High Profile Magazine: The Light, Spirit, and Energy Edition by highprofilemagazine

APRIL’S EDITION EDITOR’S NOTES Dear reader, Welcome to the April edition of High Profile Magazine. This is now our 5th edition since we went digital, and we continue to grow each month! If you want to be part of our journey and would like to share your story with us, please do get in touch at editorial@highprofilemag.com. This month, our theme is Light, Spirit, and Energy. We have a lot of fascinating articles for you written by our fantastic team of contributors, as always, and I hope you enjoy reading them. If there is something you would like to see in future issues of the magazine, we are always open to suggestions, too!

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We love sharing these high profile stories of success with you

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We have some incredible cover stories this month, including Professor Jimmy Choo, who I have had the privilege of working with in recent months for his JCA London Fashion Academy. I hope you enjoy reading the interview as much as I enjoyed doing it. We love sharing these high profile stories of success with you each month, and hope to continue to do so for a long time to come. Thank you for reading, and see you next month. RAFAEL DOS SANTOS Editor-in-Chief

Hello reader, and welcome to our April edition! I'm loving seeing how much the magazine is progressing as the months go on, and I want to say thank you for supporting us on our journey so far. The feedback each month is always amazing, and I love reading what you all have to say about our work. I love April – my birthday is on the 1st of April, so I guess that might have something to do with it! But I also love the start of spring, as it signals the arrival of sunnier days and bright flowers all around. And I'm really excited about this edition of the magazine, too, as we have some really incredible stories to share with you this month, which is making April even better than usual! We have articles on everything from the spirituality of food to an interview with Tessy Ojo CBE, CEO of the Diana Award about helping young people thrive, so it’s a really varied edition and I hope you’re going to love it. Happy Easter, and I'll see you next month! LOLA SHERWIN Assistant Editor

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This edition is making April even better than usual!

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CONTENTS 3 5

EDITOR’S NOTE

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

28 30 48 70 61

MEET THE TEAM

MAIN STORIES

6 20 34

PROF. JIMMY CHOO, OBE OPENS JCA | LONDON FASHION ACADEMY WHO WILL BE THE NEXT FASHION PIONEER?

KETAN DATTANI - MAKING CARING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT COOL

ANGELA RODRIGUES - ONE OF LONDON’S MOST RESPECTED ENTREPRENEURS

MARKETING & BRANDING

18 66

SHOWING LIGHT, SPIRIT, AND ENERGY IN YOUR VIDEOS

COLOUR HEALS

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

12 50

KEEPING YOUR BUSINESS ENGINE GOING LESSONS ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP FROM AN ITALIAN BUSINESSMAN

HEALTH & WELLNESS

15 64

HOW I SURVIVED MY MISCARRIAGE

WHY WE SHOULD ALL FIND THE LIGHT WITHIN US

EMPOWERING BLACK WOMEN IN BUSINESS: IN CONVERSATION WITH HANNAH AWONUGA

LIGHTING UP THE NEXT GENERATION

HOW TO FIND HOPE OUT OF FEAR

LIVE INSIDE-OUT NOT OUTSIDE-IN

ENERGY IS THE KEY TO CONSCIOUS CAREER DECISIONS

BEAUTY & FASHION

41 52

THE SPIRIT OF HAIR

5 SPRING MAKE-UP TIPS

SPIRITUALITY IN FOOD

DETACH FROM THE NOISE

CULTURE & SOCIETY

5 INCREDIBLE BOOKS ABOUT SPIRITUALITY

MUSIC

REAL ESTATE

HOW TO SAFELY EXERCISE DURING PREGNANCY

BOOKS

FOOD

FITNESS

HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE THRIVE IS MY PASSION: IN CONVERSATION WITH TESSY OJO CBE

SPIRITUAL AND CHILL OUT TUNES FOR SUMMER

CELEBRITY & INFLUENCE

INFLUENCER OF THE MONTH

MEET THE TEAM

Rafael dos Santos, Editor in Chief

Lola Sherwin, Assistant Editor

Rafael dos Santos is the owner and editor-in-chief of High Profile Magazine as well as a writer for Forbes. Rafael is the CEO and cofounder of GuidedPR.com, an artificial intelligence platform that connects journalists with business owners. He has won seven awards including the Sunday Times 'Top 100 Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs in the UK'. His award-winning TEDx Talk 'What It Takes To Be A Migrant Entrepreneur' has been watched over 157k times. With over 18+ years running businesses in the UK, USA and The Netherlands, he combines real world-experience with an MBA from Henley Business School to manage his several businesses.

Lola is our Assistant Editor. She started at the company as a Journalist Trainee and progressed up the ranks after a few months of working with us. She is also a First Class Honours graduate in Hispanic Studies from The University of Nottingham, and is currently studying for a Masters in International Journalism at The University of Leeds. Lola runs a personal blog in her spare time, which has over 6,000 all-time views! She also speaks 4 languages and has spent time living in Spain, Mexico, and Brazil, as well as her home country, England.

Junior Negrão, Graphic Design

Sahar Hechme, Video Editor

Junior Negrão is a graphic designer from São Paulo with 20 years of experience designing magazines, books, publicity material and brand identity creation. He graduated in Graphic Design from UMC-SP, and he also completed specialist design courses run by renowned schools in São Paulo.

Sahar is a video editor who studied in Lebanon, and now has over 4 years’ experience. Her clients include SME businesses, influencers, fitness gurus, and many more. With over 1 million views across YouTube and social media, Sahar helps clients grow their social presence and stand out in a competitive market.

Andrei Koscina, Fashion Photographer

Wanja Muthee, Contributor

Andrei Koscina is a corporate, lifestyle and fashion photographer from Brazil. He is currently based in London, and has a degree in Advertising from PUCRS, as well as a HNC in Photography from LCCA. In 2020, he reached over 1.2 million views and 270,000 downloads on Unsplash. His main clients are entrepreneurs developing their personal branding.

Wanja is an avid reader and writer who lives in Nairobi. She’s a PR Assistant and Blogger at GuidedPR. She holds a Bachelors in Mass Communication from JKUAT and has worked in print media and in academia. When she’s not researching current affairs, you’ll find her on social media, keeping up with what’s hot!

Main Stories

Prof. Jimmy Choo,OBE OPENS JCA | LONDON FASHION ACADEMY

WHO WILL BE THE NEXT FASHION PIONEER? Interview by Rafael dos Santos

This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Prof. Jimmy Choo, the world’s most famous shoe designer, but our conversation was not about shoes, as one would expect. We talked about the launch of JCA | London Fashion Academy, an innovative fashion academy that focuses on creating the next fashion pioneers. Rafael - What prompted you to want to launch the JCA | London Fashion Academy? PJC - Education has always been important to me, it’s something instilled in me by my parents who helped me with my own education. I want to give back and support the next generation. And now, along with a long-time friend and academic leader, Stephen Smith, we have launched the JCA | London Fashion Academy. We are now receiving applications and will be opening the doors to the first students this September. Rafael - Do you think something is missing in contemporary fashion education? PJC - Traditionally the higher education sector does not provide a mentor styled environment. We believe that change can only happen by taking up the challenge directly and creating a new specialist institution, one in which learners are housed in a professional fashion incubation. I believe extraordinary achievements do not make one a true master; one must impart one’s unique skills to someone else. One must be a mentor.

This is our aim at the JCA, from the moment students enter our Academy, they will begin their professional lives. They will be able to develop their craft by establishing their own brand, work in a professional studio environment and will be mentored along the way. Rafael - Will students meet you? Will they learn from you? PJC - My home is just a short distance from the JCA in Mayfair so it’s convenient for me to cross over and spend time with staff and students. I will also be doing lectures.

“Education

has always been important to me.”

Rafael - Why is JCA so unique? PJC - The JCA will offer students a truly unparalleled couture learning experience. We bring together both academic learning and professional incubation support. Additionally, our students will be taught the entrepreneurial skills they need to set-up and drive a successful fashion brand. Rafael - Why now? PJC -Now more than ever, it is important for higher education to teach students about both design and business.

Rafael - Do you think fashion has changed for the better and what is the younger generation going to do to keep up on top of their game in 20 year’s time?

PJC - I have seen so many changes in fashion, from the rise of fast fashion to the trend for online shopping. Plus the impact of technology and the importance of sustainability. These factors did not exist 20 years ago when I started in fashion the focus was on design and quality. Today’s generation has to factor in these changes, and many more to follow, to build a successful brand - our students will be given this guidance at the JCA. Rafael - Do you feel your own education at Cordwainers equipped you well for your start in the industry? PJC - I had the privilege of studying at Cordwainers Technical College where everything had to be made by hand. There were no computers and the focus was on design, we were not taught how to run a business. Commercialism was a dirty word and success was not measured in profit, more who was wearing your products. After working for many years,

you learn this skill. My ambition for the academy is to teach students both design and business, side by side. Rafael - The Academy mentions entrepreneurship and business a lot on the website. I know that young creatives can struggle to find work placements, jobs and then to launch their own line is even harder. Is this something you want to address? PJC - Yes, teaching our students to be entrepreneurs is at the heart of the JCA. We will professionally incubate them through a mentoring approach, supporting each student through our extensive network of fashion contacts. In essence, we want to nurture the fashion talent of tomorrow. Rafael · What have you found encouraging about working with the younger generation? PJC· Their aptitude to learn and their fresh approach. Rafael - Why does the UK need JCA? PJC - The JCA brings together academic learning and professional incubator support for its students. Rafael - This is a transformative shift change in higher education that actively wraps learning around the entrepreneurial development of each student and their lives as professional designers. PJC - Professional incubation is seen by most universities

as a small bolt-on to academic courses. At the JCA, each and every student will be nurtured as an independent professional designer; supporting the development of each student’s brand, design collection, and commercial promotions. Rafael - How much does each course cost? PJC - £18k for UK students and £24k for international (when Tier 4 approval granted) Rafael - How many staff will you employ? PJC - The JCA currently employs 11 staff, this will be closer to 30 by opening in Sept 2021. Rafael - What bursaries are you offering? And how many students per year? PJC - The JCA is a fully-inclusive institution that welcomes all students. It seeks to support the best and most gifted potential designers to fulfil their educational and professional ambitions. To this end, the Academy has set aside a scholarship fund that aims to support the most capable students from disadvantaged backgrounds or those with non-traditional educational backgrounds. Qualifying students will be transparently means-tested and fee reductions and access to bursaries will be made as appropriate. Each year, the Academy has set aside a scaling fund from its gross sales revenue to support access and participation.

“The JCA will offer students a truly

unparalleled couture learning experience.”

“Teaching our students to be

entrepreneurs is at the heart of the JCA.” Rafael - Which ‘senior global fashion industry figures’ will be involved with the academy? PJC - There will be a multitude of widely recognised figures involved in the Academy. We will be tapping into Prof Choo’s little black book. Names of the roster of global fashion industry players will be released at a later date – watch this space. Alongside this, we will have a team of academic staff who will be best in their field, professionally within the fashion and pedagogically within education.

Rafael - How will the incubation side of the Academy run? Is each student guaranteed to have a business when they leave? PJC - The Academy is synonymous with its incubator and students will be supported as emerging designers from the start. This means from the minute students enter the Academy they will technically begin their professional lives. Professional businesses and sole trading professionals will also be able to work from and be supported by the incubator through tiered membership. Rafael - What proportion of UK students compared to overseas are you targeting? PJC - We are currently preparing for our Tier 4 sponsorship licence application. We hope to be able to announce a decision this year. We have no fixed ratio of UK vs International students. Rafael - What’s JCA account on Instagram? PJC - It’s https://www.instagram.com/jcalondon/ Rafael - The JCA is seeking to curate the world’s finest community of emerging fashion designers. What are your future plans for the development of JCA? PJC - With its global campus based in London, JCA has been established as an international brand and one that aims to create a vibrant ‘boutique’ finishing school in every major fashion city in the world, from London, Paris and New York in the West, to Shanghai and Hong Kong in the East. If you would like to be the next fashion pioneer, visit jca.ac.uk. The academy also has a fashion incubator to help develop the business skills of fashion designers. As part of the learning process, students are matched with a mentor. If you would like to become a mentor and give back to society by becoming a JCA | London Fashion Academy mentor, visit the page: https://www.jca.ac.uk/become-a-mentor

watch rafael’s ted talk

What It Takes To Be A Migrant Entrepreneur click on the icon to watch

Entrepreneurship

Keeping Your Business Engine Going By Naeem Arif

NAEEM ARIF IS A DIRECTOR OF UNITED CARPETS AND THE FOUNDER OF NA CONSULTING, A RETAIL & HOSPITALITY CONSULTANCY IN BIRMINGHAM. HE IS THE CHAIR OF THE MIDLANDS RETAIL & HOSPITALITY FORUM, A VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND MEMBER OF THE FORBES BUSINESS COUNCIL. NAEEM IS THE AUTHOR OF SEVERAL BEST-SELLING BOOKS INCLUDING ‘CUSTOMER FIRST’ AND ‘CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE’.

t’s been a tough year for many, tougher than some people will have ever experienced. In my 4 decades in business, I have seen recessions and dips in the world economy, but never have I experienced a lockdown. Basically, not being able to meet customers to trade. At this time last year, I was asking myself “if I cannot meet customers, how can I possibly be able to trade?”. As we are coming out of the sequence of lockdowns, I have managed to keep my brands going and more importantly, I have managed to keep all the things I value in perspective. It has been a tough time, but I have managed to keep going when others have given up. Through the COVID period, how have I managed to keep up my energy levels? How have I managed to get some momentum in my business life and personal life? How have I kept going when things have appeared so dire and desperate? The challenge has been: Do I do what I love or do I follow the money? I believe this is your energy source. Simon Sinek famously told us to ‘Start with Why?’. A lot of people that I speak to will relate to this statement and tell me how they want to do good things for their customers or the world. Others will talk about their families, how they are driven to provide a better future for their families.

