A Blueprint for Branding: Lessons from the 2nd Annual Shine On Summit

Starria D. C.
Apr 23
4 min read

“How do we design a meaningful future where we shine as individuals and rise together?” — The 2025 Shine On Summit Theme Question

When I stepped into the 2nd Annual Shine On Summit last week, I showed up wearing one hat: Brand Designer & Consultant. But I left wearing many: Visionary. Strategist. Architect of stories. That’s the beauty of well-crafted events tailored for mission-driven entrepreneurs, we don’t just attend, we transform. And this summit wasn’t just another networking opportunity. It was a branding blueprint laid out in real time.

Through curated tracks and transformative breakout sessions, I found myself in a three-part experience that mirrors the stages of brand development: alignment, articulation, and activation.

1. Alignment: Getting Rooted in Purpose

Breakout Session: Align to Achieve – Unlocking Your Unique Path to Success

Track: I Want to Expand & Evolve

Facilitator: Taylor Mae

The first breakout reminded us that before we build a brand, we must build alignment with ourselves, our purpose, and our internal brilliance. Before colors, fonts, or logos, there must be clarity.

Taylor guided us through powerful tools for getting aligned:

Creating physiological harmony
Unlocking your story and releasing limiting beliefs
Living from a state of accountability instead of blame
Gaining clarity in identity
Choosing to believe in the possibility based on the things we see
Shifting your frequency toward the life and business you desire
Expressing with intention

As a brand consultant, I see this as foundational work. Without it, a brand is a mask, not a mirror. This session reminded me that the strongest brands are rooted in self-awareness and authenticity. When we align with our brilliance, we unlock our brand’s true purpose and the reason we do the work in the first place.

2. Articulation: Reclaiming and Reframing the Brand Story

Breakout Session: Own Your Story – Reframing Your Past & Reclaiming Your Resilience

Track: I am Creating, Building, and Shaping Something

Facilitator: Stephanie Belsky

In this session, we explored what it truly means to tell our stories: raw, reimagined, and reframed. As entrepreneurs, many of us have moments we’ve seen as setbacks or struggles. But what if that weight could become a source of power?

This wasn’t just about storytelling. It was about brand identity: reclaiming specific moments from our journey and reframing them to fuel our mission. As a strategist, I see this as the story arc every brand needs:

A moment of challenge
A turning point
A message of resilience

A well-crafted brand story connects emotionally, resonates authentically, and shows your audience not just what you do, but why you do it.

Reframing the chapters of your journey allows you to lead with purpose and build deeper connections with the people you're meant to serve.

3. Activation: Scaling with Strategy

Breakout Session: Women Beyond the Launch – Scaling, Sustaining & Thriving

Track: I am Creating, Building, and Shaping Something

Facilitator: Lauren Daniels

This final session brought it all together: the execution phase of the branding blueprint. While many entrepreneurs get excited about the launch, sustaining a brand requires more than a moment of hype.

After aligning and articulating, the question becomes: How will you activate?

Lauren emphasized the power of intentional execution:

Scale strategically, not emotionally. Start with one offer that can be automated, delegated, monitored, and tracked.
Build momentum, then sustain it. Lock in your CEO focus time, but also make rest and recovery part of your growth strategy.
Create space within your business ecosystem to thrive. Celebrate the micro-wins, and remember to invest in nurturing your relationships.

A well-positioned brand must be sustainable. That means building systems, focusing your energy with clarity, and creating room to evolve without burnout.

4. The Power of Community and Resources

Fireside Chat: Megan Ward & Nia Batts

Facilitator: Abby Gates

The summit closed with a powerful Fireside Chat featuring Megan Ward and Nia Batts, two women who are not only champions in Detroit's entrepreneurial ecosystem but also of community building and resource equity.

Megan spoke about the value of genuine community: cultivating relationships that grow with you, in business and beyond. She reminded us that sometimes, the most impactful brand partnerships begin with people we’ve been growing alongside all along.

Nia leaned into the resource side: talking about what it means to be prepared, both mentally and strategically. She emphasized the importance of understanding the language used in investor conversations and being able to communicate your vision, not just passionately, but fluently.

Both Megan and Nia echoed this: learn the language. Know your numbers. Speak with confidence. Be well-versed in the vocabulary of the rooms you want to walk into.

One quote from Nia that deeply resonated with me was:

“Have the courage of your convictions and the clarity of your mission.”

That’s branding in its most distilled form. Know what you believe in. Know why you’re building it. And boldly show up to share that vision with the world.

Final Thoughts: Branding as a Journey, Not Just a Look

For anyone building a brand, the Shine On Summit provided more than just inspiration.

It offered a clear, layered, and actionable framework for brand infrastructure. It reminded me that brand strategy isn’t just about visuals or messaging, it’s about internal alignment, story reclamation, and strategic activation.

As you reflect on your own brand and what this season holds, I leave you with a powerful question Lauren posed to us: “What does thriving look like for you in this season?”