branding coach for female entrepreneurs | About Me
Halò Darling, I’m Alana
here’s my story...
And there I was, chalk in hand, with it almost touching the playground wall ready to ‘tag’ my name, close to tears – this was it, the moment I’d be waiting for...I was finally going to be accepted by the group of cool kids that my quiet, introverted, soft-natured, 9 year old self was SO desperate to be friends with.
It was only a wall, and the chalk would wash away, but my 9 year old self didn’t know that. I just saw it as vandalism and that I was doing something wrong – but I wanted these kids that were making me deface the school building to be my pals so much that I agreed to do it, despite me wanting to cry as a manifestation of the uncomfortableness I was feeling from doing something sooo out of character!!
As you can probably guess, those friendships didn’t make it past the school walls lol. I was in that group, hating every second of it, for roughly two months before we all graduated and started high school, never to see each other again.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with low self-esteem and feeling different. To cope, I learned to hide behind masks, and to become whoever I thought people wanted me to be, seeking validation through unaligned friendships, unwanted attention, and escape.
In my early twenties, partying gave me that escape. It helped me forget and gave me the illusion of belonging. For a while, it looked like I had everythinggg I wanted: friends who ‘liked’ me, a social life, travel – but it wasn’t really me, it was a persona I’d created to fit in.
Behind the mask, I. Was. Exhausted.
I kept burying my true self under the sand to the point where I’d totally disconnected and forgot who she was. I carried the weight of this for years – it even leaked out into my business too. I was comparing myself to other graphic designers online and copying what they were offering because I thought that’s what ‘success’ looked like. I judged everything I created, convincing myself it wasn’t good enough – it was no longer about my art or creativity; it was a mental competition I was having with only myself. The pretending drained me and fed the low self-esteem monster that was still very much alive and gnawing away at my psyche!!
The more I tried to be like everyone else, the more unaligned my business became. I attracted clients who just didn’t feel right – they weren’t bad people, but we just didn’t understand each other. For what felt like forever, I was stuck in this cycle, pouring myself into work that didn’t light me up, constantly questioning my worth, and wondering why I wasn’t as happy or successful as others seemed to be. I was loosing myself even more, and I came close to walking away from everything I had created.
I started to drift away from design into the world of branding, something I’d touched on back in uni that I genuinely enjoyed. I tried to follow the traditional/conventional advice out there, but the thing that always stuck out to me throughout my research was how aggressive, masculine, inhuman and loud the world I was trying to break into was. I absorbed what I could – even though it made me feel like I was wearing someone else’s skin – and ran with it anyway.
So I got determined – I started creating my own resources, translating allll of the conventional stuff I was picking up into a langauage I could actually understand + digest. It took a while, but I did it. I used these resources for years with clients during my transition into becoming a brand strategist, and the things I created ended up forming the basis of what is now InnerWorld Branding™!!
You’ll be happy to know the gloomy part of my story ends here lol...I worked on rebuilding the relationship with myself – the one I had neglected for so long – exploring self-love, well-being, and healing. I took months away from my business to focus entirely on myself, slowly, starting to reconnect with my authentic self that’d been laying dormant for so many years.
It felt like I’d had an injection of confidence at this point, I was hungry for more, and hungry for a business, brand + clients that were aligned.
This shift made me take a longgg look at my business, brand and the direction I wanted to take it all. I realised my brand should NOT be a mask, it should be a mirror, and to create that I knew I needed to tap into my InnerWorld and honour who I truly was on the inside. I gathered all the parts of myself I’d tucked away and hidden from my brand and wove them together to form my new brand foundation.
When I’d finished this realignment, finally, my brand felt like me.
And with that, everything else changed too. I began to attract clients who understood me, and I understood them: my Kindred Audience™. Together, we create meaningful work, work that makes an impact, that nourishes us both, and allows us to grow side by side. The women I work with now are SO aligned with me that they end up actually teaching me more about msyelf than I ever expected. They show me things I wouldn’t have seen on my own – these women inspire the hell out of me!!
All of this – the shifts, creating my own resources, trusting my intuition, rebuilding my brand – confirmed I wasn’t meant to morph myself to fit inside a mould that wasn’t made for someone like me...I was meant to create my own. And that, my darlings, is what led me to create what’s now InnerWorld Branding™
I’ve now got the confidence to be fully me, to live a life that actually feels and looks like mine. I’m still figuring it all out as I go (but aren’t we all? lol), but I’m miles away from the persona I created, the version of me who was busy morphing herself into a mould that was never hers to start with – in both a personal and brand sense.
And if you’re here reading this, I’d guess you want the exact same thing!!
I grew up around people who weren’t happy in their careers – on both sides of the wealth spectrum – and money never seemed to be the thing that made anyone feel free. That taught me something early...I didn’t want to have ANY part in the rate race. I’ve felt different from a young age, so it’s really no surprise I’ve spent my adult life rejecting the matrix instead of trying to fit inside of it.
Rejecting the matrix isn’t just a personal preference for me – it’s ancestral. Women far back, throughout in my lineage, didn’t get to reject anything; and they certainly didn’t get to ask themselves ‘what do I want?’. Being able to ask myself that question, and actually building an answer, is its own kind of privilege entirely, and I don’t take it lightly!!
I’m proud to be a part of the uprising of women checking out of societal expectations and pressure and the patriarchal prison we’ve been trapped in for so long.
I’m proud to be a part of the uprising of women who’re the first women in our lineages to create something we can call ours, and be unapologetically ourselves while doing it.