I don’t always agree with them, because when things get tough, like they have been recently, I see some people chasing the money, instead of what they said they were passionate about doing. Now, let me be clear, I don’t think any more or less of people who follow noble causes in comparison to smart entrepreneurs. The important thing is to know your Why. When in difficult times, people cannot hide their true nature. For me, it is not wrong to want to chase the money, what is wrong is to hide your true nature, especially from yourself. I believe that Simon wanted us to be very clear, at least in our own minds; do you want to heal the world? Or do you want to buy a Bentley? Only when you truly know your own why, can you use it as a source of energy in difficult times. You may be wondering, why I am labouring this point? I am an advocate of people being self-aware enough to know the real source of their energy. When things are tough, this energy source is what will help us get through those difficult times. It has given me focus on what I really want to do when I have had to make a difficult choice. Don’t feel bad about what you want to achieve, but be clear about it, so that you do not make decisions that you will later regret. Finally, being clear on your Why is the real energy source when you are running on empty.

Food

Spirituality IN FOOD

MARCELA HAS WORKED WITH MULTINATIONALS LEADING THE WAY IN SUSTAINABILITY (UNILEVER, QUORN, DIVINE CHOCOLATE, THE UK’S HIGHEST-RANKING BCORP), AND AS A FOOD ENTREPRENEUR SEEKING TO TRANSFORM HOW WE PRODUCE AND CONSUME FOOD. MARCELA IS STUDYING A MASTERS IN SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AT CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY, SPECIALISING IN CIRCULAR, REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL MODELS.

his is an incredibly important topic; in fact, our very existence may well depend on this notion. Before you roll your eyes and think that this is a bit farfetched, please read on… and let me know what you think. The first thing to do is put forward my definition of spirituality. I’d like to define spirituality as our sense of connection with something bigger than ourselves, and it doesn’t necessarily have to involve religion. Now, let’s begin. The modern industrial agricultural system is in crisis today. People are raising questions about the safety, sustainability and quality of the food produced from the current industrialised food systems. Many sense a deep disconnect between the beauty of nature and the human-made methods that require poisoning any insects that could damage the crops, and with this practice, soils and water tables end up polluted; because of this, important species critical for our survival, pollinators being just one example, are collateral damage. People are also questioning the wisdom of modern agriculture, as science has eventually succeeded in taking the sacred out of farming.

Yet, humans need nature in every aspect of our lives, and Covid-19 has made this more apparent. The UK government Natural England’s new People and Nature Survey has revealed that during 2020, almost nine in 10 adults in England reported that protection of the environment is important to them personally, and 75% of adults were concerned about biodiversity loss in England. Parks, woodlands and rivers have played a really important part in helping us all through the coronavirus pandemic, with almost nine in 10 of adults in England reporting that being in nature makes them “very happy”. I always experience a deep sense of joy and connection when I am in nature, do you? On the positive side, the crises bring opportunities for change – and in this case, we need radical change. One such change could be the realisation that as humans, nature is an integral part of our being, we are a product of it, and we are dependent on it. Making a link between our connection with nature and how what we put on our plates was grown is imperative: to have an understanding that, to be healthy in mind, body and spirit, it is essential to be spiritually connected to the food we eat, not take it for granted, and to relish the experience of eating. Here are some ideas of things that we can all do: 1 • Grow our own food (even if it’s from pots and windowsills!) 2 • Try to eat less fish, because the way fish is caught is very damaging to seabeds and marine wildlife. Farmed fish tend to be more damaging as the fish themselves are prone to diseases and have a lot of chemicals that damage the marine environment – and you. 3 • Eat more local food, from farmers’ markets. 4 • Eat more plants!

The scientific community warns that humanity faces a sixth mass extinction in this century if it does not address climate change and the overexploitation of the planet’s natural resources. As one million species face risk of extinction, David Attenborough explores how this crisis of biodiversity has consequences for us all, including putting us at greater risk of pandemic diseases - and agriculture plays the leading role in this crisis. We must “fix” agriculture.

Eating more mindfully > helping nature > helping our connection with nature > spirituality. 13

by Blenda BORTOLINI

How I Survived My Miscarriage

Health & Wellness

Blenda, why did you decide to write the book “I survived a miscarriage”? When I made the decision to write about the theme of miscarriage, it was a decision I made based on a personal experience. I could not have children due to a problem with my womb. I had endometriosis and could not get pregnant easily. Over time, with age, the problem that continued to worsen. My doctor told me that I should have a second surgery to cauterise the areas that were affected by the endometriosis. After I got married, at the age of 36, I underwent the surgery, but I still had no guarantee of getting pregnant. After a year and a half of being married, I made a trip to Europe. Within a few months, I suffered a haemorrhage and had to stay at the hospital. They scheduled a new appointment to treat the endometriosis, which had advanced. According to them, because of my age, my chances of getting pregnant were small. But before the appointment was due to take place, I fell pregnant with my daughter, who is now 12 years old; I got pregnant without any methods of fertility treatment ! My husband, after a few years, wanted to have another child and, since I was already 42 years old, we thought about doing IVF, but after all the physical exams, the reproduction clinic ruled out the possibility. According to the tests, there were no eggs in one of my ovaries. Due to a number of problems, it wouldn’t work – my other ovary had a very small number of eggs, none of which were able to be fertilised, and there was no guarantee that any treatment would work. Even so, I did not lose hope of having our dream boy. A year later, at dawn, I heard a voice telling me that I needed to get up and have sex with my husband because, that day, I would become pregnant with my son. I woke up my husband, I made up with him because we had been fighting, and we made love. And that very day, I got pregnant. My doctor could not believe that this had happened and was surprised by my story. The pregnancy went by and I had no problems. My son was born, and today he is 8 years old. Then my husband had a dream that an angel appeared and gave me another baby. I didn’t want any more children, though.

I resisted and inserted my IUD even though I didn’t need to, just to avoid a new pregnancy. After three years, my husband said that I should not worry, as my doctor had assured me that I would not get pregnant. My chances were less than 10%. My tubes were blocked, and I was already entering menopause, so they said I should not worry. So, we made an agreement that, if I didn’t get pregnant within 6 months, I’d start using my IUD again and we wouldn’t talk about it anymore. In the fifth month after this conversation, I fell pregnant again. I was in shock, because I was 46 years old and yet I was going into my third pregnancy. But how? I wondered. However, my pregnancy did not develop correctly, and, at 12 weeks, I lost my baby. I didn’t understand why I had fallen pregnant, if I myself hadn’t wanted to, originally. And so, I went through what more than 40 million women have gone through. And I felt what a woman who wants to have a child feels. I heard babies being born in the maternity ward while mine was being removed from my womb. It was torturous to be in the same room with women with their newborn babies. I had to suppress my grief because the doctor said this was normal. I was denied my right to mourning. I didn’t lose a foetus, I lost a son who already had a name, a place in the house, a place in the car and in our hearts. And I saw that my pain was trivialised. Lying in the hospital bed, I asked God why my baby was gone. And, clearly, I heard in my heart that he had fulfilled his life mission. That he would be the voice of all the children who had not been born. And so, I began to research everything about miscarriage and was shocked by what I found. I invited women like me to talk about their loss and how they overcame the grief. And I wrote the book I survived a miscarriage. The book is the flip side of miscarriage. There are testimonials from other people who survived the loss of a baby. Who is the book for and what should the reader expect? The book is aimed at those who identify with this pain. The

go into the topic of a woman’s decision not to want to have her child. I speak of the trauma of a woman who wished to have a baby and lost a child she loved. Today, more babies die than soldiers in wars, traffic accidents and Covid patients. And nobody is touched by their deaths. Meghan seems to me to be a woman who is sensitive to women’s causes. I think her baby came to her to add to so many others that scream for life and to give the world a new perspective on the subject. My son, like that of many women, came with a purpose. I hope to use his voice and make it loud and clear. I want to share that everyone deserves to live and ensure that my son’s loss has not been in vain. I want to show that he, even though he is not with us, can save lives. How does it help? Awareness! Empathy, understanding the pain of a mother who dreamed, who planned, chose the shoe, the name, imagined the first steps and, suddenly, everything ends with a sigh. Do you agree or disagree with countries that make abortion illegal? I am pro-life. I am against all kinds of murder. It does not matter what stage of life a person is in. Whether they are in the womb or are 100 years old, animals or people. I am against the death penalty in any of its forms. But that is just my opinion. I think life is unique and everyone should live and write their story. I find it cruel to annihilate a story before it even starts. reader can expect a lot of emotion and resilience. Why do you think we need a book on miscarriages, given that it is a very personal and somewhat taboo subject? I think everyone should read about the topic. Because miscarriages are deaths, and should be seen as such, because traumas or memories from the experience follow the mother for life. The subject of losing a baby is very controversial. So, I chose to only write about miscarriage, and to defend those who never had a voice. And, when reading the book, if you are thinking about having an abortion, think about the pain of the women who wished for children and could not have them. Think of the struggle of couples who tried IVF 12 times and were left frustrated. That dream goes away every 3 months. The book is touching because it mixes in with the dreams of motherhood. And so, I believe that everyone should read this book. It is a book about a mother’s desire to have a child who didn’t come. It is the story of miscarriages.

Why? Because life deserves respect. It deserves to be lived. Do you think religion plays a big role in people’s opinion on abortion? Yes! But in my case, it is more than religion. Just as many atheists protect animals and trees. They do it for conservation and because of their values. I work to protect babies and preserve life. You also help people write books. What is the process of making a book and how can people contact you? Yes, I give help to those who want to produce a book. Each project must respect the phases of the construction of a book. Some take time, others not so much. First, write what you want, then present the content. The creation of the book

Do you think it is good for people like Meghan Markle to speak openly about miscarriage? Of course!! She felt the same pain that millions of women have felt across the planet. Miscarriage does not take account of social class, it does not take account of race, religion, or country. It can happen to anyone. For every 4 women, one has had a miscarriage or knows someone who has. Few speak of the pain of losing a child that is still in the womb. And what hurts us even more is to be denied the right to mourning. People use the argument that this is common. Since when do you tell a woman, at the height of her pain, that losing a child is common? Whether the child is weeks old or 50 years old, it is still a child! My message in this book is a call for awareness. I support these women in their pain. We are denied our right to grief. Instead of trivialising death, we should be valuing life. I don’t

Those who are interested can contact me through my website www.blendabortolini.com or by email at infoblendabortolini@icloud.com

Books

5 Incredible Books

About Spirituality by Lola Sherwin

Waking Up, Sam Harris, £9.99

The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle, £10.99

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Marketing & Branding

Showi ng Light, Spi rit an d E n e rgy i n Your Vi deos By Sahar Hechme SAHAR IS A VIDEO EDITOR WHO STUDIED IN LEBANON, AND NOW HAS OVER 4 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE. HER CLIENTS INCLUDE SME BUSINESSES, INFLUENCERS, FITNESS GURUS, AND MANY MORE. WITH OVER 1 MILLION VIEWS ACROSS YOUTUBE AND SOCIAL MEDIA, SAHAR HELPS CLIENTS GROW THEIR SOCIAL PRESENCE AND STAND OUT IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET.

t feels like because of the pandemic we are all focusing more on our overall health and wellbeing. The jump in interest in all sorts of mindfulness and spiritual health over the past year has been nothing short of phenomenal.

can add to the mindset and make the viewer feel like they are part of something bigger. This doesn’t have to be something grandiose that takes significant effort to film, it can be stock footage of a calming brook or river.

