The Pursuit Playbook

Welcome back to the Pursuit Playbook podcast! In this episode of the Pursuit Playbook, Aprileen talks to Aleesha Bruce, an inspiring student from the London School of Economics (LSE) with Jamaican roots from Leeds.

Aleesha shares her university journey, including the impact of her 6th form scholarship, internships, and her dreams of entering UK politics. Gain insights on navigating university life, career transitions, and balancing heritage. Packed with practical advice, this episode is essential for those considering university or exploring internship opportunities.

5 Key Lessons from this episode:

1. Real-World Learning:  Aleesha highlights

2. Networking Done Right: Building authentic connections is essential. Aleesha emphasises how meaningful, lasting relationships are key to professional success. 

3. Juggling It All:  Managing time is a critical skill. Aleesha shares her time management tips, using tools like

4. Unique Skills Matter:  Aleesha’s talent

5. Value of Diversity: Working in diverse

Connect with our Playmakers:

Connect with Aleesha:

- LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleesha-bruce/⁠

- YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@aleeshabruce⁠

Don’t forget to click the subscribe button to find us next week and listen to other episodes, actionable advice and insider perspectives only on the Pursuit Playbook!

Join the community at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meetpursuit.com⁠ and sign up to our substack at ⁠https://pursuitplaybook.substack.com⁠. Don’t forget to follow us on IG at @meetpursuit⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/meetpursuit/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is an AiAi Studios Production, recorded by Aprileen Alexander in May 2024.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @aiai.studios // Website: ⁠www.aiaistudios.com⁠

Welcome to another episode of the Pursuit Playbook. Aprileen welcomes Marcia Fray, who currently leads the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives at Warner Music Group - Europe, Middle East, Africa and Emerging Markets. Marcia's journey is anything but linear, as she recounts her career transitions from finance to music, and ultimately to DEI—a path shaped by both professional

With candid discussions about balancing motherhood with career ambitions, Marcia offers invaluable insights on why DEI became a driving force in her life post-motherhood. Together, Aprileen and Marcia explore the roles of kindness, mentorship, sponsorship, and strategic thinking in building a fulfilling career while navigating through life's unpredictable challenges.

5 Key lessons from the episode:

1. Embrace Career Transitions with an Open Mind: Marcia

2. Kindness is a Powerful Professional Tool: Throughout

3. Navigating Motherhood and Career Responsibilities:

4. Leveraging the Power of Mentorship and Sponsorship:

5. DEI as a Strategic Imperative: Marcia speaks to the

Get to know our Playmakers:

Connect with Marcia -

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciafray/

Stay up to date with careers at Warner Music UK: https://wmg.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/WMGGLOBAL

Don’t forget to click the subscribe button to find us next
week and listen to other episodes, actionable advice and insider perspectives only on the Pursuit Playbook!

Join the community at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meetpursuit.com⁠
and sign up to our substack at  ⁠https://pursuitplaybook.substack.com⁠.

Don’t forget to follow us on IG at @meetpursuit⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/meetpursuit/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is an AiAi Studios Production, recorded by Aprileen
Alexander in June 2024.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @aiai.studios
Website: ⁠www.aiaistudios.com⁠

Welcome to "Pursuit Playbook," where we dive into

Jeanell shares her story, highlighting the crucial skills

Jeanell also discusses her passion for book publishing, the

5 Key Lessons from this episode:

1. The Power of Business Education:

Jeanell underscores how her business school education

2. Setting Clear DEI Goals:

Jeanell emphasises that effective diversity work requires

3. Authenticity and Personal Branding:

Transitioning to entrepreneurship has allowed Jeanell to

4. Mentorship and Strategic Relationships:

Success is often bolstered by the support of mentors,

5. Redefining Success and Embracing Failure:

Jeanell encourages questioning traditional measures of

Get to know our Playmakers:  

Stay up-to-date with Jeanell's professional journey and

- LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanell-english/⁠

- Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeatothenell/⁠

- Publishing Company: ⁠https://www.elizabethminnie.com/⁠

Don’t forget to click the subscribe button to find us next

Join the community at⁠

This is an AiAi Studios Production, recorded by Aprileen

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @aiai.studios //

In this insightful episode of Pursuit Playbook, host Aprileen sits down with Lorraine Copes, the inspiring founder and CEO of Be Inclusive Hospitality. Lorraine shares her compelling journey from turning down a role in 2012 to finding game-changing opportunities, debunking misconceptions about the hospitality industry, and navigating her career as a proactive CEO and social entrepreneur. Discover how she has leveraged her Jamaican heritage, industry expertise, and commitment to diversity to shape her impactful career.

