We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Agramonte and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, you love what you do. It’s clear to anyone who knows you. Why and what about your work do you love so much?
“We love what we do” is actually in my email signature! Why do I love what I do? Because I do fun stuff everyday. That’s the short answer. But more deeply, I get to be wildly creative, work with inspiring clients and be in the classroom with bright young minds. What do I do though? Well, in one part of my career, I create brands. I own a boutique marketing agency that focuses on brand creation and management. It’s my playground for sure. I sometimes work with clients that are just starting out and we will develop everything from a name, logo and tagline. Or I may be working with an established brand that needs a refresh or help keeping a consistent brand image on all of their touchpoints like social media or in-store collateral. I think one of my sweet spots is helping brands get to the soul of their company. Helping them understand who and what they are in the Universe and then helping them convey that to their audience. Having a strong brand narrative lends to differentiation in the marketplace, but also works to connect more deeply with their audience. Focusing on things like your brand’s ideals, ethics, tone and general feel really engenders loyalty. And that is the ultimate moment for any business looking for a sustainable business model. In the other part of my career, I teach marketing at the University of Miami. And, wow, is this fun! It is a vibrant, challenging and wonderful role to lead so many smart young minds as they are developing skills and vision for their futures. One class I teach is Marketing for Entrepreneurs. In this class we explore ways to be nimble when trying to launch a business and the ensuing marketing campaigns. But we also spend quite a bit of time on personal branding. It is one of those things that can sometimes be overlooked, but as business owners, we need to understand who we are in order to be really effective leaders. And this is where I have spent some of my time during quarantine: getting still and really understanding my personal brand. I had created my business persona, but I hadn’t really given time and resources in understanding my own brand. To that end, I spent time developing my own website amyagramonte.com. It was cathartic for sure and, honestly, it was pretty daunting, but I know that it has helped me develop a really clear vision for me and all of my business entities.

What should our readers know about your business?
I love my small business, Blonde Concepts, because it allows me to follow the dreamer artist in me. I think what sets me apart from others is that I have this rich business background, but the creativity is intuitive. I taught myself graphic design and I pair my art with some well-heeled principles from my educational background and career experience. It is a good mix of both and I lean into one side or the other depending on the demands of the project. Sometimes clients just need creativity. Sometimes they need to review operations and organization. I can do both.  

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite place in Miami is Coconut Grove. I live there and I’ve always had this special place in my soul for this little nook. I suspect it has something to do with its rich history of having been an artists’ community. My favorite restaurant in the Grove? Hard to choose. But a few that I frequent (when we are not in a pandemic) are Jaguar (el Ceviche Nuevo and a glass of Pino Noir) and Berries (you have to try the Burrata). I would definitely make sure to hit these two. I love having drinks at the Mutiny Hotel/Condo. It’s a little known place in a building with a fun history of Miami. Try the salmon if you go here. I would definitely take a walk along the water and stop into the Coconut Grove Sailing club – I’m a member and Stephen makes the absolute BEST margaritas there. And no stop to the Grove is complete without a stop into Monty’s. Any cocktail under those thatched roofs is absolutely necessary! Heading a little north, I would definitely take someone to the walls of Wynwood, because ART is my favorite. Then I would have a night out at Lagniappe. Live music every night. I also love being home. So some down time by the pool with my favorite people makes me the happiest. I would also want to make sure and visit UM campus. It is just so beautiful. And everyone needs a pic with the big “U”.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shout out to my first professional client: Shannon McKee of Access Cruise. I lovingly call her my favorite blonde, besides me. She is a rock star entrepreneur and the toughest Texan with the sweetest exterior I know. She owns a handful of businesses while still being a mom and somehow also always being fabulous.

Website: www.amyagramonte.com
Instagram: @blondeconcepts
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyagramonte/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlondeConcepts/
Other: https://www.pinterest.com/blondeconcepts/