Light, spirit and energy will mean different things to different people. You may take your guidance from horoscopes or feel connected to a spirit or something “other” than the everyday. You may be someone who has typically been of an empirical mindset but have begun to embrace the benefits of changing your perspective to focus on the light in the world, or perhaps you have decided to channel your energy into your next goal. Either way, you and millions of others have been taking inspiration from videos across YouTube and social media as a whole.

With a business/entrepreneur video, the person speaking has a different energy, they make the viewer feel like they can do anything, build their own business, reach more people, be independent and most importantly be financially free. Who wouldn’t like spending more time with their family, taking time to connect with nature and even themselves instead of spending their days in a 9-5 job?

There is no doubt that the reach of those who provide services or products that help people achieve this sense of connection has never been greater, but make no mistake, this is still an expanding area with opportunities for those with exciting ideas. As always, the key will be in communicating the benefits to your viewers and doing so effectively.

The content of the video is very important and the way the video is edited can affect how this content is received in a big way, if you add several cuts to a meditation video, or if the brightness doesn’t match the tone of the person, or the music is too loud then the feeling of the video won’t reach its goal.

Every video has a light and spirit of its own, no matter the type of the video or its length. It could be a business video or a relaxing meditation session - each have their own energy and brings new perspectives to the viewer.

This isn’t just true for the typical videos we may associate with light, spirit and energy, but it is true across the board. For example, promotional material for events needs to showcase the energy and spirit of the event and show how the viewer’s participation will add to their lives - maybe it will give them the light of knowledge in a particular area, the spirit of entrepreneurship, or the energy of collaborating with others.

In a meditation video, the editing is slow, creating a connection with the person watching, even if they are miles away, and the calmness brought by the light background music takes you to a different dimension. Additions to the visuals

Whatever your video, never forget the impact that taking these considerations into account will have and you will be one steps closer to making your video connect with your audience.

Main Stories

KETAN Dattani 20

Making Caring About the Environment Cool Interview by Lola Sherwin

Ketan Dattani is the CEO and Founding Owner of Buckingham Futures, a specialist search and selection Consultancy focussed on delivering high-quality outcomes to clients and candidates. Buckingham Futures are specialists in Environmental Health recruitment, and their bespoke recruitment service is results-orientated, regarded by their clients as ‘the provider of choice’ for the introduction and supply of Environmental Health personnel. What made you want to start a career in Environmental Health recruitment? As far back as I can remember, I've always had a passion for nature and the environment. I grew up in a concrete jungle, so I'd constantly be asking my parents if we could go and visit people with gardens, and I'd spend hours looking at insects and molluscs and things, I was really into it. Even when we went to the library, I'd go straight to the animal section in the adults’ part of the library rather than going to the children’s section. I think that because I wasn’t around nature at home, I relished it whenever I could be. When I'd visit my grandparents in the Midlands, where it’s a lot greener, I'd catch tadpoles and sticklebacks and then keep them for the summer, looking after them until they were frogs and then I'd release them back into the wild. I didn’t get the foundations of an education, really, because I ended up having to leave school when I got in a bit of trouble. When I was a bit older, a few life-changing things happened, some friends of mine were incarcerated, and it made me realise that I needed to get myself an education. I was passionate about the environment, and so I decided that I wanted to work in the environmental sector. Because I didn’t have a basic education, I had to redo my GCSEs, then I did an A-Level equivalent, and at that point the head of science encouraged me to go to university. I got offers from 2 universities, one of which was for a degree in Environmental Biotechnology, which was what I decided to do. Upon completion of my degree, I ended up working in a laboratory as a trainee Medical Microbiologist, which was mundane and repetitive; I just didn’t find the work challenging at all. When I realised that this wasn’t something I could see myself pursuing as a career, I made the decision to go back and study a master’s degree in Environmental Planning and Management, and so I went back to being a full-time student for a while. When I finished that back in 1998, I was full of beans and I was really excited about getting a job in the environmental sector, but without practical experience, I couldn’t find any role that I was suitable for. I ended up in a medical recruitment role as I just couldn’t find anything in the environmental sector. The role was quite

lucrative, but my passion was for the environment, so I didn’t feel fulfilled. Within a two-year period, I went from being a trainee to being a lead consultant, but I knew this wasn’t my calling. I wanted to help people who, like me, had the right environmental qualifications, but couldn’t find a role because of a lack of practical experience. I knew that there weren’t really any environmental health recruitment agencies at the time, and so I approached my employer and proposed setting up an environmental division within the existing business. Unfortunately, because it was a medical recruitment agency, they didn’t feel that they were suited to taking on an environmental division, so I moved on to another company where I did environmental recruitment for about 6 years. After 6 years with that company, I moved again to another recruitment agency, and I set up an environmental division within that company. After the birth of my second son, I started to wonder whether I wanted to spend the rest of my life working for someone else. I knew I was capable of setting up environmental divisions within existing companies, because I'd now done so for 2 organisations. One Tuesday, my wife sent me a picture of my son crawling, and I thought to myself, I'm missing out on this whole fatherhood thing, because when I leave in the mornings, he’s asleep, and when I get home at night, he’s asleep. I felt like a weekend dad. That's the moment that made me decide to set up my own business and work on my own terms. I gave up my corporate role, and I started Buckingham Futures from scratch in the box room at my parents’ house in 2013 and built it up from there. Now I've been able to be around a lot more, I've been able to be so much more hands-on, which has been great. I've got 4 kids now, and I've really loved being able to spend more time with them. So, basically, there were two reasons I set up Buckingham Futures, firstly, I wanted to help people grow their careers within the environmental sector, and secondly, I wanted to spend more quality time with my family. Why should a client choose to work with Buckingham Futures over another recruitment company? We're specialists. Operating in a limited niche technical discipline, our strategy has always been to maintain a narrow focus and excel in our chosen area. Part of our training for

our consultants involves spending time on district with environmental health professionals; it’s crucial to us to ensure that everyone on the team really understands the sector so that they can be sure they're placing the right people. We always make sure to get to know our clients and their working culture, because that way we can be sure that we’re fitting them with the right candidates. We’ll present our clients with 2 or 3 CVs that are absolutely spot-on, rather than giving them 50 CVs from candidates who aren’t really that suitable for the role. Our service is bespoke, it’s not a numbers game for us, it’s all about building long-term relationships. There are people that I placed in roles in 2000 who still work with me, not as candidates now, but as clients. I helped place them in their first role, straight out of uni, and we still have a strong relationship. In fact, when I started to grow the team, people only wanted to work with me at first, but over time that’s changed as they’ve become used to working with my consultants. As far as our rates are concerned, there are no hidden extras. What you see is what you get with us. We also offer candidates advice for free; we don’t charge for that. Our work with schools, colleges, and universities is extra too, we don’t charge for that. We go in and give students careers advice, we do mock interviews and CV workshops with them, and we do that because we’re passionate about the environmental sector, not because we want to make a few quid extra. We do a Dragon’s Den style event with students, too, where I get local business owners involved and the young people develop an environmentally friendly product which we then judge; that’s always a fun day. It's really refreshing to see the environment being on the agenda now, because in my day, it wasn’t like that at all, the 1980s was an era of ceaseless environmental ignorance and I found that most of my peers were content to watch the world go by, detached from the conservation and ecological issues plaguing our environment. Everyone thought I was an absolute weirdo for talking about the environment. We've all been affected by the pandemic, obviously, but how has your business, specifically, adapted to deal with the lockdowns? We had the set up to be able to do things remotely, you know, we could do Skype interviews or Zoom interviews, CVs can be sent electronically, and documents could be signed via DocuSign, so it was just making minor tweaks in that respect. The big struggle was actually for me personally, as I've worked so hard to build a team culture, and before all of this I felt that everyone needed be together in a room in order for the team to thrive. Getting used to working remotely and not being able to hear and see what was going on was definitely a struggle for me. I don’t micro-manage or anything, but I enjoy being in the office around my team, and obviously now we couldn’t do that.

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I've always had a passion for nature and the environment.

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A lot of our clients also completely ceased hiring, and now many of them are no longer operating, which has been hard. At the same time, though, we managed to pivot. When you study Environmental Health, part of the course deals with infectious disease control, so we used that to our advantage and started recruiting for Track & Trace officers, Covid marshals, that kind of thing. A lot of people were being laid off, but they had the right skill set due to their degree covering infectious disease control, so we were still able to place them. How have you been keeping sane during lockdown? I compartmentalise my day. I've used lockdown to level up

across all areas of my life. I'm really into exercise, and I miss the gym a lot, but I've managed to adapt my whole routine to using just resistance bands and body weight. Exercise has played a fundamental part in keeping me sane.

things that have kept me sane. I'm very grateful for what I have, and I always bear in mind that I'm in a much better situation than a lot of people, so if I can help anyone out, then I will do so. I want to be a better person tomorrow than I was today, always.

I read a lot, too, I aim to finish one book a week. I couldn’t get used to the Kindle though, I love to hold books, the Kindle just isn’t the same. I managed 47 books last year rather than 52, but in general I aim for a book a week. Me and my two older sons have a mini book club, actually, from Monday to Thursday we have a reading session where we all read our own books and then we discuss what we’ve learned from them afterwards.

The older generation, in general, aren’t as interested in the environment. How do you think we can encourage people to show more interest in it?

I've spent a lot of time outdoors, listening to nature, too. Meditation and mindfulness are huge for me, and I make sure I get that in every morning before my family start to wake up. It's important to me to give back in some way each day as well, whether that’s by giving telephonic advice or anything else I can do to help people. I've written a lot, too. I've written a lot of articles during the last year on topics like managing teams remotely, juggling a family with remote working, that kind of thing. I've also written chapters in 2 books; one is an e-book and the other is a physical book. I think sharing my experiences has been really important in keeping me sane. I'm fitter and in better shape because of lockdown, and I'm also far more focused. Having a regimented kind of day and being appreciative are definitely the keys to my sanity. I'm healthy, my family are healthy, everything else can be worked on. I've become a lot more appreciative of how much my wife does, too, now that I've spent more time at home during the day. So, in summary, having a focus and helping others are the

The problem is that a lot of people aged kind of, mid40s up, don’t think that their individual actions will make a difference. I think the younger generation are having a huge impact, though, they’re really trying to educate their parents on this topic, rather than vice versa. When I go to schools and colleges it’s amazing to see how aware young people are becoming of the environment. I’m from the Hindu faith, and we believe in Mother Earth, and why wouldn’t you look after your mother? Why wouldn’t you want the planet to be nice for the generations to come? Why would you exploit other species? It's a case of changing people’s mindset. You can’t really do much about the older generation, though, apart from letting them be encouraged by the younger generation. Young people are really leading the movement for change. I also think certain community groups are really isolated, where English isn’t that widely spoken, even though they’ve been in the UK for 30 or 40 years, because they live in these little pockets. If the environmental literature was available in more community languages, that would help, I think. Another thing is, and this relates more to the younger generation, that without generalising, they tend to think that you can’t be cool if you’re environmentally conscious. When they picture an environmentally conscious person, they picture an airy-fairy type wearing hemp clothing with dreadlocks, you know? And a lot of kids, particularly black and Asian kids, can’t relate to that. But actually, these communities are often

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What you see is what you get with us.

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disproportionately affected by environmental issues as they’re more likely to live in high-rise buildings and overcrowded areas, so we need to encourage them to care.

