Nikki Arensman is an entrepreneur, brand designer, and strategist. She was formerly the CEO and Co-founder of the women’s activewear company, Jiva Activewear. When she sold the company in 2017, Nikki transformed her talent and passion for branding into her own brand marketing agency, Nikki Arensman LLC. Through her business, she equips women entrepreneurs with the tools they need to turn what they’re passionate about into a profitable business and a beautiful brand.

Nikki joins us today to explain how to build a thriving business through killer branding. She shares why it’s important to begin right after you come up with a business idea and discusses the value of playing to your strengths when building a company. She describes the process of selling a company as well as how she discovered her passion for building brands. Nikki also underscores the role of mastering communication around a brand’s mission and offers advice for building a binge-worthy brand.

“Brand strategy allows you to present to your community, audience, and customers what they need and desire before they even know they need it.” - Nikki Arensman

This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:

• The power of communities, groups, and networks
• The evolution of Nikki’s first business, Jiva, and how it led her to found her current business
• The lessons Nikki learned from starting her first company
• The process Nikki underwent to sell her business
• How Nikki discovered her passion for brand building and strategy
• What it’s like to work with a brand marketing agency
• The different branding services and strategies Nikki offers through her agency
• How to build a community of your brand’s supporters
• The biggest struggles and achievements of Nikki’s Entreprenista journey
• The importance of trying new things and opening up to risk
• How Nikki kept moving forward in the early days of her business despite rejections and hard times
• Why you don’t need a big team or a huge budget to make a business work

Resources Mentioned:

• Canva
• Squarespace
• Book: Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “Brand strategy and brand design impact how businesses grow and how they get themselves out there.” - Nikki Arensman
• “Brand’s identity is showing up with your best foot forward; it’s dressing the part for what you want to do in this world.” - Nikki Arensman
• “When it comes to selling your business or exit plan, have patience, don’t be in a rush, make smart decisions, and find other people who have sold businesses before.” - Nikki Arensman

Connect with Nikki Arensman:

• Nikki Arensman Website
• Podcast: The Business of Branding
• Nikki Arensman LLC on LinkedIn
• Nikki Arensman on LinkedIn
• Nikki Arensman on Instagram
• Nikki Arensman on Facebook
• Nikki Arensman on Pinterest

Help More Female Entrepreneurs & Leaders Through the IFundWomen Campaign

We are thrilled to announce that our iFundWomen campaign is now live! We have supported so many women through Entreprenista, and we're excited to share this opportunity with you to support our campaign and continue to help women business owners and leaders.

Our funding goal is $100,000 - which means that every dollar counts. The best part? We've created incredible rewards that will help you as part of our campaign!

When you pledge to the iFundWomen Campaign, you’ll receive:

• An exclusive Entreprenista League Membership rate
• Dedicated Instagram and website features to promote you and your business
• Interviews on the Entreprenista podcast and our new podcast that's launching in 2022 - Startups In Stilettos
• One-on-one sessions with Stephanie or Courtney
• ...and so much more

Visit iFundWomen.com/Projects/Entreprenista to contribute any amount you feel comfortable with.

Seriously. Every dollar, every share, and every mention on social media to your network counts and is beyond appreciated. Thank you for supporting us and women everywhere.

If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!

Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.

Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Say “Hello!” To DigiCards™ 

Are you ready to take your virtual team meetings to the next level? Are you tired of yelling “You’re on mute!” at your computer screen and letting the important points you were trying to make get lost?

If you’re tired of leading unproductive, distraction-filled team meetings, then it’s time for you to say “Hello!” to DigiCards. Each pack of virtual meeting cards include 20 color-coded professional cards designed to streamline your meeting communications while allowing each meeting to create an opportunity for collaboration and fun.

Say “Goodbye!” to waving your arms, being ignored, and frantically typing in the chat.

Start your next virtual meeting with DigiCards - the virtual meeting cards for entreprenistas.

To grab your deck of DigiCards and bring fun, engagement, and collaboration back into your team meetings, visit www.hellodigicards.com. Use the coupon code: Entreprenista10 to receive 10% off your first order.

Become An Entreprenista!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.