Meet Katelyn Alyssa

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katelyn Alyssa a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Katelyn, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I’m no stranger to impostor syndrome. It’s been present in my life for as long as I can remember and it’s often been the driving force behind my biggest pivots. From the fashion industry to interior design to full-time entrepreneurship, impostor syndrome has always been there. The difference now is, I know how to work with it instead of against it.

I was raised by a single mom and growing up, I never had what the other kids had materialistically… From the trending jeans to the latest flip phone. I knew how to work hard, but never felt I “looked the part.” That belief was reinforced when I didn’t get picked for the A team in soccer or the choreography team for the school’s choir year after year.

When it came time to apply for jobs, college, and internships, I had this quiet belief running the show: “That could never be me.”

I didn’t have tutors. I could never do the summer camps with the soccer pros. I felt like I could never really give 100% to what it was I wanted because of financial constraints. When I was old enough to work, I was working evenings and summers, or taking care of my younger brothers.

Even if I did “make it,” I lived with a constant fear that I’d be found out, like someone would discover I didn’t really belong.

Until I decided I wasn’t going to let my circumstances define my future. I wanted to work in fashion. So I applied to the most fashion-forward store in my city at the time: PacSun (lol). The manager told me, “I rarely hire,” and I responded, “Well, are you willing to hire today?” When he asked if I had reliable transportation, I said, “You’re looking at it” as I held my skateboard.

That job opened doors I didn’t even know existed for me. I moved across the country at 18. I worked fashion shows, styled photoshoots for surf and skate brands, and eventually became a go-to trend forecaster for one of the fastest-growing retailers in the 2010s. On paper, I was building a dream career.

But what I didn’t realize was that I was also doing the deep identity work I needed. I was choosing to see myself differently. Nothing about my circumstances had changed, only the way I saw myself.

I learned our weaknesses are actually our greatest strengths when we learn how to accept them and leverage them. Not in a victimhood kind of way, but rather seeing them as advantages. I had nothing to lose when I started going after the things I really wanted. No inheritance at risk, no prestigious scholarship, no one to disappoint if I didn’t prove I could achieve a certain level of success. That is an advantage.

It’s a lesson I wish my closest brother could have learned, too. He carried that same quiet belief I did for so long.. “that could never be me.” The difference was, he never got the chance to rewrite that narrative. He passed away at just 19 after a long battle with depression.

His loss became a defining moment for me. It lit a fire in me to be the proof. The proof that your circumstances don’t define you. That you don’t have to be chosen to begin. That impostor syndrome can get quiet when you learn how to see yourself differently.

And that’s something I come back to every time imposter syndrome rears its head. Because for me, it’s not something that just disappears. It shows up when I’m at a crossroads with myself, when I’m being invited to grow into a new version of me or stay the same.

That’s exactly what happened when I walked away from the Fashion industry to pursue a career in Interior Design, and when I ultimately left the cushioned Studio Manager role for a design studio to pursue entrepreneurship full-time.

At each pivot, I had to see myself differently. My mind wanted to hold me back, saying “you’ll look like a beginner,” “you don’t know what you’re doing,” “you are not qualified for this,” but I was… You see, each pivot I was able to leverage skills I had from my previous career. In Fashion, I was known for a refined meets edgy style, and I carried that reputation with me into my interior design aesthetic, and later when I started designing brand identities for other businesses.

But I had to see the value in that myself before anyone else did. I wasn’t starting over; I was letting my skillset evolve.

Imposter syndrome is the internal belief that your success is due to luck, timing, or external factors, not your talent, effort, or intelligence. It shows up as chronic self-doubt, fear of being “found out,” and a constant pressure to prove yourself, even when you’re qualified and accomplished.

It doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It means you’re expanding.

Most people think impostor syndrome stems from a lack of experience. But in my work, I’ve found it’s more often tied to identity. Specifically, the tension between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming. When you start playing a bigger game—raising your rates, being more visible, launching something new—your nervous system wants to pull you back to familiar territory.

So you shrink. You overthink. You hesitate instead of owning your voice.

That’s why impostor syndrome isn’t solved with more credentials. It’s solved by building deeper self-trust within yourself and learning to see your weaknesses as your greatest strengths.. And that’s the inner work most people are never taught to do.