What would be your top 3 tips of things that everyone can do to help the environment? Walk more. Driving is a huge issue; it causes so many problems. Then consume less meat or just don’t consume any meat. I'm not here to preach, but the meat industry is hugely problematic, and if more people made an effort to consume less animal products, it would make a huge difference. The third one is to plant trees. If people were only to do three things, these would be the top three. I could easily name another 10 or 15 things, though. Change needs to come from the top, though, it can’t just be grassroots. But some people don’t see it as a problem, which is just selfish. We've only got one planet, and we need to look after it. I recently read Elon Musk’s book, and he wants to start a new colony on Mars, but I think we need to sort the problems we have here before we go to another planet and inevitably cause more damage there, too. Also, we need to learn from this pandemic, but people forget very quickly. Most diseases are zoonotic, they’re transmitted from animals to humans, but throughout history we never seem to learn that we should stop exploiting animals. For as long as there are abattoirs and wet markets, these things will keep happening. It’s the same with our garments, too. I try and shop ethically,

because to be honest, if I know a company is exploiting third world labour, then I'd rather not buy from them. It may be more expensive, but it’s better quality, and it means my conscience is better. What has been the greatest challenge you’ve faced in your career, and how did you overcome it? Definitely changing my mindset from that of an employee to that of a solopreneur. It was exciting, but it was unnerving. Walking away from a well-paid corporate job to start my own business as a one-man band was a huge step. I overcame it through trial and error, in all honesty. I made a lot of mistakes, but I learnt from them and I bounced back from them very quickly. One thing I regret was not having a mentor in the early days. I got one in my second year and since then I've had three or four mentors, and I've learnt a lot from each of them, but I should have had one from day one. Off the back of that, what’s been the highlight of your career? I've had so many! One highlight is definitely being able to give back. Another is that everything is on my terms, I don’t need anyone to approve my ideas anymore, I can just make decisions for myself. I also love working on the business rather than in the business, if that makes sense, although actually learning to do that was a massive learning curve, because before starting the business I had only ever had the mindset of working in a business, not on one. I'm so glad I started my own business, even though people thought I was crazy for leaving my lucrative job to do so. If I'd have listened to them and let it stop me, I would have spent my life working for someone else and wondering what if, and I'm so glad I take the leap, because it’s definitely been worth it. What do you want your lasting legacy to be? I want to make being environmentally conscious cool, which it’s not, unfortunately. I also want to teach people to give back and make sure they’re lifting the people around them. Don’t give if you’re just doing it to get something back, because that’s not how it should work. I like to lift people, I like to think that I might have helped them in any small way that I can. But my lasting legacy, I want to be the guy that can change the stereotype of tree-hugging environmentalists. I think I have reach within a range of different communities, because of my life experiences, and so I think I could be the person that could reach out to people who previously hadn’t thought about the environment.

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I’ve used lockdown to level up across all areas of my life.

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Training & Development

Empowering Black Women in Business: In Conversation with Hannah Awonuga Interview by Lydiah Igweh

Lydiah Igweh is the Director of Enterprise Support at Oxford Brookes University. With over 17 years of C-level Business Development, Marketing and Strategy experience, Igweh specializes in innovation, entrepreneurship, organizational change, leadership and digital transformation. She’s committed to championing women in business and advancing race equality. Lydiah enjoys writing, mentoring future young leaders with EY Foundation, public speaking and presenting. There is no denying that in comparison to men, women face significant workplace discrimination. But Black women face a very different challenge and additional discrimination. Black women in the UK share a unique experience in the workplace and as business owners because of their struggles – rooted in systemic sexism and racism – often resulting in a lack of equal opportunities, a sense of belonging, and a lack of funding options. To get a better idea of what these women face as they get their businesses and careers off the ground and what support is needed so they can reach their full potential, I interviewed Hannah Awonuga, the Founder of Rarity London career development services. Hannah is a female corporate coach who dedicates her time to supporting and developing female professionals trying to excel in their careers and business. Hannah has delivered empowerment workshops and keynote addresses and sat on many panel discussions, discussing Diversity and Inclusion, social mobility, race and

ethnicity, and gender equality. She is a Global Diversity and Inclusion Vice President within the financial service industry. She has been working in banking since she was 17 years old, and for the past 14 years has spent time in the Retail bank, business and corporate bank before transitioning into HR in 2019. Hannah has recently been appointed as a foundation school governor at her local Catholic secondary school and has recently joined the National black governor's network board as a trustee. What inspired you to launch Rarity London? I decided to launch Rarity London because I identified a knowledge gap in women understanding how to excel and progress in their careers. You’ve been able to launch Rarity London whilst having a very demanding job. What help have you been offered by others which allowed you to thrive? One of the critical elements to Rarity London’s success has been my network; it has been amazing to connect and

work with some fantastic entrepreneurs and career women committed to gender equality and career advancement. I had realised that to thrive and grow, you need to have the right people around you who can offer support, resources and guidance when required. The way you have progressed throughout your career is inspiring for all, especially women. What advice would you give to the aspiring next generation of women who want to achieve their goals in life? Thank you so much for your kind words. My advice to the next generation has remained the same for many years. Be intentional – take time to understand what you want, what you enjoy and what you are good at and then, go for it! Connect and grow your network. Surround yourself with different people at various stages of their careers and lives so you can have the ability to tap into their knowledge and experience. Lastly, get a mentor and a sponsor – similar to the last piece of advice, having a mentor to support and guide you on your career journey is essential. Finding a sponsor is a bit trickier but is vital to the development of your career. Before you attempt to find a sponsor, you need to strategically think about where you want your career to go; what is your 18-month career goal? Once you know this, then your quest for a sponsor who is in that space can begin. Your sponsor should be someone who can identify new opportunities for you, open doors and use their network to support your career; this can only happen if you organically build the relationship over some time.

beauty, skincare, food, we see more black female founders starting up businesses to help support the community. Black female entrepreneurs get a paltry 0.2 per cent of total venture capital funding. Do you think educating funders on intersectionality can help grow funds for black female-led businesses? The venture capital space is, more than ever, focused on creating better opportunities for women. Far too often, however, Black women are not considered in the development of these opportunities. Investors need to understand the layers and multiple facets that make up our identity as Black women. With the rapid rise in black female entrepreneurs, more focus needs to be directed to this demographic to allow women of colour to thrive in business truly. You are a successful black woman. Do you believe discrimination in the workplace has given you an extra drive and motivation to succeed? One of the main challenges I faced when I was developing in my career was that I did not see women who looked like me in senior positions. This is why representation is important; I never saw black women in senior leadership positions across the industry. In my earlier career days, this had a significant impact on my confidence and ambitions because I felt like if I didn’t see it, I couldn’t become it. Over the years, that has changed and now is the driving force for my success. The lack of representation and discrimination has driven me to be more ambitious and focused on excelling in my business and career.

The British Business Bank revealed that 37% of black female business owners and 36% of female business owners from Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds made no profit last year. What needs to change to help decrease the percentage? Due to my experience in D&I, unfortunately, this is a very familiar narrative; More effective business development support is required for women of colour to help them grow and scale up their business. Currently, less than 1% of black women receive venture capital for their companies and get very little sponsorship or mentorship from large corporate investors. Yet, Black women are among the fastest-growing entrepreneurs. Still, with 80% of most companies failing in the first year, the lack of business support and funding available to Black women and women of colour has a significant impact on their ability to scale up and grow. We are not starting on a level playing field. Forbes has released data showing that Black-owned businesses have grown by 50%, significantly faster than any other minority-owned business. From your experience of launching a business, why do you believe Black womenowned businesses are growing so much faster? I believe this is related to the workplace’s lack of opportunity and progression, forcing Black women to take their careers into their own hands and build their careers themselves through business. The McKinsey report recently revealed that the FTSE 350 had achieved its goal of 30% women on boards, but when you look deeper into that statistics, how many of them are black and ethnically diverse women? The lack of recognition and progression in the public and private sector is forcing women of colour out of the employment world and into entrepreneurship. Another aspect, in my view, is that we know all industries are on a journey with D&I. So, we see a rapid increase in Black-owned businesses solving social problems of exclusion for the Black community. For example, in hair and

Training & Development

Lighting Up the

Next Generation By Wanja Muthee

WANJA IS AN AVID READER AND WRITER WHO LIVES IN NAIROBI. SHE’S A PR ASSISTANT AND BLOGGER AT GUIDEDPR. SHE HOLDS A BACHELORS IN MASS COMMUNICATION FROM JKUAT AND HAS WORKED IN PRINT MEDIA AND IN ACADEMIA. WHEN SHE’S NOT RESEARCHING CURRENT AFFAIRS, YOU’LL FIND HER ON SOCIAL MEDIA, KEEPING UP WITH WHAT’S HOT!

t was Father James Keller who said, “A candle loses nothing by lighting another.”. The imagery in this maxim speaks to each one of us, showing us that we lose nothing by helping other people. If anything, we become kinder, more caring, more thoughtful and more generous, which are all values that make the world a better, brighter place. In the same breadth, numerous studies have proven that teaching other people is the best way to learn. In helping other people acquire new knowledge or learn a new skill, we actually understand it better. Sharing grows us, which is good enough reason for us to give parts of ourselves to others. A candle’s brightness may diminish momentarily as it lights another, but it is not lost. Also, the overall effect: the doubling of the light is oh so worth it! The same applies to human relationships where the more skills and knowledge are shared with others, a multiplier effect is created that makes life easier for all of us. Can you imagine a world where you were the only doctor, pilot, or teacher? Wouldn’t the immense pressure to serve everyone be unbearable? Thus, in addition to becoming better at what we do, this is another reason why those whom society over time has moulded into a position of superiority in skill and knowledge should pay it forward to the upcoming, aspiring generation. Inarguably, the young people across the world are in desperate need of mentors to do life with. Their exuberance, ingenuity and vibrant energy need guidance into the right kinds of activities. This is especially true because very few successful people in society can boast of being self-made individuals. Providing quality mentorship both through formal institutions and informal arrangements can provide even if a glimmer of light amid the darkness that covers many youth today

and provide hope to the millions whose future hangs in uncertainty. Did you know that out of an estimated 1.2 billion youth in the world aged 15-24 years, close to 621million of them, according to Plan International, are not in education, employment or training? So where are they? Life is harder now for young people than it was for their parents at the same age. The World Economic Forum highlights several challenges peculiar to the youth of today including relatively low levels of income and social mobility compared to their parents’ generation. This is evidenced for example by the fact that home ownership among 25-to- 34-year-olds fell from 55% in 1997 to 35% in 2017. Also, two-thirds of young European adults live at home with their parents, an indication that some may actually not be able to afford a place of their own. The second challenge is that of a decreasing working-age life expectancy, as young people today suffer from more mental health challenges including drug and alcohol abuse and suicide.

Mentors can play a big role in saving these young people from hopelessness, depression, drug abuse, suicide and crime. As societal pressure on the youth to make something great out of themselves mounts, life is becoming more unpredictable – think Covid-19 disruption, competition for resources being more cut-throat, opportunities for self-advancement being scarce, and traditional job opportunities being phased out by the fourth industrial revolution. It’s literally become survival of the fittest. Have we done a good enough job for these young people? As you lie on your pillow at night and think about the future of humanity, are you confident in having played your part to salvage at least one young person’s future? Quality and intentional mentors are in short supply, so please sign up for this rescue mission! Start from where you are, with the young people around you. Those of us who can, who’ve got our lives together and have stuff to write home about must save the young generation, as a matter of urgency. As our candles continue to shine ever so brightly, we must deliberately leave our cocoons and move our light to where it’s needed. We must light their candles! There’s numerous ways to do this, but it won’t be easy. Time and resources will be involved, but we must. We must open the doors of our organisations and give them entry-level jobs, without expecting them to have two, three, four, or five years of related experience. Initiative and passion should suffice at this level, really. We must hold their hands and offer our help practically. If we can drive those who cannot afford it to interviews, pay for that professional course, and even accommodate them as they put their lives together, then we should. We must also whisper hope and sound advice into their ears. We must share too that perhaps we sent out 100 plus applications before landing that dream job, or were turned down by 6 girlfriends, before finding “the one” and even that we’ve tried out four businesses, which have all failed and we have given up trying. They need not only know of the successes, but the failures behind them, too. Maybe if they see it and hear it long enough, they’ll stop beating themselves down too much.

The corporate world has led the way in this one, showing us the merits of quality mentorship and the faults of mediocre or non-existent mentorship. Organisations have benefitted greatly from entrenching mentorship programs into the work culture. According to a Harvard Business Review 2020 article, people with strong mentors gain a host of professional benefits including more rapid advancement, higher salaries, greater organisational commitment, stronger professional identity, and a higher satisfaction with their careers. Additionally, personal benefits include better physical health and self-esteem, ease of work-life integration, and stronger relational skills. Mentoring does help in growing the mentee holistically. That’s not all though, as the mentor too benefits from the relationship through reverse mentoring. The younger, upcoming professionals in return teach senior executives how to use social media and navigate the rapidly evolving cultural landscape businesses have to adapt to today. A win-win for everyone! Therefore, with what we now know about being intentional with the young and upcoming amongst us; about lighting their candles so we can all shine brightly, could we please start being more intentional about lighting up the next generation?

Main Stories

ANGELA RODRIGUES one of london’s most respected Entrepeneurs You run two companies here in the UK, Angela Banzi Ltd. and Portal Londres. Did you experience any challenges in setting up a business here as a foreigner? In 2001, I left Brazil with my oldest son, who at the time was only 2 years old. We decided to come to London because England was a country that seemed like it was a country that would be able to offer us better opportunities. I had no plan or strategy, I didn't do any research before coming here, we just took our bags and came with all the courage in the world. 5 months after arriving here in London, I went to Italy to get my Italian citizenship recognised, and I stayed there for 8 long months. My time in Italy made me want to help other people avoid the struggles I had faced in getting my citizenship, so I decided to start a business that would help people get to Italy with the proper information and with their documentation organised in the correct way, so that they could speed up the process.

