Building a Creative Career From Scratch | Jess Goldsmith | Founder of Chick of All Trades & Women of Type

Jess Goldsmith didn’t wait for someone to tell her she was an artist. She decided she was one and went all in. With no formal art school training, she built a thriving creative career from the ground up, working as an art director, illustrator, and the founder of both Chick of All Trades and Women of Type. Her story is proof that you can start with nothing but determination, sharpen your skills along the way, and create opportunities that didn’t exist before. We explore how she navigated her early freelance days, landed her first clients, and built a community that champions women in design. Jess shares what it’s like to balance business strategy with creative passion, why mental health advocacy matters in the creative industry, and how resilience plays a role in every success story. For anyone building a freelance design business, growing as a creative entrepreneur, or looking to make their mark in the art world, this conversation is full of real-world advice, inspiration, and proof that you can define success on your own terms. Chapters 00:00 Claiming the title of artist 02:15 Starting without a formal art school path 04:30 The leap into freelance design 06:05 Lessons from early client projects 08:40 Launching Chick of All Trades 10:15 Building the Women of Type community 12:50 Balancing creativity and business strategy 15:20 Advocating for mental health in the design world 17:45 How resilience shapes creative careers 20:10 Collaborations and dream clients 22:30 Advice for aspiring freelance designers 24:15 Creating work you want to be hired for 26:00 Staying inspired and avoiding burnout 28:40 Defining success on your own terms The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms. Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think. Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices