Hidden Gems: Meet Sam Swensson of Food for Thought Collective

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Swensson

Hi Sam, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have worked for some really kick butt shops – New York City and Denver – and have had the privilege of working alongside some incredible highly-effective and -functioning humans. A colleague would say, “iron sharpens iron”. But it wasn’t until an epiphany moment whilst in a full-time role that this professional journey I was on would inhibit me from achieving something greater. So, I took the plunge. It was one of those now or never moments. Timing will never roll out the red carpet for something so unknown. It took a good nudge from my executive coach and a lot of trust in myself. I made a list of the 3 big things I needed to do to make this happen right now: make the business, well, a business, get up some sort of online presence, and start networking. The goal of networking was secure my first account within the first 5 months. By 10 months, I had secured 8 accounts.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Struggles are something I am often reminded will just be part of growing and sustaining a business. Whether it’s struggles with a deadline, being both a Mom and a business owner or maintaining the “stuff” like admin upkeep, I turn to the basics. Make a list. Take things day by day, hour by hour if you have to. This takes the overwhelm out of a situation. By constantly practicing these simple methods, I find myself more confident and more trusting in my capabilities to effectively execute without sacrificing the integrity of work. And on the other side of that coin, it’s okay to need a little reprieve and grace along the way. After all, one of the pluses to owning your own business is Mental Health Mondays now and then!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Food for Thought specializes in brand development (a custom brand creation experience), brand stewardship (creative consultation that complements what you already have) and public art management (full service partnership for creating commissioned art). We currently serve our real estate and hospitality clients residing in the Denver, Salt Lake City and Austin markets.

We are deliberate and comprehensive when getting to know a new market. We tailor-make our brand strategy for every single project that authentically positions our client’s product. We find the roots, history, locale and beloved nature of a neighborhood, and connect that through design and storytelling. This is what we are known for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fftcollective.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fft_collective/