Business Mentor, Ali is on a mission to help creative entrepreneurs build and scale their own businesses from the ground up, all while designing a life they love. Based in sunny Colorado with her partner and goldendoodle pup, Ali is an adventure lover, wellness enthusiast, and creative visionary.
So Ali, what excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?
Community! Connecting with likeminded business owners.
Starting your own business is not an easy decision! What made you take the leap to start your own business?
I started my business at age 22. As a young business owner, I knew what I was passionate about and I figured if there was any time to take the leap and go for it, it would be then! That was seven years ago now and I have never looked back. Best decision I ever made! :)
What was your background prior to starting your own business?
Marketing, Journalism, and Design
So Ali, did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
No, but looking back I was always creative and always doing entrepreneurial things like selling my art at the local fair, making scarves, selling wreaths at the holidays. Anything crafty!
How did you first spread the word about your new biz when you initially launched?
I transitioned my former boss to my first client, so I knew starting the business I had some work to get me started. I used this as my lily pad to building out the business and began bringing on more clients from there! Seven years later and I am proud to say we have never had to spend a dollar on marketing.
What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way and what did you learn from it?
Work life balance! I love what I do so much it can be easy for me to get sucked in!! :)
What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?
The hundreds of businesses and brands we have launched for our clients. We get to see this incredible ripple effect that our work has. We help a female founder build and launch her brand then from there get to watch her business thrive and grow as she impacts her audience with her offerings.
Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?
YES! It is a necessity! I have a lot of boundaries in my business and structure that I have built over the years like only taking meetings Tuesdays and Thursdays. This allows me to show up fully present for my team and my clients, while giving me the space for creative flow on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I don't start work in the morning until I have poured into myself whether that is taking my pup for a walk, working out, relaxing in our home sauna, journaling, breathwork or something else. I also plan transition time at the end of the day so I can ease into home/family mode at the end of the day and leave work behind. Lastly, I travel a lot! Travel and adventure is a huge part of my work life balance!
What's a piece of advice you can share that you wish you'd known when you first started your Entreprenista journey?
Put myself in more rooms of people who have done what I want to do!
Ali, you have lots to celebrate! What have you achieved recently that you'd like to celebrate with our community?
I just built out my personal brand (alihickswright.com), so I can start coaching and mentoring other creative entrepreneurs and designers. I am so excited for this!!
What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?
I am going to be building a mastermind for designers, launching a podcast, and continuing to run my agency and helping our clients build and launch their dream brands!
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About the Author
Entreprenista Team
