Shirley Monge
Q What do you do?
“I help brands shape their unique brand voice and messaging to authentically connect with their audiences. Leveraging data and narrative, I uncover the core stories, personalities, and values that build trusted relationships between companies and communities.”
More than just messaging makeovers, I empower organizations like yours to forge genuine bonds through their voice and values.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I am a multidisciplinary professional. I am a Costa Rican who moved to Los Angeles 10 years ago. While in Costa Rica, I worked as a product manager and strategist in the advertising and software development industry. Research, data-driven analysis, and decisions have always been part of my core strengths.
At the same time, I have always loved giving back to my community, so I have volunteered for most of my life with different organizations. That’s why I resonate with companies trying to have some impact on the world.
After coming to LA, I embarked on connecting with my creativity, leading me to marketing roles. Now, I aim to help brands find their authentic selves just as I did when moving here. Customers today expect meaningful connections from companies - not just nice products/services. To strengthen my expertise in advising brands on purpose, I'm currently pursuing a Certificate in Sustainable Business from UC San Diego.
It's this journey that motivates me to launch “Find My Voice” - finally fusing my analytical approach with creative storytelling to reveal the voices that transform brands from companies consumers buy from into movements they want to join.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
While many focus on surface-level branding, I reveal the core identities and motivations that will allow your company to forge genuine connections with your audience. I fuse analytical and creative - blending meticulous data research with the art of emotional storytelling. Through this approach, I can guide your brand to lead with your voice, not just assets. From C-suite consulting to hands-on content creation, I cover the full spectrum - helping brands like you transform their messaging and voice at both a broader and tactical level.
Q What are you working on right now?
I recently launched my website and services for Find My Voice! In addition to ramping up marketing and business development, I'm currently working with an ongoing health provider nonprofit retainer client to evolve their content and branding.
Q What’s your style?
Although my taste is very minimalistic, I have an eclectic style that loves to come up once in a while to play with colors and ideas. Here are some brands that I connect with their sustainable goals/partnerships and overall impact strategy: Sustainable Fashion
Clean Beauty
Social Impact
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Without a doubt, devoting more time to advancing social impact and sustainability initiatives tops my list. I'm particularly passionate about circular economic models and discovering alternative materials to phase out oil-based plastics. I'd love to use my background in systems thinking and design to collaborate with startups pioneering new biodegradable technologies.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
One of the most frustrating hurdles as a recent entrepreneur is dedicating sufficient time to business development. With so much focus on excelling at client work itself, lead generation often falls lower on my priority list. Recently, I came up with the idea of exploring partnerships to open up client access opportunities, but a day only has 24 hours. Striking the right balance there as a solopreneur is hugely important but tricky.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Without question, I'd utilize the $20/hour support to offload administrative duties like expense tracking and email inbox organizing. As a creative at heart, I love strategizing and producing content for clients, but find myself bogged down handling admin tasks at times. I know it's part of being your own boss, but adulting sucks. Having an extra set of capable hands to keep my back office duties in order would be game-changing
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I'd revisit my college-aged self second-guessing my switch from marketing to English to say: 'Trust in letting life guide you mysteriously. English will one day empower you to connect deeply through storytelling one day. You cannot change the past. Focus on the present moment. The future might await with an unexpected path.’
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
As someone helping brands find their authentic voices, I think it would be fascinating to pick the brain of a behavioral science expert specifically on the psychology of trust and connection - what truly makes humans feel seen, understood and compelled. For example, I'd love to discuss with a sociologist or social psychologist who has studied what interactions or messaging experiences result in the deepest shared resonance between humans. We all inherently crave belonging, so an academic lens on the interplay between vulnerable sharing and receptive understanding could shed light on how to foster community on a bigger scale. It will help me gain more insight into the cognitive and emotional factors that underpin genuine bonds to even better guide brands on forging substantive relationships with their consumers. Rather than just engaging through transactions, how can companies become integral partners in their customers' values-based lifestyles?
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
As someone passionate about purpose-driven branding, I'd love to attract: - Work with values-led companies, B Corps, social enterprises on crafting messaging and content that authentically communicates their mission and impact - Guide startup founders on building resonant narratives not just around their products, but around the change they want to see in the world Essentially, I aim to partner with organizations focused on people, planet and community. My goal is to help purposeful companies clarify their "why" and humanize their work through storytelling. However, I welcome any opportunities to help conscious brands share their authentic narratives with a bit more soul.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
I would love to work with changemakers challenging conventions! For example: textile recycling, startups in the material design, sustainable fashion brands, clean beauty or wellness brands. Companies who bring innovation to their products/services with their values on social/enviormental impact. I want to work with brands who are unfraid of bold pivots to get deeper connections within their communities, and are looking for long-term community cultivations/activations.
Q What is your rate?
The Find My Voice service package is $3,000, covering our collaborative brand voice development process over a 4 week engagement. If a client needs additional support identifying their target audience and diving into messaging audit, I also offer a $500 add-on research package prior to voice work. This ensures we have ideal insights on who resonates with their brand before bringing it to life. I’m passionate about partnering with startups, solopreneurs or established businesses.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
You can send me an email at me@shirleymonge.com or DM on LinkedIn. Another way where you can learn more about me is through my website and play the VideoAsk embedded in the page.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
My nephew Liagivi is an amazing motion designer. My nephew’s girlfriend Erica is an illustrator & graphic designer. Molly Haynes is an amazing textile artist. Lulu Liu is an interior designer and friend (love her aesthetics!)
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Wandering trails, Beauty reveals Gifts daily, ideas bloom
This member profile was originally published in Janurary 2024