Introducing: Build the Founder
A new section focused on founders, their behind-the-scenes journey, and how to uplift the process with mindful, strategic, and empowering tips.
👋 Hello Branding Revealers. How are you doing today?
Day one of a founder feels like jumping into a vivid sea again and again and again…
Many will say that being a founder is tied to the startup world—the process of raising funds, having a product that’s already successful in the market, and more.
In my upcoming book on female founders, I share that definition of a founder. The moment you have an idea that becomes a business—and a registered one—you are on the path. Yet we all know that having that foundation doesn’t automatically make you a founder. It’s just the beginning of a journey to discover who you are inside, who you are as a leader or visionary. Sometimes, the story doesn’t start well, doesn’t develop well, or doesn’t finish well. Yet, it is also a new chapter in the journey. Serial entrepreneurs enlighten us on the founder trait—that character that helps a founder thrive: learning to see, adapt, and disrupt, to let go and move to another pond. But most importantly, becoming a better founder is the formula for better business and greater impact in our world.
The mastery of founders we look up to resides in their character. No matter the field they embarked on, they created companies that changed our habits. They disrupted the game in business, culture, language, empowerment, branding, and beyond. There is no secret—from the pilgrim founders to today—that the journey has always been a rough one. Solitary, indeed. Very few believed in the idea. Very few were convinced the founder had what it took to make it happen. And very few encouraged them to take the next step. Nevertheless, some hands came together to bring meaningful and pivotal support. Without external validation, something greater was at play, a belief to make their visions come true. And a lesson on how to start and turn a vision into reality.
This new section, entitled "Build the Founder," is aimed at founders, focusing on mental health, strategy, finance, impact, and growth. I will be inviting experts to share practical exercises and tips to help fellow founders take a break, think bolder and wiser, and come back even stronger.
Welcome to the Founder’s Table… of the newsletter.
Reignite that spark, fuel that vision, and confirm you are on the right track
Regardless of the stage, you’re at in this journey of transforming a wild idea into reality, the allure of the process is truly unique—not just for us creatives, brand builders, and marketing buddies, but also for future generations. We all have a founder we look up to, someone who has left behind such remarkable work and determination that it’s impossible not to respect.
The journey is rough. It can break you or make you. It doesn’t have to be that way, but in the end, the journey is shaped by the people who take it. And each of us experiences it differently. Yet, joy is a common thread among many founders.
Against all odds, the joy of creating something meaningful—something that echoes in our hearts while solving real problems—is part of that unique Founder DNA we nurture as we embark on this journey.
This documentary offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the making of founders, and it is truly refreshing. Not only do we see the journey as data, but we also experience the emotions from the very beginning to now. That emotional rollercoaster—every big step, every failure (or lesson), and every unexpected success—shapes the path. Success lies in momentum, and for some founders, it becomes inevitable.
Melanie Perkins is one of the female founders I chose to focus on in my book, and stumbling upon this recent documentary while preparing my introduction felt like a green light. Dive into the story of Canva—a story of a founder, co-founders, a vision, a team, and, most importantly, the people on the other side of a smart business idea.
Why does this section matter?
I have been expanding on the intricacies of branding. First, by inviting brand revealers, including some founders, and then by making space for marketing voices and inspirational brands. I believe that branding is linked to character, and it lies in the one behind the brand. Just as there are billions of people, there are billions of ways to brand. The character each founder exudes in their brand and branding is a masterclass for younger founders on their journey. An inspiration to craft their paths while being aware of the bumps on the road. They are, for sure, unavoidable.
Bringing this new section will serve to strengthen our building muscles. And get inspiration from founders who paved their way. The word building is intentional. Like an architect, a founder is in the accomplishment business. The journey and how the foundations resist turmoil allow us to recognize the character of a builder in a founder. From the initial sketch to the 3D plan. Then prototypes to reactions from their people. From financial understanding to a strong team. There is no doubt that from the ground up, founders own and build their vision inside out.
We will explore several topics, some from my insights and others from experts who will share tools, techniques, strategies, mental health conversations, and practices to sustain the founder’s drive, joy, and vision.
Our journeys are different. We have different visions, building styles, opportunities, and missions, yet we all venture! And we need fuel to nourish our journeys. For those who are not founders, the series may serve as an appetizer for future moves.
Build the Character: Build the Founder
Sending 🏋🏻♀️ vibes
Keva.