Authority Builder Podcast | Client-Winning Strategies for Coaches, Consultants, and Creatives Who Want to Lead With Authority.

In this episode, Charlotte welcomes offer strategy coach Ceels Lockley to discuss the realities of agency life, imposter syndrome, and building offers that truly align with your expertise and values. Ceels shares her journey from agency leadership to mentoring female service providers, highlighting the challenges of pivoting careers, especially after starting a family.

Key topics include:
- The addictive nature of agency work and the turning points that lead to change
- How imposter syndrome manifests for creative service providers, especially around pricing and offers
- The “four seasons” of business and how to navigate the inevitable winters
- The three Ps: perfectionism, procrastination, and people-pleasing, and how they hold entrepreneurs back
- The impact of culture on money mindset and confidence, comparing UK and US perspectives
- Practical steps to overcome self-doubt, set boundaries, and recognise your own achievements

Ceels offers actionable advice for anyone struggling with self-worth in business, encouraging listeners to lean into their strengths and trust the cyclical nature of growth. Find Ceels at ceelslockley.co and on Instagram @ceels.lockley.

Links from Ceels:
Learn how to create the foundations of your offer ecosystem in my free training: https://ceelslockley.co/the-line-up
Design, refine and develop your offers inside my program, Dreamium: https://ceelslockley.co/dreamium
Work with me 1:1 on your offer strategy over 30 days: https://ceelslockley.co/main-event-experience

Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate.

Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict

Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call

In this episode, Joel Derksen, founder of the agency Otherness, joins the Authority Builder Podcast to share his journey from freelancer to agency owner, operating between the Netherlands and the US. Joel discusses the evolution of Otherness, its focus on brand design, and why the agency thrives at the intersection of categories—where brands defy traditional industry boundaries.

Key topics include:
- The importance of strategy and creative partnership in brand building
- How Otherness helps clients embrace their authentic identity, often challenging category norms
- Case studies, including a semi-private jet service and a family-owned pie brand, illustrating how deep discovery and client self-awareness lead to standout branding
- The value of working with open-minded clients who trust the creative process
- Practical advice for freelancers transitioning to agency ownership, with an emphasis on financial discipline and automation

Joel’s insights offer a compelling look at how agencies can unlock client potential and create brands that truly stand apart.

Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate.

Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict

Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call

Make It Weirder: Adam Graff on Art, Integrity, and Finding Clients Through Human Connection

In this episode, award-winning London illustrator and educator Adam Graff shares his journey from commercial illustration to a more authentic, personal practice. Adam discusses redefining success, moving away from the pressure of constant commissions, and embracing his unique, playful style—despite being told to “tone down the weirdness.” He delves into the power of creative collectives, specifically Hero of Switzerland, and how collaboration and community fuel his work.

Key topics include:

• The evolution of Adam’s definition of success and creative fulfilment
• Navigating rejection and the importance of resilience in the art world
• The value of human connection in finding clients and selling art
• The role of collectives in fostering creativity and ego-free collaboration
• Embracing authenticity, self-trust, and the inevitability of the creative journey

Adam’s story is a testament to the power of staying true to your voice, finding your people, and letting your weirdness shine. Find Adam’s work at @adamgraffart (or, as he jokes, @adamgrafffart).

Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate.

Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict

Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call

In this episode, Charlotte welcomes personal brand strategist Zayna Rose to explore the real work behind building authority and visibility. Zayna shares insights from over 20 years of helping founders and leaders develop a “profitable presence” through intentional authenticity and image intelligence. The conversation dives into the challenges of identifying your authentic self, the power of visual presence, and why authority is rooted in self-knowledge and consistency—not just surface-level makeovers.

Key topics include:
- The journey from makeover to deep personal branding
- How authenticity fuels effective marketing and authority
- The psychological and energetic impact of visual identity
- Navigating cross-cultural and nonverbal communication cues
- Overcoming self-limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome
- The importance of consistency and evolving your brand
- Practical strategies for media training, networking, and content pitching
- Choosing the right clients and finding joy in your work

A must-listen for anyone seeking to show up as a true authority—without feeling fake or forced.

https://www.zaynarose.com/
https://www.instagram.com/zaynarose/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaynarose/
https://www.facebook.com/ZaynaRoseInc/

Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate.

Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict

Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call

In this episode, Charlotte Ellis Maldari sits down with Roberto Max Salas, co-founder of Young Hero, to explore how creative agencies can stay nimble, relevant, and impactful in a rapidly evolving industry. 

Roberto shares Young Hero’s origin story, the shift from influencer marketing to a creator-led, storytelling-driven model, and the adoption of the “showrunner” approach for long-term brand narratives. The conversation covers the importance of collaboration without ego, adapting to in-house brand teams, and the value of networks over traditional marketing. 

Roberto also discusses the agency’s commitment to purpose-driven work, the power of personal storytelling, and practical tips for smaller agencies navigating change. Key topics include: the difference between creators and influencers, the showrunner model, adapting to industry shifts, building business through networks, and the importance of staying playful and curious.

https://younghero.us/ 

Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate.

Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict

Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call

In this episode, Charlotte Ellis Maldari welcomes Jessica Abel, founder of Autonomous Creative, to discuss how mid-career creatives can reshape their client work into sustainable, profitable businesses that align with real life. Jessica shares her journey from graphic novelist and professor to business coach, highlighting the challenges creatives face in balancing client work, marketing, and personal fulfilment.

Key topics include:
- The pitfalls of underpricing and overdelivering, and how to set realistic, sustainable rates using Jessica’s “ground truth calculator”
- The importance of aligning business models with personal capacity and financial goals
- Why many creatives burn out by following mass-market marketing advice that doesn’t fit their business
- Mindset shifts needed to move from scarcity and self-doubt to confidence and clarity
- The value of tracking time and outcomes to make informed business decisions
- How to build a business that supports both creative work and a fulfilling life

Jessica (jccabel on LinkedIn) also introduces her new training, “Stop Working Nights and Weekends,” designed to help creatives reclaim their time and profitability.

Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate.

Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict

Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call

In this episode, we explore why content alone won’t save your consulting agency or coaching business. While posting boosts visibility, it rarely translates directly into paying clients—especially when you’re at the mercy of ever-changing algorithms. We discuss the pitfalls of relying solely on social media, the burnout that comes from constant posting, and the frustration of seeing little return on your efforts.

Key topics include:
- The difference between visibility and revenue
- Real-life examples of algorithm changes derailing business growth
- Why consistent posting doesn’t guarantee clients
- The importance of having a system or funnel behind your content
- How to turn content from noise into a client-generating machine
- The power of clear calls to action and next steps
- Questions to assess your current content strategy

Tune in to learn how to make every piece of content work harder for your business and discover practical steps to move from posting for engagement to building a reliable client pipeline.

Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate.

Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict

Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call

In this episode, we dive into the “referral trap” that keeps coaches, agency owners, and service providers stuck in a cycle of waiting for work to come to them. Drawing on nearly 20 years of experience, our host explores why referrals feel safe but aren’t truly secure—especially after the challenges of 2024, when many businesses saw their referral streams dry up.

Key topics include:
- Why relying solely on referrals is risky and reactive, not reliable
- The difference between feeling safe and being secure in your business
- The impact of economic shifts and changing client behaviour on referral-based growth
- The importance of building proactive, predictable lead generation systems
- How to regain control, confidence, and joy in your business by diversifying your client acquisition strategies

Tune in for practical mindset shifts and actionable steps to move beyond passive referrals and create a more resilient, sustainable business. If you’re ready to stop waiting and start building, this episode is for you!

Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate.

Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict

Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call

In this episode, I share a serendipitous moment sparked by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard’s book, highlighting the power of authenticity in marketing. Too often, business owners struggle with marketing because they’re trying to craft a “perfect” or “unique” voice, rather than simply being themselves. Drawing from real client conversations, I explain how the most effective content comes from genuine experiences and actual pain points — not from forced formulas.

Key topics covered:
- The importance of authenticity over perfection in marketing
- Why trying to be someone you’re not makes marketing harder
- Using real client challenges as the foundation for valuable content
- The value of consistency in building authority
- An invitation to join my one-to-one coaching programme, designed to help you market with confidence and authenticity

Listen in to discover why showing up as your true self is the key to sustainable, effective marketing.

Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate.

Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict

Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call

Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate.

Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict

Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call