We had the good fortune of connecting with Marissa Rae and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marissa, is there something you believe many others might not?
I hate the phrase “never give up”. I honestly think any successful person will tell you that it’s important to know when it’s time to pivot. “Giving up” isn’t always a sign of weakness or failure, it can also be a sign of growth. You may have to leave things behind to move forward and that is ok!

What should our readers know about your business?
Marissa Rae, Branding services is a marketing and branding consulting firm I started in 2015 during my last year of college. What began as me just assisting my friends quickly grew into workshops, website design, SEO, planners, and more. I’m most excited about my 2023 relaunch, as I took a step back the last few months to redefine my goals and my purpose. I believe I set myself apart from other marketers because my expertise spans far beyond social media, as does business. A successful business has presence in the world, not just on the internet and I am dedicated to assisting my clients in reaching their highest potential. I entered entrepreneurship thinking I had a leg up, just by having marketing experience, so I was shocked to learn that I knew little to nothing about running a business. The obstacles are definitely never ending, so I learned how to roll with the punches, rather than allowing them to beat me down. I prepare as best I can and have a few backup plans as well. I want the world to know that Marissa Rae, Branding Services is back!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love to eat and Chicago is THE food capital, so food will be on every itinerary of mine. In addition to the typical Chicago staples, I would definitely make reservations at Cite for a beautiful view of downtown. Happy Hour at Maple and Ash, The Smith and Lure Fishbar are a must. The Black owned restaurants here are to die for. We have Provare, L Station, Chemistry, Bureau Bar, Eleven | Eleven and Ooh Wee It Is. I love live sports as well, so a Bulls and/or Sox game will be on the schedule as well.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m dedicating my shout out to my circle. Thank you all for holding me accountable, supporting me, pushing me and loving me through every season. Thank you for referring me. Thank you for shopping with me. Thank you for booking with me. I love you all more than I could ever express. Y’all keep me going, I owe y’all so much!

Website: Themarissarae.com

Instagram: @themarissarae

Twitter: @themarissarae

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