We had the good fortune of connecting with Steph Zangeneh Azam and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Steph, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I had been designing for the state assembly, but the environment and work didn’t fulfill the essence of my creative mind. I knew leaving a secure high-paying job with a pension and medical benefits was risky, but I was beyond ready to ditch my blazers and morning meetings to become my own boss. I didn’t have much in savings, but I knew I had to make a change because my freedom and happiness were more important than the security of the job.

I left eight days after my fortieth birthday and never looked back.

Starting out I didn’t have a clear vision of exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to work with women entrepreneurs who had the same passion.

Then a good friend asked me to create “the whole package” (custom brand, photos, and website) for her new business, which changed everything. That’s when I realized I had something unique to offer because I could do all three services.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My studio Mighty Within does brand identity, website design, and brand photography direction for women who have service based businesses.

I love digging deep and translating my client’s vision and communicating the voice and emotion they want to convey visually. And that’s the fulfillment of this job and being a creative person.

 One of my clients says it best: “Steph has an intuitive, creative gift that allows her to ‘see’ people and create them visually on the page. It’s not easy to come by.”

I’ve learned so much over the years. One of the biggest is that security and core belief is something you have to work for no matter what you do or who for. That’s why it’s imperative to keep evolving and learning to ensure your business thrives and you can provide the best for your clients.

Also,  I never give up, no matter what challenges I face (and there have been a lot). I learn from my failures and mistakes, it has made me stronger realizing what works and what doesn’t.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
To set things off, we’d begin with a delightful brunch at the Tower Cafe’, which has a gorgeous garden patio just a few minutes from our home. Afterward, we’d catch a cool old movie at the eclectic Tower Theater and maybe even hear the grand organ!

The following day we’d take off for a pleasant drive down the Sacramento Delta, destination Clarksburg where we’d enjoy some lovely wine tasting. Did you know that the infamous Bogle winery is tucked away deep in one of the picturesque slews? Next, we’d go down to the historic town of Locke for lunch at Al’s place – a throwback to the 30s and a great biker bar.

If our guests aren’t overwhelmed, we’d head down to Rio Vista, where we’d surprise them with Fosters Big Horn. A fantastic place, that’s all I’m going to say about it! On the way back, we’d wash the day down with a lovely crisp pint of cider at Hemly’s in Courtland.

For a flavor of local Sacramento life, we’d head down to K street for lunch at the superb Kodaiko Ramen and then take a stroll down to see the architecture and vibrant new eateries. And then, who knows? There’s so much to see and do in Sacramento!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I couldn’t have gotten where I am without the support of my family, friends, business mentors, coaches, and, most importantly, my husband, Alex.

Website: https://mightywithin.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mightywithin

Image Credits
Photos by Anya McInroy

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.