Seriously in Business: Brand + Design, Marketing and Business

Ever opened Canva and immediately wanted to close your laptop again?

Maybe it’s the 47 unnamed files…

Or that logo you swear you uploaded but can’t find anywhere…

Or just the time-suck of starting from scratch every single time.

In this episode, I’m walking you through the exact system I use to organise my Canva like a pro, and save HOURS of design time every month.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why your Canva chaos isn’t about the app
• 5 must-do steps to organise your Canva for good
• How naming files and using folders can literally save you hours
• The sneaky search feature inside Canva most people don’t use
• Why your Brand Kit is the key to consistency (even if it’s not perfect yet!)

💜 Ready to finally make Canva your shortcut, not your stress? Join me for The Canva Shortcut: Canva Made Simple for Busy Business Owners: a 2-hour live virtual workshop happening Nov 10! 🎨

Get your free ticket: https://www.whitedeer.com.au/canvashortcut

Or join me in person: https://www.whitedeer.com.au/unboxed

Try Canva Pro 👉 https://partner.canva.com/whitedeer

Timestamps
Intro 0:00
Tip 1 4:53
Tip 2 6:56
Tip 3 9:24
Tip 4 11:17
Tip 5 12:36
Wrapping up 14:29

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ddbOUBt6PA4
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep237/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

If Canva could talk, it would probably throw some serious sass your way...

In this cheeky but wildly helpful podcast episode, I share what your Canva chaos is actually trying to tell you about your brand, your systems, and your mindset. Because the truth is... how you use Canva reflects how you run your business.

From version 87 logos to Untitled 45 file names, I’m walking you through how to fix the mess, streamline your system, and make Canva your biz bestie again.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why chaotic Canva files signal deeper biz issues
• The importance of your Brand Kit (and how to finally set it up)
• How inconsistent colours + fonts destroy trust
• When to stop tweaking designs and JUST POST IT 💜
• Why Canva is a mirror, not the problem

💜 Ready to finally make Canva your shortcut, not your stress? Join me for The Canva Shortcut: Canva Made Simple for Busy Business Owners: a 2-hour live virtual workshop happening Nov 10! 🎨

Get your free ticket: https://www.whitedeer.com.au/canvashortcut

Or join me in person: https://www.whitedeer.com.au/unboxed

Timestamps
Intro 0:00
Tip 1 2:46
Tip 2 6:53
Tip 3 10:10
PSA 11:52

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BiqiQCmls74
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep236/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

So many women in business get tangled up in all the things they “should” be doing with design. But I firmly believe: mindset (your brain) will always override skills. In this episode, I walk you through three mindset traps I see over and over: perfectionism, comparison, and fear of visibility...plus a bonus mindset shift you can start applying today.

Key Takeaways

• Perfectionism: Why chasing “perfect” stops you from ever showing up
• Comparison: The sneaky way comparing yourself to others paralyzes creativity (and what to do instead)
• Fear of Visibility: Why you might avoid showing up, and how stepping into the spotlight is a muscle you can grow
• Bonus: You are creative even if you don’t feel like it

Get your free ticket to the Design Masterclass 👉 https://www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass

Timestamps
Intro 0:00
Tip 1 2:30
Tip 2 6:04
Tip 3 9:23
Bonus Tip 12:26
Extra things you should know 14:22
Wrapping up 17:36

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/O8DLs_YdE8E
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep235/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

I chat with Trang Nova, a speaking coach, storyteller, and founder, about one of the most powerful tools in your business toolkit: storytelling.

In our conversation, she walks us behind the scenes of her own daily routines, shares her journey from a shy immigrant kid to TEDx speaker, and gives actionable tips for transforming your stories into marketing, content, and connection.

If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to sound “real” in your posts, stressed about how much backstory to share, or unsure where to drop a story in your emails/website, you’re going to love this episode.

