How To Grow A Founder-Led Brand With Purpose with Annette Parker

Opportunity rarely announces itself. It shows up fast and it rewards the people who did the work before anyone was watching. From Hampton’s Tech Week, we sit down with Annette Parker, a Brooklyn-based brand consultant focused on small business growth and founder-led brands, and she brings a message we keep coming back to: research and preparation change everything.

Annette breaks down what “do your research” really means when you’re building a brand, finding clients, and trying to grow with intention. We talk about how founders can build a legacy while they’re still in the messy middle of building the business, and why authenticity is not a soft idea but a practical strategy. Annette also shares how her faith in Christ grounds her purpose and shapes the example she wants to set through her work.

And yes, we make space for a spicy take: Annette’s hill to die on is that audiobooks aren’t reading. It’s funny, but it also reveals something deeper about having a clear point of view and the confidence to stand by it, which matters more than ever for personal branding and modern marketing.

If you’re growing a consulting business, refining your brand strategy, or trying to lead with purpose without losing momentum, you’ll get practical reminders and real encouragement here. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a founder who needs it, and leave a review telling us: what’s the one principle you’ll never compromise on?

Follow Annette on Instagram @Annettemarie31

Before you go - here are three ways to continue elevating your legacy & connect:

1. Follow @ElevateCollection.co on Instagram along with your host, @alexandriareed.co & @Jordanhawkins.co
2. Subscribe to never miss an episode and get exclusive content
3. Share this trailer with three people who need to hear it

Remember: Your influence is just the beginning. Your legacy is the destination.

See you soon, where influence meets legacy.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:32

Welcome back to the Elevate Collection Podcast here with Annette Parker at Hampton's Tech Week.

SPEAKER_01 0:37

Annette, tell us everything. Hi, hello, Elevate Community. Jordan, thanks for having me. Um, my name's Annette Parker. I am from Brooklyn, New York, and my work is in brand consulting and small business growth. And my passion is just helping people find and excel at their purposes. So finding what is their passion about, specifically has been founder-led brands, and helping them grow and build their legacies as they envision them.

SPEAKER_00 1:02

So that's wonderful. I'm gonna pivot a little bit here.

Welcome And Meet Annette Parker

SPEAKER_00 1:04

Is there one piece of advice that you love to give everyone?

SPEAKER_01 1:08

I love to tell everyone to do your research, be prepared. Because once you're prepared, anything can happen.

Brand Consulting And Purpose-Driven Growth

SPEAKER_01 1:15

When you do your part, the world kind of starts putting things in place. So you do your part, you do your your preparation, you do your work and research, and uh good things can happen. Annette, what's one hill you'll die on? This is controversial, y'all. Audiobooks aren't reading. Sorry, not sorry. I die on that hill.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

Oh, goodness. Okay, Annette, tell the world how you're

One Rule: Research And Preparation

SPEAKER_00 1:35

using your influence to create a legacy.

SPEAKER_01 1:37

How I use my influence to create a legacy. I'm a big believer in being identifying with your true self, being authentic. My purpose comes from knowing my faith in Christ. And I want to leave a legacy that inspires people to follow their dreams, their passions, and ultimately their purpose for who they're created to be. So I hope that by leading a strong example

The Audiobooks Debate

SPEAKER_01 1:56

as a young woman, building a business that I'm in the middle of, I can hope to do that.

SPEAKER_00 2:00

And what's one thing our Elevate community can do to elevate you?

SPEAKER_01 2:04

Help elevate me.

Faith, Authenticity, And Legacy

SPEAKER_01 2:05

That's such a great question, Jordan. I am about, I was telling someone earlier, I'm about five months into starting my own consulting company. So I think to help elevate me would be in support at my LinkedIn page. My company's name is Black Portfolio Strategies. And it's the curation, my purpose is to help curate the best work for my clients. So support that, support elevate. I think is we all support elevate. We'll all all ourselves be elevated. So that's what I can do.

SPEAKER_00 2:31

We believe in elevating

How To Support Annette’s New Company

SPEAKER_00 2:32

by elevating others. So everyone go follow Annette. We're happy to have you, and we can't wait to see more of you in the future.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

Socials Annette Marie31 on Instagram and threads.