So, if you’ve read my story, got this far, and something feels seen and recognised within you, then my job is done – that’s what InnerWorld Branding™ is all about.
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Angelica Camillo
Spiritual Healer & Writer
Offer: InnerWorld Branding: Face
“My experience was everything I’d hoped for and more. Alana deeply understood my vision and brought it to life with such care and precision, capturing the essence of my brand in a way that felt truly authentic. Her intuitive approach, organization, and attention to detail made the entire process seamless and inspiring. I'm so deeply grateful for her and highly recommend her work, she's brilliant and the sweetest soul <3.” -
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Isabel Hazan @ Isabel Unraveled
Writer & Executive Coach
Offer: InnerWorld Branding: Face
“Life changing branding: Alana brought my brand to life in a way I never imagined possible. What I thought were just simple descriptions and insights I would give her about my vision and what I believed in and identified with in my brand, she was able to alchemize into these wonderful visuals, colours and themes that perfectly encapsulated what I wanted my brand to be like. She saw what I am creating in a way that I never could, and equipped me with the beautiful tools, symbols, and synchronous design elements to present a unified, sleek, and cohesive way for my audience to get to know me and my brand. She helped me re-fall in love with what I am doing through her own process of creation - and for that, I'll always be grateful! Alana is an alchemist and a gifted creator. I love my brand so much, and am so thankful I found her to help me bring it to life.” -
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Rachael Higgins @ Because of Marketing
Businesswoman & Founder
Offer: Retainer
“A creative genius: I’ve been working with Alana for over a year and I couldn’t recommend her enough! I chose to work with Alana for her expertise and skills. She understood my brand along with making me stand out in a highly competitive market. I get many compliments from what she has created and I look forward to continuing working with her and her creative mind!” -
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Erin Bolton @ Bijoux Brows + Beauty, Business & Beyond
Brow Specialist, Mentor & Consultant
Offer: InnerWorld Branding: Face + Retainer
“I can't recommend Alana enough! I've been working with her over the past few years, then Alana helped me with branding a new business & also rebranding one of my current business'. Working with Alana has completely elevated my brand. She listens and delivers in a way that feels aligned and intentional and also is so accommodating, especially for someone like me who is super picky. I’ve tried other creatives before, but the difference in quality and understanding is so clear. Her work genuinely stands out, and I wouldn’t trust my brand with anyone else!!”
When I’m clocked out, you’ll find me:
Nerding out and researching my personal topics of interest – my fave topics are anything occult, magick, witchy and esoteric. I also find anything to do with philosophy, religion and psychology fascinating!!
Rewatching my favourite shows or movies for the 1000th time – my all time most rewatched being Mean Girls (a childhood fave, love it for the nostalgia), The Real Housewives of Atlanta/NYC/Beverly Hills (I’ll never not be obsessed with the housewives franchises in general – but you’ll never catch me watching such as Love Island!) and RuPauls Drag Race.
If the weather’s nice, you’ll find me doing the above in my garden. I’m literally smitten with my garden, so I do most things out there where possible. To be honest, one of my favourite things to do in my garden is just be – I love sitting, being present and listening to the birds.
Reading!! I adore reading – just wish I had more time to dedicate to it :-(
Writing – either on my laptop or in my journals.
Quick Facts
Human Design: Projector 1/3
Astrology: Libra rising / Pieces moon / Libra sun
Myers-Briggs Type: INFJ
Enneagram: 4w5
Favourite number: 4
I’m super detail orientated and appreciate depth + care over speed! Taking things slow is a part of who I am – it took me a while to accept this about myself in a world that values swiftness over anything.
My Core Values
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I choose to be grateful and appreciative, noticing and nurturing beauty in everyday life, in myself, in others, and in my environment.
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I will give, help, and share to create a positive difference for myself and others.
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I welcome life and people with openness, treat all as equals, show empathy and offer kindness and love in my actions and words.
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I devote myself to lifelong learning, believing that true freedom is born from knowledge and wisdom.
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I use optimism as a guiding force, choosing to see hope and potential in myself, in others, and in the world, trusting in the goodness within people and the possibility of a better tomorrow.
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I recognise and celebrate creativity as an innate human gift. I allow myself to create freely, valuing the process of creating over perfection.
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I commit to knowing myself deeply and living in alignment with my truth; being self-aware, honouring my thoughts and feelings in my choices and actions.
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I practice this value through an ongoing exploration of spirituality, allowing my understanding of what spirituality means to me to deepen and evolve.
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I embrace the humorous side of life, using laughter and levity to connect with others and navigate challenges.
Making a Difference One Project At a Time.
For every 1-1 project I accept, I pledge to donate a portion of my profits to causes that uplift, help, heal, and inspire.
Branding contributes to the growth and success of a business, and subsequently, businesses contribute to the growth and success of communities, families and people. By co-creating with me, clients know they're not just gaining something for themselves, but they are also playing an active role in initiating positive change in the world we live in.
In the past, some of my donations have supported the listed organisations – if you’d like to support them too, that would be lovely!
With every project, I plant a tree by donating to One Tree Planted.
Contribution towards Beleve UK’s ‘Hearts Of Love’ fundraiser. BelEve is a girl-focused organisation working to transform the life chances of 8-18 year old girls from disadvantaged backgrounds in London.
Beyond is a youth mental health charity tackling the growing mental health crisis affecting young people in the UK.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society are one of the largest and most reliable providers of health care and social services in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Contribution towards HASSL’s 5 stage plan. HASSL aims to tackle the root causes of harassment globally: outdated public spaces, systemic sexism, male violence, lack of awareness, and barriers to reporting.