2023 was both a beast, and the best, of years. Sometimes the most valuable lessons and strategies for business success and personal growth come from uncomfortable learnings. That was certainly true for 2023. 

To mark the end of the year, and the close of this second season of The BrandUp Podcast, I’m trying something new: a personal roundup of what worked and what didn’t in 2023.

Most of all? This episode is a celebration. Get ready to hear about how my ADHD and burnout challenged my entrepreneurial ambitions, and what I’m deeply, dizzyingly proud of achieving nonetheless.

Hot topics in this episode include:

Consistency: Celebrating publishing 14 episodes of The BrandUp Podcast without missing a week – a testament to resilience and strategy in content creation.

Balance: how do you find a healthy balance between social media marketing and preserving your energy? Find out what I’m committing to going forward.

Social Media Burnout: this has wiped me out, and I share how I’ll approach social media content creation next year to manage my mental health and still maintain brand visibility.

Collaboration: it’s one of the key strategies I’ve used to get my business back on track. Learn why I think you should seek business collaborations for growth and joy!

Old-school networking: find out how this was an unexpected business growth engine for me this year, and how I’m leaning into it for 2024.

I’d love to stay connected. I’ll be starting a new private podcast in 2024, and would love you to join me. If you’d like to hear more or to find out how you can work with me in LOUD & CLEARtm or one-to-one, then email me at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, please follow, share and review the podcast so it will reach more neurodivergent entrepreneurs. 

The BrandUp Podcast is produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

Meet Sara Kedge – a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consultant and neurodiversity coach to leaders across the UK and beyond. 

Sara’s voice stands out in a crowded industry – as much as her bright teal hair stands out in a crowd!

DEI transformation can often feel heavy and hard, Sara brings play and joy. Most of all, she creates bespoke solutions for each of her clients to create truly inclusive workplaces. No box-ticking DEI here! 

With play and joy, Sara guides her clients to make uncomfortable changes that stick, and offers reassurance that getting things wrong is part of the DEI process.

This week Sara talks about how she became so clear, confident and powerful in her message that “the time for empty conversation about DEI is over.” 

Here’s what pops in this episode:

Meaningful DEI: Learn how moving through nervousness about taking a strong stance has boosted Sara’s business growth; 

Consistency: Find out why the definition we’re used to doesn’t work and how to think about more neurodivergent-friendly consistency; 

Brand voice: Discover how Sara’s Brand Voice Guide saves her time, brings her clients and keeps mis-matched clients away;

Marketing advice: Find out how Sara adapted traditional content creation strategies and created her own smorgasbord of choice

Client avatars: Hear why Sara doesn’t work with client avatars, and how she identifies her ideal clients instead;

Comfort zones: Learn how it’s possible to take a strong stand in your industry, while still feeling  safe;

Word choice: Discover the words that Sara eliminated from her business, and why it’s brought new business her way;

Discover more about Sara’s DEI consultancy approach: https://www.sarakedge.com/about-sara

Join the How2EntrepreNeuro community – find out all about it here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/How2Entrepreneuro

Sort out your brand’s voice and get results like Sara’s by booking in to speak with Anne. Let’s get you heard, Loud & Clear! https://www.annedferguson.com/contact

Ready to be inspired? This week you’ll meet Dani Wallace, public speaker, entertainer, and the powerhouse behind 'I Am The Queen Bee' and the 'Fly Anyway Foundation.' Dani is a force of nature, and someone whose gift lies in helping all people take up space and tell their stories. 

In this episode we talk about:

• Inclusive Excellence: Discover how Dani builds active inclusivity into every part of her business; 
• Marketing with Moxie: Learn the bold, authentic marketing strategies that made Dani unforgettable from the start;
• The Real Deal on Rapid Success: Find out how long it’s really taken Dani to grow her business;
• Branding with Heart: Discover how the brand’s values create deep connections and act as a GPS for every business decision;
• Language that Binds: Learn how Dani’s team consciously and consistently uses inclusive language to forge deep bonds with their audience; and 
• More Than Business: Hear about Dani’s vision, and how her business success is shaping her long-term legacy. 

