A Journey Defined by Stubbornness,Sacrifice, and Authenticity.

From Stubborn Teenager to Creative Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship runs in my veins. My parents launched one of the first internet-based, work-from-home estate agencies in the 2000s. My mum was a fashion designer, while Dad, the pragmatic one, insisted there was “no money in fashion” and that “computers are the future.” Naturally, I lovingly told him to “EEF OFF!” Creativity is in my blood, and I was destined for fashion.

Before I knew it, The Devil Wears Prada (2006) a hit our screens, I dreamed of being the next “Miranda Priestly” (boss bitch vibes, minus the bitch, hopefully.) 👑 I was serious about my fashion career and found a way of incorporating computers and IT to keep dad happy! I worked behind the scenes on photoshoots for Rihanna and Little Mix—even rocking the same shoes as RiRi! Those experiences fuelled my passion and shared my career in editorial and print design.

In school, my stubbornness kicked into high gear. I tailored my GCSEs and 6th form subjects—business, IT, graphic design, and fashion—to my future. When they told me I had to drop one, let’s just say they didn’t know who they were dealing with. 😏 I kept all four and snagged A* across the board. Sure, I sacrificed my social life, but that high standard was worth it (cue imposter syndrome later, but that’s a story for another day).

The Rebel Move: Skipping the Foundation Year

After 6th form, everyone insisted I needed a foundation course to get into university. But why waste time when I knew what I wanted? So, I created a magazine (named Verstappen, after my mum’s maiden name) working with fashion stylists and photographers connections to build a portfolio. Which got me into Nottingham Trent University. Spoiler: I was one of just two out of 150 applicants accepted without a foundation degree. 🏆

Where the Journey Took Me

After uni, print industry was slowly dying, so I pivoted to graphic design. My dreams of being the next Anna Wintour shifted, and I became obsessed with perfect layouts and typography. I even dressed up as “Indesign Girl” for a superhero-themed night out, always saving my classmates from last-minute software panic!

The Journey of Stubbornness and Sacrifice

My stubbornness and determination paved the way for my journey into freelancing and ultimately becoming the owner of Huemann. Yes, I lost friends because I was that geek in art class, absorbed in projects instead of chasing cute boys on the playground. At university, I balanced four jobs—one in a bar, one in retail, and two unpaid gigs: designing packaging and POS for a sweet shop and creating layouts for a newspaper company. My love for graphic design eclipsed everything else. Meaning my social life was scarified once again effecting me both in secondary school and university. My best friends were the types who joined me in the design studio or who took on the same amount of shifts as me. That way I was trying to maintain friendships in a workplace as that was my life.

Even now, running my business, I sometimes forget to lift my head and look around. My dating life and family connections often take a backseat to work, but I’m actively working on finding balance. And I still can say I haven’t figured it out completely yet! My mind is always racing with ideas, and I can’t enjoy a meal without mentally tweaking the menus—it's just who I am!

Ultimately, everything I've experienced has contributed to my growth. Yes, I’ve faced challenges, including imposter syndrome and navigating agency life, but they pushed me to become my own boss.

Life is a journey, and we can’t look back with “what ifs” and regrets. Instead, we embrace and appreciate the experiences that have shaped us. We take those life lessons and learn from them, using them as gentle reminders to be our authentic selves. Don’t compare yourself to others; everyone is on their own path with their own stories.

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