Montelle Bee: Building Authentic Personal Brands in the Creator Economy

In the fast-paced world of digital entrepreneurship and content creation, Montelle Bee has emerged as a compelling voice for creative entrepreneurs seeking to transform their passion into sustainable businesses. Based in Leeds, UK, this digital entrepreneur, business mentor, and life transformation influencer has built a thriving brand by helping service-based entrepreneurs and content creators develop powerful personal brands and build online businesses aligned with their values. Her journey from YouTube content creator to sought-after business coach represents a masterclass in authenticity, strategic brand building, and the evolution of the modern creator economy.

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From Content Creator to Business Strategist

Montelle Bee’s fascination with content creation began at age five, when she would produce her own television show complete with magic tricks and dance routines filmed on her aunt’s camcorder. This early passion for performance and storytelling laid the foundation for what would become a multifaceted career in the digital space.

In 2014, Bee launched her YouTube channel, initially focusing on hair and makeup tutorials. However, as her channel evolved, she began sharing travel experiences, personal development insights, and her journey as a female entrepreneur. This content evolution proved pivotal audiences began asking not just about beauty tips, but about how she had the confidence to travel the world solo, document her life, and build a business around her passions.

This shift in audience interest revealed an opportunity. Bee realized that her experience wasn’t the “norm,” and people were drawn to her approach to life and business. Teaching came naturally to her, and the transition from content creator to business coach became inevitable.

Today, Bee operates through her brand “Brand Your Influence,” an online hub designed to help creative entrepreneurs clarify their brand by uncovering their unique stories and building online businesses. She’s worked with hundreds of creative entrepreneurs, offering a range of services including one-on-one coaching, workshops, and digital products. Additionally, she hosts “The Self Mastery Journey Podcast,” produces educational content across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, and runs signature programs like “The Bizfluencer Program” a 12-week mentorship designed specifically for influencers and content creators making the leap into digital entrepreneurship.

The Unique Edge: Psychology Meets Personal Branding

What sets Montelle Bee apart in the crowded business coaching space is her distinctive combination of academic rigor, lived experience, and genuine authenticity. Several factors contribute to her unique positioning:

1. Academic Foundation in Psychology

Bee holds a psychology degree from the Open University, which she pursues through distance learning. This academic background isn’t merely decorative it fundamentally shapes her approach to business coaching and personal branding.

She explains that understanding human behavior is critical because marketing fundamentally involves understanding what makes individuals take desired actions, such as purchasing products. While her course isn’t specifically about business development, she skillfully connects psychological concepts to brand strategy, giving her a creative and evidence-based outlook on how consumers think, feel, and make decisions.

This psychological lens allows Bee to address not just the tactical aspects of brand building (logos, color schemes, social media schedules) but the deeper emotional and behavioral dynamics that make brands resonate. She helps clients understand their own motivations, overcome limiting beliefs, and connect with audiences on a genuinely human level.

2. The “Your Story is Your Power” Philosophy

A central pillar of Bee’s teaching is that your story is your power, and that discovering your brand values comes through exploring your personal narrative. This approach stands in stark contrast to formulaic personal branding strategies that treat every entrepreneur the same.

Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all template, Bee guides clients through a process of self-discovery. She helps them identify the experiences, challenges, struggles, and victories that make them uniquely qualified to serve their audience. This isn’t about manufactured authenticity or carefully curated vulnerability it’s about genuinely understanding how your life journey informs your business mission.

Bee’s clients typically have three major desires: business success, creative expression, and freedom. However, many harbor limiting beliefs that they cannot have all three simultaneously. By helping them craft narratives that integrate these elements, Bee enables clients to build brands that feel personally fulfilling rather than like perpetual hustle.

3. Emphasis on Values Alignment

One of the recurring themes in Bee’s content is the importance of building a business that aligns with your core values. She doesn’t advocate for chasing trends or mimicking successful creators instead, she encourages entrepreneurs to get clear on what matters to them and build accordingly.

Her approach centers on helping creative entrepreneurs clarify their brand by uncovering their unique story and building a business that aligns with their values. This values-first approach creates businesses with stronger foundations, more authentic messaging, and deeper connections with ideal clients who share those values.

