Ina Coveney
So today we are sitting down with Aisha Marshall. Aisha, thank you so much for doing this.

Aisha Marshall
Thank you so much for having me. I’m excited to be here today.

Ina Coveney
This is going to be really cool. Why don’t we start by you telling everyone what it is that you do right now, and who you help right now.

Aisha Marshall
So right now, I am a jewelry designer. I own a jewelry brand called White Atelier, and I’m also the host of the Butterfly Season podcast.

Ina Coveney
And we’re going to put links in the channel so everybody can follow along. But your story is remarkable, and there’s so much to learn here. Why don’t we just start way back in the beginning? Can you tell us where you grew up and what being a child was like for you, Aisha?

Aisha Marshall
Yeah, so I grew up in Southern California in a really low-income community. It was just me and my mom. We didn’t grow up affluent—we grew up in poverty. But I think that some of the lessons I learned, or some of the things I carried forward from that time, have really contributed to the success I have today.

Ina Coveney
What do you remember most about that time that has stuck with you and influenced who you are now? Are there any stories that really stand out?

Aisha Marshall
Yeah. Everyone calls it affirmations or manifestation now, but when I was younger, my mom—who is first-generation—knew that the way out of the hood was through education. Every day, literally as long as I can remember, she’d make me say five times that I would go to college.

Ina Coveney
Every day?

Aisha Marshall
Every single day. From kindergarten, maybe even younger, every time I got in the car and she dropped me off at school, I had to say it five times. Sometimes I’d rush through it, like, “I’ll go to college, I’ll go to college…” just to get it over with. But she was adamant. And now, looking back, I realize that was a form of setting intentions and manifesting. It’s something that’s resonated throughout my life—setting a goal and working toward it.

Ina Coveney
What kind of kid were you?

Aisha Marshall
I was wild in the sense that I loved to have fun and laugh. My mom would always ask, “Did you drink Mountain Dew today?” because I’d be jumping off the walls. I was super creative, too. Anytime I was sad, I’d draw or paint—it was my outlet. My mom would tell me I was trendy because I’d ask for something, and a few weeks later, everyone else would have it. I always had good grades, but I definitely had a rebellious spirit. My mom’s rule was, “As long as your grades are good, it’s fine.”

Ina Coveney
How did you reconcile the need to get good grades and go to college with that creative side, which is now such a huge part of your life?

Aisha Marshall
I think creativity was always more of a hobby for me—until law school. I like to think of it as two cups: the school cup and the hobby cup. School was pouring into my hobby cup, and that kept me fulfilled. In middle school, I was in choir, dance, and other creative activities. In high school, I took art every year, joined ASP, and painted banners for the cheer team.
In college, I joined the dance team and cheer team. But in law school, that balance stopped. Law school doesn’t pour into the creative cup—you’re consumed by it.

Ina Coveney
How did you decide to leave law and start your own business?

Aisha Marshall
I started a consulting agency while I was in law school. I was studying for the bar and working at the same time. Eventually, I told my mom, “I’m stopping this because it’s not what I want to do.” She wasn’t upset—she just wanted me to be financially secure and happy.

Ina Coveney
Your agency was a huge success, even landing you in Forbes 30 Under 30. How did that recognition come about?

Aisha Marshall
Being on Forbes 30 Under 30 was a dream of mine. Once we were nominated, we leaned into it—created a landing page showcasing everything we’d done and how our work was community-driven with real impact. There was an interview process, but you don’t hear anything until the list comes out. When it did, I was over the moon.

Ina Coveney
That’s incredible. But now you’ve pivoted to something completely different—your jewelry brand. Can you walk me through how you detached from something you’d poured so much into?

Aisha Marshall
It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. For anyone scared of starting the “wrong” business, I’d say, just start. The quicker you take action, the quicker you figure out what you really want.
I knew for a long time I was becoming unaligned with agency life. I was working 18-hour days and having autoimmune flare-ups. Eventually, I realized I needed to let go.

Ina Coveney
What advice would you give to someone who feels stuck in a job or business they don’t love?

Aisha Marshall
Create a transition plan. Don’t operate out of lack or fear. When you align your energy and take steps toward your goals, opportunities will appear.

Ina Coveney
What’s next for you?

Aisha Marshall
I’d love to monetize my podcast, Butterfly Season, to six figures this year.

Ina Coveney
Amazing! Where can people find you?

Aisha Marshall
Instagram is the best place—@Aisha. Everything is there: Butterfly Season, White Atelier, merch.

Ina Coveney
Aisha, thank you so much for sharing your story. It was such a pleasure to talk to you.

Aisha Marshall
Thank you for having me. I appreciate it!