What does it really mean to be an ethical queer brand owner?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Adam, founder of Rainbow & Co, to talk about building an LGBTQIA+ apparel and accessories brand that puts community, representation and integrity first.

From studying graphic design and advertising to running a business from his apartment, Adam shares how personal experience, creative instinct and a strong moral compass led him to create queer merch that actually reflects the full community, not just the parts that are most visible.

Adam shares:

• Why he always wanted to do something creative
• How studying graphic design, media and advertising shaped his path
• Why university was harder than expected as an autistic person
• How early side hustles on Etsy gave him his first taste of selling online
• What he learned from working for a luxury leather jacket brand
• Why burnout pushed him to leave full-time employment
• How an autism diagnosis helped him understand his working style
• Why he started Rainbow & Co after noticing a gap in Pride merch
• How he taught himself to build a website, design products and run the business
• Why trans, lesbian and bi-focused products became so important to customers
• How he turned a pocket guide into one of the brand’s bestsellers
• Why subtle queer design can matter just as much as bold statements
• What “rainbow washing” means and why he refuses to do it
• How Access to Work and support workers helped him build a sustainable business
• What it means to grow slowly, ethically and on your own terms
• He also opens up about:
• Masking, burnout and late diagnosis
• Working from home while others do 9–5 jobs
• Why he wants to hire based on values, not just experience
• Creating a business culture that reflects the ethics of the brand
• Why queer-owned businesses matter in Pride season and beyond

If you’re interested in:

• Queer-owned businesses
• Ethical branding
• Pride merch
• Small business journeys
• Autistic entrepreneurs
• Creative careers
• LGBTQIA+ representation

This episode is for you.

Visit his business here: https://rainbowandco.uk/

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Grace sits down with Paul, founder of BOL Foods, a leading plant-based, nutrition-focused food brand.

Paul’s journey is anything but traditional. From dreaming of becoming a professional footballer, to working on a game reserve in South Africa, to breaking bones as a snowboard instructor… his path zig-zagged before leading him into the world of food.

After 14 years helping scale Innocent Drinks, Paul took a leap into entrepreneurship, building BOL into a brand focused on making healthy, convenient food accessible to everyone.

We talk about:

• Taking unconventional career paths (and why they matter)
• What working at Innocent Drinks taught him about business
• How BOL Foods was born from a real gap in the market
• The realities of launching and scaling food products
• Why most ideas don’t work, and why that’s okay
• Building a strong team and company culture
• The importance of passion in business

✨ “If you don’t truly care about what you’re building, it’s very hard to get through the tough times.”

This episode is perfect for anyone interested in startups, food & drink, or building a purpose-driven brand.

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Grace sits down with Nina, the creative behind Nina Bombina, a colourful gifts and homeware brand known for its joyful, dopamine-filled designs.

From always wanting to be an artist, to navigating photography, marketing jobs, and eventually building a thriving product-based business. Nina shares the honest, winding journey behind her brand.

We talk about:

• Starting a creative business during lockdown
• Turning designs into real, sellable products
• Selling at markets vs online (and why markets win for her)
• Getting stocked, featured, and discovered
• Balancing creativity with making a living
• The reality of running a physical product business

This episode is packed with insight for anyone dreaming of building a creative brand or wondering if there’s space for them in a competitive industry (spoiler: there is).

✨ “I thought it wouldn’t go anywhere… but I proved myself wrong.”

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does a Glastonbury stage manager actually do?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Dan, the programmer and venue manager behind the Rum Shack at Glastonbury, to unpack what it really means to run a late-night festival stage, scout emerging talent, and build community-focused programmes that change lives.

From MCing and MySpace hustle, to founding Lyrix Organix and being invited to run the Rum Shack stage at Glastonbury (first asked in 2013), Dan’s path is full of detours, practical hustle and intentional values.