4. Community and Connection

Bee describes one of her core values as community, and she has expressed deep fulfillment in creating in-person experiences where women can connect, share, and inspire each other. Even during periods when in-person gatherings weren’t possible, she maintained this emphasis on building genuine connections within the online space.

She also serves as an international retreat host and has worked with organizations like Pangea Dreams, leading travel experiences that combine personal development with adventure and community building.

5. Authentic, Relatable Communication

Bee’s content across platforms maintains a consistent tone that feels conversational, honest, and approachable. Her podcast receives ratings of 4.8 to 5 out of 5 stars, with listeners praising the crisp voice quality and thought-provoking topics. Reviewers describe feeling genuinely inspired and motivated after listening.

Whether she’s discussing personal power activation, manifesting confidence, or navigating rock-bottom moments, Bee speaks with the warmth and directness of a trusted friend rather than a distant guru. This accessibility makes her teachings feel achievable rather than aspirational.

Content That Delivers Real Value

Montelle Bee’s content ecosystem spans multiple platforms, each serving specific purposes while maintaining thematic consistency. Here’s how her content provides genuine value:

The Self Mastery Journey Podcast

Bee’s podcast focuses on life transformation, personal power activation, and self-mastery. Episode topics include:

  • Personal Power Activation: Teaching listeners the five shifts needed to reclaim personal power and stop living in survival mode
  • Manifesting Confidence: Practical strategies for becoming the best version of yourself
  • Navigating Rock Bottom: Motivational messages for those experiencing their lowest points, drawing from Bee’s own experiences with struggle and recovery
  • Life Transformation: Actionable advice for expanding yourself and transforming both life and confidence

The podcast format allows Bee to dive deep into topics that require more nuance than quick social media posts can provide. She has publicly shared her positive experience using BetterHelp for online therapy since May 2021, crediting it with dramatically changing her life, relationships, and success. This willingness to discuss mental health resources demonstrates her commitment to holistic wellbeing, not just business metrics.

YouTube: Education and Inspiration

With over 100,000 subscribers, Bee’s YouTube channel serves as a hub for longer-form educational content. Topics range from funnel creation processes for coaching businesses to building brand presence and developing online communities.

Her videos blend tactical how-to content with mindset work, addressing both the practical mechanics of running an online business and the internal shifts required for sustainable success.

Social Media: Building Community

Bee uses social media platforms to create meaningful conversations that engage customers and provide critical feedback. Rather than viewing social channels purely as promotional vehicles, she leverages features like polls, quizzes, and stories to build relationships and stay connected to her community’s evolving needs.

Her marketing philosophy emphasizes the human approach: breaking down barriers by regularly speaking with target customers and using platforms to facilitate genuine dialogue.

The Bizfluencer Program

Bee’s signature offering is The Bizfluencer Program, a 12-week one-on-one mentorship program specifically designed to guide influencers and content creators through the leap into digital entrepreneurship. This program represents the culmination of her expertise, combining brand strategy, business fundamentals, content creation, and mindset work into a comprehensive transformation experience.

Free Resources and Masterclasses

Beyond paid offerings, Bee provides substantial free content including masterclasses on personal power activation, guides to building online audiences, and ongoing educational posts addressing common entrepreneur challenges. This generous approach to free content builds trust and demonstrates expertise before asking for financial commitment.

Why Her Content Works

Several factors make Bee’s content genuinely helpful rather than merely promotional:

1. Lived Experience: Bee teaches from her own journey, not theory. She’s built successful businesses as both a content creator and business coach, giving her credibility and practical insights.

2. Psychological Grounding: Her psychology background provides a framework for understanding why certain strategies work, not just what to do.

3. Holistic Approach: Bee believes integrating self-care into the workday is essential for mental stability and overall success. She doesn’t separate business strategy from personal wellbeing, recognizing that sustainable success requires both.

4. Actionable Strategies: Rather than vague inspiration, Bee provides specific tactics—from creating social media plans to structuring coaching offers to building email lists.

5. Addressing Real Struggles: She openly discusses common challenges like feeling unqualified as a new coach, struggling to generate consistent four-figure months, and battling imposter syndrome. This honest acknowledgment of difficulty builds trust.

