Meet Kendra Valencia | Brand & Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kendra Valencia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kendra, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

Starting a business wasn’t something I saw myself doing. Before, I didn’t have the guts to do it because I “wasn’t good enough.” By the end of last year, I reflected on all the accomplishments and client transformations I had achieved on my job at the time. After talking to friends and family, I realized I’m capable of doing whatever I set my mind to. Overall, I wasn’t happy with how things were going in my professional life, and I needed a change.

So on Thanksgiving, I kept thinking about starting a business. After a conversation with one of my sisters, I decided to quit my job and start a creative studio focused on branding and design. Valen, my creative studio, launched on April 29th. Since then, a top phrase my clients say when working with me is “thank you.” Going from wanting to quit on Thanksgiving to having clients thank and value their brand transformation is the best irony in my career ever.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Valen is a creative studio where I help women become more confident in their business with empowering, brag-worthy designs. Therefore, you can get services in brand design and strategy, web design, plus graphic design for digital and print assets that fit your needs and goals.

Many designers can create pretty things, which is an extraordinary skill we have. But as an expert and business owner, I don’t believe that your brand design shouldn’t only consist of appealing assets. For many women in business like myself and my clients, brand design helps us reflect on our business journey and connect with our target audience. My goal at Valen is to help remarkable CEOs have designs that enhance their brand’s uniqueness. I want to help them move the needle that positions them as a leader in their industries and attract their ideal clients.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that to have a business, you must put yourself out there, especially in the creative industry. I consistently work on my business visibility strategy, showing on social media with intention and seeking opportunities. I’m convinced that one day, opportunities will come to me. While some will say I’m lucky, I’ll know best that all the effort I’ve put into my business is what will open many doors for my studio.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I mainly live in Puerto Rico but travel to different cities and work remotely. If one of my friends that live outside of PR is visiting, there are a couple of spots I’d take them. For instance, there’s an ice cream spot with hundreds of flavors. They have the usual ones, such as strawberry, mango, coconut, vanilla, etc. But they also have dulce de leche, garlic, rice and beans, carrots, and pumpkin-flavored ice cream.

There are also tons of beautiful beaches in Puerto Rico we can visit. Plus, I can’t forget Old San Juan, where they can check out the colorful, colonial-style architecture.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

There are many who I’m thankful for and deserve a shoutout. For instance, my parents, sisters, and friends have supported my business journey.

There are phenomenal CEOs that I’ve learned plenty from, such as Claudia Mangeac (an exceptional sales and business coach) and Jenna Johnson from White & Salt, who’s also a brand designer.

Website: https://valencreatives.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valencreatives/