Today we’d like to introduce you to Ami Patel.
Hi Ami, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a first-generation American, born and raised in Georgia to parents who immigrated from India. They built their lives in hospitality, running motels and hotels, and some of my earliest memories are rooted in those spaces. Whether I was behind the front desk greeting guests, helping with laundry, or vacuuming hallways, I watched my parents navigate each challenge as it came—learning to adapt to a new country, run a business, and provide for a family all at once. Their resilience and resourcefulness left a mark, now shaping how I approach my own ambitions and the way I work.
As a naturally observant, introverted kid, I was drawn to both creativity and structure, trying to understand what I wanted to do and where I could make an impact. I noticed how spaces, interactions, and small details shaped experiences, and I gravitated toward environments where strategy and creativity intersected. That curiosity led me to the University of Georgia, where I earned both my bachelor’s degree and MBA as a Double Dawg, seeking opportunities that let me combine strategic thinking with creative problem-solving. My career then carried me across marketing, HR, merchandising, product development, and strategy, including roles at The Home Depot and IHG Hotels, experiences that revealed how the different elements of a brand come together to create an intentional, lived experience.
The pivot toward my own creative work came quietly, in the projects I chose outside of my corporate roles. Producing content, designing visuals, and shaping social presence for local businesses felt instinctive in a way my corporate work never fully did. I developed a flow in creating intentional digital experiences—crafting stories, designing visuals, and curating how brands show up online. It felt natural, and it quickly became clear this was the path I wanted to pursue.
That instinct became A. Creative Co, a creative studio where strategy, storytelling, and execution intersect. I work with brands to shape their presence online—how they look, how they show up, and how their audiences experience them, especially in a world where everything starts digitally. Each brand I collaborate with is approached with intention, full circle from the entrepreneurial spirit I grew up watching, now expressed in a way that feels entirely my own.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a straight path — but one I’m incredibly grateful for. Every day brings new challenges, surprises, and opportunities to learn. I question every step I take, but I know that in five or ten years, I’ll look back grateful that I bet on myself. This is the opportunity I get to chase, and while there are hard days, nothing worth doing ever comes easily.
For years, I operated within a system — a school, a corporation — where guidance, structure, and support were built in. This is the first time I’ve taken everything I’ve learned, trusted my intuition, and made decisions entirely on my own. Thinking like a leader and acting like one without a team or a backup plan is challenging, but it’s also where the most meaningful growth happens.
Self-doubt shows up constantly, but it’s balanced by intuition and experience. I know I’m qualified, and the work is in trusting myself enough to move with confidence. Every setback is a lesson, every misstep a chance to adjust and refine. Fail fast, learn faster — that’s become my rhythm. I firmly believe everything will work out, and every challenge I face is exactly the one I needed to face.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I run a creative studio focused on social media management and content creation for brands and experiences, with an expanding focus on branding and lifestyle photography. At its core, the work is about creating things that live online — visuals, videos, and stories that reflect a brand thoughtfully and intentionally. Today, almost every interaction starts digitally. People scroll, research, and form opinions long before they ever walk into a store or make a purchase, and I design with that reality in mind.
I specialize in translating real-world presence into a strong digital one. Many of the businesses and creators I work with already have something special — a great product, a loyal community, a distinct point of view — but they struggle to articulate that online. My role is to bring clarity and cohesion by pairing creative execution with strategy, so content doesn’t just look good, it supports visibility, growth, and connection.
I’m most proud of what this first year has made possible. I’ve worked with influencers both locally and across the U.S., expanded into an international client, and continued to grow my offerings, including photography. Being trusted by such a diverse range of people so early on has been incredibly meaningful and reaffirming.
What sets me apart is the way I blend creative work with a strategic, business-minded lens. My background spans corporate roles in marketing, merchandising, product development, and strategy across hospitality, retail, and food. I bring that experience into every engagement — from end-to-end production and content capture to publishing, optimization, and performance review. I stay behind the camera, keeping the focus where it belongs: on the brand, the experience, and the story being told. As I continue to grow, my goal is to be known as a go-to creative partner for brands seeking a more refined, elevated digital presence.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
It’s easy to confuse self-awareness with self-criticism, especially early on. If you’re only focused on what isn’t working, that isn’t clarity — it’s just being hard on yourself. Learning to recognize your strengths, alongside the areas you’re still growing into, changes how you move forward.
Celebrate the wins, even the quiet ones. Progress rarely announces itself in big moments, but those small milestones compound. Learn to fail fast, adjust, and keep moving. Most growth comes from what doesn’t go according to plan, not from waiting until everything feels perfect.
No two paths unfold the same way, and comparison has a way of distorting both timing and confidence. Starting can feel uncomfortable, even intimidating, but years from now, it’s often the decision you’re most grateful you made. Give yourself room to learn, trust what you’re capable of, and let the process do its work.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.creativeco/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amipatel25
- Other: Portfolio: https://acreativeconcierge.my.canva.site/
Image Credits
Image of me with Camera – Salona Patel
All other Images were capture by me – Ami Patel
