I Shouldn't Say This, But...

Emma Grede said personal branding is holding women back, and the internet went wild! I wholeheartedly agree with her, even as someone who's spent the last 10 years building a personal brand.In this solo episode, I’m getting into the Instagram vs reality of personal branding, and why I think we’ve confused having an online presence with having a personal brand.I’m sharing:- How Steven Bartlett made “build a personal brand” one of my KPIs when I became MD of Social Chain (when I’d spent years begging not to be on camera).- Why a personal brand can't just be something that lives online. - The rise of fake personal brands and why it's really niggling me right now- Why the people selling personal brand strategies missed Emma’s point- Where is personal branding heading nextIf you’re aspiring to build a personal brand that actually means something, this one’s for you.🎙️ Recorded at Mollies, Manchester🙏 Sponsored by We Are The Allies.We Are The Allies connects you to the UK's best freelance talent whether you need a complete specialist or an extra pair of hands - https://newbusiness.wearetheallies.com/katyleeson/

Consider this a proper catch-up from the sofa at Mollies, and this time I’ve brought someone new to meet you all. Introducing Isi who is now running my social media! She follows me round with a camera, keeps me grounded and won’t let me eat a croissant until she’s got the shot (obviously!)When this episode launches, we'll be two days out from my first TEDx Talk rehearsal and right now it’s not going in yet. I’m sharing why this one feels so vulnerable, plus a first look at what it’s about. We also catch up on a busy few weeks and look ahead to something I still can’t believe... we’re going to South Africa!In this episode, we get into:💡 A first look at my TED Talk: How to Turn Anxiety Into Action in Two Minutes 🤝 Two talks in one day in London, and the “secret sauce” behind Social Chain’s growth 📱 Debating the under-16 social media ban with Tulisa at Leeds International Festival of Ideas 🌍 Speaking at Auto Trader’s 500-person conference in Johannesburg 😅 The guilt of downtime when you work for yourself ✍️ My relaunched Substack🎙️ Recorded at the beautiful Mollies Manchester. Proudly sponsored by We Are The Allies.We Are The Allies plugs you into the UK's best network of freelance talent whether you're launching a new campaign or need to get through a backlog of content: https://newbusiness.wearetheallies.com/katyleeson/

This week is Baby Loss Awareness Week, so I'm re-sharing a conversation that means a lot to me.Seven years ago, shortly after my own miscarriage, I sat down with Ruth Bender Atik. She was National Director of what was then the Miscarriage Association (now Miscarriage UK) and has since retired.We talk honestly about how common miscarriage really is, why it's still such a taboo, and what nobody tells you about the experience. That includes the guilt, the decisions you're asked to make in hospital while you're in shock, and the fear of trying again.In this episode: Why around one in four pregnancies is thought to end in miscarriage The "12-week rule", and why it isn't a rule at all Why any sentence starting with "at least" is best left unsaid Pregnancy after loss, and why the anxiety is completely normal If you've been through baby loss, or love someone who has, this one's for you.Please note: this episode was recorded seven years ago, so some of the information, services and guidance discussed may have changed since. For the most up-to-date information, advice and support, please contact Miscarriage UK:🌐 https://www.miscarriageuk.org/ 📞 0303 003 6464 💬 Live chat is available through their website🎙️ Recorded at Mollies, Manchester🙏 Sponsored by We Are The Allies

A TED talk was on my vision board for this year. So when I was asked to speak at TEDx Trafford this November, I was thrilled, but when I started the process I was surprised by just what it takes to get on that stage.So for this week's episode, I'm joined by TEDx Trafford Curator Martina Witter to throw back the curtain on what really goes on behind the scenes.Martina had her first TEDx licence application rejected outright, but rather than treating that as a final no, she used it as information to try again and successfully put on the very first TEDx Trafford last year.In this episode we discuss:🎤 The difference between TED and TEDx, and how a curator's values shape the whole event 💡 Why TEDx isn't looking for speakers, it's looking for one idea worth spreading (not ten, as I found out the hard way) 📋 The TEDx framework: 8–18 minutes, grounded in science, no politics, religion or plugging your business, and a powerful hook within the first 60 seconds 🧠 Why coaching starts months in advance, and how Martina builds psychological safety into it 🎭 The art of TEDx curation, and why the running order is planned around the audience's emotions 👀 What the coaching has changed about how I speak on stage, and a little teaser of my own idea worth spreading (watch this space…)If you've ever thought "I'd love to do a TED talk one day," well this episode is giving you a sneak peak into the process.TEDx Trafford takes place on 21st November. Grab your tickets at tedxtrafford.com or on Eventbrite. I'd love to see you there.🎙️ Recorded at the beautiful Mollies Manchester. Proudly sponsored by We Are The Allies. Looking for creative firepower, a new skillset or need to get through a backlog of content? The Allies can help!

18 episodes into series 6, and I don't know where the time's gone! This week, to celebrate, I've pulled together my favourite moments from my guests this series. If you'd like to watch any of the episodes in full, scroll down for the links.In this episode:- Kelly Tucker on why your team are "subscribing" to your workplace- Sarah Louise Keane on why we keep playing down our own numbers- Jade Reilly on creatine: what it is and who should take it- Pav Riyat-Ward on what freelancers need to get booked- Ash Jones on personal branding when there are no gatekeepers- Sacha Lord on why he spoke out after a tragedy at Warehouse Project- Heather Elkington on nice vs kind, and why saying the hard thing matters- Liberty Mills on the fertility conversation nobody's having with menOnce again, thank you to my sponsor, We Are The Allies 🤝Launching a new product, working on new creative or tackling a content backlog? We Are The Allies has the biggest and best bank of UK freelancers around. Find out more: https://newbusiness.wearetheallies.com/katyleeson/Catch up on the full episodes 🎧Kelly Tucker → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSXlrwk4H-kSarah Louise Keane → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9exBcd6MZYJade Reilly → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9UHWIgRqykPav Riyat-Ward → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMrs-bFaADkAsh Jones → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNCzgrs8OEQSacha Lord → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-Mh7nSdiigHeather Elkington → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1_qmqkZMOALiberty Mills → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvLRLU2KFo4🎙️ Recorded at the beautiful, Mollies Manchester.