This month’s professional spotlight features Feven Tecleab. Feven is the Head of Creative Direction & Branding at the The Serve and Co-Owner and Chief of Creative Direction & Branding for UNTLD & CO. Read this month’s spotlight to learn more about Feven, her work, and her path to success.
Could you briefly explain some of your responsibilities in your current career role?
I am the Co-Owner and Chief of Creative Direction & Branding for UNTLD & CO, where I develop creative strategies for social media, generate content, organize events and web design for our clients. I am also the Co-Host for The Serve, which is a podcast that focuses on educating millennials. We discuss various topics such as entrepreneurship, real estate, and finances by interviewing individuals who are thriving in their respective fields.
How did you come to decide that this was the right career path for you?
I grew up in a small city that lacked diversity, and access to content that was relevant or useful to people who looked like me. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to spend my summers travelling to different places that had communities with people of colour. Witnessing what was available to them, encouraged me to build that environment back home. I would come back and connect with people to foster that same energy into our own community. My aunt has been in journalism her entire career, and seeing her use her platform within traditional media inspired me to find a way to communicate my message and accomplish a similar goal.
You recently launched a company, UNTLD & CO can you tell us more about it and how you decided to take that step?
UNTLD & CO is a creative agency that focuses on brand management, digital strateg, and public relations for small businesses, brands, as well as individuals. In the past, I have worked on several projects that allowed me to identify what I enjoyed and what my strengths were. So, I’ve always wanted to contribute creatively to anything I was a part of. A few years ago, I met and developed a relationship with someone (for lack of a better phrase) who turned out to be the missing piece. Although I am capable of handling the operations and logistics of a business, that isn’t my focus nor my area of expertise. My business partner is a BEAST when it comes to business development. We decided that combining our talents in UNTLD & CO would make us more effective than outsourcing one another for our services.
Additionally, you’re a host on a podcast-what is that experience like?
So rewarding! I am able to co-create a platform to service a community, hence the name The Serve. I get to connect with successful individuals; people I genuinely want to learn from. So it’s also personally rewarding because I know they have a wealth of experience to share. Also, podcasting is fairly new in Canada, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Currently, what is your greatest professional accomplishment?
That’s a hard question to answer because everything that I have done up until this point, doesn’t seem like enough. But– to answer your question, I would have to say creating my first blog (Follow The L!). I was in my early 20s when I started it, and I didn’t realize then the impact it had nor its potential but it’s nice looking at it retrospectively and seeing that growth.
What tips would you offer anyone looking to take a similar career path?
GO FOR IT
OK, you want to do (blank). GREAT! So go do it! At the risk of sounding like a motivational quote on Instagram– GO FOR IT! If it’s a product, develop it. If it’s a blog, create it. If it’s getting a master’s degree, do it
CREATE AN ACTIONABLE PLAN
Be realistic with yourself. Create a plan that requires you to make steps to your desired career path. Somewhere within that plan include time and activities that require you to learn more about that industry. Despite how much you think you may know, there is always more.
HEED YOUR LOSSES
Failures can be discouraging, trust me I know. Your perspective on what a failure is will either be the motivating force to keep going, or your breaking point. Pay attention to what is not working and what needs time. Know when to pivot within your career or business.
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone looking to transition into your line of work?
The process is far less glamour and more grind. A few years ago, a young lady in the Bay Area reached out to me about working on something similar. She was so enthused by the recaps, the interviews and the general glamour of my line of work; something I never see. So reading her email was interesting because I got a look at the broader scope of my work –from the outside looking in. And I realized, the final product is not for me but for everyone else to enjoy. Honestly, most people don’t understand the self-sacrifice it takes to succeed in this industry. There’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, so you have to love the process; the end product is the reward.
Outside of all of your hard work and efforts toward building your brand, what do you do for fun? Hobbies?Travel! That’s pretty much the only exciting thing I do. Contrary to what I have done, I am an introvert unless I am in an environment that requires me to be otherwise. I read, binge watch crime shows, paint, and more recently I have gotten into mediation. All solitary activities, but I think that’s what I need to flourish in an industry that requires extroversion.
Where can people learn more about your podcast and company?
The Serve Podcast (ww.theserve.ca)
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/theserve
Instagram: www.instagram.com/theserve.ca/
Streams: Apple Podcast | Google Play | Spotify |Podbean
UNTLD & CO (www.untldandco.com)
Instagram: www.instagram.com/untldandco/