Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to TaKenya Hampton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
TaKenya, 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.
Honestly? I don’t think imposter syndrome is something you just “get over.” At least not for me. It’s more like something I’ve learned to live with. A voice that still shows up, but one I’ve learned not to let run the show.
What helps is choosing to show up anyway, scared, unsure, doubtful, and doing the thing anyway. I’ve learned to move through fear, not wait for it to disappear. That consistent showing up is what builds confidence for me.
It’s like muscles you build by showing up over and over again.
I’m also big on self-discovery. I make time to understand my strengths. The things that make me unique. But also the areas where I’ve still got room to grow.
That self-awareness is a game changer. It helps me stay grounded in the value I bring, even when my inner critic tries to argue otherwise.
But one of my biggest keys?
Having people around me who see me, who believe in me, even when I forget how to believe in myself. Family, friends, or mentors.
I’ve learned to let their belief act as a mirror. On days when self-doubt creeps in heavy, that reflection of encouragement and truth helps me recalibrate and keep going.
At the end of the day, I don’t think imposter syndrome disappears. But I do think we get better at recognizing it, quieting it, and moving forward anyway.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Studio117 Creative was born out of both necessity and purpose. I started it during a time when I needed more flexibility for my family, but I also saw a serious gap. Small businesses, especially Black-owned and women-led ones, struggling to navigate the tech side of running a business because of a lack of trusted resources.
Websites, systems, email marketing, and all the tech it takes to run a business (especially as a solopreuer or with a limited team) it can all feel overwhelming when you’re trying to do all the things. And I knew I could help.
So that’s what I do!
I help small businesses build and maintain websites that work for them (specifically on the WordPress platform).
I bring strategy, clarity, and support to the process, so my clients feel empowered instead of intimidated by tech. Whether we’re doing a full website, setting up efficient back-end systems, or doing ongoing maintenance and support, the goal is always the same. And that’s to make tech feel lighter and business feel easier.
What makes my work special is how I meet people where they are. Always with honesty, patience, and solutions that actually fit their needs. I don’t just build sites and bounce. I teach. I guide. I help people make informed decisions and build confidence in their tools and themselves.
Right now, I’m focused on making my services even more accessible. That includes expanding into self-paced courses, DIY-friendly design options, and launching an upcoming membership community designed to help business owners build a community around them and better understand and manage their tech.
Everything I create is rooted in this mission: to simplify the complicated, empower the underserved, and help business owners get back to doing the work they actually love.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Resilience
This one is everything. I’ve had moments where things felt like they were falling apart — financially, emotionally, logistically. I’ve had months where I couldn’t make payroll, seasons of doubt, and stretches where I questioned everything. But I kept going. I kept showing up. I didn’t always have the answers, but I had the will to figure it out.
Resilience isn’t just about being strong. It’s about learning to rest without quitting. To cry if you need to. To pause when you’re tired. And then to get back up and keep moving.
Advice: Build your bounce-back muscle. Take breaks, cry if you need to, but don’t stop. The consistency of showing up even when it’s hard is what creates momentum. You don’t have to feel fearless to be resilient — you just have to keep choosing to move forward.
2. Being a Forever Student
I have two degrees, but most of what’s helped me grow came outside of a classroom.
I’ve learned from every job I’ve had, from mentors who shared what they knew, from late-night Google rabbit holes, online workshops, books, and conversations. I’m always looking for ways I can grow and improve. Not to be perfect, but to be better.
Advice: Stay open and curious. Learning doesn’t stop after a diploma. Some of your best teachers will be experiences, mistakes, and people who’ve walked a few steps ahead of you.
3. Self-Awareness & Adaptability
I’ve learned how to check in with myself. This means to be real about what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to shift.
That self-awareness is what makes adaptability possible. You can’t pivot if you’re not willing to get honest about where you are. Whether it’s changing an offer, rewriting a plan, or asking for help, being flexible has kept me moving forward.
Advice: Get quiet and check in with yourself often. Be honest about your capacity, your goals, and your growth. The more self-aware you become, the easier it is to shift with purpose instead of panic.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
It really depends on the day. I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and I’m also at the age where perimenopause has entered the chat. And honestly, some days, I don’t know who I’m going to wake up and be. It feels like a second adolescence at times, and that unpredictability can be overwhelming all on its own.
So I’ve had to learn to ask myself what I need. But also to actually listen to the answer.
Some days, that means taking a break. Some days, it means writing everything down so my brain can breathe. And other times, it’s asking for help or letting someone else carry the thing I don’t have the capacity for.
I’ve also learned to prioritize with intention. Everything can’t be urgent. Everything can’t be important.
When overwhelm hits, I try to identify what actually matters in that moment, and let the rest wait or fall away.
Advice: Give yourself permission to be human. Ask for help sooner. Let go of perfection. And don’t be afraid to slow down, especially if it means protecting your peace and preserving your energy for the work that really matters.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://studio117creative.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio117creative/
Image Credits
Client Project photos are Tomiko Harvery – Travel Influencer and SEO Strategist, Kirsten Smith – MotherHues Blog, Crystal Marie Young – CME Event Security
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