Dani's not just any public speaker or entrepreneur; she's a dynamo who turns every challenge into a triumph and every voice into a roar. Working with everyone from solo dreamers to global celebrities, Dani's mantra is clear: every voice matters, and it's time to make yours heard.

Leading the 'I Am The Queen Bee Movement' and the 'Fly Anyway Foundation', Dani is a living reminder that to Show Up, Wise Up, and Rise Up is within everyone's reach. Her approach? Inclusive, empowering, caring, irreverent and, above all, excellent fun!

Key Takeaways:

• Empowerment with a Twist: A peek into Dani's vibrant world of inclusive business.
• Heartfelt Connections: How genuine branding and communication can create a loyal, diverse community.
• Purposeful Entrepreneurship: The joy and drive in building a business that truly makes a difference.

If you’d like to learn more about Dani’s work, find her at https://www.iamthequeenbee.co.uk/ and connect with her on social media.

You can learn about the Fly Anyway Foundation here: https://www.iamthequeenbee.co.uk/flyanyway

And connect with me to find out how we can craft your brand’s unique voice, to save you time, energy and help your business grow: https://www.annedferguson.com/contact

Media coverage is (generally) good for business. But how to get good coverage in a noisy news world? 

Adela Hussain believes that every story you pitch is a service – a gift to deadline-driven journalists who always need a fresh perspective.

Adela knows first-hand what media coverage can do to grow a brand. Former transformational management consultant turned fashion tech entrepreneur, Adela learned quickly that the best way to powerful coverage was to pitch her own stories.

That’s why she now teaches entrepreneurs around the world to do the same.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The critical ingredients for a successful media pitch;
• Why relationships built over time are the most rewarding;
• How to use media as a source for good;
• About how predicting the future of a story will land you good coverage;
• Why telling your story is crucial to be a strong leader; and
• How diversity increases the productivity, creativity and wellbeing of society.

Find out more about Adela’s Pitch to Press training here https://www.pitchtopress.com/

And learn about her media mentorship programme here: https://www.itsyourspotlight.com/the-parlour

If you’re not sure what your story is or how to craft it in your inimitable voice, get in touch with me, and let’s work on crafting an unforgettable voice for your brand. You can find me on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/iamannedferguson/ and message me directly here. 

The BrandUp Podcast is produced by Decibelle Creative @decibelle_creative

What happens when you’re known online for one specialism, but want to change your work completely?

Today’s guest shares how she did just that – more than once. 

Ebonie Allard is an artist, and a Master Coach who works with Multiple Brain Integration Technique with a special interest in neurodivergence. She’s a certified Human Design specialist and a being whose constant evolution in business is a masterclass in reinvention.

In this week’s episode you’ll hear about:

• How Ebonie went from leading a global community of “misfits” to sharing her art online;
• What being diagnosed with ADHD and autism revealed to Ebonie;
• What it looks like to do only what feeds your soul (in life and business);
• How Ebonie’s brand values acted as a compass through times of deep change;
• What shifting from a 24-hour male cycle to a 28-day female cycle can tell you about consistency; and
• What happened when Ebonie stopped trying to make herself smaller, and chose to make her business model bigger instead.

Access Ebonie’s gifted resources here: www.ebonieallard.com/freebies  

Discover Ebonie’s work on Instagram www.instagram.com/eboniealchemy, on Facebook www.facebook.com/eboniealchemy and on Tiktok www.tiktok.com/@eboniealchemy.

Listen to Ebonie and Anne chat on Adulting with Ebonie here: https://adultingwithebonie.captivate.fm/episode/adhd-you-mean-its-not-my-fault-with-anne-ferguson

Get your free human design report from Ebonie here.

Learn more about Human Design in this podcast episode with Shari Thompson: https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast/where-is-your-power-with-shari-thompson/id1697645827?i=1000621257423&l=en-GB  

The BrandUp Podcast is produced by Decibelle Creative

 Karin McGivern is the epitome of the get-it-done entrepreneur. 

