Liz Pabon, The Branding Maven
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Name:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Liz Pabon
Hometown:Â Â Â U.S.A.! (moved around extensively while growing up)
Current Residence (City, State):Â Â Â Rocklin, CA
Education:Â A combination of college and school of hard knocks 
Professional Background (brief, please): A former corporate Rapunzel, I started in technology sales, later moving into the world of advertising and eventually VP of Sales & Marketing for one of the world’s largest media publishers.
What you wanted to be when you grew up:Â A private investigator by day and Broadway dancer by night (no poles for this gal!).
What you are: An empowered woman with an inquisitive mind, generous heart and feet that won’t stop movin’.
Brief Summary of your Start Up: Liz P. Communications launched five years ago. After going through the equivalent of the ‘freshman 15,’ I slimmed down my business by focusing exclusively on serving women in business with a specialty in micro-businesses. Designing fresh, authentic brands that express a woman’s individual purpose through her business is my passion.
Company Website? www.thebrandingmaven.com
What inspired you? Playing the corporate game for 20 years and realizing that in the course of endless dinner meetings, travel dates, and schmoozing, I lost myself. My true persona got buried underneath a corporate persona. And while that corporate gal served me well, I awakened one day realizing that ‘corporate Liz’ was two sizes too small for who I really was. This awakening is what inspired me to want to help women let go of preconceived shoulds and instead, connect with their big vision, and stand in their power, in their own unique and fabulous way.
How long have you been in business? I’m in my fifth year and it’s zipped right on by!
How did you fund it? A combination of personal savings and re-investing what I earned back into my business.
Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? I am my own fairy godmother! Seriously though, I have been gifted with several men and women that have inspired me over the years. And while I’m grateful for their gentle (and sometimes not so gentle) nudge, I believe strongly that you are your best mentor. If you can’t lead and mentor yourself, you certainly can’t lead and mentor others. So, I invest a great deal of time and resources in personal and professional development selecting experts that draw the best parts out of me.
Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? eWomen Network, a wonderful organization of women helping women. www.ewomennetwork.com
Current Business Challenge? Redesigning systems to support growth. Once we have a system in place, soon after we’re finding it needs tweaking because we’ve outgrown that system. It’s a good challenge to have.
What are you doing about it? Continually monitoring the processes we use to 1) honor the brand experience both inside and outside my business and 2) ensure we are efficient
Family? I’m married to a hunky firefighter and have three feisty bichon frises that keep us very busy.
If so, how do you balance family and business? I always say that as women, we really can have it all but don’t necessarily have to **do** it all. To live the life I want requires more hands than I’ve got. I not only delegate in my business but in my personal life too. It’s having the right support in all parts of my life that enables me to create my definition of balance.
Favorite book? Oh no…I can’t choose just one! I’ve been an avid reader since I can remember and love books particularly those that inspire me.
What do you do to relax? Yoga, meditation, reading, soaking in a warm tub while listening to Brazilian or Parisian music, watching old Doris Day and Rock Hudson movies and getting massages.
What do you want to change most about your world?
The belief that we should all conform to someone else’s ideals. Each of us have unique gifts that rarely get explored because we fear being different, outside of the ‘norm.’ When we can let go of the lies we’re told about our real worth and vale, we can each individually begin to not only express ourselves honestly but fully serve others and reap the abundance that comes from honoring oneself. It starts with you.
What are you most proud of? The accomplishments of my clients – the women whose greatness I get to dig out of them.
What advice would you like to offer other Startup Princesses?
Follow your instincts. Even if no one else is doing it quite the way you want…shake things up a little. Who knows, you could be the next revolutionary we’ve all been waiting for
Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)?
Where would I be without my hot pink iPod. I can carry music and learning audios with me wherever I go.
If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? As many as the thing could sustain without breaking in two! I will fear no bling before it’s time…
Would you be interested in being a Fairy Godmother to another woman entrepreneur? If we can align our timing, I’m open to it.
What business subjects would you feel comfortable mentoring in? Online and offline branding, online and offline marketing, positioning, business development, ezine and magazine publishing, writing, information product development. My strength is in strategy, which means my approach is to define the strategy then create the tactics to support that strategy…
Would you be interested in going to lunch with other women entrepreneurs for a “networking tea party� Only if they serve decaf ;-) I’m always open to connecting with savvy, smart women.
Would you be willing to be a facilitator of such an event?
I make a much better guest than facilitator. Believe me, you don’t want your facilitator wearing a lampshade on her head!
