The Bell + Ivy archive.
Now part of Ipseity · Academy of the Self
Bell + Ivy was the personal-branding agency founded by Cynthia Johnson. It built reputations the way the Academy now teaches them — beginning with who someone actually is, then giving that self a public form. This page preserves that lineage in one place so the history stays findable as the work moves forward.
In 2026 the practice was reframed and expanded into Ipseity · Academy of the Self. The shift was deliberate: from seeking visibility to integrating it, and from branding as a surface to the self beneath it. The expertise is the same; the frame is larger.
Brands & institutions the work has spanned
Across the Bell + Ivy era, Cynthia Johnson's work spanned established institutions and national brands, with writing and brand work published in Rolling Stone.
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University Health Sciences
USA Today
Nike
Milestones
MMXIX · 2019
Platform: The Art and Science of Personal Branding
Cynthia Johnson's book on personal branding is published by Penguin Random House — the written foundation for much of the practice that follows.
MMXXVI · 2026
Ipseity · Academy of the Self is founded
The agency practice is reframed and expanded into an academy — moving from seeking visibility to integrating it, with the self placed beneath the brand.
MMXXVII · Spring 2027
A second book, forthcoming
Cynthia Johnson's next book extends the work of the Academy. Details are shared as the date approaches.
Where the work lives now
The agency practice continues as the Academy of the Self. Done-for-you engagements run through Services; the capability is taught in the cohort and licensed through the curriculum. For the questions people ask most, see the FAQ.