In Conversation with Kimara Mitchell

Feb 13

Tell us about your background:

I am a creative director, brand strategist, photo art director, and designer and have extensive experience working with brands large and small on the agency side, at design firms, and in-house. I'm also a content creator and my blog and brand collaborations have been featured in PORTER magazine, Who What Wear, and the San Francisco Chronicle. I'm an east coast girl at heart who loves museums and sports, and am passionate about mental health.

What do you wish you’d known when you started out?

I wish I had more confidence in myself and my abilities.

Best career advice you've ever received?

Don't get overwhelmed by all the 'to-do's.' Choose one thing to tackle and focus on it, then move on to the next.

What leadership qualities are important to you?

Empathy is number one. We're all going through something and it's important to put yourself in the shoes of those you lead. Flexibility, creativity, and firmness are others.

What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far?

Breaking in on the retail/fashion side of what I do. I worked at agencies on other industries (tech, finance, healthcare, etc.), but it was hard to convince hiring managers that I could do the same thing in retail. I've also been laid off twice and having to really hustle for work when you are mentally feeling low is tough.

And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?

An oversized blazer...usually black but could be gray, camel, or white.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimaramitchell/

Website: https://www.kimaramitchell.com

Instagram: @kimair

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