Pegged an advocate for female entrepreneurs of faith. Sherilyn Bennett is an award-winning graphic designer, creative branding expert, national speaker and CEO of Camden Lane Creative Agency, a full-service corporate design and branding agency and Founder of LEAP! – a hands-on, interactive branding event for female entrepreneurs whose foundation is rooted in their faith. Sherilyn uses her wealth of knowledge to train corporations, leadership teams, and entrepreneurs on the importance of brand positioning, strengthening, and consistency. Sherilyn is a Certified Brand Coach who has made her mark producing 6-figure clients.
Sherilyn has developed an impeccable reputation. Her high profile clients include Grammy-nominated and Dove winner actress and artist, Jekalyn Carr, Stellar-nominated artist Beverly Crawford, Food Network’s Chopped Champion Shacafrica Simmons. Her stellar literary design can be seen on work from authors such as Africa Miranda of Bravo TV ’s and Project Runway Model winner Liris Crosse to name a few.
Sherilyn, please give us more insight on you and your brand.
I am Sherilyn Bennett and I am an award-winning graphic designer and celebrity brander whose clients include Dove winner and Grammy-nominated artist Jekalyn Carr to name a few. I am a mother and minister. I am a brand architect and I love what I do. I help women build impactful, authentic and revenue driven brands.
How many businesses do you have? And what are they?
I am the CEO of one business. Camden Lane Creative Agency, a corporate design and branding agency. www.camdenlanecreative.com
What made you want to become an entrepreneur?
I believe that I was an entrepreneur all along but receiving a pink slip was the reason I decided to launch my own creative agency. Being laid off left me with no choice. I didn’t feel I should return to the corporate world so I begin to build.
What has been your greatest challenge as an entrepreneur?
Some of my greatest challenges has been discipline related. Discipline in policies for my company and staying firm on my decisions. I shifted from the entrepreneur mindset and saw myself as a business owner. I own this company I don’t just work. All of it is my responsibility. I had to develop a business mindset. Also, growth has been rapid and it has been a challenge for me to keep up. Making sure I had staff when I needed it etc. I found it hard to trust others with my vision. I was a one-woman show for so long. Creatives are very protective so I had to grow through that and hire help.
Tell us something no one knows you like? (Something funny and exciting)
I think many people would be surprised to know that I actually like English TV shows like Call the Midwife. I love documentaries as well. I will watch a documentary about anything even the ones with subtitles. The last documentary I watched was about professional cat shows, you know like Dog shows?. It was hilarious.
What direction do you feel that we as women in business can do to continue to trail-blaze for the next generation of women in business?
My desire is to truly educate women on branding and the important part it plays in business. That desire needs to be across the board. I think that competition causes women to withhold their knowledge with the next generation for fear of being dethroned. That is so detrimental to our growth as women and in particular women in business. True mentorship is what we need. My goal is for women that I coach or mentor go further than me. It is a testament to my own success.
What exciting project are you working on?
I am launching my brand coaching/strategist brand this month! I am super excited about that. It is time for me to pour into female entrepreneurs on a more intimate level. I am also going to launch back out into the literary world this year as well as hold my annual Leap girl, leap conference for female entrepreneurs of faith. Excited is an understatement!
What final words do you want to share?
Female entrepreneurs it is so important that you believe in yourself and trusts your instincts. If you don’t have faith in you and that fact that you are called to entrepreneurship it will be a rough ride. You must see beyond fancy post and videos. Being in business is much more than that. Forget surface and do the work. I have had my own agency for 4 years now and my company is proof that it can be done. Look around you there is inspiration everywhere. From small businesses to corporate giants, that is somebodies dream. Educate yourself and be authentic in your brand building. You got this, go for it!
All images by Todd Youngblood
What a wonderful and well written article! It totally embodies everything Sherilyn!
I’m the owner of The Afrowhisperer. I had the pleasure of receiving Sherilyn’s coaching services. Her Brand Discovery Questionnaire was like a branding boot camp on paper. It made me define and create my ideal customer and my niche market. In addition she also recreated my logo. I have had the opportunity to participate in two of her Leap conferences. Each time I left with practical tools to implement in my business. She really ministers to the heart of faith based female entrepreneurs.
When I met Sherilyn I was actually trying to rush past her booth. Much of the products in the booth were for women and I didn’t want to fake any interest. I didn’t make it past the table and actually ended up buying a shirt for myself, my wife and daughter…to anyone interested, let me tell you: she’s got something for everybody! Though her immediate market is women, she has blessed my life and that of my business in such a dynamic way that I’ll support anything she’s doing!
I’m so excited about everything she’s doing now because she’s empowering women with such a pure heart! I’m always pulling for her and I have committed to doing whatever I can to make sure Sherilyn, Camden Lane and whatever else she’s affiliated with achieves the success God has destined for it!
I love this article, very inspiring! I was out shopping at Lane Bryant and had the pleasure of meeting Sherilyn. Before I knew it, we were laughing and talking like old friends. I thanked GOD for allowing me to meet such a kind, intelligent, and down to earth business woman. That chance meeting confirmed for me that I was on the right path, with becoming a business owner.
What an inspiring story. I love how God used her losing her job to catapult her into destiny. Amazing!
Amazing article. I I’m grateful to have worked with Sherilyn, and witness her creative, down-to-earth, respectful, yet professional engagement. I am excited to see what lies ahead for her!
This is an awesome article. I’ve known Sherilyn my entire life, I thank GOD for such an amazing woman with amazing talents! I can’t wait for the revealing ahead, I know she has a lot more in store!
This is a phenomenal powerhouse of a woman! Knowing her professionally and devoting a personal relationship is a Godsend. Because of her pure inspiration and God’s promoting, God allowed me to launch my own law firm in 2017 and it is still going strong. Multidisciplinary collaboration is critical in today’s marketplace – and Sherilyn is gifted, talented, and anointed at what she does. Bravo for featuring this dynamic woman!
Wow! It’s so inspiring to hear another woman talk about another with such love and compassion. I can’t wait to attend your next Leap girl Leap event. This is an amazing article and I feel really uplifted and supported as another female entrepreneur. You go girl!