Founder Interview With Jamie Engelhardt, Wild Ampersand
Jamie Engelhardt is the founder of Wild Ampersand, a creative agency dedicated to helping businesses uncover their authentic brand stories. With a life filled with transformative experiences, Jamie understands the importance of being your authentic self both personally and professionally. Since its inception, Jamie has empowered clients to connect deeply with their values, guiding them through the branding process with authenticity and compassion.
During our interview, Jamie shared her inspiring story of transitioning from the corporate world of accounting to launching her creative agency, illuminating her passion for branding and storytelling that ignited her entrepreneurial spirit. She openly shared about the challenges of navigating personal boundaries and fostering trusting relationships in her business, highlighting how essential values are in guiding decision-making. Jamie also provided valuable advice for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs on staying true to their principles and cultivating genuine connections through open communication and clear boundaries.
Can you walk us through your personal and professional journey?
I went to school for intercultural studies and finished with a business degree, but mostly everything I do now I was self-taught. I kicked off my professional career about a decade ago, working for a friend who was starting an accounting firm. Accounting sounds pretty dull, but he had this incredible energy, and honestly, I just loved being around him. He hired me as an admin, which is kind of laughable now because I've always been much more of a creative.
One day, he asked if I could handle their Instagram account, and I was like, "Sure, why not?" I ended up having so much fun with it! His niche was craft breweries, so I got to visit all these cool places, create content, and help with their branding. As I worked alongside the rebranding team, I couldn't help but think about the amount we paid for their services. I realized that I could do this too, and I was capable of delivering far more impactful results.
This realization led to my work in a creative agency focused on accounting firms, where I learned invaluable lessons about running and starting a business. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I was ready to take the leap and build my own businesses rather than just developing others. With my passion for branding and storytelling, it felt like a natural progression. This experience not only illuminated my ability to coach others on their branding and marketing but also helped me guide them through the initial stages of their business journey. It really lit a fire in me and eventually led me to start my own creative agency.
Photo Credit: Wild Ampersand
What inspired you to offer the services you provide?
The little lightbulb went off when I realized how passionate I was about branding and storytelling! I saw firsthand how many business owners get lost in the day-to-day grind, and I just wanted to help them remember why they started their businesses in the first place. I’ve got a heart for coaching people through the branding process, guiding them to uncover their stories and align their values with their business. It's all about connecting the dots and finding that clarity!
What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced in your journey as a business owner, and what did you do to overcome this?
I have a huge heart, which sometimes gets me in sticky situations. I tend to trust too quickly and end up over-delivering, hoping for that reciprocal energy. I've learned the hard way that not everyone operates like that, so I've had to step back a bit and reassess who I work with and how I set my boundaries. It’s been a journey to balance my compassion with practicality, but I'm getting there!
If you could give one piece of advice to future LGBTQ+ service providers within your field, what would it be?
Your brand strategy is fundamentally your business strategy. At its core, your brand is about more than just logos and colors; it embodies your mission, vision, and most importantly, your values. Your values are the heart of who you are and why you built your business. I emphasize their importance because they shouldn’t just be items you list once and forget; they need to be integral to your identity and guide the decisions you make. When faced with difficult choices, it’s crucial to return to those values. Therefore, your values should permeate every aspect of your business, shaping your decisions and partnerships. Authenticity is essential, and when you stay true to your values, that authenticity will resonate with your audience.
Secondly, I understand the necessity of wearing multiple hats and doing everything you need to do in the early stages. However, there's a trade-off to consider when it comes to bringing in professionals for assistance, whether through service trades or other arrangements. It’s important to recognize that you don’t have to handle everything yourself. I often recommend hiring a CPA to manage your finances and bringing in someone to help with your marketing and branding strategy. You don’t always need a CPA to run your books full-time; instead, they can teach you how to do it yourself. Similarly, you don’t need a marketing person to create all your social posts—they can provide a strategy and guide your team members on execution.
Focusing on these two areas is crucial for getting your business off to the right start. That way, in two to three years, when you have a team of five or ten, you’ll already know your books are clean and your marketing is strong, allowing you to continue growing and building your team as needed.
Photo Credit: Wild Ampersand
How does being openly queer inspire or impact your business?
Being queer is a vital part of my journey; the intense transformations I went through while coming out and embracing my true identity have given me a profound understanding of the importance of authenticity. I lived a heteronormative, evangelical life for 37 years. After a series of tragic events, I left that all behind. I moved across the country, relocated my children, bought a house, and built a business. Through this process, I discovered who I truly am.
If you look back at my Instagram, you can see “straight Jamie,” which is quite funny. I cut my hair, changed how I dress, and for the first time, I genuinely feel like myself. It's amazing to realize that wearing a dress never felt right because it wasn’t who I am. This experience is deeply tied to brand and story. I love engaging with people to uncover not just their brands but also their fears and limiting beliefs about themselves and their businesses. I find that my clients connect with me on a deeper level because I truly understand what it means to uncover your true self. It evolves into almost a form of “brand therapy,” as individuals recognize who they are and what they are meant to do.
I don’t want other business owners to struggle through the journey I did. Thankfully, a younger generation of entrepreneurs seems to navigate this with more clarity. My business, Wild Ampersand, reflects the belief that we are all born with a wild spirit that society often trains out of us. By reconnecting with that wild nature, we can find meaning, purpose, and our true path forward.
Photo Credit: Wild Ampersand
What brands or services by LGBTQ+ founders are your go-to's and why?
I’m all about Rich Gay Aunt for hair products. They offer fantastic texturizing sprays and powders, and their shipping is super fast! Supporting brands like that means the world to me, as they’re not just making great products but also representing the community authentically.
Who is your favorite LGBTQ+ celebrity and why?
That’s a tough one because there are so many amazing people out there! I really admire Abby Wambach—not just for her accomplishments in sports but for her advocacy and for being so unapologetically herself. I resonate with her journey and the way she shares her story authentically.
Can you share one fun or unusual fact about yourself?
Back in the day, when I was leading mission trips, we had this party trick of feeding buffalo with our mouths. It was a little terrifying but also ridiculously fun, and it always impressed the students we were with.
