Her Story
About Topanga
I run The Ninth Muse, a creative brand management company that serves as a one-stop shop for branding. We help entrepreneurs and small business owners elevate their branding through events and marketing campaigns, and we also provide brand development and marketing strategies. My journey into this field started with a clothing brand I launched in 2020. While I loved fashion, I realized that selling was a whole different ballgame. I then moved into nonprofit work, where I discovered my true passion for working with entrepreneurs and helping them develop their business skills. I served as president of a university club initiative, building it from zero members to about 50 paying members over two and a half years, before being promoted to program director of the nonprofit. However, I left that situation due to a toxic environment. That experience led me to rebrand myself and launch The Ninth Muse in March 2025. I focus on the hands-on, creative aspects of branding, particularly events and marketing campaigns, because I believe branding is really about how you make the customer feel about your brand, not just logos and flyers. Currently, I handle every aspect of the business myself, from systems and financials to booking, client onboarding, and social media, though I'm bringing on a videographer and graphic designer to support the work. I make sure my services are affordable and accessible, creating a community-based approach so clients can connect with me on that level.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Topanga
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say being persistent and determined. When I started with the clothing brand, I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur and that working 9-to-5 wasn't going to be my end-all, be-all. I got into the clothing brand because I love fashion, but I slowly realized that I like clothes, but selling is a whole different ballgame. I stopped doing that and got into the nonprofit work, where I found my passion working with entrepreneurs. I left that situation because of the toxic environment, and then got into the work I do now. I really just feel like being persistent and determined to not let a couple of things stop me from my vision at hand. So yeah, I would definitely say being persistent and just always being determined to see it through.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Every loss is just an opportunity to get better.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say identify your strengths and elevate those into income.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Right now, I would say funding is definitely the biggest challenge, just because there's a lot of laws and things being changed and cuts being made. I have a lot of ideas and a lot of projects, but funding is the biggest thing when it comes to executing all of that. Number two, I would say, is resources. I know Louisville is there, but we're slowly getting to where everybody else is as far as the bigger cities. So I would say resources is also a challenge, too, because I'll have ideas or have things that I want to do, but may not be able to just because of lack of resources.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Definitely consideration. I know we're all human beings at the end of the day, but being considerate goes a long way. Even if you disagree with what I do or my work, I think being considerate is one of the biggest things. Loyalty, obviously, having that dependable, reliable aspect about a business. And I would say three is just community. I know where I live, we're big on community, big on helping one another. Doing what I do is also helping the community. I make sure my services are affordable, and they don't have to go to several different people to get what they need. So I try to make it affordable and like I said, the one-stop shop thing, to really make it more community-based, so they can connect with me on that level. So yeah, I would say consideration, loyalty, and community.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Kentucky
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.