6. Consistent Authenticity: Bee advises giving yourself permission to pursue what feels good and discarding what doesn’t, regardless of how long you’ve been working on it, emphasizing that being happy is your full-time job. This philosophy permeates all her content, creating coherence between her message and her approach.

The Booming Personal Branding and Creator Economy

Montelle Bee’s work sits at the intersection of two explosively growing industries: personal branding and the creator economy. The statistics paint a picture of extraordinary opportunity for entrepreneurs who can effectively position themselves in this space.

The Creator Economy: Unprecedented Growth

The creator economy has experienced meteoric rise over the past several years, with no signs of slowing:

Massive Market Expansion: The global creator economy market was valued at $205.25 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $1,345.54 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 23.3%. Other projections are even more optimistic, with some forecasts suggesting the market could reach $1.49 trillion by 2034.

Growing Creator Population: There are over 207 million content creators worldwide, with the United States accounting for 162 million creators, of whom 45 million work professionally. This represents an enormous and expanding workforce of independent digital entrepreneurs.

Professionalization of Content Creation: Nearly half of all creators (46.7%) are engaged in full-time content creation, indicating that this is no longer merely a side hustle for most participants but a legitimate career path.

North American Dominance: North America dominated the global creator economy market with 34.2% revenue share in 2024, making it the most lucrative region for creators and positioning English-language coaches like Bee advantageously.

Revenue Projections: According to Goldman Sachs, the creator economy is expected to roughly double to $480 billion by 2027, up from about $250 billion in 2023. The primary driver is anticipated increases in influencer marketing spend by advertisers, creating more revenue opportunities for independent creators.

Investment Surge: Between 2023 and 2024, creator economy startups globally raised over $767 million, reflecting 49% year-over-year growth in funding activity. In the U.S. alone, creator-focused startups secured more than $692 million in Q2 2024, demonstrating strong investor confidence in this sector.

Personal Branding: Essential for Modern Success

Parallel to the creator economy boom, personal branding has become essential for professional and entrepreneurial success:

Trust and Purchasing Decisions: 92% of people trust individuals over brands, and 77% of consumers are more likely to buy from individuals with a strong personal brand. This data validates Bee’s entire approach—in an era of declining trust in institutions, personal brands cut through the noise.

Career Impact: 85% of hiring managers say a strong personal brand influences their decision, and 46% of professionals attribute career growth to personal branding efforts. The professional implications extend far beyond entrepreneurship.

Employer Screening: 70% of employers screen candidates through social media, and 44% of employers have hired candidates based on positive personal branding content on their social media profiles. Conversely, poor personal branding has caused 54% of employers to reject candidates. The stakes are high.

Thought Leadership Influence: 73% of decision-makers say that an organization’s thought leadership content is a more trustworthy source for assessing capabilities than marketing materials, and over 75% say thought leadership has led them to research products they weren’t previously considering. Building authority through personal branding directly impacts business development.

Revenue Impact: 60% of companies reported that being consistent in branding added 10% to 20% to their revenue growth, demonstrating the financial ROI of strategic brand building.

Brand Value Growth: In 2024, the value of the top 5,000 global brands increased from $11 trillion to over $13 trillion, indicating growth of over 20%. While this includes corporate brands, it reflects the overall increasing value placed on brand equity.

Social Media Primacy: LinkedIn profiles with professional headshots get 21 times more views, and 80% of recruiters believe LinkedIn is crucial for personal branding. Platform-specific optimization matters enormously.

Growing Search Interest: Google searches for the term ‘personal brand’ have increased over four times in recent years, indicating surging awareness and interest in this topic.

Why This Growth Matters for the Future

Several converging factors suggest this growth trajectory will continue:

1. Declining Trust in Traditional Media: A 2024 Gallup poll showed that just 31% of Americans expressed confidence in mass media to report news fully and fairly, with 36% having no trust at all. As trust in traditional institutions erodes, personal brands fill the void.

2. Platform Evolution Supporting Creators: YouTube accounted for 10.4% of all TV viewing in 2024, becoming the first streaming platform to break the 10% barrier. Major platforms are evolving to support creator monetization with features like YouTube’s expanded revenue sharing, TikTok’s creator marketplace, and Spotify’s partner program.

