Today we’d like to introduce you to Steph Zangeneh Azam.
Hi Steph, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After college, I became a freelance magazine art director working for various publications. It was an exciting time – flying to Las Vegas every two weeks to art direct my team for a city mag. Then taking on a top-to-bottom redesign for Case Western Reserve University’s Think magazine. I learned a lot about self-perseverance in those years, constantly hustling.
Then my husband and I decided to buy a house in CA, which meant I needed to boost my income. As a result, I took a job with the state. It was great money and benefits, but the environment drained me of creativity surrounded by gray cubes and dreary meetings. I was depressed, and it started to affect my life outside of work. I stayed for three years, enough time for us to get settled, and then eight days after my fortieth birthday, I left.
After quitting my job, I took a trip to New Mexico that was genuinely life-changing. While hiking to the top of Chimney Rock, I decided to release everything holding me back and start my own business.
I called it Wild Woman and made ethical feather earrings, organic and sustainable body lotions, and lip balms, and I made zero money doing it! But my heart was whole, and I felt alive again. I even won a moo.com contest for my designs. The brand reflected who I was at heart, the country girl who loved building forts out of manzanita branches in her backyard. It was about embracing adventure, getting my hands dirty, and feeling free to be myself. It was everything I craved in the corporate world but didn’t find there.
It lasted only a short time, but it reignited my creative spark by taking a leap of faith and doing something entirely out of the box. It was a pivotal moment that set me on my path today, and I have no regrets when I reflect on this part of my journey.
Then a close friend contacted me to develop her brand identity, shoot the photos, and design a website for her new business. Her project helped me realize I had the skills to offer a complete package. It was an absolute epiphany! Which was a turning point for my business and completely changed my career trajectory.
After that project, one referral after another came, and that’s what got me to where I am now, supporting women ready to evolve their brands.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has been quite challenging. Being self-employed, you’re responsible for everything, which can be daunting. Even after ten years of running my business, I still encounter obstacles and learn something new daily.
These challenges range from handling taxes and hiring contractors to keeping up with tech and constantly refining systems, not to mention the pressure of social media.
When I started my business, I wasted a lot of money investing in programs, e-courses, and conferences that weren’t the right fit for my personality. I was desperate to learn and did what I saw everyone else doing. I never understood why I felt out of the loop, frustrated, and bitter with the business advice I was trying to incorporate that didn’t work for me.
So when I learned I am a Splenic Projector in Human Design and how differently I do things from about 80% of the world (primarily Generators), I started to see things differently.
I now know it’s OK that I need lots of rest, play, fun, and waiting to be at my optimum and that trusting my intuition is the key to success.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I design brand identities, direct brand photography shoots, and design websites for women-owned service-based businesses. I also do brand clarity sessions and website audits for those thinking about a rebrand but feeling overwhelmed about what steps to take next.
I think my eye for detail and strong sense of aesthetics set me apart. When I work with my clients, I aim to encourage and support their whole complexity of experiences and help them blossom into the fullness of who they are. It’s important I recognize their struggles and entire journey to get to where they are today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mightywithin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mightywithin/
Image Credits
Chase Daley
