She's Lost Control!

This week, we're joined by Bethany Walker, Global Brand Manager at Chivas Regal, where she leads global talent partnerships and culture marketing across music, fashion, sport, art and entertainment. Her job is to help one of the world's biggest brands stay culturally relevant by building authentic partnerships with the artists, creators and communities shaping tomorrow.Long before working with global brands, Bethany was writing about underground artists, hosting radio shows, interviewing emerging musicians and championing talent years before they became household names. From ASOS and Universal Music to founding Sonic Waves—a platform supporting the next generation of R&B, soul, jazz and hip-hop artists—her career has been built on backing culture before everyone else catches on.In this episode, we unpack what culture marketing actually means, how brands build authentic partnerships, why relationships are still one of the most valuable currencies in business, and what it really takes to build a long-lasting career behind the scenes of the creative industries.In this episode, we cover: What culture marketing actually is  How brands work with artists, creators and talent  Building a career at Universal Music, ASOS and Chivas Regal  The story behind Sonic Waves  Negotiating your worth and understanding your value  Why relationships matter more than networking  Building a creative career behind the scenes🎙 She's Lost Control — the podcast for ambitious creatives who are done playing small. 💌 Join #TheChaosClub → www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/

Melissa Nyambayo was heading for a career in law. It took just one day of work experience with a barrister for her to go home and tell her parents — this isn't me.What followed was a career that took her through Universal Music, Live Nation, Teenage Cancer Trust and now The Roundhouse — one of London's most iconic venues and youth charities.In this episode, Melissa gets honest about what it actually takes to break into entertainment without connections, why being genuinely lovely to work with is the most underrated career skill nobody talks about, and what she's learned about marketing, budgets and stakeholder management at every stop along the way.We also talk money, negotiating your salary, investing in your pension early, and why nobody is coming to save your career if you won't advocate for yourself first.This one hits different.⚡ What we cover: → Breaking into music and entertainment from scratch → Why being kind and easy to work with is a career superpower → Agency versus in-house — and why both experiences matter → Why purpose-driven work changes everything → Salary negotiation and why you need to start your pension now → The Roundhouse — what it does for young creatives and why it matters → Why nobody is coming to save your career — and what to do instead🎙 She's Lost Control — the podcast for ambitious creatives who are done playing small. 💌 Join #TheChaosClub → www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/

Kira Matthews didn't stumble into success. She unlearned everything she'd been told about money, worth and what a creative career was supposed to look like — and rebuilt it from scratch.In this episode, the mindset coach, speaker and creator of Pitch School gets refreshingly honest about the real shifts that took her from styling to building a thriving coaching business. We talk about why chasing market rates is a trap, how to package your skills without overwhelming potential clients, and what it actually means to price from your worth rather than your fear.We also get into the stuff that keeps most creatives stuck — scarcity thinking, imposter syndrome, and the deeply held belief that money and success are for other people. Kyra dismantles all of it, practically and without the fluff.If you've ever undercharged, undervalued yourself, or talked yourself out of an opportunity before you even tried — this one's going to hit.⚡ What we cover: → The mindset shifts that built a thriving creative coaching business → How to package a wide skill set in a way that attracts premium clients → Pricing strategy rooted in your worth — not the market rate → Social media as your new portfolio and personal brand tool → Breaking free from scarcity thinking and negative money beliefs → Building confidence through action, testing and trial and error → Releasing imposter syndrome and trusting the timing of your journey → Pitch School — what it is and who it's for🎙 She's Lost Control — the podcast for ambitious creatives who are done playing small. 💌 Join #TheChaosClub → www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/

Victorine Amoussou has worked at some of the most culturally influential brands on the planet — Sony Music, Nike, Spotify, and now Meta, where she leads marketing for Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta. But she didn't get there by following a conventional path.In this episode, Victorine shares the real story behind a career built across entertainment, fashion, sport and tech — the internships that opened the first doors, the strategic moves that accelerated her trajectory, and the mindset that helped her navigate new industries without losing herself in the process.We talk about how to turn early opportunities into genuine momentum, why results on your CV will always outperform fancy job titles, and what it actually looks like to work on campaigns with Beyoncé, Stormzy, Lewis Hamilton, Teyana Taylor and Doja Cat.We also get into the practical stuff — salary negotiation, adapting to brand side from agency, building genuine relationships in competitive industries, and what resilience really looks like when the path doesn't go to plan.Sharp, strategic and genuinely one of the most impressive career journeys we've had on the show — this one will make you think differently about every opportunity you've been overlooking.⚡ What we cover: → From Sony Music and Nike EMEA to Spotify and Meta — the full career arc → How early internships and side projects built the foundation for everything → Working on campaigns with Beyoncé, Stormzy, Lewis Hamilton and Doja Cat → Culture and integrated marketing — what it actually means in practice → Moving from agency to brand side and navigating the transition → Salary negotiation and knowing your market value → Building genuine relationships in entertainment, fashion and tech → Resilience, layoffs and staying strategic when the path changes🎙 She's Lost Control — the podcast for ambitious creatives who are done playing small. 💌 Join #TheChaosClub → www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/

What happens when the career you built starts to feel like it’s slowly burning you out?Kesha Omarali was working in tech and startups — ticking all the “right” boxes — until burnout, self-doubt and a growing sense of misalignment forced her to rethink everything.In this conversation, she shares how she made the leap from corporate life into becoming a full-time artist and content creator, and what it actually takes to rebuild your identity from scratch.We go beyond the highlight reel of “following your passion” and get into the real emotional and practical side of a creative career pivot: the fear of starting over, the discomfort of being seen online, and the messy process of figuring it out in public.Kesha also breaks down how she’s built a creative business from the ground up — including how she approaches brand collaborations, pricing her work, growing on social media, and staying grounded in authenticity while still thinking strategically.This is a conversation about creativity, but also about identity, money, confidence and learning to trust yourself again after burnout.⚡ In this episode:→ Leaving tech and navigating a full identity shift into art→ Burnout, self-doubt and the fear of being judged→ What actually helped her start posting and building online→ Growing a personal brand without losing authenticity→ How to approach brands and secure collaborations→ Pricing creative work and learning to value your art→ Turning content creation into a sustainable income→ The emotional reality of career pivots and starting over→ Why imperfection is often what builds connection online→ Rebuilding confidence after burnout and stagnationIf you’ve ever felt stuck in a job that doesn’t fit anymore, or wondered whether it’s too late to start over — this conversation is for you.🎙 She's Lost Control — the podcast for ambitious creatives who are done playing small. 💌 Join #TheChaosClub → www.instagram.com/sheslostcontrolpodcast/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/