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If you’re not solving a problem for someone, then what is your business offering?

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I encountered many challenges during this period, but my decision and focus on my purpose was unshakable and my business began to grow in a progressive and consistent manner. Yes, there were many moments at the beginning when I thought about giving up, but

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My dedication and motivation have made my business trustworthy.

when I thought about the pain I went through in Italy, that was where I found the motivation to other people. My dedication and motivation have made my business trustworthy, and today I have clients all around the world, thanks to referrals from other satisfied customers. What made you decide to set up Portal Londres? When I arrived in London, I literally just had 1 bag with me. After a few years, I had become a well-known and respected entrepreneur in the community, and I felt that I should give something back to our community for having trusted in my work and having offered me so much during these 15 years. In 2016, I decided I wanted to set up a high-quality platform

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that would offer news and information to the Brazilian public. The project stayed shut away in a drawer for 2 years, but then finally, in 2018, the first Portal Londres website was born. In 2019, I decided that a more complete platform and apps were needed to facilitate access, and thus the platform was expanded with the possibility of opening franchises across the country and across Europe. If you had to give someone 3 reasons that they should move to the UK, what would those reasons be? I have lived in London for 20 years, and this city has always given me a feeling of being safe, as well as offering opportunities to people no matter where they come from. If you want to live in a city where everyone has the opportunity to find a job, to go to university, or to start a business without all the difficulties and bureaucracy that you have to go through in developing countries, then the UK might be the place for you. Pack your suitcase, fill yourself with courage, and come to London. This wonderful metropolis will teach you important lessons, but it will also give you so many chances to succeed. How would you explain what Angela Banzi Ltd. does to someone who had just discovered the company? Today, Angela Banzi Ltd. offers a whole list of services that are related to the recognition of Italian citizenship, either by descent or by marriage. We offer services ranging from genealogical research that help discover the applicant’s origins, to registrations at Italian consulates around the world so that the Italian citizen can renew or issue documents for themselves and their family, no matter where they are.

What has been the highlight of your career so far? During my career I have had countless moments of joy and fulfilment, but receiving an award that recognised me as the best female entrepreneur was important for me. In that moment I realised that I was doing something that truly benefitted our community, and that gave me a lot of satisfaction and pride in the work that I do. Every day when I see my clients fulfilling their dreams of having their citizenship recognised, I feel such immense joy and fulfilment that it makes everything worth it. What gave you the drive to start your first business? Today there is a lot of talk about identifying what the client is missing and then offering them a remedy for that problem. In 2001, nobody talked about that, but that was the main principle behind my business. When I went to sort out my citizenship, the services I paid for didn’t even come close to reaching my expectations. That was what made me realise that a lot of other people must have this same problem, and so I decided I would start an advisory service to help people in my situation. I didn’t want anyone to be unprepared like me, and so I set out to solve that problem. Luckily, I already spoke Italian, which was a huge plus for me when it came to being able to solve situations that occurred during the citizenship process in Italy. Guiding people and

finding partners who could welcome and give the necessary support to my clients was what made my business and me as an entrepreneur the number one points of references here in the United Kingdom for anything related to Italian citizenship services. If you had to give a new entrepreneur 3 tips on starting up a business, what would those tips be? Always be prepared to help others. If you’re not solving a problem for someone, then what is your business offering? Always be prepared for any challenges that may come your way. You may not know what the challenge will be, but any kind of preparation will help you more than no preparation at all. Find the pain points that your customers have, and work on providing a remedy for those pain points through your business. What is your biggest career goal? Portal Londres is growing consistently, so I would like for that to continue in years to come. Our team of columnists includes Rafael dos Santos, among others, and they write content which inspires our audiences. We want to be the biggest platform for the Brazilian community in the United Kingdom, so to reach that goal would be absolutely wonderful. Angela Banzi Ltd. is already the go-to for Italian citizenship services here in the UK, but we would love to grow even further by oferring other services that we do not yet offer.

“

We just took our bags and came with all the courage in the world.

” 39

Beauty & Fashion

The Spirit of Hair By Cristina Christensen

Cristina is a Brazilian hairdresser from Rio de Janeiro. She graduated 8 years ago from Adam & Eva Skolen in Oslo, Norway, and is now the salon owner of C² Cris Christensen, specialising in keratine treatments. Cristina won the Best Brazilian Hairdressing Salon in Europe award in 2020. Most of the time when we think about “Hair”, we think about new trends, or because we need to go to the salon. We take a look at what's on social media, in magazines that discuss fashion and new trends. But what is the real meaning? Was it just to beautify the heads of human beings, and nothing more? Many beliefs and religions take the issue of hair very seriously. The history of mankind shows that the American Indians cut their slaves' hair as a way to hide their identities and to show their inferiority and lack of power. Kundalini Yoga highlights the importance of allowing your hair to grow long, they believe that short hair hinders the absorption of nutrients, such as vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus. On the other hand, among Buddhist monks and nuns, and in Vaishnavism, there is the practice of shaving the head. They believe that this allows the energies to flow and thus activate the balance of the chakras outside the physical body, giving us a greater sense of balance with the environment. Did you know that in India, wisdom was bestowed on those who wrapped their hair around their heads during the day and combed it only at night as a way of relaxing? They believe that this act helps to recharge brain cells.

The truth is that there are many rituals and forms of expression which are linked to hair. One of the main purposes of the hair is the absorption of vitamin D, the strands absorb this vital vitamin when we are exposed to the sun, as well as other nutrients. In cold countries, it is recommended to take a vitamin D supplement, since in winter the days are short and the nights long. It is very important to take this vitamin, as the lack of it increases hair loss, weakens nails and dries out the skin. In addition, vitamin D is extremely important for bones and prevents autoimmune diseases, as well as helping to prevent depression. Our hair also warms us up! In the times that humanity lived in caves, long hair was used in addition to animal skins to reach up to 25% more heat. It also protects us from scalp burns if the head is exposed to sun for a long time. Our hair is practically an extension of our thoughts, desires, joys and sorrows. It can indicate our age, spirituality, successful or unsuccessful relationships. What’s interesting in this universe, is that people use their hair to reflect their emotions, their most intimate ideas of how they like to be seen, they find a way to express themselves, making them have their own energy and spiritual power.

Culture & Society

Tessy Ojo

CBE

“Helping Young People Thrive is My Passion” In Conversation with Tessy Ojo CBE Interview by Lola Sherwin

Tessy Ojo is the Chief Executive of the Diana Award - a charity legacy to Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief in the power that young people have to change the world, with the right support. The charity’s mission is to foster and develop positive change in the lives of young people. The charity benefits from the support of The Royal Highnesses, Prince William and Prince Harry, as well as the UK Prime Minister as a Patron. Your original degree was in biochemistry, so what made you want to make the move into charity? It's such a long story! I think it started around the age of 13, when I decided I really wanted to study medicine. My best friend’s brother had sickle cell anaemia, which still to this day has no cure, and I really wanted to be the person who fought to find a cure for illnesses like this one. I suppose I couldn’t understand why something that was so life-limiting didn’t have a cure. A few years down the line, I had a science teacher who was absolutely amazing, and I wanted to be just like her. She had told me she studied biochemistry, so I decided that, in fact, I wanted to study biochemistry too! I think at the time my plan was to study biochemistry and then to go back and study medicine to fulfil that loop. After I'd finished my first degree, though, I realised I didn’t want to go back and spend forever studying again. I also got a job as a biochemist and realised that it just wasn’t for me. Kudos to all of the incredible scientists who have worked to produce vaccines during this pandemic and over the years, but it just wasn’t what I wanted to do. I realised I wanted to work with people and have a front-facing role, rather than working in a laboratory. This sequence of events led me to think about what I really wanted to do, what it was that would give me the sense of purpose I was looking for. From there, I ended up in the tech industry after doing an MBA. Really, though, the big change for me happened when I had my children. I felt so blessed to have them, and I knew I would be that mum who would light up shadows and dark alleys to make sure my kids found their path in life. At the same time, I was realising that sadly, not all children have advocates in their life; I call this the disadvantage of birth, because unfortunately life is very unequal, and the family you are born into can often determine your outcome. While that’s great for some, it’s not so great for others, and I wanted to work to create a system that was more equal. That realisation was the beginning of my journey into the charity sector. Looking back, I think from day one I wanted to help people and help to fix problems, and that’s brought me to where I am today, not fixing problems as a doctor, but still fixing problems in some way. Why is it so important for you to help young people change the world?

As a society, we’re aware of so many issues, like sustainability and that kind of thing, but when it comes to children and young people, we seem to automatically assume that a child will grow up to be the next prime minister without us needing to put much investment into them. The truth is that if we don’t invest in young people and help them to build their skills, then where does the magic happen? We're leaving the magic to self-perpetrate, meaning that only those with some level of privilege will ever be able to achieve those leadership roles. We need to create a level playing field which allows every young person to realise their full potential. For me, that’s the key driver. If all young people are supported and are given the tools to become leaders, then we will all have a better future. How did you become the only charity to bear the name of Diana, Princess of Wales? I would love to take credit for that, but sadly I can’t! We were set up as the official memorial, it had nothing to do with me. I've been incredibly lucky to be able to build that legacy, but in terms of how we came to be, it was the response by the UK government to the princess’s death, it wasn’t down to us. How does the Diana Award work to create positive change in the lives of young people? The best way to describe it is as an incubator. It's about fostering the growth of young people within a safe space. The incubator is there to nurture their growth and give them the space and time to do it at their own pace, and then, when they’re ready, we let that change out into the world and amazing things happen. What I love is that each young person’s journey is different. For one young person the journey might start at point A, while for another it might start at point E, and it’s our job to support them wherever their journey begins. We have a youth-centred approach which looks at achieving the best outcome for each young person. We have a mentoring programme that helps young people to see that they have choices; sadly, if a child grows up in a workless family, where nobody has ever had a job, then that child will not be able to comprehend that they even have options, let alone what those options are. It's not about pushing all these young people to go to university or to achieve the same things, it’s just about allowing them to understand that they have options, and then helping them to explore those

“We need to create a level playing field which allows every young person to realise their full potential.”

options. Everything we do is centred around the needs of each individual young person. Clearly you’re having an impact on them, as it was the young people that you work with who nominated you for a CBE! How did it feel to know that they saw you as worthy of such an honour? At the Diana Award, one of our key ethos is that we are all part of a big network, we are the Diana Award family. So, to know that some of them were being sneaky and plotting this behind my back was really wonderful - I had absolutely no idea! It was a humbling and overwhelming moment for me when I found out. I didn’t come here to get credit, I came here because I wanted to see change happen, I wanted every child to have someone to advocate for them. Every time I see that change happen, it gives me huge joy, so to know they appreciate our work was amazing. What would you say is your proudest achievement to date? I couldn’t possibly narrow it down to one thing! Every time we achieve something for a young person is an incredible moment. In life, there are some young people who are more impacted than others by events in their lives, and I'm really passionate about creating a level playing field and helping young people thrive. So, for me, every time we take a step closer to that goal is an achievement. I always say go big or go home, and we just keep going big! When you first met Their Royal Highnesses Prince William and Prince Harry, were you nervous? I genuinely can’t even remember! They're such incredible people, when you’re with them you forget you’re in the presence of the future king. Then you get back on the Tube and you think wow, I just had a meeting in the Palace and now I’m back on the Tube! It is quite surreal. But they’re incredible people. It's such a privilege to be able to run a charity that’s in their mother’s name and legacy. The interest they take in our work is really humbling, too. What brings you the greatest joy in life? Seeing change! Every so often I'll get a letter or an email from a young person telling me how our work with them changed their life, and that’s incredible for me. At the Diana Award we collect stories of change, because it’s important for us to recognise the impact we have had. Change doesn’t happen overnight so sometimes you don’t notice it until you look back and see the difference you’ve made in a young person’s life. Those stories of change remind me why I do what I do, and that brings me the greatest joy, along with my family, of course. What has been the greatest challenge you’ve faced? I think there have been a few. Change needs long-term investment, it doesn’t happen overnight, but sadly we live in a system that is so short-term. The government will change every four years or so, and suddenly you have new policies, so nobody ends up looking at long-term data. If you don’t look at data over a long period of time, then how can you see the trends? And if you can’t spot the trends, how are you going to fix the problems? So, for me, the biggest frustration is that lack of long-term planning by those in power. We need longterm investment in youth as a whole, but we’re not doing that right now, and it’s frustrating. What do you want your lasting legacy to be? I want to ensure that children and young people can have a future, regardless of the circumstance of their birth. I want to help create a system that allows everyone to thrive without their past holding them back, so I would love for that to be my ultimate legacy.

