Carla Sahagun

BRAND STRATEGIST, WEB DESIGNER, WEB DEVELOPER

MY JOURNEY

About me

I had just enrolled in a coding bootcamp when everything changed—Covid hit, and the world went into lockdown. Suddenly, I found myself learning to build full-stack applications from home, determined to make the most of the situation despite the chaos around me.

After graduating, I started working as a software engineer. At first, I thought coding would be my whole world, but something surprising happened along the way. I found myself getting drawn to the creative side of things—web design, brand aesthetics, visual storytelling. It was like a spark lit up inside me, blending my passion for technology with a love for making things look beautiful and meaningful.

That curiosity pushed me to start working with small businesses, helping them shape their brand identities and build websites that didn’t just function but also made an impression. I enjoyed taking a raw idea and turning it into something that felt polished and professional—something that truly represented the brand.

Now, I’m the Director of Strategic Growth at d8 Group, where I focus on Business Development Consulting for government contractors. My role is all about helping clients win government contracts and making sure our own brand stays sharp and effective. It’s been a journey that’s taught me how to blend strategy, creativity, and execution in a way that really drives results.

On the side, I keep that entrepreneurial spirit alive by helping businesses leverage everything I’ve learned—business development, marketing, graphic design, and web development. I love sharing what I know and seeing how it helps others grow and thrive.

Looking back, it’s crazy to think how a bootcamp during a global pandemic led me down this path. But I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s been an unpredictable journey, and I’m grateful for every step.

RESUME

Work Experience

d8 Group
Director of Strategic Growth
Aug 2023 - Present
  • Spearhead innovative growth strategies, utilize engaging social media campaigns, and meticulously design impactful graphics, enhancing brand awareness and increasing customer engagement.

  • Lead comprehensive market analysis, transform complex data into clear, impactful infographics, and direct highly successful mass marketing campaigns with impressive open rates.

  • Designed visually stunning and effective proposal graphics, enhancing communication, and winning key business proposals. Directed and executed highly successful mass marketing campaigns, achieving impressive open rates exceeding 30%.

  • Streamlined service delivery by implementing standardized processes, leading to measurable improvements in quality and efficiency.

d8 Group
Business Development Associate
Dec 2021 - Aug 2023
  • Managed the end-to-end business development lifecycle, successfully identifying and qualifying high-potential opportunities, resulting in increased sales pipelines.

  • Utilized advanced boolean search techniques and industry-standard tools to identify lucrative business prospects, optimizing lead generation.

  • Innovatively executed targeted marketing outreach campaigns, gathering critical intelligence and qualifying valuable business opportunities.

  • Represented the company at key conferences and industry events, enhancing brand visibility and establishing strategic partnerships.

  • Proactively identified and facilitated valuable teaming introductions, fostering collaborative relationships that contributed to successful project bids.

CCreative
Founder/Designer/Developer/Strategist
Jan 2023 - Present
  • Created comprehensive brand identities, encompassing ideation, logo design, color palette selection, mockup creation, one-pagers, white papers, capability statements, and web design and development.

  • Spearheaded website design and development projects across diverse industries including government contracting, luxury rentals, construction, and cybersecurity, ensuring tailored solutions that meet client needs.

  • Conceptualized, refined, and prototyped applications catering to diverse user segments, implementing industry-leading UX/UI practices and prioritizing user-centered design principles.

  • Orchestrated marketing initiatives through the strategic application of creative frameworks, encompassing copywriting, visual design, imagery selection, and audience segmentation strategies.

Mathematica
Software Engineer Associate
March 2021 - Dec 2021
  • Developed and maintained Full Stack Applications using Angular and .NET frameworks, ensuring seamless functionality and user experience for diverse projects.

  • Implemented comprehensive end-to-end testing strategies using Cypress and Jasmine frameworks, resulting in a 30% reduction in bug occurrences and enhanced application reliability.

  • Leveraged D3.js for dynamic data visualizations, transforming large datasets into intuitive and interactive graphical representations, aiding stakeholders in data-driven decision-making processes.

  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to conceptualize and prototype innovative solutions, integrating industry-leading UX/UI practices to enhance user satisfaction and engagement metrics.

KNOWLEDGE

Skills & Tools

Skills
  • Agile Methodology

  • Creative Direction

  • Brand Strategy

  • Social Media Strategy

  • UX/UI Design

  • Web Design

  • Graphic Design

  • Web Development

Software Development Tools
  • JavaScript, Angular, .NET

  • HTML/CSS

  • D3.js

  • Cypress, Jasmine

  • SQL, SQLite

  • Github & Git

  • Webflow

  • Leadpages

Design & Marketing Tools
  • Figma

  • Illustrator

  • Photoshop

  • PowerPoint

  • Keynote

  • LinkedIn Sales Navigator

  • MailChimp

  • MailerLite

Project Management Tools
  • Jira

  • Confluence

  • Monday

  • Notion

Government Contracting Tools
  • Sam.gov

  • fpds.com

  • GovWin

  • GovTribe

BRANDING, WEBSITES, DESIGNS

Portfolio

Stinkies

Web design, UX/UI design, Web Development, One-Pagers, Business Cards, Social media covers, Marketing Strategy, Meta Ads Set up, Google Analytics.

visit website >
East Coast Hustle

Brand identity, web design, web development, social media design, photography, collateral design.

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DreamyPicnic

Web design, UX/UI design, web development, Calendly integration, MailerLite integration, social media strategy, creative direction, marketing strategy

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d8 Group

Web design, web development, brand enhancement, social media strategy, social media graphic design, capability statements, one pagers, sales presentation decks, infographics, graphic design collaterals

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Darnley Merzier

Logo refresh, Web Design, UX/UI design, Web Development.

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The Countertop Guru

Brand enhancement, web design, UX/UI design, web development & animation, landing page development, Meta Ads Set up & Strategy, SEO Optimization, Google Analytics Set up & Monitoring.

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Manny’s Roofing

Brand identity including logo, color palette, imagery, iconography, logo animation, T-shirt design, direct mail design, vehicle marketing design, web design and development.

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GALLERY

Design Work

Looking for a reliable, professional and creative brand expert?

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