Style Confidence Isn’t Superficial, It’s Strategy. How Naana Badu Helps Women Lead With Presence
In a world where women, especially women of color, constantly seek permission to simply be themselves, style guru Naana Badu is changing the conversation. In this episode of The Kickback With Keri podcast Naana shares her inspiring journey from management consulting to becoming a sought-after stylist who helps women of color elevate and enter spaces with authority through style.
Why Professional Style Matters for Women in Leadership
One of the most striking themes Naana discusses is what she calls the "permission problem" that many professional women face, particularly women of color in corporate environments. As she explains, "In the conversations I have with my clients, one of the biggest themes I hear is this level of permission. Like, 'Is it okay?' And it's always rooted in something that's like, 'Is it okay to be me?'"
This constant need for validation manifests in questions about professional appearance: Is this color too loud? Will braids be acceptable? Does this look professional enough? Naana's response is direct and empowering: "Your professionalism baseline is not defined by your style.”
How to Start Your Professional Styling Business: Lessons from an Expert
Naana's entrepreneurial journey wasn't linear. The daughter of Ghanaian immigrants, she found herself in management consulting after college, working with government agencies and meeting with four-star generals. While she enjoyed the variety and client work, she knew it wasn't her calling, especially after discovering she was severely underpaid.
The turning point came unexpectedly when a friend's manager asked her to style a photo shoot for a singer's album release. That single experience opened doors. The photographer began referring clients, and suddenly Naana found herself thrown into entrepreneurship; staying up late nights trying to figure out how to formalize her newfound passion.
Finding Your Niche in Corporate Styling Services
While Naana initially worked with musicians and commercial clients, a pivotal moment came in 2011 when her manager at her consulting job asked for help with executive presence for a promotion. This experience crystallized Naana's true calling: helping Black women and women of color in corporate spaces who wanted to bring more personality into their professional wardrobes.
"That was another light bulb moment for me where I was like, 'Oh, no, this is actually the type of person that I want to work with because I am her, she is me,'" Naana explains.
Business Coaching for Entrepreneurs: The Investment That Changed Everything
Naana's path to full-time entrepreneurship wasn't smooth. In 2017, she attempted to go all-in on her styling business but admits it "crashed and burned." Without proper business strategy, content marketing plan, or client acquisition systems, she found herself struggling financially and returned to consulting contracts.
The game-changer came in 2021 when she invested in a business coach. "Definitely investing in a business coach was a game changer for me," she says. This investment helped her think like a CEO, develop systems, and create her signature high-ticket offer.
The pandemic also forced a pivot from in-person styling to virtual consultations, which ultimately allowed her to reach more clients and scale her business more effectively.
Professional Image Consulting: The ABCD Framework for Success
One of Naana's key frameworks for executive presence is the ABCD method, which she learned during her image consulting certification at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology). This comprehensive approach to professional branding encompasses:
A - Appearance
B - Behavior
C - Communication
D - Digital Presence
"We think about all four of these in totality when we think about helping someone really elevate their image," Naana explains. She encourages clients to do a "stoplight assessment"—rating each area as green (solid), yellow (needs improvement), or red (requires immediate investment).
Career Advancement Through Wardrobe Investment: A Strategic Approach
Perhaps most revolutionary is Naana's approach to positioning wardrobe investment as professional development. She advocates for women in highly visible leadership roles to negotiate clothing allowances as part of their compensation packages, similar to requesting executive coaching or public speaking training.
"If you are in a position where the company relies heavily on your engagement to represent them and what you do has a direct impact to the bottom line," she argues, then investing in professional image should be part of the conversation during performance reviews and bonus discussions.
How to Develop Your Personal Style for Professional Success
For women looking to elevate their professional style, Naana recommends starting with clarity. Create a style mood board on Pinterest or Instagram, saving images of outfits that resonate with your personality and career goals. Then compare this vision board to your current wardrobe to identify gaps.
Step-by-Step Style Development Process:
Create a professional style mood board with inspiration images
Audit your current wardrobe for outdated or ill-fitting pieces
Identify your signature colors that complement your skin tone
Research brands that fit your body type
Invest in quality basics that can be styled multiple ways
"You need to be able to describe it, point to it, know what stores have it," she says about developing personal style. "Sometimes it's just about getting that clarity and then realizing that you just need to get more current."
Style Elevation Experience
Today, Naana's signature Style Elevation Experience focuses not just on styling but on building style confidence through education. Her method provides clients with the knowledge to make independent fashion choices while understanding what colors work best and identifying go-to brands for different professional occasions.
This approach recognizes that busy executive women need sustainable wardrobe systems, not just one-time makeovers. As Naana puts it, "You ain't got time" to be stressed about outfit choices when you need to focus on delivering that important presentation or closing that big deal.
Professional Styling Tips: Key Takeaways for Career Success
Naana's expertise offers several powerful insights for women seeking career advancement through style:
1. Authenticity in Professional Spaces
2. Strategic Wardrobe Investment
3. Business Growth Through Systems
4. Executive Presence Through Visibility
5. Wardrobe Evolution
How to Choose A Stylist
When selecting a stylist, consider these essential factors:
Industry expertise in corporate and executive styling
Clear consultation process with defined outcomes
Portfolio of transformations that align with your goals
Educational approach that builds long-term style confidence
Understanding of body types and color analysis
Professional certifications in image consulting
Connect With Naana
Ready to redefine your personal brand and elevate your professional image?
Connect with Naana Badu through her website or LinkedIn and learn how you can use style to leave a lasting impression.