She’s a firm and opinionated presence in an industry traditionally dominated by men – and she’s not apologising for it.

Her evolution from not ruffling feathers, to taking a strong stance and speaking up for her clients is one that took courage, clarity and conviction.

On this week’s episode, hear how Karin and I worked together to evolve her brand’s voice and messaging. Now a regular contributor to The Shetland Times and spokesperson for farmers across the northern isles, Karin’s confidence and clarity make her a voice for change.

Listen to hear:

• Why creating her Brand Voice and Messaging Guide was as impactful on her business as hiring a perfect-fit staff member;
• How Karin’s team now can generate marketing content that’s “bang on the nose”;
• How changing her language has impacted her bottom line;
• What freedom looks like now that Karin’s taken some healthy distance from her business; and
• The unexpected impact on Karin’s confidence, boundaries and business growth as a result of us working together

Karin McGivern is an agricultural consultant in the Shetland Islands, in the windy and wild north of Scotland. She is a voice for farmer’s rights and a regular contributor to The Shetland Times. Find out more about Karin’s work, click here. 

If you’d like to have some of the same results as Karin, reach out to chat about your brand’s voice and how we can make you stand out from the crowd. Email me or learn more at https://www.annedferguson.com/

You’re in for a treat this week. My guest G Sabini-Roberts is a brand designer, writer, trainer, speaker, activist and agender creative rockstar. 

Their unique and lightning-fast visual brand work is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. And it keeps me coming back for more. This episode is especially delicious for neurodivergent friends who live with autism, ADHD and other forms of neurospiciness. 

Get ready to hear G’s take on:

• The role of gender in branding (spoiler: there is none)

• Why building a brand that requires you to pretend  or “mask” will hold you back

• Creating safe, inclusive communities

• The power of asking WHY? And asking again

• How their autism shaped their work, with amazing results for business, their clients and their family

G are the founder of Branding by G, co-Founder of Queer Box, creator of Happy Families - Progress Edition and Co-Editor of Neurodiverse Entreprenenurial Awesomeness.

G has been in branding for 25 years and running their own brand design business since 2012, helping hundreds of businesses to grow show-stopping brands. 

They have been running events, training and facilitating spaces in and for the LGBTQ community since 1996 and in academic and business settings since 2004.

G loves rocking up in other people’s spaces to inspire, educate and entertain. As a queer, agender, neurodiverse, business owner with decades of industry and activism experience – and zero filter – it won’t come as a surprise that they have plenty to say.

To connect with G, head to their website https://brandingbyg.com/ and connect with them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gsabiniroberts and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandingbyg/

If this episode has you thinking about your messaging and brand voice, drop me a line at [email protected] and let’s chat about how we could work together. 

The BrandUp Podcast is produced by Decibelle Creative 

Is your brand inclusive? Do you showcase your allyship with marginalised communities?

Today’s guest, Aby Hawker, is here to help us do just that. A few years ago Aby founded TransmissionPR, a communications consultancy for brands, individuals and organisations committed to supporting the trans community.

Aby features, elevates and advocates for people in the trans community through her work as a communications consultant, trainer and ally. She’s seen brands demonstrate beautiful allyship and has watched as others get it badly wrong – to the detriment of the trans community. 

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How aligning inclusivity with brand values will help you make good decisions for your business and community;

• Why the fear of getting it wrong stops so many people from making a positive difference;

• What brands should remember when considering partnering with a transgender person;

• Why you’re not actually inclusive if you’re being selective; and

• How brands tiny and mighty can be more inclusive.

Aby also shares some fantastic resources and introduces us to creators whose work is brilliant to follow and share.

Here are the names of people and organisations Aby mentioned during our chat: https://notaphase.org/, Just Another Beautiful Family, Max Siegel, thenonbionaryparent, Ben Pechey, Dani St James, How to Be a Girl, Pink News, Queer AF  

If you’d like to reach out to Aby for support with your communications or support around inclusion of trans communities in your work, you can find her here: https://transmissionpr.com/.