Aprileen and Lorraine also delve into the importance of career role models, addressing inappropriate workplace behaviour, and the significance of strategic play in achieving professional success. Don’t miss this enriching conversation that underscores the lessons learned through grit, resilience, and inclusive leadership.

In this episode:

5 Key Lessons from this episode:

1. Trust Your Gut: Lorraine believes in listening to your gut feelings and trusting yourself, especially as you grow in your career.

2. Find Role Models: Having role models who look like you or share your background can be super helpful and inspirational.

3. Expand Your View on Hospitality: The hospitality industry offers more than you think. Understanding its full scope can bust some big myths!

4. Tackle Workplace Issues: It’s important to deal with inappropriate behavior head-on, aligning with your values to create a respectful work environment.

5. Build a Legacy: Lorraine’s journey shows that intentionality, bravery, and strategy are key to creating lasting change and impact.

Get to know our Playmakers: 

- Find out more about Be Inclusive Hospitality (https://bihospitality.co.uk/)

 Connect with Lorraine

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorraine.copes/

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beinclusivehospitality/

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorraine-copes-ab614820/

We hope you enjoy this deep dive into Lorraine's journey and strategies on Pursuit Playbook. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review!

Join the community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meetpursuit.com and sign up to our substack at https://pursuitplaybook.substack.com Don’t forget to follow us on IG at @meetpursuit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/meetpursuit/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is an AiAi Studios Production, recorded by Aprileen Alexander in March 2024.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @aiai.studios // Website: www.aiaistudios.com

Welcome to Episode 8 of Pursuit Playbook, where we are

Asha shares her unique perspective on failure, how to embrace it as part of the journey to success,

5 key lessons from this episode:

1. Executing vs. Writing a Playbook: Asha highlights the

2. Embracing Failure: Drawing from her sales and entrepreneurial endeavours, Asha underscores the inevitability of failure and the importance of dissecting and learning from it to foster both personal and professional growth.

3. Evolving Priorities: The global pandemic

4. Networking and Serendipity: Asha attributes

5. Strategic Leadership: Asha discusseds the distinction between working in the business and working on the business, advocating for leaders to invest time in

Get to know our Playmakers: 

 Connect with Asha

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashahaji/

Don’t forget to click the subscribe button to find us next week and listen to other episodes, actionable advice and insider perspectives only on the Pursuit Playbook!

Join the community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meetpursuit.com and sign up to our substack at https://pursuitplaybook.substack.com Don’t forget to follow us on IG at @meetpursuit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/meetpursuit/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is an AiAi Studios Production, recorded by Aprileen Alexander in March 2024.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @aiai.studios // Website: www.aiaistudios.com

In this insightful episode of Pursuit Playbook, host Aprileen is joined by Ashley Chang, the founder of Sundays, an executive assistant service specifically designed to support working parents. Ashley discusses her distinctive career trajectory from genetics to the tech startup world and the profound learnings she has amassed along the way.

Delving deep into topics like the importance of an abundance mindset, the necessity of mentorship for women of colour, and strategic career visibility, this episode offers valuable perspectives for professionals at all stages. Ashley also shares how her company, Sundays, aims to alleviate the burdens faced by parents, inspired by her own experiences and observations.

5 Key Lessons from this episode:

1. Adopt an Abundance Mindset: Ashley illustrates how viewing failures as opportunities for growth can lead to continuous personal and professional development.

2. Be Visible: Ashley stresses the importance of taking proactive steps to ensure your work gets recognized, and the benefits of maintaining a strong presence, especially on platforms like LinkedIn.

3. Mentorship Matters: The episode covers how choosing roles based on the mentor’s leadership and ambition can significantly influence one’s career path.

4. Leveraging Technology: Sundays harnesses technology to automate repetitive parenting tasks, illustrating how tech can effectively ease daily burdens and improve quality of life.

5. Supporting Working Mothers: Driven by her personal observations and experiences, Ashley’s mission with Sundays is to support skilled mothers in the workforce, enabling them to sustain and grow their careers.

