Jacob Kleinman Phillips shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Jacob , thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Absolutely. Earlier this year, I hit a few big milestones at once — my 30th birthday, my twin sister’s 30th, and 5 years since launching Touchpoint Design.
Instead of letting them pass quietly, I decided to go big. We threw an event called Milestone Mash. It brought together clients, friends, family, and community to raise money for our nonprofit clients, compete in themed games, and celebrate how far we’ve all come.
It wasn’t just a party… it was a moment to reflect on the impact we’ve made, the people we’ve helped, and the community that’s been with us since day one. We raised thousands for nonprofits and filled the room with purpose, joy, and serious prize-winning energy.
Definitely one of my proudest moments because it reminded me that business, at its best, brings people together.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jacob — founder of Touchpoint Design and the guy behind Brands That Rally™.
I help small businesses and nonprofits build brands that actually feel like them — human, mission-driven, and impossible to ignore. Around here, we don’t do generic. We go deep, ask the hard questions, and craft branding that connects people to purpose.
What makes Touchpoint special? It’s not just about logos or pretty websites. It’s about clarity — the kind that moves people. The kind that turns your “what do you do?” into a full-body yes from the right people.
My work lives at the intersection of design, strategy, and heart. And after helping brands for over 5 years stop blending in, I can tell you this: when your brand reflects who you really are and what you stand for? Everything clicks.
Right now, we’re focused on helping more leaders turn their purpose into movements — through the BrandIgnite™, our flagship process that helps you show up clearly, confidently, and in full color.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One moment that changed everything for me was my time teaching design at Marlborough College in England.
I spent a year there, but the standout was a 3-day immersive workshop I led through SHiFT. It’s a global collective of creatives and educators who challenge how we think and learn. We brought in guest speakers from all over the world. The students worked in teams, explored wild ideas, and pushed their creativity in ways that were completely new to them.
And we did it all on top of a 4,500-year-old Neolithic mound right in the middle of campus.
It was surreal.
What shaped me most was seeing how quickly the students came alive. When they had the space to lead and explore, they didn’t hold back. It taught me that creativity isn’t just a skill. It’s a way of seeing. And when you mix bold ideas with diverse perspectives and a sense of play, that’s where the magic happens.
That experience still fuels how I lead today. I don’t just help people design brands. I help them find their voice, claim their space, and build something bigger than themselves.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You get to define success — not anyone else.
When I was younger, I spent a lot of time chasing approval. Trying to make sure what I did looked right to everyone else. I thought success meant validation. That if other people liked it, it must be good. And if they didn’t? Maybe it wasn’t worth doing.
That mindset held me back. It made me doubt my instincts. It kept me small. I wasn’t grounded in my own worth yet.
If I could go back, I’d tell myself this: Trust your gut. Even when it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. Especially then.
Some of your dreams won’t look logical on paper. They’ll be messy. They’ll stretch you. And that’s okay. You’re not here to follow someone else’s map. You’re here to build your own.
Lead with heart. You know more than you think.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
That no one is a lost cause. Ever.
I co-own a women’s recovery home called Good Vibrations Recovery with my mom. And one of our core beliefs is that every woman who walks through our doors already has gold inside her. Even if she can’t see it yet. Even if the world has written her off.
In the recovery world, there’s still a lot of judgment. People see addiction and assume weakness. We see resilience. We see pain that turned into survival. We see scars that mark the start of something powerful.
Most people focus on what these women have lost. We focus on what they’re about to find — their voice, their worth, their independence, their story.
The truth is, recovery doesn’t look the same for everyone. It’s not linear. It’s messy. And it takes radical belief, especially when someone can’t believe in themselves yet.
We’re here to hold that belief for them until they can.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
That giving more than you take is the real secret to success, especially in business.
Too many people walk into rooms thinking, What can I get out of this? But business isn’t a solo sport. It’s about relationships. Trust. Support. Mutual growth.
If you show up only to eat your own dinner, people notice. And eventually, you’re sitting at a table alone. But if you’re the one helping others grow, planting seeds, sharing wins, giving without expectation… well that’s when everything changes.
I’ve seen it firsthand. Giving builds community. And community builds momentum.
Owning a business isn’t easy. It tests you. But when you surround yourself with people you’ve poured into, they pour back. You rise together.
So yeah… give first. Not because it’s “strategic.” But because it’s the only way to build something that lasts.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.touchpoint-design.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacob.kleinmanphillips
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobkp/
Image Credits
Janel Gion
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