Fatima of Vita Nova Media: Human-Centered Brand Strategy & Marketing for Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurs

Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business

Hi! I’m Fatima — mom of 3, brand strategist, and the heart behind Vita Nova Media, a boutique marketing studio helping small business owners, creatives, and community-rooted brands show up with clarity, confidence, and connection. I specialize in brand strategy, social media marketing, and content that feels like you — not like a copy-paste marketing template. I believe in intentional storytelling, not performative marketing. My goal is to make marketing feel aligned, doable, and human again.

Who are your customers?

I work with purpose-driven entrepreneurs — especially women, mompreneurs, and local businesses — who are building with intention and heart. Many of my clients are in the early stages of launching or pivoting, whether they’re first-time founders, creatives shifting gears, or moms turning passion into purpose. I’m especially passionate about supporting brands that value community, authenticity, and sustainable growth. I also love working with nonprofit orgs and founders who want their values (not their products) to lead the way.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

Before launching my studio, I spent over a decade in the finance world, most recently in wealth management with a focus on alternative investments. My work spanned client service, operational strategy, and managing millions in investor subscriptions. But the creative side of me was always nudging me toward something more personal and purpose-driven. Eventually, I realized I was ready to trade spreadsheets for storytelling — and build alongside members of the incredible communities I was already involved in.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

After years of juggling a demanding career, motherhood, and a creative passion project, I realized I didn’t want to keep building someone else’s dream while mine stayed stuck in Google Docs. Vita Nova, which means new life, was born out of one of the hardest seasons of my life — the deep fog of postpartum depression. Creating this business became part of my healing — a way to reconnect with myself, reclaim my voice, and build something rooted in purpose, creativity, and community. I wanted to help others do the same: show up as who they’re becoming, not just who they’ve been.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Honestly, no — not in the traditional sense. But I’ve always been a builder and a connector. My husband and I have dreamt up countless business ideas over the years, and I’ve always loved helping others bring their visions to life. Looking back, I think entrepreneurship was always in me — I just needed the right season and the right “why” to let it rise.

Take us back to when you first launched your business; what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

I’m actually still in the soft launch phase — building the foundation of Vita Nova Media with intention instead of rushing into a big public launch. My strategy has been slow, steady, and rooted in connection: I started by showing up consistently on Instagram, sharing behind-the-scenes content, and reaching out to my personal network: PTA moms, small business owners I’ve supported in the past, and friends who’ve cheered me on from day one. I offered free discovery calls and social audits to build trust and word-of-mouth. Even without a formal “launch,” those early seeds have already led to client work, collaborations, and momentum I’m incredibly grateful for.

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way so far and what have you learned from it?

My biggest challenge has been time — or more honestly, learning how to honor the pace that works for me in this season. Balancing motherhood, client work, and building a business from the ground up isn’t easy. But I’ve learned that clarity, boundaries, and redefining success on my own terms are everything. Creating simple systems, building in white space, and letting go of the pressure to do everything at once has helped me grow more sustainably (and with way more peace).

What accomplishment are the most proud of to date in your business?

Honestly? Saying yes to myself and bringing this vision to life — even when it felt scary or slow. Turning Vita Nova Media from an idea born during postpartum depression into a real business with real impact is something I’ll always be proud of. I’ve shown up for my clients, my family, and my own healing all at the same time. And hosting my first kids entrepreneur workshop — and seeing it sell out in 30 minutes — was a beautiful reminder that this business can hold both purpose and play.

Do you have any recent wins from the last year that you'd like to celebrate with our community?

Absolutely! I booked my first anchor client during my soft launch, built a brand kit that feels like a love letter to my values, and started selling digital products that are helping small business owners gain clarity and confidence in their marketing. I also received some of the most meaningful client feedback — messages from women who finally feel seen, supported, and energized about showing up online. Those wins remind me that slow and intentional still leads to impact.

What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

I’m building toward a sustainable studio model that blends done-for-you services, creative consulting, and digital tools for purpose-driven founders. I see Vita Nova Media becoming a trusted partner for heart-led brands who want to grow in a way that feels aligned, not overwhelming. I’m excited to grow a small-but-mighty team, deepen community partnerships, and eventually launch a mini agency arm supporting local businesses with intentional design and strategy. As Vita Nova — new life — continues to unfold, I hope it becomes a space where others feel empowered to evolve and show up as their whole selves in business.

What is your top productivity tip? 

Let’s be real — I probably need productivity tips more than I can give them most days 😅. But what I’ve learned is this: before you sprint, slow down and get aligned. Get clear on your “why,” your values, and your capacity. Then build a strong foundation (your workflows, your structure, your systems, your SOPs) so when the opportunity to grow shows up, you’re not scrambling… you’re ready for the glow up. Productivity isn’t about doing more it’s about doing the right things with intention.