3. Democratization of Production: Technology has made high-quality content creation accessible to average individuals. Relatively inexpensive yet powerful content creation software and hardware have democratized content creation, allowing even solopreneur creators to produce content matching Hollywood quality.

4. Generational Preferences: According to research firm Morning Consult, online influencer is the top career choice of Gen Z (aged 12-27), with 57% reporting they would like to be an influencer. This generational shift ensures continued talent flow into the creator economy.

5. Expanding Monetization Avenues: Creators are no longer limited to advertising revenue. Direct-to-fan monetization, subscription models, digital products, virtual events, and brand partnerships provide diverse revenue streams, creating more stable and sustainable creator businesses.

6. Corporate Investment: Major companies like Publicis have made significant acquisitions in the creator space, including the purchase of BR Media Group (expanding creator networks to 500,000+ creators) and Influential (connecting brands with 3.5 million+ creators). Corporate recognition of creator value drives further market growth.

7. Geographic Expansion: Asia-Pacific is emerging as the fastest-growing region, driven by large internet populations, affordable smartphones, and rising influencer marketing spend. Global expansion ensures continued market growth beyond saturated Western markets.

The Challenges Behind the Opportunity

While the statistics are impressive, Bee’s honest approach acknowledges the real challenges creators face:

Income Instability: About 96% of creators earn less than $100,000 annually, and only half of full-time creators make enough to support themselves. Success is far from guaranteed.

Burnout Epidemic: 63% of full-time creators experienced burnout in the past year, with more than 45% citing pressure to be active on multiple platforms as a key cause. The always-on nature of social media takes a psychological toll.

Monetization Struggles: In 2024, 58% of creators struggled with monetization, highlighting the gap between creating content and building sustainable revenue.

Time to First Dollar: The average creator takes about six and a half months to earn their first dollar, requiring patience and persistence many lack.

Algorithm Dependence: Platform algorithm changes can dramatically impact reach and revenue, creating precarious business models for those dependent on a single platform.

These challenges are precisely why coaching and mentorship programs like those offered by Montelle Bee have become so valuable. Navigating the creator economy successfully requires more than content creation skills it demands business strategy, brand positioning, mental resilience, and community support.

The Future of Personal Brand Coaching

As the creator economy continues expanding and personal branding becomes increasingly essential, coaches like Montelle Bee who can bridge the gap between content creation and sustainable business building will remain in high demand.

With 88% of marketers reporting that audiences see personal branding as more authentic than corporate branding, and 74% of entrepreneurs saying strong personal branding helped them secure funding or investments, the value proposition is clear. Personal brands aren’t just nice to have they’re becoming fundamental to modern success.

Looking toward 2025, trends indicate continued emphasis on authenticity (though more curated and focused), AI-assisted content creation, purpose-driven messaging, and deeper community building through intentional networking and collaboration.

Bee’s approach combining psychological insight, values alignment, story-driven branding, and practical business strategy positions her clients to navigate these evolving trends successfully. Rather than chasing fleeting tactics, she helps entrepreneurs build foundational brands with longevity.

Conclusion

Montelle Bee represents a new generation of business coaches who have walked the path they teach. Her journey from five-year-old performing for her family’s camcorder to YouTube creator to sought-after business mentor demonstrates the power of authenticity, strategic evolution, and staying true to core values while adapting to market opportunities.

In an industry that can feel saturated with gurus making inflated promises, Bee stands out through her psychological grounding, emphasis on self-mastery and mental health, commitment to values-aligned business building, and genuine community focus. Her advice to give yourself permission to pursue what feels good and discard what doesn’t with happiness as your full-time job captures the essence of her philosophy.

As the creator economy barrels toward potentially exceeding one trillion dollars in value, and as personal branding becomes non-negotiable for professional success, the work Bee does becomes increasingly vital. She’s not just teaching people to build businesses she’s helping them build lives and careers anchored in authenticity, purpose, and sustainable success.

For creative entrepreneurs, coaches, and service-based business owners looking to monetize their expertise and make global impact while maintaining freedom and alignment with their values, Montelle Bee offers a compelling model and comprehensive support system. In a world of noise, she helps clients find their voice. In an economy of content, she helps them build businesses that matter.


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