To run a start-up Founders have to wear practically every hat in the business and in doing so, turn their hand to skills they never knew they had. In fact every Founder could probably write a book on their journey and experience.
In this latest Prinfluencer feature we interview a woman who’s business is to help Founders and businesses craft and tell their story to encourage growth both personally and commercially. This feature is also special as we’ve added an additional interview question that relates to one of our recent collaborations with the Mr Men brand.
TARYN GELDER / / THE BRAND COLLECTIVE
In a tweet (280 characters) what do you/your business do?
Brand and business growth : Personal branding : Photography. Helping female founders define and tell their story to bring their brands to life & grow their business.
Did you have a job/career before starting your business?
I’m a brand & marketing expert having spent the last 20 years working in owned media for TV and radio networks, client side brand marketing and the last 12 years in ad & marketing agencies. For clients including Gap, Disney, Co-op, Nike, Virgin Holidays, Campari Group, Cineworld, Vue Entertainment, Pernod Ricard…..sounds a bit like a CV so I’ll stop!
Why did you decide to start your own business?
I created / / The Brand Collective to do more of the work I love: to help people & brands define and tell their stories, but in a more agile manner. Agile for me, being the flexible structure that I need for my life, for my family & I. And even more importantly, agile so that I can help start ups & brands access senior marketing expertise, to grow their business more cost effectively. I now work with clients and founders closely in a consult capacity, which means I am closer to the passion & vision that’s driving that brand – which is what I love, to really help these businesses grow.
Tell us a bit more about The Brand Collective
I’m establishing the business with a tiered structure of support. Tiered so that founders & project owners can access the right tools and skills to suit them at varied stages, requirements & budgets, and from launch to growth or ongoing development. This flexible set up provides free tools & practical advice, workshops, courses and 1:1 consulting – so that people can develop as much or as little as they like themselves. All with the guiding expertise, support, sounding board & accountability they need, so that they can gain clarity to establish their story and develop content & marketing plans to bring it to life. Website coming soon!
If you were a recent customer of your business, what would you write in the review?
Oh this is awful! I’m totally avoiding speaking of myself like this here…so here’s some actual feedback from a client….
“….Taryn empathised with me and my story with extraordinary skill, enabling her to quickly turn my idea into a concrete strategy and marketing plan. Her personable approach is authentic & genuine, she is just brilliant to work with and someone I trust with my business wholeheartedly”
FINISH THESE SENTENCES…
My business is amazing because…This sounds incredibly cheesy but I genuinely love bringing visions to life, helping people make a success of themselves or their dream business. I just love it.
This time next year…I will hopefully be able to articulate my own praise and a review for myself 🙂 aka worrying less and focusing on myself.
TARYN’S MY ICON STORY
SIZE: Small & Mighty My Icon Story (fits 4-6 icons), White background with black icons and solid black wooden frame
Tell us the story behind your My Icon Story print?
Worldly being: I am originally from the other side of the world and travel is a huge part of my life, my number one goal is to always keep exploring, discovering and learning about the world we live in. Maybe just a fancy way of saying I love holidays!
Dancing: Theatrical dance and acrobats were a huge part of my life for more than 20 years. The last few of those, doing so professionally, which was just the best time ever – being paid to do what I loved.
Bali: My spiritual home. Having spent most of my childhood holidays here, exploring most of the country & culture with my family and then getting married here. This is the one place I can always feel completely relaxed and connected to my family, in particular my mama, now I no longer can in person.
Peace, Love, Girl Power: this can stand for many things. Largely, this is how we say I love you in my family! For me, this is unity, strength, togetherness and love. Such a simple or flippant gesture but for me, this is everything – funny how we make our own rituals.
Nederland: Gelderland 🙂 I am half Dutch, I love that my family has European roots dating back generations. I love the feeling I have when I am there, the tradition and a good dose of heritage. It reminds me of my Oma, Opa & my Dad during my childhood. I love that my son’s name has this sentiment, being named after my dear Opa Willem, who really was never recognised enough as such a kind and beautiful human during his time. Oh and the cheese!
My mind: An ever (over) thinking, excitable, multi-hyphenate beast. One that drives me, but also hinders me at times. It’s an ongoing battle up there but wouldn’t change it for the world – well, maybe a little 🙂
JUST A BIT OF FUN…
My Icon Story partnered with the Mr. Men brand last year to launch our personality canvases. The idea for the product came after I was asked which character best represents me. I couldn’t answer with just one as our personalities and characteristics are a total mix! So we created the first personalised Mr Men & Little Miss Personality prints!
When asking Taryn which 4 characters best represented her she listed the below 4 and said
“A mix of both Mr Men & Little Miss as I definitely feel I have an element of both feminine & masculine energies.”
You’re in a cocktail bar. What do you order?
Amaretto Sour
What’s your favourite type of shoe?
Oh this has changed so many times over the years! Currently, trainers trainers trainers. Asics Gel Lyte is the most comfortable shoe. Ever. I was gifted a pair and have never looked back since. If you haven’t tried them please do. I do love a great heel – but the days of running in those are over.
If you could have any other job in the world, what would you be?
A ballerina – which was my childhood dream. While this will go unfulfilled, I could photograph ballerina’s and tell their story – now that’s something I should pursue…..
THANK YOU
Thank you Taryn. We love your My Icon Story icons, especially the Girl Power and the Ideas Brain! We can’t wait to see your website launched!
To find out more, you can follow The Brand Collective on Instagram @the.brandcollective
If you’d like to nominate a founder to be featured in our Printfluencer Series, please email laura@myiconstory.com
To create your own My Icon Story visit our design-your-own here. We also offer a free icon request service so any icon you can’t find, simply drop us an email to info@myiconstory.com or use the Submit Request form on our homepage.
