We recently had the chance to connect with Neysa Garcia-Muhammad and have shared our conversation below.
Neysa, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I absolutely love to paint. I paint murals in my apartment all the time and love the process. Everything from selecting the colors, deciding on the vision of the final outcome, and taking the tape off just before it dries makes me so happy. I always say that in another life I’m an indoor muralist. I love putting on a podcast or some music, taking my time, and diving into a different world for a few hours. As a reward, I get this beautiful space that is uniquely mine.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Neysa, the co-founder of Ginger and Carrot Productions. Alongside my husband, we help leadership teams do the inner work of branding, clarify their story, and define their values so that they can take aligned action. All creative decisions start with having a deep understanding of why you’re here, what you believe in, and what you stand for. Our photography has been published in My Creole-Cali Kitchen by Chef Ryan Rondeno (a stunning cookbook available everywhere books are sold), featured on Bon Appetit, Epicurious, and Cuisine Noir Mag. We’ve helped dozens of small businesses and global brands translate their story into powerful visuals that cut through the noise.
As a Black Queer couple, we center inclusivity and authenticity in everything that we do. We’re always collaborating and partnering with people from different backgrounds and stories to help them connect with their audiences on a deeper level. If you’re an underestimated human because of who you are or where you’re from, chances are people try to put you in a box, tell you who they think you should be.
My mission is always to get down to the root of who people actually are and help express that through their content and branding. Amanda Sabreah famously says “Marketing is about being known and branding is about being understood”. To add to that, content is a tool to be witnessed. As a team, we adhere to these 3 tenants.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I was always hyper independent. As a child I was adultified, given responsibility, and I delivered. I prided myself on not needing much and not being a burden. I carried a fear that I would be too much for other people to manage. While I fully deserved a childhood and needed to be cared for, my independence got me through a lot of challenges early on.
I got through college working full-time in hospitality. I transitioned to the tech industry after learning how to code in a year. I bought my first home by the age of 25 and continued achieving to prove that I didn’t need anyone to be a success.
In this season of life, married, running a business, taking care of a dog with the spirit of a puppy, and newly in California…I’m learning that community is everything. I don’t have to measure my worth by how little I ask for from others. I’m inherently worthy by existing and no one can do this life alone. That’s the point of being together and existing together. Survival of the fittest isn’t the game we’re playing for longevity, it’s building your village. That’s a much better predictor of our quality of life.
So, I’m letting go of doing bad all by myself and embracing going together to go far.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I had a big fear of burning out. I work hard in my business and everyday I do something that brings me closer to my goal of growing Ginger and Carrot Productions and earning a 7-figure salary through my own business. On days like today, I’m writing an article after midnight. On days like tomorrow, I’ll be on a shoot for most of the day. On days like Monday, I’ll be handing hours worth of admin.
What I’m learning is that there is a difference between burning the midnight oil on someone else’s dream, and going after something that I want for myself. No one is defining what success means for me anymore. Once I decide that something is for me, I go after it and I open up my hands to receive it.
I’m good about staying connected to my friends, I spend time with my partner, I eat well and stay active. My life isn’t perfect, but it’s very integrated. There will be a season where my day-to-day looks different because that’s the nature of things, but I’m in the season where my foot is on the gas and that’s okay. There’s so much conversation about having a soft life and slowing down as a response to burnout. For me burn out was more about misalignment than it was about doing “too much”. It’s okay to have seasons where I’m committed to a goal and that’s what’s true for me right now.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
My industry loves competitor analysis. It’s like building a business model around stalking an ex and it doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t see competitors as obstacles, I see them as evidence that my business is viable and usually find ways that we can work together. I know what my competitors are doing because I’m rooting for them and believe in them. Ginger and Carrot Productions is not for everyone and neither is any other media company in Los Angeles. It’s not about beating them, winning over them, but learning from them and sharing what we’re learning along the way. The fact is that high tides raises all the ships. Everyone’s on their own path and comparison stops progress right in its tracks. It’s not my goal to be the next Hoorae, Monkeypaw, or Flightstory. It’s always to be the first Ginger and Carrot Productions.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What light inside you have you been dimming?
Someone asked me today “Are you an artist?” and some part of me habitually thought, “no, not exactly”. Truth is, I am an artist. I love businesses, I love branding, I love talking about making money, and building. Ultimately, underneath it all, I’m a creative, I’m a storyteller, and I’m an artist. If I wasn’t working, I would be creating just the same, just without the business development attached.
I love taking the gift of an idea and walking the path of bring it to light. It’s the most spiritual form of self expression, it’s inherently human, and no one can take you ability to create a way. That’s one of my deepest truths. So, I could stand to claim that aspect of me more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gingerandcarrot.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerandcarrotprod/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neysa-garcia-muhammad-%F0%9F%8F%B3%EF%B8%8F%E2%80%8D%F0%9F%8C%88-858751344/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gingerandcarrotproductions
Image Credits
The images above were produced by Ginger and Carrot Productions LLC
