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Elfried “Elf” Samba helped turn Gymshark from a small UK fitness brand into a global cultural movement - powered by community, creators, and culture over traditional advertising.

In this episode of Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future, Elf breaks down the real marketing strategies behind Gymshark’s rise, why most brands misunderstand community, and how personal brand, trust, and cultural relevance now drive growth more than spend.

We cover:

🔥 The exact community-first model that scaled Gymshark

🧠 The “jab, jab, jab, right hook” strategy in real brand terms

👥 The Three A’s of elite hiring: Ability, Agency & Attitude

🌍 Why IRL + URL is the future of brand building

📈 How to actually use LinkedIn as a growth platform

🎯 Why culture beats performance marketing in the long run

This is a practical marketing masterclass for founders, brand builders, creators and anyone serious about growth in the modern internet economy.

✅CLICKABLE CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

01:25 How Gymshark’s Marketing Model Really Evolved

03:00 Adapting to the Audience in Real Time

05:12 The Early Pain, Pressure & Growth Years

14:36 Why Cultural Relevance Decides Which Brands Win

39:52 What Clients Actually Want From Brands

40:13 Leaving Gymshark & Working Across Multiple Brands

40:21 Inspiration, Leadership & Founder Energy

46:28 Building The Butterfly Effect Agency

50:41 Why Personal Brand Now Equals Business Leverage

54:31 How to Use LinkedIn as a Creative Growth Platform

01:06:57 Quickfire: Lessons, Regrets & Career Advice

**********

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Credits:

Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE

Producer: Sunny Winter https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnywinter/

Junior Producer: Thuy

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