Start Being Visible

Mildred Talabi

Welcome to the Start Being Visible podcast. My name is Mildred Talabi. I’ve spent the past decade plus mastering the art of personal branding in my career, as a former journalist and communications professional, and in my business which has taken on various forms over the years. I now spend most of my time championing and coaching women to increase their influence, income and impact through being visible on platforms like LinkedIn and beyond. In this podcast, I’ll be sharing with you some of my insights into the journey to being visible, as well as bringing you amazing candid conversations from professional women who have chosen to step out of the shadows and into the limelight in their work lives. We’ll discuss the highs, the lows and the in betweens of being visible so that you can find the courage, the knowledge and the resources you need to start being visible in your own life. Hit the subscribe button to never miss out on our weekly episodes. If you like what you hear, please leave a review and spread the word. You can find me on all the main social media platforms as "Mildred Talabi". read less
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Episodes

Aligning your work with your values - Mamta Valderrama, COO & Bestselling Author [S2, EP9]
07-03-2024
Aligning your work with your values - Mamta Valderrama, COO & Bestselling Author [S2, EP9]
Mamta Jain Valderrama wears many hats. She is a Chief Operating Officer who is drawn to social impact and social justice, having started her career in healthcare operations.In addition, Mamta is also a wife, a mom, a vegan advocate and a collector of chocolate bars from around the world – with more than 300 bars from 6 continents!In 2017, Mamta published A Girl In Traffick, a novel based on true stories of human kidney trafficking & the black market organ trade, which became an Amazon bestselling in the thriller category. Having grown up in Los Angeles, USA, today Mamta lives in Scottsdale, AZ, with her husband and daughter, and is currently in search of the next organisation to lend her skills, passion and personality to as a COO!In this episode we discuss everything from human trafficking and book writing to chocolates and purpose-driven work.➖➖➖➖➖📣 Newsflash: This podcast broadcasts LIVE on LinkedIn every Wednesday at 6pm UK time, where you'll be able to ask questions and interact with Mildred through the comments.Follow Mildred on LinkedIn to join in!✅ You can also watch this episode on Youtube. If you enjoy it, please subscribe, rate and review so we can reach other women with this #startbeingvisible message and movement!➖➖➖➖➖Connect with Mildred:LinkedinInstagram▶▶▶ Start your journey to being visible here➖➖➖➖➖Connect with MamtaLinkedInInstagram
Stop waiting to be noticed at work - Urvina Shah & Anjali Gudhka, Career Coaches [S2, EP8]
29-02-2024
Stop waiting to be noticed at work - Urvina Shah & Anjali Gudhka, Career Coaches [S2, EP8]
Urvina Shah and Anjali Gudhka are co-founders of UKAN Coaching - a company that specialises in aligning mid-professional women to careers they want and enjoy. Prior to starting their business together, Urvina worked in the NHS for 27 years as a Therapeutic radiographer and a Clinical Practice educator, until a restructure in her organisation caused her role to come to a sudden end, leading her to embark on a new coaching career at the age of 50.Anjali worked as a Finance professional in the Corporate sector for 17 years before becoming an Executive coach in order to help others shift their own careers with clarity and confidence. Together, they combine their unique backgrounds, personal journeys and experience within their respective careers to help women move from stagnant to joy in their careers.In this episode we discuss how to get promoted at work, building a successful business partnership, and tips for thriving in your career.➖➖➖➖➖📣 Newsflash: This podcast broadcasts LIVE on LinkedIn every Wednesday at 6pm UK time, where you'll be able to ask questions and interact with Mildred through the comments.Follow Mildred on LinkedIn to join in!✅ You can also watch this episode on Youtube. If you enjoy it, please subscribe, rate and review so we can reach other women with this #startbeingvisible message and movement!➖➖➖➖➖Connect with Mildred:LinkedinInstagram▶▶▶ Start your journey to being visible here➖➖➖➖➖Connect with Urvina and Anjali:LinkedInInstagramWebsite
I built a personal brand that benefited my employers - Hannah Awonuga, DEI thought leader (S2, EP2)
19-01-2024
I built a personal brand that benefited my employers - Hannah Awonuga, DEI thought leader (S2, EP2)
