My First Speaking Gig: Teaching Personal Branding to High Schoolers

When a friend sent me an Instagram post looking for workshop facilitators for an upcoming youth empowerment event, I didn't overthink it. I applied to a handful of opportunities, not knowing what to expect. A few weeks later, I got the call: they wanted me to lead a workshop on resilience—specifically, artistic resilience from my experience and career perspective.

I had a different idea. What if we talked about personal branding instead?

I pitched it to them: personal branding as a tool for building resilience. When young people know who they are—their mission, their voice, their values—they have an unshakeable foundation. Something no one can take away. The organizers loved it, and just like that, my workshop became about empowerment through self-knowledge.

The event was Girlvolution 2025, a conference designed to empower young women and gender-expansive youth through skill-building workshops, creative activities, and community connection. And they wanted me to teach these students how to brand themselves—how to define their mission, voice, visuals, and values in a way that could guide them through life's toughest decisions.

I said yes immediately. Not because I had it all figured out (spoiler: I didn't), but because I wished someone had taught me this when I was their age.

Building a Workshop in a Day

Here's the thing about being a brand strategist: I know branding inside and out. I could talk about brand tension, visual identity systems, and positioning strategy for hours. But translating that into something meaningful for high schoolers? That required a different approach.

I spent one full day creating the entire presentation from scratch. I designed every slide myself—illustrations, layouts, the whole visual identity—and assembled it all in Google Slides. My goal wasn't to teach them how to design a logo or pick a color palette. It was to give them a framework they could use to understand themselves—a tool for empowerment that no one could ever take away.

I called it the 4-Quadrant Framework:

1. Mission – What are you here to do?

2. Voice – How do you show up in the world?

3. Visuals – What does your aesthetic say about you?

4. Values – What do you stand for?

These aren't just business concepts. They're life concepts. When you know your quads, you become unstoppable. You have a compass for tough decisions. You have language to advocate for yourself. You have clarity when the world tries to tell you who you should be.

I titled the presentation "Be Free, Build Youth Resilience" because that's exactly what personal branding does when done right: it builds resilience. Your story becomes your cornerstone—something no one can take from you.

2025 GIRLVOLUTION - BE FREE, BUILD YOUTH RESILIENCE.pdf

Download PDF • 3.04MB

The Day Of: Small Crowd, Big Energy

I'm not going to lie—I was nervous. What if no one showed up? What if they thought it was boring? What if I wasn't cut out for this? (Stage fright is real, and I'm still working on getting over it.)

Eight people came to my workshop: a mix of students and adults. And honestly? That felt perfect. It was intimate. Everyone who showed up wanted to be there. They were curious. They leaned in. They asked questions. In a smaller group, I could actually connect with each person, answer their specific questions, and make the experience feel personal rather than performative.

We worked through the 4-quadrant framework together, talked about examples like Zendaya and Liza Koshy (people with strong, recognizable personal brands), and then dove into the activities. They filled out their own worksheets, defining their mission, voice, visuals, and values. We created mood boards together. And—this was a hit—I played a curated playlist while we worked. Turns out, people really respond to good music during creative exercises.

But the thing that surprised me most? The sticker sheets I designed.

I'd created a sheet filled with empowering quotes, feminine and gender-neutral characters, and words meant to inspire confidence and self-expression. It was a small thing, just a takeaway to make the workshop feel more tangible. But of course people loved them—they loved my art. Students grabbed extras. Adults asked if they could take some home.

And then someone asked if I'd be willing to lead this workshop again for their business.

That moment hit different. This wasn't just a nice presentation I'd put together. This was something people found valuable. Something they wanted to bring into their own spaces. It was validation I didn't know I needed.

[Insert sticker sheet PDF image here]

By the end of the session, I could see it: students walking out with a little more clarity, a little more confidence. And I walked out thinking, I want to do this again.

Why This Matters (Especially for Young People)

I had a hard time in college. My mental health was struggling, and I was one of the few students of color in a predominantly white school during the Trump era. I didn't feel like I had a voice—especially with the personal obstacles I was facing that I'm only willing to share if you buy me several drinks. I just… survived. And I don't want that for other young people—especially those from underrepresented communities who are constantly told they don't belong.

When you know your story, you have power. And critically, when you know your story, other people can't try to change it or take it from you. When you know your mission, your voice, your visuals, and your values, you can walk into any room and advocate for yourself. You can make decisions that align with who you are, not who others expect you to be. You can build resilience in a world that will try to break you down.

Personal branding isn't about being fake or curating a perfect image. It's about understanding yourself deeply enough to show up authentically—no matter where you go.

That's what I wanted these students to walk away with. And based on the feedback I got, I think it worked.

What I Learned (And Where I'm Going Next)

Teaching at Girlvolution taught me something I didn't expect: I love this. I love breaking down complex creative concepts into something accessible. I love seeing people have "aha" moments. I love creating spaces where young people—especially those who look like me—feel seen, heard, and empowered.

This was my first speaking gig, but it won't be my last.

One day, I'd love to speak at Adobe Max or a Google conference—places where creatives and innovators gather to learn and be inspired. I want to talk about branding, sure, but also about cultural storytelling, building creative businesses, designing for underrepresented communities, and whatever else feels urgent and true.

For now, I'm just grateful I got to start here. With 10 people in a room, a Canva deck, a playlist, and a sticker sheet. Sometimes that's all you need to make an impact.

The Takeaway

If you're reading this and you've ever thought about teaching, speaking, or sharing your expertise with others—do it. You don't need to be perfect. You don't need a massive platform. You just need something worth saying and the courage to say it.

And if you're a young person reading this, know this: your story matters. Your voice matters. Your perspective matters. Don't wait for permission to define yourself. Start now. Build your quads. Know your cornerstone.

Be free. Build resilience.

Interested in booking me for a speaking engagement or workshop? Get in touch—I'd love to talk about bringing creative empowerment to your school, conference, or community event.