Rising Stars: Meet Larissa Riley of Northwest Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Larissa Riley

Larissa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started Sun Scribe Creative in 2023 after spending 17 years in corporate marketing. I had a really successful career as a marketing copywriter and creative director growing businesses and brands of all sizes from small local businesses to global billion-dollar brands. I learned from some of the best and brightest in the business, and its shaped me into the marketer I am today. But I reached a point where I was craving something different. I felt like I had so much to give and wanted to share, but my cup wasn’t being filled, and my time and talents weren’t being leveraged at their fullest potential.

After a lot of deep thinking and reconnecting with former colleagues to ask for advice and words of wisdom, I decided to build my own copywriting and brand strategy business. I set a date for when I would put in my notice at work and held myself to it. I started networking with other female business owners in Phoenix and gained the confidence to start and continue building with every conversation and interaction. When the time came, I said my goodbyes at work and launched Sun Scribe Creative three days later.

A big part of my story and the inspiration behind my brand is actually living in Phoenix, the valley of the sun. I continue to be amazed by what thrives in the desert. I’ve never seen an Arizona sunset I didn’t like. And the concept of the sun bringing a brand to light is exactly what I do through copy, content and brand strategy.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There’s nothing smooth about entrepreneurship! There’s been a ton of learning along the way — about myself, about what my clients want vs. need, when and where and how my services are best utilized. The list goes on!

But the biggest hardship is uncertainty. You can plan ahead, do all the continuing education, find an amazing mentor, and there’s still the potential for things to go south. You can’t plan or anticipate every possible scenario. And so many variables are out of your control.

An example of that struggle was the notorious summer slowdown that many businesses experience from June to August. Going through my first summer in business and feeling the pains of a nearly full stop in revenue was brutal. I get a little PTSD just thinking about it!

And yet, I survived and lived to tell the tale. And I’ll know heading into next summer how to ramp up in the months prior or accept the slowdown and channel my energy elsewhere.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Yes, I’m a business owner, and a lot of that requires left-brained analytical thinking. But I will always consider myself a creative, and persuasive communication is my art! Creative thinking goes into everything I do whether it’s creating social content, writing enticing email subject lines, developing a content strategy for a client that truly differentiates them from others in their field or making recommendations for how a client can be more authentic and relatable through their brand voice and tone. The finished product is written copy that motivates the audience to act.

While my primary titles are copywriter and brand strategist, I’ve become known for truly understanding the bigger (more like gargantuan) picture that is marketing. When I write copy or build a brand for my clients, it’s not done in a vacuum. It’s done knowing that the project I’m working on is part of a full-fledged marketing ecosystem, and all the pieces and parts need to work together to be effective.

I’m really proud to have worked with so many female founders since starting Sun Scribe Creative. My clients inspire me. They are out there building businesses, taking on challenges, grappling with curveballs thrown every which way — and all the while, raising their kids, being good partners to their significant others, maintaining their homes and trying to squeeze in time for themselves. None of it is glamorous, but it is a reality that looks identical to mine. So when we work together, I empathize, because I’ve been there. I am there! Right along with them.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I’m a big fan of all Scott Galloway’s podcasts. He’s a marketing professor at NYU and always shares the broader business context in his talks. It helps me connect the dots between the shifts happening in the world and how it affects our behavior as consumers, citizens and humans.

I’ve also been listening to Rebecca Minkoff’s “Superwomen” podcast for years now. She’s a fashion designer who interviews female founders and CEO’s and delves into the real stories of struggle and success behind their brands. There are always good nuggets of inspiration and insight in every episode.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thesunscribe.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunscribe.creative