Meet Kayla MacVean-Salaun | Founder + CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with MacVean-Salaun and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla, how do you think about risk?
My perception if risk has changed throughout my career, but changed drastically as I started and grew my business. I spent most of my early life as an athlete, running (ha) as far away from risk as I possibly could, never wanting to risk anything and always opted for the safe and predictable path. But then, as I progressed through my career and started thinking of branching out on my own and starting my own business, I quickly realized that risk is not only inevitable, but necessary if I wanted to achieve the goals I’ve set.

Now, almost 3 years into entrepreneurship, I run towards risk, and I see it as the possibility of what could be instead of what couldn’t. I use risk as a metric upon which to measure opportunities, ideas, partnerships, clients, etc., and prepare only for what I can prepare. I still get nervous when taking risks (duh, who wouldn’t?), but I’ve trained my mind to shift from ‘what if this fails?’ to ‘what if this works?’ and embrace the ‘high risk = high reward’ mentality.

However, I’m not oblivious to the fact that sometimes risks don’t yield rewards–but again, I’ve shifted my thinking here. Let’s say I take a risk, and I ‘fail.’ I immediately switch my thought process and see it as a lesson instead, where I learn from the ‘failure’ and use that as information for my next move. So even if it’s a failure on paper, it’s a win in my book–which further confirms the ‘high risk = high reward’ train of thought.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Clearly Creative Co. is a boutique agency that specializes in helping small to medium sized businesses grow through social media, email marketing, and other marekting initiatives. Our bread and butter is social media and email marekting, which when paired together, delivers awesome results for our clients.

After 6 years of working in other agencies, I took the leap of faith and started CCco. I started out as we all do–working with friends and family and saying yes to every opportunity to build experience and dip my toes into all the areas possible. After about a year, I transitioned to working with established companies, finding my groove in the services and packages that performed best, and applying all the project management and operational experience I accumulated before. Now, almost 3 years later, I’m working with and building my network locally, hired a part-time employee, and have established workflows that keep us organized across the board.

What I’m most proud of brand-wise is what I think sets us apart: we’re human. We humanize the brands we work with, and run away from stuffy, salesy, inauthentic content. It’s how we also operate with our clients–we care for them as humans, and not just a business that pays us a retainer. The best part, though, is seeing the results reflect this: as soon as we prioritize connection (through the brand and with the client), the analytics improve.

If there’s one thing I’d have the world know about me or my brand story is that they’re one in the same–just like any other brand. Brands are made up of people, and at the end of the day, all that I do is help people connect with each other. When we see marketing as opportunities for connection, the script completely changes and the magic begins.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ooooo I love this question! If I gave you a week-long itinerary, you’d be stuck here reading for ages, so I’ll give you an ideal day’s itinerary with a couple options:

Morning activity:
– Pilates at Jetset (Sunset Harbour, duh)
– Paddleboarding around the Sunset Islands with Miami Beach Paddleboard
– or a nice walk along the water

Then, we’d go get breakfast/brunch and coffee somewhere below:
– Pura Vida
– Maman
– or Greenstreet Cafe in The Grove

We would then either:
– Relax by the pool or head over to the beach
– Walk around Wynwood or the Design District
– or check out any seasonal events going on

For a late lunch or a light bite:
– Bakan
– Ball & Chain (with live music)
– Bodega (best tacos ever) (plus a speakeasy in the back)

And then, if we have time before dinner, we could watch a movie at Rooftop Cinema, and then have dinner at:
– CHICA
– The Lido Bayside Grill at The Standard
– or Ironside Pizza!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Ah! I could sit here all day and give shoutouts–but I’ll try to keep it brief for the sake of readability: I’ll give shoutouts to my entire support system, comprised of faith, family, friends, and professionals.

I strongly believe every successful person is on some sort of spiritual journey, and I’ve found my faith to be what carries me through the valleys (and peaks!) of entrepreneurship. It serves as a foundation upon which to build on, an anchor that grounds me when chaos visits, and a compass that guides me through complex decisions.

My family and friends are my biggest cheerleaders, and as the fuel that keeps me moving forward. They remind me of who I am when I need it most, and see my potential much before I do. I run ideas by them, ask for advice/constructive criticism, and have people to celebrate with when I hit milestones. I also can’t go without giving an individual shoutout to my husband, who believes in me so fiercely it sometimes scares me (in the best way possible).

And last but surely not least, professionals. I’ve worked with therapists and health professionals to learn how to better take care of myself from the inside out, business and sales coaches that have given me invaluable tools for growth and improvement, and mentors who’ve doubled as listening ears and fountains of knowledge that have gotten me where I am today.

I truly wouldn’t be here without my entire support system, and my success is as much theirs as it is mine.

Website: https://www.clearlycreativeco.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearlycreative.co

Image Credits
@nicolelebriscreative