Yami's mentorship journey.

Showcasing her value by building a brand from the ground up

Growing up in Puerto Rico, two things were a constant for Yami. She always had a camera in hand and a love for the ocean. Despite that love, she moved to the U.S. to pursue an engineering career, where filmmaking turned into a hobby for travel and family events.

A few years ago, Yami’s move from California to North Carolina left her feeling disconnected. Seeking community, she joined a coworking space and met inspiring female founders. Motivated by their creativity, Yami began offering films at a low rate. Word spread, and soon more founders sought her help. 

At that point, she realized she needed help. Everything she knew about filmmaking was self-taught. When she learned upon our mentorship program, there was an immediate connection. But with balancing a full-time engineering job, raising two kids, and managing everything else, she needed the accountability and guidance to accelerate the changes she wanted to make.

"My gut just said, 'go for it,' and it was the best decision," she said, reflecting on her choice. As an engineer, she was drawn to our science-backed approach to storytelling, and ready to elevate her filmmaking ambitions to the next level.

One of the first things Yami tackled was rebranding her business. With our help, she transformed from "Yami's Lens" to "Gutsy Glow." This was more than just a name change; it was a whole new identity that boosted her confidence and perceived value. "Patrick told me my work was good, but my brand looked like a $50 per hour brand. That inspired me to change it," Yami explained. This rebranding effort allowed her to command higher rates and see her value more clearly​​.

Not only that but It equipped her with the skills to handle client negotiations like a seasoned pro. She described her first successful pitch post-rebranding: "I took everything into account and the value and came up with an estimate of $5000. And they said yes!"

She was shocked at how easily clients agreed to higher rates than she had ever asked for before. This shift had a profound impact on her confidence to see a career filled with the kinds of stories she could tell and the budgets she could command.

With Yami at the helm, our team was there to coach her through the creative development, production, and editing of this film. This hard work culminated in her best film to date. "You can totally see the progression," she noted, comparing her earlier work with her recent projects. 

At the beginning of her mentorship, her focus on rebranding her business, allowed for greater clarity on her direction and a vision. From there, Yami's ability to manage client negotiations, increase her rates, and deliver a film at an entirely new level put her in a whole new league. 

As Yami looks ahead, she sees peace and purpose again. The mentorship not only accelerated her journey toward her vision but her confidence has shifted her entire perspective allowing her to envision a career filled with impactful stories and substantial budgets. She's reaffirmed her purpose, enabling her to create meaningful films, bringing her the same peace she finds in her ocean escapes.