On the flip side, how do you avoid burnout?

Faith, community, and surrender. I lean on my faith, supportive communities and networks, good podcasts, and a deep understanding that there are seasons to everything. I’ve had to make peace with the fact that what’s for me isn’t going anywhere — and the pressure to do it all, all at once, just isn’t real. I’m learning to release control and trust that God is showing up for me in ways I can’t even see yet. Burnout creeps in when I start trying to force things on my own. But when I pause, pray, and reconnect to my purpose, I remember the only way to move forward without it is to have more faith than fear.

What is your approach to work-life balance / integration?

I don’t believe in perfect balance — but I do believe in rhythm. Some weeks I’m in CEO mode, other weeks I’m on field trip duty or mid-meltdown with a toddler. I try to design my days with flexibility and GIVE MYSELF GRACE. I check in weekly to understand what needs my presence most right now? That’s where I lead from.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

That growth can be gentle. You don’t have to scale fast or do it like everyone else to succeed. I wish I had known that slow, intentional growth is still growth and that your version of success gets to change as you evolve.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

I haven’t hired yet but when I do, I know I’ll be looking for alignment first. I’d want to ask something like: “What excites you about this work, and how do you like to be supported as you grow?” Because for me, it’s not just about skills. It’s always about relationship and connections, about shared values, care, and chemistry.

If you've raised capital for your business already, what are some of your best tips or lessons learned?

I haven’t raised capital — I’ve bootstrapped slowly and intentionally. But that’s been a gift, too. It’s allowed me to stay in full creative control and build a business rooted in alignment, not pressure.

Are you a Mamaprenista? If so, please share your best advice for simultaneously managing a business and a family

Yes! And it’s beautiful and chaotic all at once. My best advice is to build a business that works for your actual life. Not your ideal schedule, not the highlight reels — your real life. Release perfection, outsource where you can, give yourself grace and acknowledge yourself for doing the work of two (or ten) roles every single day. You are CRUSHING IT!

Do you have a co-founder? If so, how did you find the right one for you and what are your best partnership tips?

No co-founder — just me (my custom GPTS, and lots of Google Docs). But I do believe that even if you’re a solopreneur, you don’t have to build alone which is why I was very excited to join the Entreprenista League!

What's the one app on your phone you absolutely cannot live without and why?

Yikes, this one is hard. It’s a toss-up between Instagram and ChatGPT, but for all the right reasons. Instagram is where I find inspiration, build community, and express my creativity in real time. It was always like my own online diary, and it's become a digital gathering space that feels energizing and expansive. And ChatGPT? It’s like my personal brainstorming partner. Without a co-founder or someone IN IT with me (and someone with ADHD) it's nice to have a place where I can just brain dump, work through strategy, or get unstuck when I need a fresh perspective. That said, I know we obviously lived without these tools for a long time — and life goes on without them. I don’t depend on them, but I do love being able to leverage them as tools to deepen connection and expand my impact beyond my physical environment. At the end of the day, they’re just extensions of what we already hold within us.

What is your favorite business tool or solution and why?

Wow. This is another hard one to choose just one so I'm sorry for the long-winded response. 

Canva is hands-down one of my favorite tools, not just because of how powerful it is, but because of how accessible it has made design for so many small business owners. Before Canva, I used Photoshop and Illustrator, and while those were great skills to learn, Canva has evolved into this incredibly intuitive and affordable platform that truly grows with us. It makes it so much easier to build a cohesive, beautiful brand...especially when you’re wearing all the hats.

That said, I also have to shout out Notion. Once you get over the (VERY REAL) initial learning curve, it becomes the life and business planner you never knew you needed. It holds my systems, ideas, goals, content plans — all of it — and keeps me grounded in the chaos.

And honestly, more than anything, I’m just so grateful for the internet. I’ve always been curious and self-taught, and it’s only because of free tools and digital resources (shoutout to YouTube University and Google!) that I was able to pivot from a finance career to launching a creative studio. Everything I’ve learned from branding to digital marketing, to building websites and more, has been through online tools. So while I love Canva and Notion, the real MVP is the ability to keep learning, creating, and evolving on our own terms.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Just start. It doesn’t have to be perfect to launch. If you’ve identified your purpose, your goal, and the bigger problem you’re trying to solve — that’s enough to take the first step. Every minute you spend doubting yourself, trying to learn more, or making it “just right” is time you could be using to build the thing. Things will never be perfect. Doubt will pop up again. And you will NEVER stop learning. So give yourself permission to begin anyway.

Progress > Perfection. Faith > Fear. Those are my mantras.

Learn more about the Entreprenista League and join today

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