Sometimes an entrepreneurial story doesn’t begin with a business plan, but with a conviction that you’re worthless. That’s how it started for me. In the very first episode of Beyond Branding, I share my story—not just about entrepreneurship, but about surviving, rising up, and finding yourself again, even when it seems impossible.
A Child with LIMITATIONS, but also with PERSEVERANCE
As a child, I was labeled not smart enough, with diagnoses like dyslexia and dyscalculia. The message? I was three years behind. My school years felt like survival: being bullied, coming home in tears, conversations with therapists… and constantly feeling like I had to prove myself. To my parents. To teachers. To myself. “I felt stupid. I thought: I’m worthless. Everything I try is doomed to fail.” And yet something burned within me. A dream. A will. Something bigger than the shame and sorrow.
From Factory to University
At eighteen, I dropped out of school. The bullying had broken me. I dove into the working world—assembly line work, stocking shelves, order picking, cleaning. Not because I wanted to, but because I thought there was nothing else for me. Until I decided to study again. With nothing but a student loan, work alongside school, and a backpack full of life experience. I earned my high school diploma, and then even a master’s in visual arts. Completely on my own strength. During those four years, my parents divorced and I lost my father. I stood there with my diploma… but no one was there to celebrate it with me, except my boyfriend. But give up? Never.
From RECOVERY to SOUL Mission
Today I run Studio Sa’qia. I guide soulful entrepreneurs who want their brand to truly mean something. Who don’t want to shout louder, but touch deeper. My story has taught me how it feels to be unseen, and that’s exactly why I now help others step fully into their power. What I missed for so long—truly being seen and heard—is now exactly what I give to others.
In every journey, we build a Brand Experience that feels right. Not branding that’s just “pretty,” but a brand that reflects your essence. A brand that feels who you are. Inside and out.
Beyond Branding is MORE than Visibility
It’s about being. About daring to stand for your story, including the parts that hurt. And precisely because of that: making unprecedented impact. You ultimately create your own path. Your own life. Your own goals.
This episode is not a call for pity. I don’t share my story for myself, but for those who need to hear this now. For those who feel small today. Insecure. Different. It’s an invitation. To draw strength from vulnerability. To believe that anything is possible, if you believe in it yourself. Because that’s always where it begins.
Want to hear the whole story? Then listen to the episode ‘From stupid to entrepreneur’.
