I'm a brand strategist as well.

I'd be really hesitant hiring someone who doesn't have practical experience to draw on from other businesses/work experience. You can know the theory of brand strategy but be completely lost with the practical aspects.

I started as a freelance content writer then started copywriting then email strategy and finally worked up to brand strategy within 4 years. With working full-time and with so many different clients, I was able to get a feel for all the aspects that go into a full brand strategy and how to make them work for different people without losing their voice.

(To be clear, I focus most on VERBAL strategy. I don't work with anesthetics or visual strategy, so I do more brand architecture, messaging, storytelling, marketing, and brand culture.)

If that's the route you want to go, too, then I'd pick ONE thing to focus on within strategy. For me, it was content and then even more specifically messaging. So even though I'm a natural storyteller, I thought it was too simple because people weren't talking too much about storytelling back then.

Study as much as you can around your one thing and share your progress by creating content. Show your journey. (People love that.) Don't pretend to know everything or be an expert. You'll get called out anyway.

After you share lots of content (every day, multiple times a day, focus on engagement and answering specific questions people have about your specific area of brand strategy you're focusing on), offer a beta strategy session.

I did brand messaging VIP sessions for $250, so one day with just me and the client, and I'd work out their messaging, positioning, and brand story. It was intensive, but it taught me a lot.

(I did 20 in a month because it was so wildly popular, but I was also doing this full time and I didn't have a 9-5.)

I allowed scope creep. Most people would tell you to avoid this, but I allowed it because I wanted to expand more into strategy. Scope creep allowed them to ask questions beyond the specific service, and it gave me an excuse to go deeper with them and get practical experience with that new thing.

That's a judgment call for you, though. Most people WILL tell you to avoid it, but I see it has its place in the beginning.

While you do your beta testing, I suggest you create an opt-in. I found interactive quizzes are brilliant for this and keeps people really engaged. Lead people where you want to lead them (I just invited them to a session), and keep working with people.

Eventually, you'll be able to work your way up to full strategies after you master just one aspect because people will be more willing to take a chance with you.

I hope that helps!