Career Changes, Community Building & Brand Partnerships with Ayahna Wilbon

From Postal Worker to Viral Content Creator | Claire on Accessibility, Authenticity & Why Every Job Is Shaping You

Most people wouldn't put "sorting parcels at 18" on their highlight reel. Claire would — because that job taught her everything about resilience, people and showing up even when nobody's watching. In this episode, Claire shares a career journey that spans twenty years in the travel industry, redundancy, health challenges, and an unexpected pivot into content creation — not because it was planned, but because she had something real to say and people needed to hear it. We talk about what early, unglamorous jobs actually teach you, why authenticity on social media will always outlast perfection, and how Claire built a loyal community around accessibility advocacy without compromising who she is along the way. We also get into the practical stuff — brand partnerships, knowing when to say no, and why your story matters infinitely more than your follower count. Warm, honest and genuinely galvanising — this one's a reminder that every chapter of your career is building something, even when it doesn't feel like it. ⚡ What we cover: → From postal sorting office to twenty year travel industry career → Navigating redundancy, health challenges and starting over → The pivot into content creation — unplanned, authentic and community driven → Why the unglamorous early jobs are often the most formative → Building a loyal audience through real, unfiltered content → Accessibility advocacy and using your platform to genuinely educate → Brand partnerships, integrity and knowing when to say no → Why your story and life experience are your greatest creative assets 🎙 She's Lost Control — the podcast for ambitious creatives who are done playing small. 💌 Join #TheChaosClub → www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/ [http://www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/]

She Left Finance, Built a Brand & Never Looked Back | Monique Sar on Career Pivots, Personal Branding & Entrepreneurship

Monique Sar started out in finance. Not exactly the most obvious route into marketing, talent management and entrepreneurship — but then again, the best career stories rarely are. In this episode, Monique gets honest about what it actually takes to pivot between industries when the odds aren't always in your favour — the rejection, the resilience, and the strategic moves that nobody talks about but everyone needs to know. We get into how she built her career through proximity and relationships, what it really means to develop a personal brand that works for you, and the moment she decided to stop climbing someone else's ladder and build her own. We also talk negotiation, burnout, knowing when to niche down, and why authenticity isn't just a buzzword — it's actually the longest play in the room. If you're navigating a career change, building a business, or trying to figure out what your personal brand is even supposed to be — this one's got a lot for you. ⚡ What we cover:  → Pivoting from finance into marketing and creative industries  → Building a personal brand through storytelling and consistency  → Networking, proximity and the relationships that actually move careers forward  → Negotiation strategies and knowing your worth  → Managing rejection, burnout and career setbacks  → When to niche down, when to scale and when to plan your exit  → Stepping into entrepreneurship and building on your own terms 🎙 She's Lost Control — the podcast for ambitious creatives who are done playing small. 💌 Join #TheChaosClub → www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/ [http://www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/]

Career Changes, Community Building & Brand Partnerships with Ayahna Wilbon

On this episode of She’s Lost Control, we’re joined by Ayahna Wilbon — founder of Friends Table — to talk about career pivots, community building, brand partnerships, and creating a business rooted in culture and authentic connection. Ayahna shares her journey from working across logistics, tech, marketing, and corporate brand roles to building a community-led platform centred around food, creativity, and meaningful experiences. We dive into the realities of navigating career transitions, balancing side ventures with full-time work, and building a culturally relevant brand from the ground up. This episode is packed with honest insight into entrepreneurship, leadership, personal branding, and resilience, especially as a Black woman navigating predominantly white corporate spaces. We also get into: *  How to navigate major career changes with confidence  *  Building authentic brand partnerships and sponsorships  *  Community building and creating culturally relevant experiences  *  The realities of entrepreneurship and scaling a business  *  Networking, self-advocacy, and leadership mindset shifts  *  Balancing creative projects with full-time roles  *  Why genuine relationships matter more than clout  Whether you’re building a brand, launching a side hustle, or navigating your next career move, Ayahna’s story is full of practical advice, mindset shifts, and inspiration for building a career on your own terms. 🎙 She's Lost Control — the podcast for ambitious creatives who are done playing small. 💌 Join #TheChaosClub → www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/ [http://www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/]

From YouTube to Acquisition: Creative Careers, Freelancing & Business Growth with Celia Hodgson

Celia Hodgson was making YouTube videos as a teenager. By the time she was done, she'd worked on The Crown, built her own production company Tiny Studios, and got acquired. In this episode, Celia shares the full arc of that journey — from saying yes to opportunities before she felt ready, to managing a team, navigating cash flow, and eventually going through the emotional process of handing over something she'd built from scratch. We talk about what it really takes to grow from freelancer to business owner, how to price yourself and negotiate with clients without underselling your work, and why showing initiative through personal passion projects is still one of the most powerful career moves you can make. Warm, grounded and genuinely full of wisdom — this one's for any creative who's ever wondered what it would take to build something of their own. ⚡ What we cover:  → From YouTube teenager to production company founder and acquisition  → Saying yes to The Crown and what that opportunity taught her  → Transitioning from freelancer to business owner and managing a team  → Building Tiny Studios — values, brand and the road to acquisition  → Cash flow, funding and managing the financial health of a creative business  → The emotional journey of being acquired and trusting the process  → Pricing, contracts and negotiating with clients confidently  → Practical advice for freelancers ready to take on bigger responsibilities 🎙 She's Lost Control — the podcast for ambitious creatives who are done playing small. 💌 Join #TheChaosClub → www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/ [http://www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/]

She Worked on Girls Gone Wild & Lived to Write About It | Courtney Kocak on Creative Ambition, Survival & Finding Your Voice

Courtney Kocak moved to Hollywood with a dream, a lot of ambition, and absolutely no idea what was coming next. What followed was acting, survival jobs, freelancing at Bustle, TV animation, podcasting, a New York Times byline, and eventually — a memoir that nobody else could have written. In this episode, Courtney shares the unfiltered story behind building a creative career on your own terms — the pivots, the failures, the moments that nearly broke her, and the ones that made her. We talk about letting go of your original dream without losing yourself, how podcasting completely changed her career trajectory, and what it really means to own your work — creatively, legally and financially. We also get into her memoir Girl Gone Wild, out now via Trio House Press, and what it taught her about telling the truth even when it's uncomfortable. Raw, funny and genuinely eye-opening — this one stays with you. ⚡ What we cover:  → Transitioning from acting to writing, freelancing and TV animation  → Breaking into high profile publications and learning from great editors  → How podcasting opened doors and built her industry network  → Letting go of rigid career dreams and embracing the squiggly path  → Financial independence, ownership and protecting your creative work  → Writing her memoir Girl Gone Wild — therapy, truth and self-acceptance  → Saying no, trusting your gut and going all in on ambitious ideas  → Building a platform through authentic relationships not social media tricks 🎙 She's Lost Control — the podcast for ambitious creatives who are done playing small. 💌 Join #TheChaosClub → www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/ [http://www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/]