Training & Development

How to find hope out of fear By pierre coombes

ENTREPRENEUR PIERRE COOMBES IS CONSIDERED A LEADING AUTHORITY IN SALES & MARKETING. HE RECENTLY FEATURED IN BBC ONE’S SHOW ‘CALL THAT HARD WORK?’, WHERE HE SHOWED WHAT IT’S LIKE TO SPEND A DAY AS A TELESALES PERSON IN HIS AWARD-WINNING B2B LEAD GENERATION AGENCY BIG WOLF MARKETING.

ith this month’s edition being about Light, Spirit & Energy, I decided to look at something most salespeople try not to: ‘negativity’. We live in a world today that is narrated in retrospect by the news. We are offered the very rare funny or cute animal story but in the most part its reports of criminal greed, predatory murderers and lately illness in the way of a worldstopping pandemic. We’re told to be positive, to focus on mindfulness and wait for the lockdown phase-out roadmap to happen. There are undoubtedly hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, of people who through the pressure cooker combination of confinement rules and the drip feed of negativity from the media, now find themselves in a place of fear. I relate and in sympathetic vain offer a deeply personal story. Almost a decade and a half ago I was told by two drug-dealing gangsters that unless they got

their money, I’d be killed, and if I tried to run that the club security would catch me and stab me. My then-friend, who at the time was forming a bad cocaine addiction, had told me to meet him at a central London nightclub. On arriving and going inside, he was nowhere to be seen. Within a few moments, I was backed into a corner and told to remain calm as I was told that I’d been pointed out by girls who knew my friend, as a friend of his. I was told that he had asked for and been given a couple hundred pounds worth of cocaine and gone to get the funds but not come back, he’d taken their stuff and not paid. I was asked aggressively by these larger-thanlife steroid-fueled thugs if I knew who they were, perhaps so I couldn’t identify them. I was asked for my bank card which I freely gave over, they managed to take out £100 but because of my cash withdrawal limit they couldn’t take the rest until the next day. I was told to write down an address, my home address, which I was told would be burnt down if I blocked my card before they took what they were owed. They told me to leave, and they

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” Martin Luther King Jr kept my card, I remember being able to think so clear and so slowly, I had complete clarity in this moment, as adrenaline ran through my body. I walked out the club as calmly as possible noting they told me if I ran the security would kill me. I walked slowly and as calmly as possible until I was out of eyesight to the club and then ran as fast as I could for what seemed like miles. After this, for years I suffered with PTSD. I know this now, but back then I didn’t identify it and there wasn’t a wide conversation about mental health. I was scared, even though I’d moved back home with my parents in a different city, hours away, I panicked that I’d see them, or they would turn up at my house. Everywhere I went I thought I saw them if a face looked even remotely like them. I went through what I would describe as phases of fear, anger and madness. I would count the days, the weeks, the months and the years, asking myself if I thought they might remember my face. I shaved my head, I found comfort and obsessed in the gym, perhaps to build myself into something that would be feared or just change my appearance. I look back now, and I was a victim of this. By a bad choice of association, I’d been caught up in something bad that had changed the projection of my life. Today I’m thankful for that time, that darkness, that test. It taught me that time is a healer, and while it will never 100% be gone in my mind, I can use it as strength, as a dent in my armour. It took me a long time, but I realised the only person that was doing badly out of the situation was me. I had the choice to let this incident control me, or I could choose to not be scared. I read stoic philosophy and familiarised myself with the thought of death. When you lose the fear of dying, you gain the freedom to live. I read something that really resonated with me, I can't find it now, but it was the concept that no amount of darkness in a room could put out the light of a mere match, how love was stronger that hate, positive stronger than negative.

While we live in a world of Ying and Yang, positive and negative, you can choose to side with one and have your purpose for good. Today I’m not fearless but I’m tough, mentally and physically. If you get hit down but you get back up, there comes a time that the scars simply become a badge of honour and prove your strength. Oddly, by pure coincidence only a year ago, I came to know where one of the former gangsters lives now and his business. Many years ago, as the mental suffering of the situation took my young mind in the form of anger, I told myself that one day I’d find retribution and make them suffer the way I did. That had dark thoughts in it, and today, there’s no pride in the fact powers have turned and I could literally have their lives destroyed with a mere phone call, or torture them and their families with my bear hands. But today as their steroid-fueled bodies have withered and they live now normal lives, I forgive them and take nothing from these thoughts anymore. I prefer to be consumed with love and compassion than hate and fear. A famous quote resonates with me, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ― Martin Luther King Jr Yes, we live in tough times, where it seems so much of what lays ahead is in the shadows, but you have to know that tomorrow offers hope. We can choose the path we lead, we can take our pain, our weaknesses and our misfortune and when we recognise them, they become strengths. There is a light in all of us that we shouldn’t hide. Shine as bright on the world as you can, and it will reflect back to you.

Entrepreneurship

LESSONS ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP FROM AN ITALIAN BUSINESSMAN By simone vincenzi SIMONE VINCENZI IS A MULTI-AWARD-WINNING SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR AND AUTHOR WHO HELPED PEOPLE LAUNCH MORE THAN 500 PROFITABLE BUSINESSES BEFORE HE REACHED THE AGE OF 30. HE WRITES FOR FORBES AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE AND REGULARLY FEATURES ON TV AND RADIO. IN THIS ARTICLE, HE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO MAKE QUICK PROFITS FROM YOUR BUSINESSES.

have been asked countless times in interviews “what makes a business and entrepreneur successful”. There are so many ways someone could give advice on what is the ‘right way’ to run your business. There is such a huge variety of strategies out there that could work for any one person but what I have learnt through my experience, is to focus on one. For me, it was trial and error, and through my mistakes, I learnt some lessons that helped me shape my strategy for myself and my clients. Factors that go into entrepreneurship Being an entrepreneur is almost like being an artist; you cannot be good at just drawing a line, you need to be good at creating the entire picture. I think that you have to excel at a variety of different things to be a successful entrepreneur. To me, an entrepreneur is someone creative, they have ideas, they are someone who can see opportunities (sometimes even before they arise). It also has to be someone who has a lot of stamina and grit, because you are going to get a lot of doors slammed in your face all the time and you need to have the resilience and strength to be able to brush it off. Last but not least, an entrepreneur is someone who is financially literate… because that is the difference between having a hobby and a business. Perspective on Passion Passion is key to move forward in my opinion, however, it is not necessary to be successful. You can be a businessman and have a good opportunity and work with it, but not be passionate about it, and still be successful. However, I personally cannot run that way. I need to love and adore what I am doing because that’s what creates the drive for me. My passion is what pushes me forward and helps me really get what I want. If it doesn’t come from my heart, I find it hard to believe in and work with it. Lessons Learnt A very important lesson I learnt was about being a risktaker. It can be a very good thing until you take too many risks… I personally am one, but what I learnt through my experience is that: It is important to take risks, but it's important to take calculated risks. This is where I made a lot of mistakes in the past where I would jump into something with the belief of saying yes and then figure it out, which ended up teaching me some very

expensive lessons…Fortunately, I am surrounded by a great team of people who balance me out well when I have the impulse to take an uncalculated risk. Another very important lesson I learnt was: Don’t get attached to the results. It is one of the best things you can be conscious and aware of. When there is an opportunity for me, I will go in and do everything I can to make it work knowing that everything I do is a test. Because the moment I get attached to the result of the outcome, that is the moment I lose sight of what other opportunities I might have or what else could work, which is how you can miss out on good business. So, I treat everything like a test, which is how I cope with things. Some work and some don’t, but it doesn’t faze me anymore. I am looking at what worked instead of focusing on what didn’t. Perspective is everything, the way you look at it really matters. As I mentioned in the beginning, there are many different strategies and approaches to business. It really is a matter of trial and error. Take your risks and follow your leads, just think about it thoroughly first. Don’t be impulsive. Just keep adjusting your perspective and do not get attached to the outcome. You never know what opportunities are waiting for you around the corner.

Beauty & Fashion

5 spring

make-up tips

By débora de souza denecke DÉBORA DE SOUZA DENECKE IS INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN AS “DEBYBINHA MAKE-UP ARTIST”. SHE GRADUATED FROM THE MAKE-UP ART ACADEMY PARIS. SHE HAS PARTICIPATED AS A MAKEUP ARTIST AT THE FESTIVAL DE CANNES, PARIS FASHION WEEK AND AS A MAKEUP ARTIST AT MISS INTERCONTINENTAL IN LYON, FRANCE. SHE WAS ALSO THE GODMOTHER OF MAKE-UP FOR THE SAMBA SCHOOL UNIDOS DO VIRADOURO IN RIO DE JANEIRO AND PRESENTER OF THE WEEKLY PROGRAM ON THE SBT TV CHANNEL, “BE YOU SBT INTERIOR”.

MAYBELLINE VOLUME EXPRESS: THE COLOSSAL MASCARA This mascara instantly enhances your eyelashes. It is delicate without leaving the lashes caught. In the first application you will already feel the difference. Its formula contains collagen, and your brush gives 9 times more volume. You can find the waterproof version, perfect for warmer environments or tropical countries, with longer duration. It is a product that can not be missing in your make-up bag.

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKE-UP ULTIMATE PALETTE A variety of sixteen bright and strong colours, with shades ranging from matte, satin, sparkling and metallic. Its technology does not let it release dust at the time of application. Its texture is velvety, and its finish is impeccable. Between urban and chic looks, you can use and abuse the colours of spring.

L’OREAL PARIS INFALLIBLE FRESH WEAR FOUNDATION IN A POWDER, UP TO 24H WEAR This is a long-lasting powder foundation which has a 2 in 1 base, correcting and mattifying the skin for up to 24 hours. It is waterproof, has a matte and fresh result, and can be applied alone or after the base and concealer on the areas of the face to be mattified. L’Oréal Paris Infallible caught my attention because it is a high quality 2 in 1 product, one of the best powder bases, recommended for your daily life, the coverage is medium and it does not transfer.

IT COSMETICS YOUR SKIN BUT BETTER CC+ CREAM SPF 50+ This foundation is perfect for matching your skin tone and correcting imperfections. It comes in different tones, soothes your skin, and it comes with sunscreen factor 50 + UVA / UVB, saving your time when putting on makeup. This base is a guaranteed satisfaction, perfect for any age.

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKE-UP HIGHLIGHT & CONTOUR PRO PALETTE This complete professional contour palette is perfect for your contour. It is creamy and comes in eight different shades, four for the outline and 4 highlighters. It is super pigmented and has very varied tones, giving you the freedom to explore and sculpt the shape of your face. With a slight shine, perfect for day-to-ay.

celebrity & influence

ALP Influencer of the Month

CHIRAKLI alpcirakli 54

Name: Alp Chirakli Age: 23 Birth country: Cyprus Country that you live in: UK City: London Influencer subject: Luxury Lifestyle Tell us your transition from blog to Instagram. Why did you stop the blog to focus on Instagram? I started my blog alpcirakli.com at the age of 14. Despite being one of the first influencers from Cyprus, with the great expertise of the website designing team I was working with and my editorial team, it only took us 6 months to grow rapidly which led us to start putting Instagram first after it became one of the most popular platforms over the past few years. What’s your niche, and why? alpcirakli’s niche and motto has always been to create a feed that has a real connection with my audience. We always aimed to reflect the lifestyle of a successful young blogger from a little Mediterranean island who carried his brand through top UK platforms at such a young age. Empowering others and creating organic real content has always been our motto over the years. Is it time consuming to be an Instagram influencer? It has its own ups and downs, and it can be draining sometimes to keep uploading constant content but it’s worth it. There’s a price for everything and this is the price we paid over the years to always stay on top of all the UK platfroms. Tell us about your day to day. What do you do? How do you fill it up? Outfit and location planning takes most of my day but luckily, I’m working with an amazing editorial and designer team that helps me with these matters. I also have very exciting news that I’d like to share, I’ve been taking online classes from the University of Harvard for more than a year now and I’m thrilled to announce that I successfully completed a Technology Entrepreneurship Course a short while ago. It’s a huge honour to be officially certified as a Technology Entrepreneur by the University of Harvard. Different from many Instagram influencers, you don’t do topless or half naked photos - is this a personal choice? What do you think of people who use their bodies to get likes and followers? When I started my brand “alpcirakli” I always aimed to create content which represented what people wanted to see the most. I’m not going to lie; shirtless pictures have been highly requested from our lovely audience. I've been asked so many times why there are not too many topless pics like there are on other influencers’ accounts, however the answer is short, I only produce content that will make it to the top. We always aim to avoid “posting for sake of it”. It should explain

“Empowering others and creating organic real content has always been our motto” why, even though I only have few half naked and shirtless pics, they all made it to the top posts all around the UK. Are you living in Cyprus or elsewhere in the world? I’m currently based in London, this city opened so many doors for me. I have met so many great people and connected with amazing brands over the years. We see you in photos with glasses and some without. Do you like seeing yourself in glasses? Why? An honest answer would be the amount of likes and interaction those pictures get compared to other posts. What is the best thing anyone has ever told you? It was a short while after I launched my own merch and the whole line had sold out in less than 12 hours. I attended London Fashion Week the week after and one of the designers recognised me because of the news on social media about my merch. He told me “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read the online article about your merch. Sold out in 12 hours, huge success at a young age (21)”. It made my day to hear these words from such a huge designer in the industry! What would be the most exciting place to have sex? Why? On Instagram Live shall we say? Haha, that’s my expertise after all haha. We would hit million followers in a finger click (laughing)!