Get to know our interviewees: 

- Learn more: Dive deeper into the conversation and explore more insights from https://withsundays.com/

- Connect with Ashley Chang:

Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleymchang/

Don’t forget to click the subscribe button to find us next week and listen to other episodes, actionable advice and insider perspectives only on the Pursuit Playbook!

Join the community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meetpursuit.com and sign up to our substack at https://pursuitplaybook.substack.com. Don’t forget to follow us on IG at @meetpursuit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/meetpursuit/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is an AiAi Studios Production, recorded by Aprileen Alexander in May 2024.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @aiai.studios // Website: www.aiaistudios.com

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, host Aprileen sits down with the inspiring Les Alfred, the founder and host of the *Balanced Black Girl* podcast. Les opens up about her personal journey from a full-time corporate job to becoming a successful entrepreneur and content creator.

The conversation tackles the pressures of maintaining a positive public persona, the realities of entrepreneurship, and the importance of prioritising mental health and well-being. Les shares her struggles, breakthroughs, and the strategic plays that helped her carve her unique path in the wellness and podcasting industries.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to create their own opportunities and pursue a passion-driven career.

5 Key Lessons from this episode:

1. Authenticity over perfection: Les and Aprileen highlight the importance of being true to oneself, even when it means showing vulnerability.

2. Boundaries are essential: Setting boundaries around your personal and professional life can help maintain mental health and well-being.

3. Create your own opportunities: If the desired roles or opportunities aren’t coming your way, take initiative to create them yourself.

4. Importance of therapy: Therapy plays a crucial role in unravelling personal anxieties and pressures, especially for black women.

5. Smart risks and consistency: Understand the value of taking calculated risks and maintaining consistency to grow and succeed professionally.

Get to know our playmakers: 

- Learn more: Dive deeper into the conversation and explore more insights from Les Alfred https://www.balancedblackgirl.com/

- Connect with Les Alfred:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balancedles/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balancedblackgirlpodcast/

Don’t forget to click the subscribe button to find us next week and listen to other episodes, actionable advice and insider perspectives only on the Pursuit Playbook!

Join the community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meetpursuit.com and sign up to our substack at https://pursuitplaybook.substack.com. Don’t forget to follow us on IG at @meetpursuit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/meetpursuit/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is an AiAi Studios Production, recorded by Aprileen Alexander in March 2024.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @aiai.studios // Website: www.aiaistudios.com

Welcome to Episode 5 of Pursuit Playbook, where we sit down with the dynamic Elizabeth Uviebinené, also known as Liz, the multi-hyphenate author, brand strategist, and Founder and CEO of the innovative journaling app, Storia.  Join our host Aprileen as she delves into Liz's inspiring journey from corporate life to freelance success and tech entrepreneurship. Discover the pivotal moments, challenges, and strategies that have shaped Liz's unique career path, and get an exclusive preview of her upcoming app, Storia.

Liz discusses the importance of recognising the background sacrifices behind success, the role of strategic risks, and the power of mentoring and differentiation. She also highlights her challenges as a young, black woman in the corporate world and how she managed to navigate her career transitions.

Five Key Lessons from this episode:

1. Recognising Background Sacrifices: Liz and Aprileen emphasise the importance of acknowledging the journey and efforts that lead to visible success.

2. Taking Strategic Risks: Liz advocates for embracing a YOLO mindset to overcome fear and regret, encouraging listeners to take calculated risks.

3. Importance of Journaling: Liz reveals how scripting or journaling can help define goals and envision success, promoting the practice for clarity and direction.

4. Value of Mentorship: Liz discusses the importance of identifying the gaps that mentors and coaches fill, and how they can provide strategic guidance.

5. Differentiation in the Market: Emphasising the need to be different rather than first, Liz cites the example of Reddit and highlights Storia’s unique approach to digital journaling.

Get to know our Playmakers: 

- Join the Storia app and start your personalized journaling journey (https://www.storia.world/)

 Connect with Liz

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethuviebinene/

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storia_world/

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-uviebinene/

We hope you enjoy this deep dive into Liz's journey and strategies on Pursuit Playbook. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review!

Join the community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meetpursuit.com and sign up to our substack at https://pursuitplaybook.substack.com Don’t forget to follow us on IG at @meetpursuit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/meetpursuit/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is an AiAi Studios Production, recorded by Aprileen Alexander in March 2024.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @aiai.studios // Website: www.aiaistudios.com

In this inspiring episode of "Pursuit Playbook," our host Aprileen welcomes Ella Anyanwu, an exceptional PR professional and founder of Thirsty, the Agency. 