Dan shares:

• Why he fell into the music scene at university
• How temp jobs (Transport for London) helped him develop real-world admin & people skills
• Starting Lyrix Organix and early nights that helped launch artists (Ed Sheeran among them)
• How he programs 60+ artists across five days and maps the arc of a festival night
• Why he programs outside the mainstream agent-driven model
• Scouting talent before they’re “hot”: the Koji Radical example
• The logistics puzzle of limited Glastonbury tickets and sharing bands across stages
• Building, rotating and mentoring a backstage team (many are former students)
• Creating Levelling the Field: a trainee programme for deaf & disabled festival workers
• Turning festival accessibility into paid, transferable work across other events
• Practical advice: “Start anywhere, follow it everywhere”

He also opens up about:

• Imposter syndrome (and why it doesn’t stop him)
• Balancing values with the practical workload of running a stage
• Why rotating crews and artists matters for inclusion and freshness
• How youth development and long-term scouting create career pipelines
• The emotional side of programming, visualising how a night will flow

If you’re interested in:

• Festival production & stage management
• Live music programming & artist scouting
• Careers in events, youth development or accessibility
• How to launch creative initiatives that scale across festivals

This episode is for you.

Resources:

https://lyrixorganix.co.uk/

https://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/areas/the-common/levelling-the-field/

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of How To Become A, Grace sits down with multi-hyphen creative Timi to uncover how he built a career as both a film photographer and DJ, without following a traditional path.

From shooting campaigns and newspaper features to DJing in front of 80,000 people at Twickenham Stadium, Timi shares how networking, authenticity, and genuinely loving what you do can open unexpected doors.

We dive into:

• How he turned a disposable camera into paid photography work
• Shooting England rugby captain Maro Itoje for The Times
• Photographing Emma Raducanu for Vodafone
• Becoming a resident DJ for Saracens and performing at major stadiums
• Why having a unique style matters more than formal training
• How to price yourself as a creative
• The power of putting your work out there

Timmy’s journey proves you don’t need one fixed dream, just passion, consistency, and the courage to ask.

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn creativity into a career, this episode is for you.

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What actually happens after filming wraps?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Holly to explore the world of post production, the part of film and television that shapes the final story you see on screen.

From editing and sound design to ADR (Additional Dialogue Recording), grading, music, and delivering shows to Netflix, Amazon and Apple TV. Holly shares what it really means to be a Post Production Coordinator.

We talk about:

• Growing up wanting to be an actor

• Musical theatre and auditioning for drama school

• Rejection and losing her agent

• Working in restaurants while chasing creative dreams

• Hitting rock bottom in 2019

• Therapy and rebuilding confidence

• Falling into post production unexpectedly

• Working in Soho — the UK’s post production hub

• What ADR actually is

• How editing changes a storyline

• The magic of music and score

• Freelance life in film and TV

• Long contracts vs downtime between projects

Holly also shares:

• Why being organised is everything

• How to break into the industry without connections

• The reality of working on Apple TV, Amazon & Netflix productions

• Why post is where the magic really happens

If you’ve ever wondered how a script becomes the show you binge, this episode reveals the hidden world behind the edit.

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it really take to become a head chef?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Andy — Head Chef at ROVI (part of the Ottolenghi group), to unpack the real journey behind running a high-performing kitchen.

From growing up in a hospitality family (with a dad who owned nightclubs and restaurants) to working his way up through kitchens in Australia and London, Andy shares the truth about the industry — the highs, the burnout, the pirate-ship energy of kitchen culture, and the leadership skills no one talks about.

We cover:

• Starting out in a family restaurant
• Culinary school vs on-the-job training
• Moving from Australia to London without a job lined up
• Working your way from chef de partie to sous chef to head chef
• What being a head chef actually involves (hint: it’s not just cooking)
• Managing big teams under pressure
• Menu development, seasonal produce & working with a kitchen garden
• Cooking for 200+ guests in Sicily & Ibiza
• The harsh realities of the hospitality industry
• Why supporting independent restaurants matters

Andy also shares the mindset you need to survive in kitchens:

✔️ Work ethic

✔️ Resilience

✔️ Thick skin

✔️ Passion for food

✔️ Leadership under pressure

If you’ve ever dreamed of running a kitchen, opening a restaurant, or just want to understand what happens behind the pass, this episode is for you.

