We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Angela Satterlee. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Angela below.
Hi Angela, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
Like many creatives, I spent years second-guessing myself, chasing external validation, and letting powerful ideas fade because I didn’t believe I could bring them to life. It wasn’t until I stepped away from the comfort and chaos of a corporate career that I discovered the most valuable resource of all: time. Time to reconnect with passion. Time to trust my instincts. Time to quiet the outer voices with a simple, “thank you for your feedback,” and focus only on what truly brought me joy.
I finally had the courage to listen inward instead of outward—and that changed everything. When you take the experiences you’ve gathered, release what no longer serves you, and channel your energy into what lights you up, you become magnetic. The right work, people, and opportunities naturally find their way to you.
One of my favorite quotes is: “It only has to make sense to you.” That reminder has become my compass, both in life and in work. Confidence, I’ve learned, isn’t about perfection—it’s about alignment. And when you’re aligned, you not only stand taller, you inspire others to do the same.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of creativity and connection. In the early stages of my career, I was naively fearless. With a Bachelor’s in Visual Communication (Graphic Design) and a Master’s with an emphasis on Human Centered Design, I had the foundation to pivot quickly. What began as a print-focused design degree soon became a career at a tech agency working in digital media during the earliest days of app development, and later as an adjunct professor guiding students through that same shift.
My curiosity soon carried me into freelancing—balancing branding clients, home flips, and a steadily growing DIY renovation blog. Then, a former boss asked me to take on the design for his large-scale renovation. What began as a side gig blossomed into Fairly Modern, my boutique design agency that gave homes a voice and a story. It was a season where interiors, branding, and storytelling intertwined in unexpected ways.
During a time of personal transition, I realized I needed to simplify and pour my focus into one place. That choice led me to an in-house role with a wine company that was in the midst of a rebrand, winery build, and expansion of their experiential, social, and e-commerce channels. It became a season of growth, healing, and renewed connection—and reminded me how much I love working in industries that naturally bring people together.
Since then, I’ve expanded my work across Fitness & Apparel, Nutrition, Kids & Baby, Food & Beverage, and FinTech—industries where trust and emotional connection are essential. From redefining empowerment in women’s apparel, to shaping stories around infant health and eyewear, to helping FinTech teams humanize technology, I’ve been fortunate to apply creativity in ways that drive both meaning and growth.
At the core, my work is about guiding brands back to their values—helping them find clarity, build confidence in their identity, and stand apart in ways that feel authentic. Today, that often looks like consulting on brand development and business models, directing photography, building content frameworks, creating visual narratives that are thoughtfully designed, and partnering with other creatives to deliver campaigns—especially in email communication, where strategy and storytelling meet execution. What excites me most is helping people see their brand differently—more aligned, more intentional, more alive. It’s not just design, it’s creating experiences people love.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, three qualities have truly shaped my journey: adaptability, curiosity, and empathy—each grounded in the deeper practice of trusting myself and staying aligned with my core values.
Adaptability has been my anchor, but it’s also required a certain fearlessness. Early on, I said yes to every opportunity, shifting from print to digital, and later blending interiors with branding or moving into new industries altogether. I’ve learned that when you approach change with the mindset that you have nothing to lose, you stay open to possibilities that can completely transform your path. My advice: don’t resist the pivots. Lean into them with courage. Every shift is an invitation to realign with what matters most and uncover new strengths you didn’t know you had.
Curiosity has been my compass. It’s what pushed me to keep learning, to pursue advanced education, to say yes to projects outside my comfort zone, and to explore how creativity can translate across disciplines. Curiosity is what keeps your work alive and evolving. If you’re just starting out, let yourself follow the questions that excite you most, while checking in with your values as your guideposts. They’ll keep you grounded as you grow.
Finally, empathy has been the heartbeat of everything I do. At the center of every brand, every campaign, and every design is a human story. When you create with empathy—really listening to people, understanding what they need, and honoring what they feel—you create work that connects on a deeper level. My advice here is simple: listen more than you speak, both to others and to yourself. The best ideas almost always come from paying attention.
When you trust yourself, stay aligned to your core values, and weave adaptability, curiosity, and empathy into your work—you not only grow your career, you create work that feels authentic and deeply connected.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is someone who is clear on why they started—even if they’ve lost touch with it along the way—and is open to reconnecting with that purpose. They don’t have to have all the answers; in fact, most don’t. What matters most is that they’re willing to be honest, collaborative, and lean into in the process.
The clients I love working with are curious and open-minded. They trust the journey, even when it feels uncomfortable, because they know that alignment often emerges on the other side of exploration. They value partnership over transaction, and they see brand-building not just as design or marketing, but as storytelling with heart.
At the core, my ideal clients are people who care deeply—about their product, their people, and the experience they’re creating.
If you’re inspired and need help with your business idea, solve a creative problem, or just need a creative partner to brainstorm with, I offer sessions to help push your vision to the next level. I’d love to work with you!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://angelasatterlee.com
- Instagram: @fairlymodern
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelasatterlee/
Image Credits
Photographer: Ryan Pavlovich
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