We discuss:

• How your morning routine is non-negotiable
• Using storytelling to build trust, curiosity, and emotional connection
• How to convert a bland summary into a compelling story
• Starting lessons with a story, whether in emails, social media, workshops, or pages on your website

ABOUT TRANG:
Trang Nova is a speaking coach for entrepreneurs who want to speak with confident authority so they can be recognised as visible leaders in their businesses and on stages. Through Trang’s lifelong journey from being a withdrawn introvert to now being featured on global platforms like TEDx and Medium, she realised that speaking is a skill that can be mastered by anyone, not just those to whom it comes naturally. So now, she is on a mission to help others harness the power of their voice. Trang believes that when more visionaries speak up, then more leaders will successfully fulfil their potential and lead powerful movements to make this world better for us all and future generations. When she’s not on stage or coaching others, you’ll probably find her hiking on a mountain somewhere, giving her dogs forced cuddles, or stuffing her face with ice cream!

CONNECT WITH TRANG:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trang_nova/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trang-nova-a887aba0/
Website: https://www.trangnova.com
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/60IpvCPgc4amSdwhcatUpm?si=6ae13a26e03f4f37
Email: [email protected]

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Q8DjUze63IA
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep234/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

You don’t have to be on Instagram to grow a business, but if your people are there, it’s a goldmine. The pressure around Insta is real: content, consistency, algorithm, what to post, when to post, how much to sell … it’s overwhelming.

In this episode, I bust myths around Instagram and walk you through the three essential ingredients to posts that actually work... ones you won’t dread creating.

What we’re covering:

• Myth of consistency alone: Posting regularly isn’t enough if your content is off-brand or directionless
• Ingredient 1: Strategic Content Pillars: five content pillars (Conversion, Authority, Proof, Engagement, Perspective shift) you can lean into
• Ingredient 2: On-Brand Content: your branding (fonts, colours, aesthetic) helps people recognise you and stop the scroll
• Ingredient 3: Ease of Use: systems, templates, repeatable structure mean you don’t burn out
• How to use these together to create a content engine (bonus: I explain my 30-day Socials Kit and how it solves all three)

Offer alert: Between Oct 3–9, you can grab the 30-Day Socials Kit (templates + tutorials + planning system + extra resources) at a steeply discounted price

Bundles that Benefit has expired...BUT, since you’re here I’m going to give you a sneak code for $400 off my templates. Just use the code TEMPLATETREAT at the checkout: https://www.whitedeer.com.au/30day

Or, if you’d like to purchase my 30-Day Socials Kit separately: https://www.whitedeer.com.au/30day

Timestamps
Intro 0:00
PSA 2:08
Ingredient #1 4:47
Ingredient #2 5:18
Content Pillar #1 5:39
Content Pillar #2 7:04
Content Pillar #3 7:52
Content Pillar #4 8:46
Content Pillar #5 9:24
Ingredient # 12:45
Wrap up 13:50

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5UXvF86rkGA
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep233/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

I’m pulling back the curtain on what’s really been going on behind the scenes in life and business lately. From building our dream home to launching my course again, winning an award I never thought I’d even enter, and hosting a retreat with my baby in tow, there’s been a lot.

If you’re a fellow business owner trying to do big things while living a full life, this episode’s for you.

What I share in this episode:

• The heart (and chaos) behind building our family home
• How I finally re-recorded my 6-year-old course... and why I almost didn’t
• What winning an award taught me about worthiness
• Hosting my first retreat (with baby + exhaustion!)
• Finally hitting 10k on Instagram after YEARS of showing up
• Why delegation is the secret in this season

Timestamps
Intro 0:00
House build 1:37
DIY Course 4:17
Business Award 10:19
Retreat 16:20
Instagram 18:30

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0SVK0dIwXQA
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep232

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

Ever wondered what’s really holding back your Instagram from looking professional and attracting clients? After running an Instagram audit experiment with my audience, I discovered some BIG recurring mistakes...and in this episode, I’m sharing the top five.
From font choices that confuse your audience, to post sizes that kill your reach, to the magic of consistent branding… this episode is packed with practical fixes you can apply today.

Inside you’ll learn:

• Why consistency is the #1 thing your Instagram is probably missing
• How fonts tell a story (and what yours are currently saying)
• The post size and shape that actually gets seen
• How to use hierarchy so people don’t skip your content
• Why showing up branded (even in reels) builds trust fast

If your Instagram has felt a little “off” lately, this episode is going to be an eye opener!

