At the start of 2024, I tore it all down.
I let go of the team. I broke up with clients. I didn’t renew our lease. I made the call: SSM Creative Collective was done, and BizCo Studio would emerge as something much smaller—if it survived at all.
I told my team we had two to three weeks of runway left. I promised to pay them as long as I could and even held resume workshops to help them find new jobs. Then I laid everything bare—my fears, my doubts, and the crushing reality that I couldn’t control what came next.
I took the first deep breath I’d had in five years and waited for it all to burn.
But it didn’t.
I thought I was letting go of the business. But it wasn’t the business I needed to let go of—it was the control. The white-knuckle grip I’d held on everything. The illusion that I had to keep it all together on my own.
When I let go, everything grew. The business expanded. The team rose higher than I ever thought possible. And for the first time in years, I found clarity.
Clarity didn’t come from quitting but from surrender. It came from letting go of control and making room. Room for the business to evolve. Room for my team to step into their power. Room for me to rest, recover, and return stronger than ever.
2024 began as the year I fought for BizCo Studio to survive. Instead, it became the year we learned how to thrive.
The Team That Wouldn’t Leave
At the start of the year, I didn’t know how long we had left. I even told my team, “Let me know if you need time off to interview.”
But…they didn’t leave.
They stayed. They showed up—heart first—and gave everything they had to keep us rolling. These women are the reason I kept showing up, and they are the reason BizCo Studio not only survived but grew in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
Last week, we said a bittersweet goodbye to Brenna, my partner in crime for five incredible years. Her passion and brilliance shaped so much of who we are today, and watching her step boldly into her next chapter has been hard, but also so deeply inspiring.
But with the sad also came the happy! Amid the pre-holiday hustle, Angel and Kaitie joined the team. They brought fresh creativity, big ideas, and energy that transformed how we connect and deliver for our clients. Walking into a team in flux is never easy, but they did it with courage and heart.
As we close out 2024, I’m holding so much gratitude for the team. These gals are the soul of BizCo Studio, the reason I show up, and the foundation of everything we’re building together.
What We Built in 2024
Here’s a few things we accomplished in 2024:
- Built brands and websites for Harpo Properties, Kellie Sansone Creates, and Pandion Southeast.
- Helped Swanky Studios‘s new web presence shine on the cover of WILMA Magazine and flourish in her feature.
- Partnered with more nonprofits like 100 Black Men, Delta Sigma Theta, and Love Our Children NC.
- Continued our work with Blue Shark Vodka, Floriana DC, and Genesis Block.
- Launched Brand Camp, a program designed to give businesses clarity and confidence to scale.
…And so much more! As I look back on the year, the privilege of helping dreamers and doers step into their next phase stands out above all.
What’s Coming in 2025
We’re stepping into 2025 with purpose and ambition! Here’s what’s ahead:
- Launching new one-on-one programs for dreamers and doers ready to scale their businesses with strategy and bold ideas.
- Expanding partnerships with creatives, small businesses, and authors who value authenticity and connection.
- Strengthening BizCo Studio’s foundation to serve our clients and team with even greater purpose.
All that to say, we will head into 2025 doing what we do best — being here for the bold, the brilliant, and the boundless. For those who believe in the power of getting their hands dirty and building something that matters. I’m happy to say we’ll be holding fast to that mission in the New Year!
Grit Matters, But So Does Grace
This year reminded me that grit keeps you going, but grace gives you space to grow.
Grace taught me to surrender the need for control and perfection.
Grit kept me showing up, even when everything felt impossible.
Together, they turned a year of survival into a year of transformation in the most surprising of ways.
To Everyone Who Believed in Us
To our clients, collaborators, and community: thank you. You kept us going this year and gave BizCo Studio the momentum to thrive. Every project, connection, and word of support fueled what we accomplished in 2024 — and what’s ahead in 2025.
2025 is ours. Let’s make it something even more special than the gift that was 2024!
