In this episode, Aprileen sits down with Chloë Downes, founder and CEO of SHFT, a full-service talent management agency in London, to explore her inspiring career journey; from her humble beginnings in south London to becoming the CEO. Chloë opens up about her personal and professional experiences, highlighting the importance of self-acceptance, strategic thinking, and genuine passion in the influencer industry. She also delves into the necessity of fair access to knowledge and diversity in her field.

5 Key Lessons from this episode:

1.    Embrace Self-Acceptance: Understanding and accepting her ADHD and autism diagnoses have allowed Chloë to be kinder to herself and manage her business more effectively.

2.    Prove Yourself, But with Purpose: Chloë’s drive to prove her capabilities led her to start SHFT. However, she emphasises doing things from a place of genuine intention rather than merely to prove a point.

3.    Team Over Profit: Prioritising her team’s happiness over profits has led SHFT to become highly successful with 100% staff retention.

4.    Authenticity in Influence: Chloë stresses that genuine passion and quality of content are more important than follower counts for influencers.

5.    Networking and Community: Building connections and supporting others in the industry are crucial to long-term success.

Get to know our Playmakers:  

- Learn more about Shift and Chloë Downes: https://www.weshft.co/

- Connect with Chloë Downes:

  - Instagram: [@frkle](https://www.instagram.com/frkle/)

  - LinkedIn: [Chloë Downes](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloedownes/)

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

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