I chat to Leila Ainge on a new episode of Psychologically Speaking. I first met Leila at a Doing It for the Kids Mega Meetup event in Manchester. The week before I had casually decided that I needed to create a skirt for the occasion and then, just to keep myself accountable, told everyone in the DIFTKs community. I'd never made a skirt before. But it definitely impressed Leila who, after chatting further (and realising we had a mutual love of MAFs Australia) ask me this year to be a guest on her wonderful podcast Psychologically Speaking. During our conversation we went all over: the psychological side of branding, the pressures women face in professional spaces, my "change gear" career path and how creative problem solving has shaped me approach to branding. The Key topics include: The power of brand storytelling and personal identity. Challenges women entrepreneurs face in professional branding. The balance between authenticity and professionalism in online spaces. How Katie’s diverse cultural and career experiences inform her work. If you love this episode then I'd love for you to go subscribe to her newsletter too! And here is a picture of said skirt that I made below.

Networking - online or in person - is necessary to run your business. But for Female Entrepreneurs our brands play a bigger role in engaging potential clients. Do you know what's really interesting about mixed networking events? The way men and women talk about business. A few weeks ago I went to a Tameside Means Business Event. The first of 2025 and, even though it had been snowing a few days prior it was well attended. Now usually I frequent all-female networking events (as that's where my target market is) but this event was mixed. And, as I stood in the queue for a brew I realised how different men and women network. For the businessmen in the room, it's a much more direct route: there are a few pleasantries, followed by the "What do you do?" and "What is your business?" questions, a potential change in details (if it is mutually beneficial) and then moving on to the next person. But the women (me included) take a softer approach. Our pleasantries last longer - my usual gambit is about the weather (a hot topic in Manchester), or the length of the refreshments queue/toilet. We make a connection first.  And then, and only then, will we talk about our businesses (usually after we've been invited to discuss it.)  It's not a criticism of networking. Either way is fine. But, for women, it will take longer to get clients.  This is why a brand identity for Female Founders is much more important. 3 Key Areas your Brand needs as a Female Entrepreneur Between the networking events and conversations, the person that we've been talking to needs to remember who we are. We can of course connect with them on LinkedIn, follow them on Instagram, and drop them an email after the event but there is nothing better than walking into a room and them remembering you instantly. And this is where your brand starts to work. Your brand needs to leave a lasting impression on that person so that they remember you until the next time (or even remember who you are when you email them!) I've distilled it down to 3 key areas that your brand needs to do: One: Memorable (obviously!) so that people recognise you as soon as you approach them. Two: Professional, that doesn't mean suits and ties, it just means consistent and easy to understand. Three: Focused, so you're not stumbling over your words to explain what your business does (been there, done that, don't want to do it again!) How do these 3 Key Areas work in Practice? Of course, this is all good in a blog. But how does this work in real life? Here are some of the ways I ensure that at networking events I ensure these Key Areas are covered. At any networking event somewhere I will be wearing leopard print. That way people visually know who I am and that I'm representing my business. (Memorable). When I swap people's business cards, I make it a point of emailing them straight after to say that I liked connecting with them and to offer my assistance if necessary (Professional) I know EXACTLY what my business does and can simply tell someone if they ask. I use the same information for every networking event that I go to. (Focused) What do you need to improve in your Brand? If you want this kind of recognition for you and your business there are a few areas that you need to work on improving: One: Your Story, Values and Vision - This will help you give a consistent and focused response of who you are, what you do and how you do it. Two: Your Content Pillars and Tone of Voice - This will help you understand how you're going to present yourself at networking events. Three: Your Style and Personality - This will help you know how to present yourself at networking events so you're recognisable everywhere you go. Katie is the CEO and Founder of Keppel Leopard Creative, a Manchester-based branding agency specialising in brand strategies and designs for Female Entrepreneurs. Check out our Services .

Brand strategy | Logo Design | Pattern Design | Colour Palette | Font Choice | Promotional Material | Branding Guidelines It's lockdown. I initially contacted Rachael from Wharfedale Soaps after a recommendation from a friend suggesting her soaps. Rachael makes beautiful, natural soaps - without all the chemicals that drive my eczema mad that are found in high street brands. It was a few weeks later she asked about creating a logo for her. Like many business owners, she had created it to get her business going and now she was ready to make it much more permanent. After a Power Hour, Rachael decided that instead of just doing a logo to build the foundations of her brand and decided to work on her full brand identity. Our initial conversations started with understand Rachael's business. As an ex-chemistry teacher, she was passionate about helping people understand how harsh the chemicals in high-street soaps were, and to provide a natural, gentler alternative. With her brand, we wanted to have a balance of the natural side, and also that it was all backed by science. In her content, we ensured that Rachael could talk about the science behind her soaps - and highlighted how the ingredients that she used were kinder to the skin. Following the Brand Identity Framework , this was reflected in the design side of her brand. Her visuals are natural and clean, with the "wave" in her logo representing the wave that is in the design of her soaps. With her logo we - split up "Wharfedale" to keep the clear and clean aesthetic. Want to work on your brand identity? Check out our services!