She's Lost Control

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/]

She Left Diageo to Go It Alone | Chloe Bate on Marketing, Brand & Building a Career on Your Own Terms

Most people would kill for a career at Diageo. Chloe Bate had that — and L'Oréal before it — and then walked away to build something entirely on her own terms. A marketing consultant who's worked across some of the most recognisable brands in the world, Chloe has spent her career at the intersection of brand strategy, digital marketing and communications. She knows what it takes to shape campaigns that cut through, how to keep evolving as the industry changes around you, and what it actually feels like to go from a corporate salary to betting on yourself. In this episode, we get into all of it — navigating big brand environments, knowing when it's time to move on, making the leap to freelancing, and building the kind of confidence that doesn't rely on a job title to back it up. Whether you're starting out in marketing, thinking about going freelance, or trying to figure out your next move — this one's for you. ⚡ What we cover:  → Building a career across brand, digital marketing and communications  → What it's really like working for major global brands including L'Oréal and Diageo → Knowing when to move on and how to do it well  → Making the leap from corporate marketing to freelance consultant  → Setting your rates, negotiating and owning your financial value  → Overcoming imposter syndrome and building credibility as a woman in marketing  → Developing leadership skills and empowering the people around you  → Embracing uncertainty and backing yourself at every stage 🎙 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/]