Conversations with Sherilyn Bennett

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherilyn Bennett.

Hi Sherilyn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m the CEO of Camden Lane Creative Agency, a corporate design and branding agency. I’m an award-winning designer, brand strategist, and brand manager with over 25 years in the creative industry.

I began my career in the news industry immediately after graduating from college. I started as a news artist at my local newspaper. After four years working at my local paper, I was offered a position with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where I worked for 13 years in news and advertising.

When I returned to my hometown, I worked for a local marketing agency. After working at that marketing agency for six years, I was laid off. I seeded the $25,000 severance pay into starting my own agency, Camden Lane Creative Agency, which I have owned for almost seven years…

In January of 2024, I am leaping into a new industry with my new agency Camden Lane Artist, an agency that represents crew talent in the motion picture and television industry.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a CEO has been fulfilling, but it hasn’t been a walk in the park; as a woman and minority, I have had to run faster and leap higher than my counterparts.

I became a female entrepreneur in my late 40s, which came with some challenges. Being transparent, when I returned to my hometown after leaving the AJC, I launched a graphic design firm that failed miserably. I didn’t educate myself about starting a business or running a company properly, and I lost thousands of dollars because of it. That is why my Grace+Leap brand was born to teach women in particularly women of faith, about entrepreneurship and inspirational living.

When I launched Camden Lane Creative Agency, initially I struggled because I didn’t educate myself about the numbers. I failed to understand the importance of an excellent financial planner, accountant, and legal representative for my company.

Not vetting my initial accountant was a significant mistake. Getting all of my financials worked out took a lot of work. Thank goodness, I now have a great certified accountant Avonita Stewart, who knows what she is doing.

Like any company, there are still some ups and downs; that is to be expected. Entrepreneurship is a daily faith walk.

I would certainly tell entrepreneurs to know your numbers and think of your company beyond the branding. How does your onboarding work? What are your policies and procedures? How do you deal with client relations? It all matters.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Camden Lane Creative Agency is a corporate design and branding agency. We help businesses, organizations, podcasters, TV networks, actors, authors, creatives, and ministries build sustainable brands by offering high-end, award-winning creatives and impactful brand strategies, brand management, and representation. We’re a creative agency for life transformers. We are actually a faith-based agency. In my other life, I am an ordained minister so merging faith and business came easy to me. How I do life is how I do business. Camden Lane’s motto is You transform. We create.

What makes us unique is that our agency boasts a 99% female clientele. That was not by design. It just evolved. We embrace it. We love working with women who are thought leaders, authors, coaches, and faith-based.

Through our partnership with 13th and Joan Publishing House, led by Ardre Orie, we did creative work for Ralph Pittman from the Atlanta Housewives franchise. So, we do have an occasional male client. That was fun!

I’m very proud that even though Camden Lane is only six years old; we’ve had the fantastic opportunity to work with high-profile clients like gospel artist Jekalyn Carr, Project Runway model winner Liris Cross, Food Network Chopped Champion, and Chef Shacafrica Simmons, Christian influencers Quonda Renee to name a few. We are not only a high-profile clientele agency. Our ideal client is creating change and impact in their community and industries.

I’m excited to be launching my new agency, Camden Lane Artist in January 2024. Camden Lane Artist was inspired by a great friend, Antoinette Black who currently works in the motion picture industry as a hair stylist. CLA will provide comprehensive support for hair stylists and makeup artists in the motion picture and television industry. Our services will include talent management, development, career strategy, and branding to ensure that our clients can maximize their potential and achieve success.

Whether you need creative services or are crew talent in the motion picture industry, let’s grow together!

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We’re proud of the wonderful partnerships we currently have at Camden Lane Creative Agency. If you are a publisher, ministry, corporate organization, or nonprofit and you’d like to partner or collaborate with us, contact Executive Director Nina Grayson at info@camdnelanecreative.com

If you are currently crew talent or aspire to be in the motion picture or television industry we are now interviewing talent for our roster. Reach out to us! Let’s see if we make a great partnership. Email sherilyn@camdenlanecreative.com

If you are in need of creative services contact us via the website www.camdenlanecreative.com go to the Start Your Project pull-down. We look forward to hearing from you!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.camdenlanecreative.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camdenlanecreativeagency/

Image Credits
Sherilyn Main image – Photographer, Antoinne Duane Jones Artwork uploads are creatives of Camden Lane Creative Agency