Our Featured HEH Alumni of the week is Mikelia Scheckenbach from Bandit Design Group. Bandit Design Group is a boutique creative studio based in Sydney & Canberra, no wonder why Mikelia is a coffee lover. She helps businesses get locked and loaded on all things brand and web, arming businesses with the tools to launch into the market with a *bang*!
She is super passionate about creating brands with depth, life and meaningful stories behind them. Mikelia has completed both our High End Hustlers Program and The Uplevel 2.0, read on to see her biggest take away…we think she’s nailed it!
Where are you right now?
I’m at our studio in Redfern, Sydney. I have a fresh mug of coffee in front of me and my cavoodle, Sunny, at my feet.
Tea or coffee?
Coffee
Tell us a bit about what you do?
I am the owner and creative director of Bandit, a design studio based in Sydney. We create killer brands, websites and packaging.
We’re a small but mighty team made up of five amazing women. Our daily jam is working alongside our clients to understand who they are, what they want to achieve and creating brands that connect them to their audience, stand them apart from their competitors and help them to achieve their big business goals.
Why do you do what you do?
I love the big wild world of business. I love running a business and I genuinely love helping people build killer businesses. Key to a killer business is strong branding which sits in alignment with your values, attracts your dream customers and supports your end game.
Branding is all about shaping perceptions and design plays a huge part in that. It’s so exciting and powerful to be able to design something that makes people feel a certain way and is geared toward a specific outcome. And the result is seeing our client’s businesses constantly getting better and better.
What rituals do you have in place to help you get the most out of your day?
Mornings are my favourite part of the day! I’m an early bird, usually starting my day at 5:30am. Getting up early and having time for me before my phone starts ringing and emails are flying through the door helps me feel grounded and to not get swept up in the day ahead.
I burn sage or incense every morning, hang out with my dog child Sunny, then go for a walk along the coast and watch the sunrise while listening to a podcast. I have a strict no-news or emails policy first thing in the morning – keeping all the good vibes intact (it’s all very zen – haha). I start work around 8am and aim to get through emails and admin before the team gets in.
How do you get into flow?
If I’m feeling overwhelmed, getting everything out of my head and into lists is magic. If I need to just get shit done, plugging in my headphones and playing meditative music helps me to get into the rhythm. Or if I’m feeling scattered, going for a run gets me laser focused and super inspired.
What is your favourite thing about running your business?
I love meeting amazing business owners and having the opportunity to create something new every day. We have a lot of fun in the studio, every time we welcome a new client onboard and send off a brand presentation it makes me feel so damn grateful!
What book, podcast & song are you jamming to at the moment?
I’m currently reading ‘Untamed’ by Glennon Doyle and ‘Gold to Dust’ by Samantha Wills, loving the ‘Soma Collective’ Podcast and a song I’m cruising around to recently is ‘Hey You’ by Dope Lemon.
If you could have dinner with 3 people (dead or alive), who would they be & why?
This is a hard one! Kelly Wearstler because she’s an absolute design genius. Zoe Foster Blake because she’s one of Australia’s greatest female entrepreneurs and seems like a total hoot. And Louise Hay, because reading her books is like a big warm hug.
What has been your biggest takeaway from High End Hustlers so far?
Too many to name! My biggest takeaway has to be the approach that building a business is about servicing you and the lifestyle you want to live – anything is possible.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Working with incredible brands all over the world to design outstanding brand experiences. Expanding our team by a few more wonderful humans and making space for some breathability for me to be in other parts of my life.
Best piece of business advice you have been given?
‘Begin with the end in mind.’ – Pru Chapman
Want to connect with Jess & keep the conversation going?
Instagram: @bandit.design
Website: www.banditdesigngroup.com.au