Favourite food: Greek Food Favourite drink: Jack Daniels Favourite trainer brand: Balenciaga Favourite clothing brand: Dior Favourite perfume: YSL Favourite song: Lana Del Rey - Racing Cars Favourite female singer: Lana Del Rey Favourite male singer: The Weekend Favourite city: Milan Favourite country: Italy Favourite type of transport: Train

Music

Spiritual Tunes for the Summer By DJ Yohanna Laish

DJ YOHANNA LAISH IS A BRAZILIAN DJ FROM SÃO PAULO, DESCENDED FROM SWISS, AUSTRIANS AND ITALIANS. SHE WAS THE WINNER OF THE BEST BRAZILIAN DJ IN EUROPE AWARD AT THE BEST OF BRAZIL AWARDS 2020 EVENT, ORGANISED IN LONDON BY GUIDEDPR. SHE NOW LIVES IN LUGANO, SWITZERLAND. HER MUSICAL GENRE IS ELECTRONIC HOUSE, AND SHE BECAME FAMOUS FOR HER WORK AND IS NOW HIGHLY REQUESTED FOR ELITE PARTIES IN EUROPE, MAINLY IN MILAN AND IBIZA.

THE WEEKND - AFTER HOURS Canadian singer and songwriter, The Weeknd, is special for having an alternative R&B style with indie influences and electronic music.

BUDDHA SOUNDS 6 Chillout music, perfect to unwind and relax at any time of the day.

IBIZA CHILL OUT VOL.1 BY VARIOUS ARTISTS This is an instrumental album, perfect for moments of reflection and relaxation

THE VERY BEST OF ERA Era is a French New Age style band. They are one of my favourite bands, for their Gothic style. When I hear their music, I feel the Divine presence.

EAGLE SONG: POWWOWS OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS Sensational music from Native American indigenous people, this is very deep, it brings you inner peace.

CLASSIC HAUSER BY THE LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

SPIRIT OF THE HAWK BY LEO ROJAS

Stjepan Hauser is an amazing Croatian cellist. I’m a lover of classical music and listening to Hauser allows me to go on a mental journey.

Leo Rojas is an Ecuadorian flutist. His songs are very deep, when I hear them I feel an enormous peace, it is as if it touched my soul.

Real Estate

Photo: Diana Unt

detach from th e noise

By ragne sinikas

RAGNE SINIKAS IS THE FOUNDER OF WORLD WOMEN CONFERENCE & AWARDS, WHICH IS IS THE FOREMOST INTERNATIONAL GATHERING OF WOMEN LEADERS DESIGNED FOR WOMEN TO SHARE THEIR OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES IN A NUMBER OF AREAS. SHE IS ALSO THE FOUNDER OF STARPRENEURS TV, A DIGITAL MARKETING PLATFORM, AS WELL AS BEING A SPEAKER AND AWARD-WINNING PODCAST HOST.

oisy world we live in. People talk loudly on cell phones. Ringtones can be heard in once serene nature walks, even in the forest. Most cars have radios on. Most homes have TVs on. Each of us must find “pockets of peace”. Time for Silence, Solitude and Stillness. That best practice will make you so much better at work, at home, with self.

Find Pockets of Peace One of the primary traits of world-class performers, in business and in life, is their ability to “detach from the noise”. Each day, “noise” such as little crises, minor interruptions and interesting distractions beg for our attention. To get to your own unique form of personal and professional greatness, it's essential to detach from the noise and stay “on vision”. As Robin Sharma says: “We all face “the tyranny of the urgent” during our days. But the best of the best stay true to their vision, values and virtues. And they ensure that the things that truly count never get sacrificed for those seemingly pressing but unimportant ones. They simply refuse to major in the minor. They avoid the noise.”

Photo: Josafat de la Toba

Practical strategies to find pockets of peace: • When you are in your car/in a taxi, keep the radio off. Use that time to renew. To observe. To introspect. • Take 15 minutes before you sleep to immerse yourself in peace. Just chill. Get comfortable with no noise. Get comfortable with yourself. • Make your home a sanctuary. It's a wild world out there. Create a deeply peaceful home environment. Reduce clutter. Cut back on the noise. • Take a daily vow of silence. Talking consumes a ton of energy. Be silent for 15 minutes a day at the very least. You'll have more energy. More peace. More joy. Better performance. • Chase peace down. Fight the noise. Get away from the maddening crowds - at least for a bit. You'll be glad you did. Now let me get tactical. Where the Pockets of Peace can be found? But of course, at the unspoiled East Cape. Stretching from San José del Cabo to the town of Los Barriles. The East Cape is a secluded area of sweeping landscapes where the desert meets the Sea of Cortez, and the Sierra de la Laguna mountains sit in the backdrop in Baja California Sur Mexico. The East Cape is the home to Cabo Pulmo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site that’s renowned for its snorkeling and scuba diving. The explorer Jacques Cousteau called it the “aquarium of the world.” Los Cabos is one of the strongest real estate markets in Mexico and has seen an annual growth of 6% in overall sales for the last five years. In 2020, that number jumped to a 13%

increase for a total of more than $500 million USD in residential sales. The East Cape is appealing to home buyers because of its setting on the Sea of Cortez and its deep blue color and rich marine life. As Roberto Arechederra, the Investment Banker says: “Singers, actors and businessmen can’t be wrong. Not even the health crisis has prevented them from investing in a magnificent place with increasing prices in Real Estate properties. It actually accelerated the search for private, secluded, quiet, remote settings and that's what East Cape really is!” Investors are frequently looking for ways to diversify their portfolio. Real Estate is a fundamental part of any wellbalanced investment. Vacation properties in Mexico are a great opportunity for good returns in a relatively safe long-term investment. One of the most attractive places for doing so is Los Cabos. It's also the place where the investors are willing to pay a premium in order to be part of the best real estate offers. Another attraction of Real Estate Investment in Cabo (buying to live, construction or renting a property) is tax benefits (depreciation, expenses, travel costs, etc.). Taking advantage of a second mortgage with the actual interest rates. Ask your personal or corporate tax advisor and real estate agent about this. Take in consideration potential increase in price according to historic performance in Los Cabos. Investing in the East Cape is not only a smart move from a financial perspective, but also a very tactical move to have a supreme quality of life with priceless opportunity to detach from the noise and find the peace of pockets in one place.

Training & Development

Energy is the Key to Conscious Career Decisions By jelena radonjic JELENA IS AN AWARD-WINNING CAREER FULFILMENT COACH, PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING CONSCIOUS, ASPIRING PROFESSIONALS THRIVE IN THE CAREERS THEY LOVE. WITH OVER 25 YEARS IN INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT AND EDUCATION MANAGEMENT, SHE HAS HELD MANAGERIAL AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ROLES GLOBALLY. JELENA IS A FORBES COACHES COUNCIL MEMBER AND CONTRIBUTOR, SPEAKER AND AUTHOR. Here's How/Why! You may be wondering: ‘What does energy have to do with careers and work?’ As with any area of our life, our work and the choices we make are very much influenced by our state of being and our predominant energy at the time. Bearing in mind we spend a whopping 90,000 hours working in our lifetime, on average, we really want to be mindful of how we spend them! As a career and leadership development coach, but also as someone who has spent decades immersed in various spiritual and personal growth practices, I am a strong advocate for building and cultivating self-awareness when it comes to your work – call it a job, a career, a business, your purpose or your drive to self-actualise. Let’s break down how energy comes into play in your work life in 3 crucial elements: the phases of your career journey. Step 1: If you don’t know where you are at right now, how will you determine your path

forward? The bare minimum of a foundation of a healthy, happy career is being aware of your strengths, your hard and soft skills, your values and motivations. If you are unclear about your past challenges and successes and what you learnt from them, it will be next to impossible to forge a meaningful path ahead. I often ask my clients: ‘How can you be confident if you are not fully aware of what you should be confident about?’ Just as important is your awareness about your limiting beliefs and the patterns of your inner saboteur. Building this awareness requires patience and perseverance, as well as being able to face your ‘gremlins’. This is where we can tap into energies. If you are operating from the position of love – as a state of being - it will give you entirely different results to operating from fear. Fear here is a state of being, too: not a momentary response to a perceived threat, but rather an energetic state that focuses us on lack, fear of loss, or put

more succinctly, F.O.G. – fear, obligation and guilt. Usually, we are not aware of these and that’s why we struggle. As Carl Jung says: “Whatever you are not conscious of will govern you. Whatever you are conscious of, you can govern.” Step 2: If you don’t know where you are going, how will you get there? Once you’ve got clarity on your current state of being and have cultivated awareness of your values, your arsenal of skills, strengths, and experiences, you will be able to translate this into a vision, an end goal. By this I don’t mean end goal in a finite sense, because we are on a journey that lasts a lifetime (and beyond); I mean the end goal for this specific part of your journey. When setting your vision with the end goal, it is important you use your head and heart in an equal measure, but also your intuition – that energy of momentous insight that we can connect to in moments of meditation, quiet, or pre-sleep state. Your end goal will feel true to you if you get the sensation of lightness in your body, of feeling unrestricted. You may experience your chest expanding, being able to breathe better, and a relief of tension. It’s all about your senses and your visceral, bodily responses: your physicality. You may also get a sense of knowingness which is a signal to your mind that you have connected to what is true to you. On the other hand, if you are plagued by doubt, ruminating thoughts, or anxiety, it is a sign that

you are not connecting to what’s true to you. You may feel heavy in your body or just keep ‘being in your head’ without the clear connection to your heart and gut. That’s when I’d check my overall energy – my state of being. Am I in love or in fear? What is behind this this thought, this sensation and this emotion? Where is it coming from? Does it ring true to me? Step 3: Bringing it all together for fulfilment and success So, now that you have got a level of clarity, you have also got increased confidence and focus. You are making your work life decisions based on a foundation of being in loving energy. You are feeling energised because you are undoubtedly moving in the right direction. The right direction for you, not for anyone else. You are getting into a state of flow as you engage in the work you love. And that brings you fulfilment. Of course, there will be ups and downs and difficulties, but you embrace it all and forge ahead, carried by your vision and the desire to make an impact. Your sense of purpose becomes crystalised and your fulfilment is growing as you are able to see the results and harvest the efforts of your work – your work on your energy and self-actualisation. If you believe this is possible, and you’d like to explore this energetic journey on the way to career fulfilment and success, then feel free to get in touch with me: jelena@whatwork.co.uk

Health & Wellness

WHY WE SHOULD ALL FIND THE LIGHT WITHIN US By martina coogaN MARTINA COOGAN IS BETTER KNOWN AS THE METAPHYSICAL MONARCH. WITH OVER 20 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE OF TEACHING ANCIENT LINEAGE HEALINGS AND TOOLS OF POWER WHICH BALANCE THE HUMAN ENERGY FIELDS, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL BODIES, SHE SPECIALISES IN EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE INNER PEACE AND OPENING AND DEVELOPING SPIRITUALITY. REACH HER AT HER WEBSITE.

ave you ever contemplated the light which shows up every morning and brightens your day, and then watched it dim as night falls? Have you ever noticed your friend's excitement and how that excitement lights them up? You see their energy enhance and expand as they passionately express what is happening and what is positive in their lives. Light, energy, and spirit are words we use and interchange to express what we all experience in everyday life. It has always existed, and it always will. It is the very essence of existence itself. At the moment of birth, the spirit of the being is anchored within the physical body. From that moment on we can sense the light and energy of the being. As the baby grows into a child and later into an adolescent, we notice different energies and experiences being expressed in everyday life. As a parent, child, friend, lover approaches you, it's obvious to you what the energy and frequency of their aura is. When we are super happy and positive, we see that the expression and the light of the person increase. This is part of being attractive, your energy is enhanced on a positive level.