Today, I remind myself that moving through imposter syndrome is the act of choosing action over anxiety. I build evidence in real time by showing up before I feel ready, trusting my instincts, and surrounding myself with people who see the version of me I’m growing into (not those who try to keep me small). I document and celebrate the moments I did things I once didn’t believe I could. That’s how self-trust is built and impostor syndrome is quieted. Slowly, intentionally, repeatedly.

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’m a business mentor and brand reputation advisor helping founders, creatives, and entrepreneurs build personal brands that position them and their businesses as sought-after industry leaders (without losing themselves in the process).

After building a multi-six-figure branding and marketing agency and working behind the scenes in fashion, interiors, and across marketing, sales, and leadership roles for over a decade, I realized the real problem most people face isn’t their visuals. It’s their reputation and relationship to visibility. They’re not being recognized for the full depth of what they do, and more importantly, who they are.

Today, I run a mentorship group called The Brand Reputation Mastermind—a space where entrepreneurs come to refine their voice, elevate their reputation, and clarify the next evolution of their brand and business. Whether they’re pivoting, growing, or launching something new, I help them rebuild their identity from the inside out, so their message, marketing, and energy align with the results they actually want. That might look like working less, returning to the creative work they love, increasing revenue profitably, or finally launching the product they’ve been dreaming about.

What’s most exciting about my work is that it’s not just surface-level branding, marketing, or sales strategies. It’s deep identity and visibility work. I support my clients in facing what’s holding them back from showing up boldly, then help them build the kind of brand that attracts aligned clients, speaking opportunities, press, and more.

My approach blends mindset, messaging, and reputation strategy. We’re not chasing trends, we’re building timeless brands that break the mold of their industry.

Right now, I’m expanding the mastermind and enrolling for the next round of founders and entrepreneurs who are ready to break out of being their industry’s “best-kept secret” and finally be recognized as the leader they know they are.
If that sounds like you, you can find more info at studiokaly.com/brandreputation.

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?

Identity Awareness
The most important work I’ve done wasn’t in a course or certification. It was learning to see myself differently. Knowing who you are, what you value, and what you want to be known for creates an unshakable foundation in business. It helps you say no to misaligned opportunities, show up with clarity, and lead from your truth rather than chasing validation.

Invest in self-awareness the same way you invest in strategy. Reflect often. Question your default behaviors and habits. And don’t be afraid to let go of the parts of you that no longer serve the version of you you’re becoming.

Messaging & Communication
Your ability to communicate your ideas, value, and vision clearly is what builds trust, attracts aligned clients, and sets you apart in a crowded space. Early in my career, I struggled to articulate what made me different… until I realized I wasn’t supposed to sound like everyone else.

Practice saying what you believe, not just what you think people want to hear. Your voice is your most valuable brand asset. Don’t dilute it.

Emotional Resilience & Nervous System Regulation
I used to think burnout was just part of the process. Now I know: if your nervous system isn’t on board, your strategy won’t stick. The ability to regulate myself through pivots, launches, and visibility blocks has changed everything.

Your body will tell you when something is off before your brain can. Learn how to listen. Rest isn’t a reward. It’s a requirement if you’re building something sustainable.

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

Without a doubt, building the emotional resilience to be in the public eye as Katelyn (or as the most authentic version of me).

I’ve always been someone who could show up for clients and was behind the scenes of the client brands I was supporting. But showing up fully as myself as the face of my brand, as a thought leader, as someone with a message, felt deeply vulnerable. The past year has been about regulating my nervous system enough to hold more visibility, more responsibility, and more impact without shrinking back into old patterns like overworking, hiding behind my work, or perfecting everything before sharing it.

The more I’ve practiced being seen, the more I’ve attracted the right opportunities: dream clients, aligned collaborations, and chances to share my story in a way I know will inspire others. But none of that happened by accident. It took intentional identity work, mindset rewiring, and learning how to stay grounded when fear, self-doubt, or impostor syndrome tried to take the wheel.

If I could offer one piece of advice to others on this path, it’s this: visibility is an inside job first. Build the internal capacity to be seen, and the external results will follow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://studiokaly.com/brandreputation
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itskatelynalyssa/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelynalyssa/

Image Credits

Jackie Sterna, Sterna Studios

https://www.instagram.com/jackiesterna/
https://www.instagram.com/sternastudios/