2023 was both a beast, and the best, of years. Sometimes the most valuable lessons and strategies for business success and personal growth come from uncomfortable learnings. That was certainly true for 2023. To mark the end of the year, and the close of this second season of The BrandUp Podcast, I’m trying something new: a personal roundup of what worked and what didn’t in 2023. Most of all? This episode is a celebration. Get ready to hear about how my ADHD and burnout challenged my entrepreneur...
Dec 29, 2023•19 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Meet Sara Kedge – a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consultant and neurodiversity coach to leaders across the UK and beyond. Sara’s voice stands out in a crowded industry – as much as her bright teal hair stands out in a crowd! DEI transformation can often feel heavy and hard, Sara brings play and joy. Most of all, she creates bespoke solutions for each of her clients to create truly inclusive workplaces. No box-ticking DEI here! With play and joy, Sara guides her clients to make uncomfortable c...
Dec 28, 2023•57 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Ready to be inspired? This week you’ll meet Dani Wallace, public speaker, entertainer, and the powerhouse behind 'I Am The Queen Bee' and the 'Fly Anyway Foundation.' Dani is a force of nature, and someone whose gift lies in helping all people take up space and tell their stories. In this episode we talk about: Inclusive Excellence : Discover how Dani builds active inclusivity into every part of her business; Marketing with Moxie : Learn the bold, authentic marketing strategies that made Dani un...
Dec 21, 2023•52 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Media coverage is (generally) good for business. But how to get good coverage in a noisy news world? Adela Hussain believes that every story you pitch is a service – a gift to deadline-driven journalists who always need a fresh perspective. Adela knows first-hand what media coverage can do to grow a brand. Former transformational management consultant turned fashion tech entrepreneur, Adela learned quickly that the best way to powerful coverage was to pitch her own stories. That’s why she now te...
Dec 14, 2023•35 min•Season 2Ep. 17
What happens when you’re known online for one specialism, but want to change your work completely? Today’s guest shares how she did just that – more than once. Ebonie Allard is an artist, and a Master Coach who works with Multiple Brain Integration Technique with a special interest in neurodivergence. She’s a certified Human Design specialist and a being whose constant evolution in business is a masterclass in reinvention. In this week’s episode you’ll hear about: How Ebonie went from leading a ...
Dec 07, 2023•49 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Karin McGivern is the epitome of the get-it-done entrepreneur. She’s a firm and opinionated presence in an industry traditionally dominated by men – and she’s not apologising for it. Her evolution from not ruffling feathers, to taking a strong stance and speaking up for her clients is one that took courage, clarity and conviction. On this week’s episode, hear how Karin and I worked together to evolve her brand’s voice and messaging. Now a regular contributor to The Shetland Times and spokesperso...
Nov 30, 2023•50 min•Season 2Ep. 15
You’re in for a treat this week. My guest G Sabini-Roberts is a brand designer, writer, trainer, speaker, activist and agender creative rockstar. Their unique and lightning-fast visual brand work is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. And it keeps me coming back for more. This episode is especially delicious for neurodivergent friends who live with autism, ADHD and other forms of neurospiciness. Get ready to hear G’s take on: The role of gender in branding (spoiler: there is none) Why buildin...
Nov 23, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Is your brand inclusive? Do you showcase your allyship with marginalised communities? Today’s guest, Aby Hawker, is here to help us do just that. A few years ago Aby founded TransmissionPR, a communications consultancy for brands, individuals and organisations committed to supporting the trans community. Aby features, elevates and advocates for people in the trans community through her work as a communications consultant, trainer and ally. She’s seen brands demonstrate beautiful allyship and has...
Nov 16, 2023•45 min•Season 2Ep. 13
If you’ve ever glanced up from your phone, startled at how much time has passed and wondered why you’re feeling crummy, today’s episode is for you. My guest Rubbi Bhogal-Wood is a social media consultant, trainer and TEDx speaker who is on a mission to reinvent our relationship with social media. You’ll hear her passion and urging for us all to think carefully about how we interact with social media, and why, as we discuss our personal experiences of getting sucked into the digital vortex. Rubbi...
Nov 09, 2023•44 min•Season 2Ep. 12
What if you could save time and energy while making marketing easier and more powerful? In this episode you’ll learn how one business owner in Ireland learned to do just that. Sarah Sproule helps caring adults talk to the kid(s) in their care about sensitive subjects like puberty, bodies, consent and more. It can be touchy stuff, and it’s critical for Sarah to get her words right. In this episode Sarah shares how her brand’s voice helped her jump off the content creation treadmill and reach almo...
Nov 03, 2023•44 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Do you really know what your clients want, or are you assuming? Our guest today is Katie Tucker, author of the newly released market research book for small business called Do Penguins Eat Peaches? Katie’s brilliant writing and practical tips make a dry subject feel interesting and manageable – a great plus for ADHD and other neurodivergent entrepreneurs! Katie’s mission is to save you from your own assumptions, and help you find the real gold in your audience, through customer conversations. Be...