Resources:

https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/locations/rovi

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you turn years in the classroom into a business that actually helps kids?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace talks with Ramita, a former middle-years teacher who founded Elevate, a curriculum and mentoring platform that supports pre-teens (especially girls) with resilience, confidence and social skills.

Ramita walks us through:

• Her original path (pre-med → genetics → a life-changing volunteer teaching stint)
• Why she loved teaching and why teacher burnout is real
• The moment she decided to build something outside school: designing an 8-week curriculum for tweens
• How Elevate launched in Singapore, then pivoted online during COVID to reach kids worldwide
• What the Elevate workshops and school programmes actually cover (resilience, social skills, transition support, online wellbeing)
• How she built the Elevate Festival, turning curriculum pillars into hands-on experiences for girls
• Business realities: juggling teaching + entrepreneurship, finding funding/customers, and dealing with feedback
• Practical advice for educators who want to start a venture: test ideas, lean on your network, iterate, and accept that “failure” teaches you the next move

Resources:

https://www.elevate-ra.com/

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it really take to become a fashion designer?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Alethea, a designer at Next, to break down the reality of working in fashion, from high street accessories to predicting next year’s trends.

From growing up on a council estate with dreams of becoming a designer, to working for Vivienne Westwood, to designing pieces you’ve probably seen on the high street, Alethea’s journey proves there’s no single route into fashion.

Alethea shares:

• Always knowing she wanted to be a fashion designer
• The teacher who helped map out her path
• Studying fashion at university and foundation year
• Working for Vivienne Westwood and Lulu Guinness
• Why she moved from designer brands to the high street
• How fashion really makes money
• The difference between designer labels and commercial fashion
• What it’s like seeing your designs out in the real world
• The pressure of development trips to factories
• How trends are actually predicted
• Why macro trends (like politics and economics) shape what we wear
• Navigating feedback and rejection in creative roles
• The realities of working in fashion production

She also opens up about:

• Why you don’t need to be “fashion crazy” to work in fashion
• How to break into the industry without connections
• Why you should make your mistakes working for someone else
• The importance of developing thick skin
• Why creativity and commercial awareness must work together

If you’re interested in:

• Becoming a fashion designer
• Working in high street fashion
• Trend forecasting
• Creative careers
• How to get into the fashion industry
• Commercial design roles

This episode is for you.

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does a Brand Manager at Marriott actually do?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Kel to unpack what it really means to shape, launch and scale hotel brands across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

From moving countries as a teenager, to working front-of-house in a five-star London hotel, to landing a graduate role at Marriott, Kel’s journey proves that brand leadership isn’t about advertising alone. It’s about building the full guest experience.

Kel shares:

• Why he originally wanted to work in social services
• Moving to the UK at 15 and navigating cultural change
• Studying Business & Hospitality at university
• Why working in hotel operations was essential
• The importance of emotional intelligence in hospitality
• How he discovered brand management through a VP coffee chat
• Completing a Master’s in Advertising & Marketing
• Landing Marriott’s graduate programme
• Navigating redundancy during COVID
• Rebuilding her career internationally
• Moving back to London for a second chance
• Launching new hotel brands across EMEA
• What brand management actually means (and how it differs from marketing)

She also opens up about:

• Cultural differences between working in Asia and Europe
• The hierarchy of hotel operations
• Influencing stakeholders in corporate environments
• Balancing ambition and personal life
• Taking leaps of faith in your career

If you’re interested in:

• Hospitality careers
• Working for Marriott
• Brand management roles
• Corporate marketing
• International careers
• Travel and tourism jobs

This episode is for you.

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find their own path

📩 Got your own story to share? Contact us at [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials: @howtobecomea__

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.