E05 How I Became Co-Founder & CEO Of GUAP | Ibrahim Kamara
Episode description
Ibrahim Kamara’s career began selling Lucozade at school.
Now, he’s the co-founder and CEO of GUAP, a seven-figure company that can rightfully be described as the home of emerging creatives.
His early life was challenging, seeing his family go from financially wealthy to arriving home to see all their possessions outside on the street, when business took a turn for the worst and his parents separated.
He openly shares the impact of witnessing domestic abuse in the home and how that inspired him to step up and provide for the family.
Since the company was founded in 2015, GUAP has worked with some of the biggest companies in the world (Apple, Nike and more) and they've just announced the GUAP Gala.
Supported by Instagram, the event will take place at the Natural History Museum, and promises to be an experimental award show focused on highlighting key individuals and brands in creative culture.
In this episode, Ibrahim tells the story of how he made his dreams a reality, providing valuable advice for any aspiring entrepreneur.
This is.... How I Became Co-Founder & CEO Of GUAP | Ibrahim Kamara
With your hosts... Ashley Samuels-McKenzie and Charles Parkinson
Topics discussed:
- Sierra Leonean culture and the importance of helping the community
- The effects of growing up in an abusive household
- Selling Lucozade, gum, and donuts at school
- Becoming an MC and selling studio time
- The history of Grime in the UK (and why it isn’t as good as it used to be)
- The benefits of leaving London for a few years, and living at a slower pace
- A step-by-step guide on how not to host an event
- Bouncing back from failure, and founding a seven-figure company
- The importance of using the internet to feed your curiosity and get an edge on competitors
- Going into the pandemic weeks after hiring a team
- Pitching to Kurt Geiger and then becoming their main agency
- How to become a tastemaker and launch people’s careers
- Chasing your dreams through hard work
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Growing up in a Successful Family Business
(00:10:44) Lessons Learned from Parents' Entrepreneurialism
(00:20:46) Selling Sweets as a Side Hustle
(00:30:28) Money and Saving Habits
(00:40:30) A Challenging Party Planning Experience
(00:50:59) Starting the Video Magazine Journey
(01:01:04) Learning from Mistakes
(01:10:39) Recognizing the Impact of COVID-19 on Business Survival
(01:20:34) Launching the Gala: Celebrating Creative Excellence
(01:30:35) A Moment of Pleasure
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Episode Sponsor:
Gray Matters - A straight-talking business development consultancy that empowers agencies to position, market and sell themselves for new business success
Unity & Motion - A London based production company specialising in commercials and branded content
Email: [email protected]
This is a UNIFY Podcast. Produced by Unity & Motion
Credits:
Director: Charles Parkinson
Poet & VO Artist: Ashley Samuels-McKenzie
Sound Recordist: Paolo Neri
Editor: Paolo Neri