Episode 008: For When You’re Ready to Be More Visible

Have you ever wondered if you really need to be visible as the face of your brand?

Last week, Afternoon Culture hosted a workshop in LA that sparked an honest and vulnerable conversation about showing up. During a discussion on what makes a brand truly stand out, someone asked, "Do I need to be visible as the CEO of my company?" The room went quiet, and in that moment, it became clear how many founders and creatives are quietly asking the same question.

This episode explores the tension many founders and creatives feel between wanting to lead boldly and fearing what it means to truly be seen.

Kat shares the journey of building Afternoon Culture and what it took to move from staying behind the scenes to leading with intention and voice. From early doubts and quiet beginnings to powerful feedback that helped shape the path forward, she reflects on what it really means to build a brand that reflects who you are.

If you have ever wondered whether your story matters or felt unsure about taking up space as the face of your company or creative project, this episode is for you.

Full Transcript

Last week, I hosted a workshop at NeueHouse, a beautiful private coworking space in Hollywood.

It was an immersive afternoon filled with branding exercises and honest conversations designed to support founders and creatives building culturally relevant brands here in LA.

At one point, during a discussion about what makes a brand truly stand out, a founder looked at me and asked point blank,

“Do I need to be visible as the Founder or CEO of my company?”

Everyone’s attention turned to me. In that moment, I realized something important. 

In a world where attention is currency, many of us are asking the same question: How do I show up and take up more space without losing myself in the process?

In this episode, I want to explore what it really means to be visible as a founder and creative, and how embracing visibility can expand your impact, your leadership, and your brand. Let’s get into it.

I started Afternoon Culture because I believe in the power of a clear story and a strong sense of identity. Nothing brings me more joy than seeing a brand thrive, whether that’s hitting the revenue goals they dreamed of or creating the kind of impact they were built for.

As we celebrate 7 years…I know that part of why we’ve made it this far is because I’ve been intentional about the experience we offer. We are relentless about helping our clients find clarity and momentum.

Since day one, I’ve focused on creating excellent work. I’ve always loved solving problems and helping our clients rise. I’ve had clients tell me I’m their best kept secret and that they feel lucky to have found us.

And it’s true...I’ve helped a lot of clients prepare for visibility. A few years ago, we worked with a new startup that got so clear on who they were and what they offered that the day after launching their very first website, they landed a feature in Forbes.

I really believe a great brand is one that gets traction. Over the years, our clients have been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, LA Times, The Economist, Wall Street Journal, Good Morning America, and more.

But when it came to being visible myself, that part felt harder.

I knew I was entering an industry where only one percent of creative agency owners are women. I haven’t found clean stats on BIPOC founders specifically, but anytime I look at data for people of color in advertising or the creative space, the numbers are stagnant or declining.

I had a different lens, a different way of doing things, and I wasn’t sure if that difference would be celebrated or questioned.

Being the face required confidence. It meant taking more risks. Honestly, my perspective felt so different from what I saw out there. I’ve talked about imposter syndrome before, but this time, I didn’t just feel like an imposter. I felt like I might be too different.

In the early days, I questioned whether my idea would even last. I remember how nervous I was at networking events, giving my elevator pitch or handing out business cards with shaky hands, hoping people would believe in the vision. I played small. I let my work speak for itself, but I rarely allowed myself to really be seen.

I have been thinking about one of my very first clients when I moved to NYC. It was a network of diverse women and nonbinary angel investors. They were on a mission to fund BIPOC, women, and nonbinary owned businesses at a time when only two percent of all venture capital was going to women.

The founder of this group was a powerhouse Latina I admired deeply. She was a trailblazer who got a lot of media attention for her tenacity and vision. She always pushing for more diversity in every room she set foot in.

I loved working with her. She was a super-connector who would always pass my name along to other brilliant founders.

She sent me to lunches and meetings in her place and I found myself in rooms with the Governor’s wife, famous authors, and I even met Monica Lewinsky twice.

She believed in me before I even felt ready to believe in myself and made room for me.

After I launched Afternoon Culture, I reached out to her for feedback on the brand and website. She immediately loved the name and said something like, “This brand has so much potential. I feel like there’s a podcast in here too.”

Then we got to the About page. She paused and said, “No way. This is missing YOU.”

She told me the site looked beautiful, but it felt impersonal. It didn’t reflect my voice, my perspective, or the reason this whole thing existed.

She knew I was building a team of brilliant women of color, but there was no mention of that anywhere. The site didn’t show our faces, and it didn’t share the story.

She said, “Without your story, this just feels like another branding agency.”

I’ll never forget that. It made me realize I had created a brand that looked great but hid the very thing that made it different. I had kept my own voice out of it.

Even though I still felt more comfortable hiding, I started making changes. I added team photos. I updated our story. I slowly began to embrace the truth: I had started something, and it deserved to be seen fully.

The year before I launched Afternoon Culture, I applied to so many brand designer jobs, including one at Squarespace. 

A childhood friend who had been with the company for years offered to pass along my resume. I thought for sure that would at least get me an interview.

Instead, I got a short rejection email a few days later and I remember feeling really disappointed. 

A year later, I got an email from Squarespace again. This time, they invited me to speak at their headquarters as a founder. 

I walked into a room filled with hundreds of Squarespace team members and guests and talked about creativity, building a business, and following your own path. The same place that had turned me down now wanted to hear my story.

That moment will always stay with me. It was a reminder that when you start showing up, things shift. When you stop hiding, you make room for bigger opportunities. And when you allow your story to take the lead, the right people start listening.