Our light and energy discharge everywhere we go and in all that we do. You may ask how is this possible? Each of us has our own aura, and it is our personal responsibility to keep it clear and energised. Just like our bodies, our aura has a frequency and when we are clear and clean it holds and discharges positive bright light. This energy impacts those around us, and it impacts all that we say and do in every area of our life. If our energy field or our aura is negative and has been polluted with a lower frequency energy such as fear, judgment, or negativity, then it weakens our light. With our energy field, we leave a negative charge. The law of the universe says as within so without. As we understand this, we know that whatever frequency our inner core is producing, whether that’s positive or negative, is what we send out to the universe and attract back into our lives. This is why we always want to clean our aura, as with a clean aura we can embody more light and have the highest frequency energies radiating out to attract our deepest desires. When we are in flow with the universal flow, we can manifest to the highest possible degree. So many clients come to me when they feel their light and energy is low. They feel it inside themselves or notice it in the fruits of their lives. When we are low, we often choose to be alone or suppress ourselves, this is because we have a lack of light or our energy has become stagnant. As we have all been in lockdown during this past year, so many people have truly experienced how dim their light has become. Many have noticed how depleted their energies are and wish to regain higher levels of light and energy. My personal goal in life, which brings me great joy, is to bring my client's energy structure and aura back into alignment. It’s important for clients to feel this beautiful energy, and to feel how it was at the moment of their birth. When receiving a

healing, they can once again experience their own light and connect to their true essence, which we also call the spirit. I love to teach my clients daily tools that they can use to help to clean, clear, energise and enhance their own energy every day. They use this light and embody their spiritual frequency into the physical. The spirit in each of us wants to wake up. Spirit resides within the physical body and it has the ability to remind us in this of who we are, what we want to accomplish, and what our unique purpose is in life. It wants to guide us on our journey through life. It wants to connect us to those whom we are destined to meet and have a multitude of experiences with, helping us decide where it's best for us to live, explore and experience.

The spirit in every human is interconnected to every other human, to nature, and to the universe itself. Each of us holds our own personal light, energy, and frequency and these things form part of our individual expression. As we share our light it’s important for it to be clean, bright, and vibrant as it impacts those around us, where we live, the lives of others, and the universe itself. If you are ready to learn more about increasing your light, enhancing your energy, and manifesting and working with the Universe, then feel free to reach out and contact me, as it's my passion to help everyone wake up and hold their brightest light so that this world will be awake, bright, and alive, and so that we can all work as one light combined with the universal light of creation.

Marketing & Branding

COLOUR HEALS! By nicole Weatherby

NICOLE IS A SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND THE “BOSS LADY” OF GREEN HOUSE MEDIA. SHE IS BASED IN SOUTH AFRICA, BUT HAS WORKED WITH BUSINESSES ACROSS THE WORLD. NICOLE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE, AND HER DREAM JOB IS USING GRAPHIC DESIGN TO HELP ANIMAL CHARITIES TO PROMOTE THE WORK THEY ARE DOING.

magine the world and life itself in just black and white. It would feel meaningless!

Colour plays a vitally important role in the world in which we live. Colour can sway our thinking, change our actions, and cause reactions. It can irritate or soothe your eyes, raise your blood pressure, or suppress your appetite. When used in the right ways, colour can even save on energy consumption. As artists, we learn how to use the positive or negative attributes of colour in our works to subliminally send a message. As many people may know, all colours begin with the

primary colours (red, blue and yellow), which are colours that cannot be created by mixing any other colours together. In the early twentieth century, German painter, Johannes Itten, extended the colour wheel to include secondary and tertiary colours. He also pioneered the idea of warm and cool colours, as well as the principle that any shade of colour can either have a warm base or a cool base. There are complimentary colours, and the list goes on, but do you want to know how to evoke a certain feeling or send a specific message? THE MEANING OF COLOUR RED is the colour of assertion, strength, romance, excitement, vitality, physical power, outgoing natures, ambition, and impulsiveness. It is a colour that flatters the skin and can make an excellent background. Pale pinkish reds are warm and peaceful, and they combine well with greens. The deeper shades of red create an atmosphere of retrained opulence and power. Red elicits an uncomplicated nature with a zest for life. But red can also connote danger or threats! It's a very versatile colour. ORANGE is made up of a mixture of yellow and red. It can be assertive, dynamic, and spontaneous, it signifies youth and fearlessness. Orange stimulates the brain and encourages oxygen production and mental activity. Dark orange signifies deceit or distrust, whereas red oranges can correspond to aggression, domination, and a thirst for action. YELLOW is a colour that is associated with sunshine and which represents light. It creates feelings of hope, happiness, and wisdom. The colour evokes an optimistic sense of wellbeing, and it gives the feeling that all is OK with the world. That's why it is the Pantone colour of the year for 2021 – to create a sense of hope! However, yellow is a complicated colour. While light yellows represent intellect, freshness, and joy, dull yellows are associated with caution, decay, sickness, and jealousy. Yellow can also signify cowardice in some contexts. Overall, though, yellow is remarkably effective at attracting attention.

GREEN is formed by mixing blue and yellow. Green is the colour of harmony, balance, and safety. Green also has a calming effect and a symbolic meaning of hope, peace, gentleness, and modesty. It is soothing, refined, and civilised, and it has great healing power. Green suggests stability and endurance, hope and growth. It can also denote lack of experience. BLUE is a primary colour that transcends all models of colour space. It often symbolises serenity, stability, inspiration, wisdom, or health. It can be a calming colour, and thus it often symbolises reliability. PURPLE is a mixture of blue and red. The colour purple is often associated with royalty, nobility, luxury, power, and ambition. Purple also represents meanings of wealth, extravagance, creativity, wisdom, dignity, grandeur, devotion, peace, pride, mystery, independence, and magic. BROWN is the colour of living wood and the earth. Rich, subtle, and extraordinarily restful to look upon, brown creates a feeling of coolness and warmth at the same time. It combines well with rich colours such as purple and gold, combinations which were popular in the Victorian era. It is a steady, dependable, conservative, conscientious, and reliable colour. Brown evokes a sense of nostalgia and reminds us of the great works of Rembrandt, Titian, and Rubens.

GREY can represent caution and compromise. Many beautiful greys can be made by mixing complimentary colours together. Greys give a sense of peace to the viewer. Grey is also a Pantone colour of the year for 2021! WHITE is symbolic of safety, cleanliness, and purity. White emanates feelings of youth, perfection, and innocence. White represents simplicity and freshness, but too much white can give a clinical feeling. Low fat foods and dairy products use white in their packaging. However, in many Eastern cultures, white signifies death, mourning, funerals, and unhappiness. BLACK is mysterious and hidden, and at times it can have a feeling of morbidity. It gives us a sense of the unknown, and sometimes carries negative connotations with it. In most Western cultures, black is symbolic of grief. However, black can be dignified, and is often synonymous with sophistication. Black will also punctuate colour schemes which rely on strong contrasting colours. Try mixing your own shades of black, as opposed to using it straight from the tube. In conclusion, when thinking of what message, you want to send with your marketing materials, logo, or brand, or even when deciding what flowers to send someone, then it’s important to really consider what colours to choose, as you don’t want to give off the wrong message!

Fitness

How to Safely Exercise While

Pregnant By rodrigo oliveira RODRIGO OLIVEIRA IS A 31-YEAR-OLD PHYSICAL EDUCATION GRADUATE. HE GRADUATED IN 2016 FROM UNIVERSIDADE ESTÁCIO DE SÁ, AND HE LATER DID A POST-GRADUATE DEGREE IN EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY, STRENGTH TRAINING AND PERSONAL TRAINER, AT CASTELO BRANCO. HE IS ALSO A PILATES INSTRUCTOR ACCREDITED BY FISART, AND HAS A FURTHER DEGREE IN NUTRITION FROM UNIVERSIDADE ESTÁCIO DE SÁ.

ll physical activity when pregnant must be approved by qualified professionals. Once a certain activity programme has been recommended by the obstetrician, the next step is for the pregnant woman to seek out a qualified fitness professional who can help her start her new training schedule. The practice of physical exercise during pregnancy can bring benefits not only to the mother, but also to the baby. A study conducted by the University of Montreal that the improved blood circulation to the placenta brought about by aerobic exercise can improve the oxygen supply to the baby, which encourages the development of its brain. Moreover, keeping active during the 9 months of pregnancy promotes a better disposition, reduced swelling and nausea, lower incidence of back and joint pain and can help to prevent diseases such as gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, which can lead to preeclampsia. All these benefits and we haven’t even mentioned the benefits for your labour time, which will likely be far shorter as you will have better muscle and cardiovascular preparation, as well as promoting a quick recovery in the postpartum period! In the first phase of pregnancy, it is recommended to slowly adapt the pregnant woman to engaging in physical activity. The exercise intensity should be gentle, always respecting the particularities of the health of mother and baby. Ideally the pregnant woman should exercise on average 150 minutes per week, divided into 30 minutes daily, five days a week, for example. The training program can include low-intensity aerobic exercises such as walking, weight training, water aerobics, and Pilates, as well as other activities. It is normal that during pregnancy the mother will feel hungrier, causing her calorie intake to increase, meaning that many pregnant women put on weight beyond what is recommended, not to mention the hormonal changes that can bring about binge eating or even depression. However, by engaging in physical activity throughout pregnancy, these health problems can be minimised or even completely avoided.

Training & Development

Live Inside-Out Not Outside-In By mary senkowska MARY SENKOWSKA IS THE YOUNGEST PCC CERTIFIED COACH IN THE WORLD. SHE HAS BEEN SHORTLISTED FOR “THE 20 MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMEN TO WATCH IN 2021”. WITH 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, SHE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT INSPIRING LEADERS TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR BUSINESSES.

n a world where transactional culture has taken over, pandemic isolation has taken a toll, and remote work has completely reshaped our career possibilities, an overwhelming 70% of millennials and younger suffer from loneliness and its consequences such as chronic stress or anxiety. This can lower your perceived happiness, but it can also make you sick, cause you to lose sleep or decrease your cognitive abilities. In fact, you would need to smoke 15 cigarettes a day to equal the negative health effects of loneliness! (according to Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, Brigham Young University, 2017). The paradox is that we often try to combat loneliness by finding more people to hang out with, looking for a partner, taking on more responsibilities. Maybe even looking for a higher presence where we can direct our love and attachment. Although this could provide some comfort when dealing with loneliness, long-term, we are barking up the wrong tree. More and more research shows that the best results in dealing with loneliness and derivatives come from designing your life inside-out and not outside-in. Since the 1980s there have been 750+ studies done exploring the effects of having clarity about your purpose and broadly scoped wellbeing. At Creative Brain, we look into how it helps with holistic development, so your ability to maximise your own potential; simply put – maintaining you at your best. Purpose increases your resilience and at the same time decreases the fear response and cognitive conflict. This means you will be less prone to depression, burnout, heart attacks, and inflammation. You will combat motivational lows and be able to sustain yourself through high pressure situations.

How to even get started improving something that seems so scientific (vmPFC) or abstract (the Purpose)? There are several ways. If you don’t know what your purpose is, how to get started, or you want to reconnect with it, check out the online Purposepreneur course that we designed at Creative Brain, or simply start reflecting, you can find a lot of sample questions on the Internet.

Let’s look at optimising our progress through the lens of Backdoors to ChangeTM. This concept allows us to dismantle more complex behaviours, capabilities and reactions into smaller component forces, so factors that build a certain reality. For example, take loneliness – it is not a simple unit like a building cell in our body. Loneliness is built out of a number of contributing factors (component forces). If we define what the dominant forces in your context are and then tackle them separately but accurately, we will accelerate your growth and ensure sustained change based on strong foundations.

If you’ve been experiencing the symptoms of loneliness for a prolonged period of time now, counselling might be a better first step. You don’t need to “be sick” to explore it at no risk. We provide you with a free session to ask any questions - test this enigmatic counselling thing out!

It is inside the vmPFC (ventromedial prefrontal cortex) that Purpose sits in your brain. This is the same part which is responsible for rewards, causes you to feel emotions and the happiness “high”. And it is proven that self-transcending stimulus (inside-out approach) can better your overall wellbeing and fight loneliness.

Start taking your emotional stock. Every morning, after you wake up, identify how you’re feeling. Be as specific as possible in this, observing calm or hopeful rather than fine. Ask yourself what the main reason for that feeling is and what is one thing you’re excited for today. Already, after a month, you will be able to start drawing some meaningful insights.

“Loving-kindness” meditation has been proven to help recovery from trauma (US military veterans recovery grew by 15%), combat loneliness, increase the feeling of purpose, and gratitude; give that a go.