If you’ve ever glanced up from your phone, startled at how much time has passed and wondered why you’re feeling crummy, today’s episode is for you.

My guest Rubbi Bhogal-Wood is a social media consultant, trainer and TEDx speaker who is on a mission to reinvent our relationship with social media. You’ll hear her passion and urging for us all to think carefully about how we interact with social media, and why, as we discuss our personal experiences of getting sucked into the digital vortex. 

Rubbi's motto is "you control social, not the other way around,” and in this episode she’ll help you do just that. 

Listen to discover:

• How Rubbi’s own behaviour changes prompted her to take a hard look at her social media use, what it was doing to her wellbeing and relationships, and share it with the world on the TEDx stage;
• Rubbi’s three steps to staying healthy and grounded in the whirl of social media;
• Questions to decide if you might be out of balance with your social media use; 
• A great hack to limit your time on Instagram; and
• How content creators and business owners with ADHD can use social media in healthy ways.

With 20 years of sales & marketing experience under her belt, working for the likes of Microsoft and Facebook partners, Rubbi knows social media and is the go-to expert in this field.

She regularly speaks at networking events, on national radio, on LIVE social media channels, podcasts, and panels. Rubbi hosted her first TEDx Talk in July 2019, discussing social media and mental health.

Rubbi was recently a finalist in two categories at the Oldham Business Awards: 'Businessperson of the Year' and 'Supporting Young People' for her work in Skills 4 All, a community organisation providing opportunities for young people in disadvantaged communities to develop creativity through digital intelligence.

You can connect with Rubbi on Instagram @wildandformdigital, on LinkedIN at Rubbi Bhogal-Wood, learn more about her work at Skills 4 All and catch her TEDx talk here. And if you’d like to learn how to set your own timer on Instagram, click here. 

Listen to our previous conversations on instagram here: part 1 / part 2

What if you could save time and energy while making marketing easier and more powerful? 

In this episode you’ll learn how one business owner in Ireland learned to do just that. 

Sarah Sproule helps caring adults talk to the kid(s) in their care about sensitive subjects like puberty, bodies, consent and more. It can be touchy stuff, and it’s critical for Sarah to get her words right.

In this episode Sarah shares how her brand’s voice helped her jump off the content creation treadmill and reach almost zen-like levels of marketing consistency and effectiveness.

Sarah’s reassuring voice and clear message mean she’s frequently invited to contribute to national media outlets like Channel 4 in the UK, RTE in and The Independent newspaper in Ireland. 

But Sarah didn’t start out so confident or clear. As a neurodivergent business owner with ADHD and autism, marketing felt very hard. She was frustrated, exhausted, overwhelmed and tired of creating content for social media but not seeing the results she wanted. That’s all changed now!

In this conversation you’ll learn how Sarah:

• mindfully crafted a kind, gentle and judgement-free voice for her brand that helps her audience and clients feel safe and reassured;
• saves time, energy and irritation thanks to her Brand Voice & Messaging Guide;
• integrated her brand’s voice into her body and speech, so it now flows effortlessly;
• is gracefully navigating a big pivot in her business thanks to her brand voice, and finding new levels of ease and success as a result; and 
• takes gentle care of herself and her clients with her words. 

If ever there was a place where it’s important to carefully choose words, Sarah’s work is it. She uses those words beautifully on her podcast, which I highly recommend.

It’s called Sitting in a Car, and Sarah created it for adults who want to learn easier and more effective ways to talk to the young people in their care about sensitive topics like puberty, bodies, consent and sex. 

If you’d like to find out more about Sarah’s work, invite her onto your podcast or to speak to your local school, click here. You can also connect with her on Instagram here.

Want some of the marketing ease that Sarah talks about? Curious about how to craft your unique brand voice? Get in touch via email [email protected], on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iamannedferguson/, or on LinkedIN here https://www.linkedin.com/in/annedferguson/. 

I’d love to talk to you about your brand and how to help it grow, with ease

The BrandUp Podcast is produced by Decibelle Creative