Nov 02, 2023•53 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Are you distracted by marketing that keeps you busy, but doesn't lead you to the money? Ashanti Bentil-Dhue isn’t. Instead, she’s building a legacy of lasting change with Good Soil Leaders, a business she built on her skills and unique delivery of diversity, equity and inclusion work. Her methodology and language focus on bringing people closer instead of pushing them apart, and put clarity and competency at the center of everything. Find out how she and her team grew to be a global force for go...
Nov 01, 2023•46 min•Season 2Ep. 9
We’re BACK! Welcome to Season two of the BrandUp Podcast, where we talk all things brand, brains and voice. Today’s guest is Helen Perry, a marketing expert who helps creative people market their thing online. Helen is brilliant at helping people get the word out with smart, fad-free marketing that works. In this episode we talk about: How hard it can be to talk about what you do (spoiler: even the pros find it tricky) Why providing true value in your content is more important than being likeabl...
Oct 31, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 8
WELCOME BACK to The BrandUp Podcast, a show for neurodivergent founders and their friends who feel overwhelmed by marketing and know there is a better way. In this new series you’ll hear cracking conversations with experts who’ve stepped away from the shoulds and musts to craft marketing that works for their brains AND grows their business. You’ll also hear occasional episodes like this one, where I’ll talk about how to market when your brain chases every new thought (squirrel!), or you feel ove...
Oct 30, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Welcome to Season Two of The BrandUp podcast! This brand new series is packed with useful information about how to market and grow your business. All without drowning in the overwhelming marketing advice that works for some people – but not for your neurodivergent brain. If you’re looking to grow your brand and your business in a way that makes your brain and your bank balance happy, you’re in the right place. I created this podcast for neurodivergent business founders and our friends who are ti...
Oct 23, 2023•2 min•Season 2Ep. 7
In this episode: Being filter conscious. What’s driving your choices? The impact of internalising. Generative factors. Did you know that internalised feelings can not only affect your speech but also the individual words your choose to use? Anne walks through three main internal feelings, Trauma, Fear, and Shoulds to explain how each one of these factors can create restrictions to our brand voice. Generative factors are those that help you to generate ideas, hooray! Context , Positioning, and Re...
Feb 08, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this episode: Be brand mindful. Branding Up. Discovering your brand values. Continuing development. Anne brings more great analogies to help illustrate and clarify the difference between understanding why you need to find your brand voice and knowing where it can take your business. She sympathises that the process can be complex, sharing the difficulty she had with her own brand journey that led to her seeking help from a fellow brand strategist. Anne gives us another helpful client case stu...
Feb 01, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this episode: Brand language - how you use words. Why words matter and what they can do. Relaxing your audience and breaking the rules. Building a community. To help emphasise the importance of brand language, Anne goes back to basics. She explains that how words are used and how we string them together can significantly impact the success of a business. Anne talks through the three main functions of brand language and what to expect when you get it wrong. She shares some wisdom from research...
Jan 25, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode: Setting boundaries with your brand. Being relevant. Creating space to get creative. It’s time to stop taking things so personally when it comes to your brand. Anne discusses the importance of separating yourself from your brand and setting boundaries. She looks at the correlation between knowing your brand voice and understanding what content is (and isn't) relevant to share with your audience. Anne also examines the personal space that can be created when imposing these boundar...
Jan 18, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode: Brand voice disconnect The concept of cognitive dissonance Closing the gap Anne delves into brand voice disconnect, looking at how and why it can make audiences uncomfortable and less likely to trust your business. Researching the medical version for this type of mental conflict, cognitive dissonance, Anne breaks down why this disconnect causes discomfort and, most importantly, how it can be fixed. Applying the science in a way that’s easy to understand and sharing a client case...
Jan 18, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Episode 1: Nice to meet youIn this episode: Brand voice – what the heck is it? Why brand voice is so important to your business. What to expect from the BrandUp podcast. Who is Anne D Ferguson anyway? Anne explains what brand voice is and why it’s vital to pay it close attention if you want your business to grow and be as successful as it can. From branding and marketing, to strategy, PR and copywriting – the BrandUp podcast will take you on a journey of discovery to help you share your unique m...
Jan 18, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Your brand voice is the best foundation you can build your whole business on. Meet your host ,Anne D Ferguson, brand voice and messaging strategist, and ADHD-fuelled entrepreneur. Female business founders assemble - neurodiverse or not - and join Anne for a branding journey like no other. Listen, learn, and start mindfully crafting your own brand voice so that you can hand over your marketing to someone else, and get back to doing 'the thing' you became an entrepreneur to do. Subscribe now to Th...
Dec 22, 2021•4 min