Get your free ticket to the Design Masterclass 👉 www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass

Intro 0:00
Consistency 1:44
Fonts 5:49
Size & Shape Matter 7:28
Hierarchy 9:27
Not Enough Brand Focus 10:54
Wrap Up 12:34

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7MRi3d4ntPY
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep231/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

Ever wondered if online courses are still worth it in 2025? With AI, free content everywhere and a crowded market, you might be questioning whether your audience would really pay for one.

In today’s episode, I chat with Sara Vezensek, who went from private chef on luxury superyachts to building her freedom-based business online. We dive into the realities of online courses, what makes them succeed (or flop), and why YOU already have a million-dollar course idea inside you.

Here’s what we cover:

• Sara’s story from “golden cage” yachting life to online coaching freedom
• Why online courses are still thriving in 2025 (if done right)
• How to figure out your course idea when you feel “not expert enough”
• The biggest reason most online courses fail (and how to avoid it)
• Pricing and mindset tips to sell with confidence

Listen in to get inspired and finally take action on that course idea you’ve been sitting on!

ABOUT SARA VEZENSEK:
Sara Vezensek grew up in Slovenia, a place where the luxury yacht world wasn’t even something people believed was real outside of movies. But by her early 20s, she was living it: working as a private chef on superyachts, flying private, managing million-dollar deals, and earning $10K/month. From the outside, it looked like a dream. But on the inside, she felt trapped, constantly on call, and completely disconnected from her own freedom and purpose. Now, she’s an online business coach and mentor who helps ambitious women turn their lived experience into profitable, freedom-based businesses. Sara is known for helping her clients package their brilliance into high-impact offers, shift their money mindset, and finally stop trading time for money. She’s bold, real, and passionate about showing women how to build a business that actually supports the life they want.

CONNECT WITH SARA:
Website: www.saravezcoach.com
FREE offers: https://sara-vezensek.mykajabi.com/freedownloadshere
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saravezensek/

Intro 0:00
Interview 1:18
Wrap Up 42:08

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/R5dHVO7fRnk
Read on the Blog: http://whitedeer.com.au/ep230/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

If your Canva feels like chaos and your feed feels like a guessing game, no matter how hard you try, nothing just falls together...you’re not alone. That’s exactly what today’s episode is all about.

In the first four episodes, we covered your Foundations (B), Aesthetic (U), Identity Toolkit (I), and Logo (L). Now we top the pyramid with D, Design Suite. It’s what brings your brand together, makes your graphics cohesive, and saves you HOURS of time and overwhelm in Canva.

Key Takeaways:

• Fonts, colours, elements create cohesion
• Build an at‑a‑glance brand style guide or “mini style guide” as a reference
• Templates ≠ random pretty things
• Canva Pro’s Brand Kit is your bestie

A properly built design suite can slash your design time from an hour to five‑ten minutes per post.

Want help building your own Design Suite?

Get your free ticket to the Design Masterclass 👉 www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass

Intro 0:00
Recapping the Build Brand Method 1:13
Design Suite 2:49
Graphics Examples 4:21
Questions to ask 7:56
PSA 11:19
Wrapping up 12:18

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/u7lJiYnVGrE
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep229/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

If your logo is “fine” but doesn’t feel like you, attract the right clients, or work across platforms... it’s probably not doing its job.
In this episode, I’m diving into why logos should come after brand foundations, the difference between pretty and purposeful, and how to make your logo work everywhere from websites to socials.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why your logo should be one of the last things you design
• What makes a logo purposeful, not just pretty
• Key mistakes that make logos clunky or hard to use
• What to include (and exclude!) in a clean logo
• Why your logo supports (not defines) your full brand
• How to design logos in Canva properly

Get your free ticket to the Design Masterclass 👉 https://www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass

Intro 0:00
Business Award Story 1:27
Tip 1 3:55
Tip 2 5:25
Tip 3 6:55
Tip 4 8:07
PSA 10:11
Tip 5 10:52
Tip 6 11:07
Tip 7 11:42
Tip 8 11:57

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LvAdNyigY-g
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep228/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio