How I juggle motherhood and running a business
Building your Brand
A behind-the-scenes look at the real, unfiltered juggle of running a business while raising a family. In this episode, I’m sharing the contrast between big career moments and the everyday realities of motherhood, plus the systems, support, and mindset shifts that make it all possible. Key Takeaways The “highlight vs reality” contrast is normal You can go from career highs to cleaning up sick (or dealing with nits) overnight. Both can exist and that doesn’t diminish your success. You don’t have to do it all alone Support systems; whether that’s a partner, family, freelancers, or...
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Redefining Growth: From a Team of 10 to a Team of Two with Lauren Harvey
Building your Brand
Today on the podcast I chat with Lauren Harvey, who is the owner and founder of with her husband, Alex. I think so often we view running a business as a very linear journey, but often it doesn't really look like that. Over the last 15 years of owning their business, Lauren and Alex started off with just Lauren, grew to a team of 10, and then intentionally scaled back down again to just the two of them. We talk about that experience, how they had to unlearn the traditional narrative of "success," and the new niche they've settled into. We also discuss what it is really like working with your...
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Two failed client projects that had the biggest impact on my business
Building your Brand
In this solo episode, I’m sharing two early client mistakes that knocked my confidence; but ultimately shaped the way I run my business today. I talk vulnerably about my previously poor boundaries and some communication breakdowns, and how these experiences taught me lessons I still carry into every project. If you’ve ever had a client situation go wrong, this episode will remind you: you’re not alone and you can come back stronger. Key Takeaways Your gut is part of your business strategy If something feels off; whether it’s pricing, scope, or a client fit; it’s worth paying...
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Book Design as Branding: Lessons from Penguin with David Pearson
Building your Brand
In this episode of Building Your Brand, I’m chatting with , a world-class book designer who began his career at Penguin Books before venturing out on his own. David specializes in both book covers and the internal layouts (text design) of books. We dive deep into the "crossovers" between book design and branding, exploring how David handles the unique challenge of designing for "dead authors" while trying to capture entirely new audiences. David shares his refreshing and somewhat rebellious take on the creative process, explaining why he identifies as a "slow designer" and why he’s...
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Where I Stand on AI (as a Branding Designer)
Building your Brand
In this solo episode I'm sharing honestly on where I currently stand on AI. It's a topic I’m still wrestling with; from its undeniable benefits to the deeper ethical and creative concerns, this isn’t a definitive take; it’s a real-time reflection. If you’ve been feeling conflicted, cautious, or even curious about AI, this episode opens up the conversation and invites you to think more critically about the role it plays in your work, your creativity, and your life. Key Takeaways You don’t need to have a fixed opinion It’s okay to sit in the grey area. Growth comes from questioning,...
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The Invisible Impact: How Your Font Choice Defines Your Brand with Alen Kapetanovic
Building your Brand
In this episode I dives into the often-overlooked but essential world of typography with Alen Kapetanovic, a type designer and founder of Alen shares his fascinating transition from civil engineering to running a large design agency, and finally finding true success and freedom through the meticulous art of type design. We explore why fonts are as impactful as color for brand mood, the technical science behind "beautiful collections of letters," and how choosing a unique typeface can elevate a brand without requiring a massive budget. This episode is sponsored by SilverStag Type...
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How I Prepare For Giving a Talk
Building your Brand
Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to speak at some incredible events including Adobe MAX London (in front of 750 people and Adobe MAX LA. This year I am speaking at Atomicon and OMR Festival in Hamburg. In this episode I share how I prepare for the talks I give. Every talk is different but with the help of public speaking coach Charlotte Lewis who I have previously interviewed on the podcast I have managed to come up with a process that works well for me. If you have done any public speaking I would love to hear your experience, and if there is anything else you...
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The Truth About Professional Jealousy with Hannah Isted and Lois Seco
Building your Brand
Today on the podcast, I've invited two of my closest friends, Hannah Isted and Lois Seco, to chat about another vulnerable topic: dealing with professional jealousy. Last time we spoke, we tackled our fear of success, and this time we are diving into the messy feelings of comparison and envy. I am sure everyone has experienced professional jealousy at some point, and honestly, I feel it pretty regularly. In this episode, we chat about how to extract useful information from your jealousy, why taking action is the best antidote to comparison, and the danger of letting the social media...
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3 Memberships I Love as a Freelancer (and Why They Matter)
Building your Brand
In this solo episode, (recorded in my hotel room in London!) I’m sharing three memberships I’m currently part of and genuinely love; and why I think memberships can be such a powerful way to build community as a freelancer or small business owner. When you run your own business, it can often feel like the people around you don’t fully understand what you do. That’s why finding spaces where people get it can make such a difference; not just for practical advice, but for encouragement, accountability, and support. I talk through three memberships that have supported me in different ways,...
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Form Over Function: Why Your Beautiful Branding Doesn't Work with Melin Edomwonyi
Building your Brand
Today on the podcast, I am chatting about such an important topic: inclusivity and accessibility within branding. I'm joined by my friend and fellow designer to dig into what this actually looks like in practice which is a lot deeper than I realised. We cover so many different aspects of inclusivity and accessibility, from the colours we choose to how we format our emails. I feel like some of these topics could be a whole episode by themselves! The biggest reminder from this conversation is that we are never going to get this stuff perfect 100% of the time. It'a about curiosity and a...
info_outlineIn this episode, I really enjoyed picking the brains of Niki Hutchison, a marketing strategist who is passionate about online businesses marketing themselves like pros. We discuss moving away from amateur ways of doing things to ensure you are marketing like a professional.
Even though I am not a trained marketer myself, I have loved learning about it over the last decade of running my business. Niki and I delve into many interesting areas, including demystifying what a 'strategy' actually is, the importance of a multi-channel approach, and the massive impact public speaking can have on your business growth.
Key Takeaways:
- Marketing strategy doesn't have to be complicated: Niki explains that strategy is often over-complicated, but it is simply about starting with your business objective and deciding how to use different channels to achieve it.
- Don't rely on a single channel: One of the biggest mistakes small businesses make is relying on just one platform; instead, you should leverage your own channels (like your email list) alongside partnerships and other people's audiences.
- The power of in-person connection: Niki shares that speaking on stages and building real-life connections is currently the most effective way she is growing her audience and establishing trust quickly.
- Consistency creates trust: A major issue is 'ghosting' your marketing; disappearing and reappearing makes it difficult to establish trust with your audience, so it is vital to find a sustainable rhythm.
- From Overlooked to Fully Booked: Being 'fully booked' isn't about having zero white space in your diary; it's that confident feeling that you are winning at business, clients are coming in, and momentum is building.
Episode Highlights:
- 02:59 – Niki demystifies the word "strategy" and explains why it is actually quite simple.
- 07:59 – The danger of relying on just one social media channel and the importance of partnerships.
- 12:54 – Why in-person speaking and events are Niki's most exciting marketing tool right now.
- 20:19 – How to build reciprocal partnerships to help spread the word about your launches.
- 34:23 – Niki’s top tips for creating a marketing plan that fits into your actual life without leading to burnout.
About The Guest:
Niki Hutchison is a marketing strategist who helps business owners and brands take a multi-channel marketing approach to market like a pro. She runs two businesses: her personal brand teaching business owners how to market and grow, and an agency specialising in launching for organisations.
You can find Niki on Instagram @nikihutchinson, where she basically lives in her DMs, or connect with her on LinkedIn. You can also find out about her in-person events at her website.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Adventures in Marketing: The event Niki hosts in Edinburgh with her friend Abby.
- Enterprise Nation: Niki is an advisor and trainer for this platform.
- Adobe Express Scheduler: The tool Niki uses to schedule her content.
- Habit Share: An app Niki uses to keep on track with her tasks.
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @lizmmosley or @buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!