💥 Four years to land one deal?!

Founder Ashley Ainsley, co-founder of Colour in Tech, reveals the unfiltered truth about building partnerships with big brands — and why most founders get it wrong.

From being one of only 32 Black students at Oxford to leading a movement that’s transforming diversity in tech, Ashley shares the lessons, setbacks, and wins that every entrepreneur needs to hear.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

* The patience and strategy behind multi-year deals

* How to turn diversity into a competitive advantage

* The realities of running a sustainable nonprofit

* Why transactional networking is killing your chances

* The nationwide AI upskilling initiative is changing the game

Connect with Ashley:

LinkedIn: Ashley Ainsley

Twitter / X: @AshleyAinsley

Colour in Tech: @colourintech | colourintech.org

💥 57% pay gap in influencer marketing?! Founder Charlotte Stavrou of SevenSix Agency reveals the shocking truth brands don’t want you to know – and how she built a thriving agency by taking a leap of faith and disrupting the industry.

In this episode, Charlotte drops unfiltered insights on the mistakes founders can’t afford to make, how to scale with limited resources, and the diversity and inclusion gaps threatening the creator economy. If you’re a startup founder or creative entrepreneur, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.

Connect with Charlotte:

• Instagram: @charlotte76

• LinkedIn: Charlotte Stavrou

• SevenSix Agency: @sevensixagency | sevensixagency.com

Klaus Heller, a social media marketing freelancer and founder of the Creative Lunch Club, discusses his journey in the industry and the changes he has witnessed over the years. He emphasizes the importance of using social media strategically to achieve business goals and the need for a media budget. Klaus also shares insights on creating good content, including the importance of engaging the audience and being authentic. He talks about the motivation behind starting the Creative Lunch Club and the goal of building a global community for creatives. Klaus encourages aspiring freelancers to take the leap and start their own ventures.

Takeaways

Find Online:-

Klaus Heller: Web | LinkedIn | Instagram

Creative Lunch Club: Web | LinkedIn | Instagram

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#socialmediamarketing #freelancing #CreativeLunchClub #communitybuilding #contentcreation #authenticity #marketingstrategies #networking #digitalmarketing #creativeindustries

In this episode of Nexus Talks, Laila Begum, an actress, filmmaker, and content creator, shares her inspiring journey in the film and theatre industry. Laila discusses her early fascination with performance and imagination, her experience trying out various artistic avenues and ultimately finding her true passion in acting. She reveals the challenges and rejections faced in the industry, the importance of continuous learning, and how she broke through with her first on-screen role. Laila also highlights the significance of networking, having a good agent, and the value of diversifying skills within the industry. Tune in to hear her candid insights and tips for aspiring actors and filmmakers.

Follow Laila Begum:

Web | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

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In this podcast episode, Ria Boss, a multifaceted Ghanaian artist, delves into her artistic journey, the challenges she faces in the music industry, and her commitment to fostering community through her initiatives. She discusses her background, her return to Ghana to reconnect with her roots, and the importance of creating supportive structures for artists. Ria reflects on personal hardships and her approach to time management amidst her many roles. She also talks about the Cat Mama persona, the importance of authenticity, and teases upcoming projects. The episode wraps up with Ria's encouragement to trust one's intuition and a spotlight on her community work.

Follow Ria Boss:

Web: https://www.theriaboss.com/

Instagram:https://instagram.com/theriaboss

X: https://x.com/theriaboss

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In this podcast episode, Saliah, a DJ and music producer, shares her journey from a 15-year-old in the UK rave scene to a music industry mentor and innovator. She recounts her early days of mixing drum and bass on vinyl, overcoming challenges as a woman in a male-dominated field, and her passion for teaching and supporting other women DJs. Celia discusses her evolution from drum and bass to creating a unique blend of Arabic sounds with club music, her experience learning music production during the pandemic, and the unexpected success following her Boiler Room set. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship, persistence, and authenticity for aspiring artists. Saliah hints at upcoming shows and collaborations, inviting listeners to follow her on social media for updates.

Join Deana on Nexus Talks as she interviews Ella Weinberg, an award-winning financial expert who specialises in insurance and wealth management. Get ready to be inspired as Ella shares her journey from the fashion world to finance, highlighting the importance of female financial independence and the power of entrepreneurship.

Web | LinkedIn | Instagram

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An Insightful Talk with Multitalented Creative Kid CircusIn this episode of Nexus Talks podcast, our guest is London-based fashion and portrait photographer, DJ, and actor Michael, also known as Kid Circus. Michael shares his fascinating journey from aspiring to be an actor like his sister to eventually falling in love with DJing, and then stumbling upon photography, which became his primary focus. He speaks about the importance of being ready to evolve into different roles in the creative space, the significance of building a reliable network and fostering relationships for collaboration, and how to maintain a balance between personal creativity and client demands in photography. Michael also emphasizes the importance of displaying an individualistic style and voice in one’s work to attract the right opportunities. Moreover, he gives valuable advice to new photographers and creatives on knowing their worth and being courageous to ask for deserving remuneration. Additionally, he talks about his experience with a unique photoshoot project for a food brand that required an amalgamation of fashion and food photography.

In this inspiring episode of Nexus Talks, we sat down with the distinguished French-Algerian artist, Samy Halim, who shares his creative journey and the evolution of his unique artistic style. He takes us through his process, where he meticulously crafts artworks using a 'point by point' technique, we also get a sneak peak into his current painting of rapper Snoop Dogg. Samy shares candid details about his beginnings as a graphic designer at a design studio in France, where he taught himself how to use the industry standard software after blagging his way into a job. Further, he talks about how he created his own successful path as an artist by becoming a freelancer in 2011 and highlighting his upcoming work projects with the NFL and a high-end Italian store, La Rinascente.

Follow Samy Hamil:

Web | LinkedIn | Instagram | X

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Ryan Allis, a successful serial entrepreneur, joins Deana on Nexus Talks, sharing his journey and insights for budding entrepreneurs. He's the author of 'Magic Year, How to Design a Life You Love', founder of iContact, an email marketing software company, and runs communities such as The Brotherhood, a men's circle, and the SaaS Circle for CEOs. Despite major successes, including selling iContact for $169 million, he emphasises the hard work, dedication, and resilience required for entrepreneurial success. He also discusses the importance of selling products that solve problems and provide true value to customers. His most recent venture is Circles, an online platform for niche mastermind communities, supporting the spread of specialised knowledge. Ready to learn from a serial entrepreneur?

Follow Ryan Allis:

Web: www.magicyear.com⁠ | ⁠www.brotherhoodmen.com⁠ | ⁠https://thesaascircle.com/⁠

Social Media: LinkedIn | Instagram

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00:05 Introduction and Guest Background

01:13 The Journey of iContact

03:41 Challenges and Strategies in Starting a Business

04:54 Balancing Studies and Entrepreneurship

06:32 Transition into Writing

07:34 Work-Life Balance and Personal Growth

08:46 The Brotherhood: A Community for Men

13:17 SaaS Circle: A Community for Software CEOs

16:17 The Entrepreneurial Mindset and Advice

19:46 Future Plans and Projects

21:24 The Importance of Authenticity