Meet Jocelyn Phillips

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jocelyn Phillips. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jocelyn below.

Hi Jocelyn, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

The honest truth? I’m not sure I have. I think imposter syndrome is one of those tricky things that never fully goes away. It just shape-shifts as you grow. Every new level in business brings new challenges, new visibility, new expectations… and with that often comes that quiet voice in your head asking, “Who do you think you are?”

Even now, there are moments when I question whether I’m really doing enough or if I’m truly qualified to lead the kind of work I do. But what’s changed is how I respond to those thoughts. I’ve learned to recognize imposter syndrome for what it is: a sign that I’m stretching, evolving, and stepping into something bigger. Instead of letting it stop me, I take it as a cue to keep going.

I remind myself of the proof. The results I’ve helped my clients achieve, the brands I’ve brought to life, the ways I’ve shown up even when it felt hard. Confidence isn’t about never doubting yourself. It’s about moving forward anyway.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m Jocelyn, a brand strategist and photographer based in Ontario, and I help solo entrepreneurs build personal brands that not only look good, but work. My work sits at the intersection of strategy and creativity. I offer everything from deep-dive consulting to intentional, ROI-driven brand photography, all designed to help business owners show up online with confidence, clarity, and consistency.

What excites me most is that this work isn’t just about visuals or marketing, it’s about helping people feel aligned with their business again. I get to be the person who helps entrepreneurs step into their next-level era. It’s not about chasing trends or doing what everyone else is doing. It’s about building a brand that feels real and true and unmistakably them. That’s where the magic happens.

Right now, I’m really focused on simplifying how people show up online. I’ve seen how draining and overwhelming social media can be for entrepreneurs, so I’ve created services that make content creation easier. From strategy sessions to full content days where we create months of photos and videos in one go.

I’m also getting ready to launch a new DIY Brand Toolkit packed with tools and templates to help entrepreneurs build and execute their brand on their own timeline. It’s designed for business owners who are ready to refine their messaging and get crystal clear on what their brand stands for before they invest in visuals or marketing.

At the core of it all, I want people to know this: Your brand doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be aligned. And I’m here to help you get there.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been:

1. Emotional intelligence
So much of what I do involves understanding people. Their vision, their fears, what lights them up. Whether I’m guiding a brand strategy session or photographing a client, the ability to really listen and read between the lines has made all the difference. For anyone starting out, I’d say: don’t just focus on the technical skills. Learn how to hold space. Practice empathy. Your ability to connect will set you apart more than any formula ever could.

2. Strategic thinking
Creativity is important, but strategy is what gives it direction. I’ve always been drawn to the why behind things—even as a kid, I was the one taking things apart just to figure out how they worked, then putting them back together again. That curiosity has followed me into adulthood and business, and it’s helped me build a brand that delivers both beauty and results. If you’re new to this, study marketing, branding, psychology, anything that helps you understand how people make decisions and how to communicate value clearly. Strategy isn’t just something you apply later, it should be baked into everything you do.

3. Adaptability
Entrepreneurship is nothing if not unpredictable. From client needs to algorithms to life changes (hello, motherhood), I’ve had to evolve constantly. What’s helped me most is not clinging too tightly to one way of doing things. If you can stay open, curious, and willing to pivot, you’ll be able to weather anything and grow because of it.

My biggest advice? Focus on building a foundation that’s rooted in you. Your strengths, your values, your way of doing things. That’s how you build a brand and a business that lasts.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

Without a doubt, my biggest area of growth has been fully accepting and acknowledging myself as an expert. I’ve always been confident in my work and clear on the value I bring to my clients. But for a long time, I kept that confidence mostly inside my own bubble—sharing insights on Instagram, building relationships one-on-one, but not always putting myself in front of bigger opportunities to be seen and heard.

Over the past year, that’s shifted. I’ve started stepping into the light more and saying yes to podcast interviews, participating in articles like this, and taking up space in rooms where I know I have something valuable to contribute.

Here are some of the practical steps I took to grow in this area:
– I created signature language around my offers so I could speak about them with clarity and confidence
– I practiced talking about what I do in a way that’s both strategic and grounded in real results
– I surrounded myself with peers who are also doing big things (Because proximity to people who are owning their brilliance makes it easier to own yours too)

Owning my place as an expert is not about ego. It’s about showing up with confidence in the years of experience, education, and results I’ve built. I’ve realized that by holding back, I wasn’t just playing small, I was doing a disservice to the people I could help. Now, I’m leaning into visibility as a way to serve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jocelynphillips.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelynphillipsbranding

Image Credits

All images were taken by myself, Jocelyn Phillips