With a wealth of experience from illustrious names like L'Oreal, Nars, and the iconic Fenty Beauty, Ella shares her incredible journey through the worlds of fashion and beauty PR. 

Discover how she navigated the challenges of the predominantly white industry as a black woman under 30, and her bold steps towards building a groundbreaking, all-black team & agency. This episode offers listeners a treasure trove of lessons on emotional intelligence, adaptability and persistence in the world of PR and entrepreneurship.

5 Key Lessons from this episode:

1. Importance of Workplace Relationships: Building strong relationships in the corporate world laid the foundation for Ella's entrepreneurial pursuits.

2. Emotion Management: Acknowledge and process emotions but keep them from affecting work – "one monkey doesn't stop the show."

3. Learning from Failure: View failures as steps toward success. Adaptability and finding new opportunities are crucial.

4. Value of Specialised Services: Moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach in PR and focusing on tailored services that align with clients' needs.

5. Navigating Industry Dynamics: Building resilience, multitasking, and understanding the importance of senior input in agency work.

Get to know our Playmakers: 

- Learn more about Ella and Thirsty, the Agency: https://www.thisisthirsty.com/

https://ellathirsty.substack.com/

- [Connect with Ella Anwanyu on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ellathirsty/)

- [Connect with Thirsty on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thirstytheagency/)

Dive into this captivating discussion that’s not just about the success story of a trailblazing PR professional, but also about perseverance, innovation, and staying true to one’s vision amidst the unpredictable tides of the business world.

Don’t forget to click the subscribe button to find us next week and listen to other episodes, actionable advice and insider perspectives only on the Pursuit Playbook!

Join the community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meetpursuit.com and sign up to our substack at https://pursuitplaybook.substack.com. Don’t forget to follow us on IG at @meetpursuit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/meetpursuit/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is an AiAi Studios Production, recorded by Aprileen Alexander in March 2024.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @aiai.studios // Website: www.aiaistudios.com

Welcome to Episode 3 of "Pursuit Playbook"! In this episode, our host Aprileen sits down with Renee Hunt, the dynamic Chief Technology Officer at Compare the Market. Renee opens up about her journey in the tech and financial services industries, sharing her skepticism towards financial services, her passion for continuous learning, and the invaluable lessons she’s picked up along the way.

The discussion spans Renee's late-career transition to an executive role, her reflections on growth through failure, and the impact of mentors and sponsors. Renee also delves into DEI challenges, her leadership approach, and the importance of internal community focus to support marginalised groups.

 Whether you’re aiming for an executive role or just starting your career, this episode is packed with actionable insights on managing relationships, embracing failure, and advancing your career through networking and mentorship. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that will inspire you to take risks, grow from failures, and advocate for meaningful change in the workplace.

5 Key Lessons from this episode:

1. Continuous Learning and Professional Development:

   - Renee underscores the importance of continuous learning over leisure, asserting that growth and success stem from constantly seeking new knowledge and skills.

2. Embrace Failure for Growth:

   - Failure is a significant teacher. Embracing risks and learning from setbacks is crucial for personal and professional development.

3. The Critical Role of Mentorship and Sponsorship:

   - Distinguishing between mentors and sponsors, Renee highlights the necessity of having both in your career journey. Sponsors, in particular, are vital as they advocate for you in strategic contexts.

4. DEI Commitment Within Organizations:

   - While progress has been made, substantial work is needed to support underprivileged groups genuinely. DEI efforts should focus on creating supportive internal communities.

5. Future-Focused Leadership:

   - Effective leadership involves preparing for future challenges and empowering your team with autonomy, coaching, and proactive risk management.

Get to know our Playmakers:  

- Connect with Renee Hunt:

  - LinkedIn: [Renee Hunt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-hunt-3564b2/)

Get to know Compare the Market:

  - https://www.comparethemarket.com/

  - https://comparethemarketcareers.com/

Don’t forget to click the subscribe button to find us next week and listen to other episodes, actionable advice and insider perspectives only on the Pursuit Playbook!

Join the community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meetpursuit.com and sign up to our Substack at https://pursuitplaybook.substack.com. Don’t forget to follow us on IG at @meetpursuit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/meetpursuit/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is an AiAi Studios Production, recorded by Aprileen Alexander in March 2024.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @aiai.studios // Website: www.aiaistudios.com