Hannah Awonuga is considered one of the most inspirational and influential Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practitioners in the UK. A multi-award-winning DEI thought leader and speaker, Hannah recently joined Knight Frank, the global real estate consultancy, as the Group Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Prior to this, Hannah was the Global DEI Director at Barclays, where she started her career in banking, at just 17yrs old, before transitioning into Diversity and Inclusion. Today, she also serves as a non-executive director for the UK government membership body Progress Together, which has been set up to increase socioeconomic diversity at senior leadership level across the UK financial services. In this episode of Start Being Visible, we unpack Hannah's inspiring journey and the role visibility played in the process.➖➖➖➖➖📣 Newsflash: This podcast broadcasts LIVE on LinkedIn every Wednesday at 6pm UK time, where you'll be able to ask questions and interact with Mildred through the comments. Follow Mildred on LinkedIn to join in!✅ You can also watch this episode on Youtube. If you enjoy it, please subscribe, rate and review so we can reach other women with this #startbeingvisible message and movement!➖➖➖➖➖Connect with Mildred:LinkedinInstagram▶▶▶ Start your journey to being visible hereMentioned in this episode:Sign up for Mildred's LinkedIn masterclass, Visible and ProfitableIf you’re a woman with a service based business and you want to learn how being visible can help you create clients from LinkedIn, come and join Mildred on her Visible & Profitable LinkedIn masterclass. It’s a 3-hour masterclass - taking place on Tuesday 30th January - where you'll learn the exact system and process that Mildred has used to build her audience on LinkedIn to over 50K followers and generate good business from it. Tickets are just £97, or £147 with VIP access and special bonuses. Get yours here - https://www.startbeingvisible.com/masterclass Early bird VIP registrations (by midnight on Friday 19th January) also get a signed copy of Mildred's LinkedIn book, Start Being Visible.
Visibility doesn't mean sharing everything - Claudine Reid MBE (EP10)
06-12-2023
Visibility doesn't mean sharing everything - Claudine Reid MBE (EP10)
As an award-winning social entrepreneur, senior advisor to government, and non-executive Director, Claudine Reid MBE is considered one of Britain’s most influential Black women. Claudine has over 27 years experience as a social entrepreneur in the Education and Health & Social Care sector, creating over 10,000 job opportunities and supporting entrepreneurs across the country to increase their capacity for more through PJ’s Community Service - the social enterprise she runs with her husband, Patrick.In addition, Claudine is a certified leadership coach, trainer and speaker with the world renowned John Maxwell Team, and a happily married wife and mother of two adult children.In this episode of Start Being Visible, Mildred and Claudine discuss building a long-lasting business, the recipe for a successful marriage, and the role of visibility in your personal and professional life. ▶ If you would like to watch this episode, you can do this on Youtube or on Mildred’s LinkedIn Live.▶ Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review if you enjoy this podcast!Episode Highlights22:15 - [On education] Education is your ticket out of poverty. And for as much as, you know, I've never gone without a meal, thankfully, that saying has always rang true in my head.31:25 - [On visibility] The visibility piece for me is about the things I know have the capacity to positively impact other people. Those are the pieces that I want to be visible.38:19 - [On deciding what to share openly] I would say a cautious approach would be advisable, because I can talk about trauma, I can talk about challenges, because I've overcome them. So even if I'm crying or being emotional in that moment, and even if it triggers me in that moment, I've already done the work.Connect with MildredLinkedinInstagram▶▶▶ Start your journey to being visible on Mildred’s websiteConnect with ClaudineLinkedinWebsite
Grief shouldn't be taboo - Zamiha Desai, RecommendAsian Founder (EP9)
29-11-2023
Grief shouldn't be taboo - Zamiha Desai, RecommendAsian Founder (EP9)
Zamiha Desai refers to herself as an "accidental entrepreneur". In April 2016, Zamiha started a Facebook Group, RecommendAsian, as a place to share ideas, tips and recommendations on Asian lifestyle with her friends.The group launched with 219 Asian women members. Today the online community has grown to over 70,000 members, and the sister group, ProfessionalAsian (for both women and men), has over 80,000 members.Both groups are focused on Asian lifestyles and are affectionately referred to as “the Asian Google” where you can find everything Asian-related – from advice to gifts to products and services.In this episode of Start Being Visible, Mildred and Zamiha discuss her incredible achievements building her online communities, but also, on a more personal level, Zamiha’s experience of dealing with loss and grief in the public eye after losing her husband to illness earlier this year. ▶ If you would like to watch this episode, you can do this on Youtube or on Mildred’s LinkedIn Live.▶ Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review if you enjoy this podcast!Episode Highlights20:02 - [On starting ProfessionalAsian to also include men] People felt comfortable talking about menstruating and, you know, sex - girly topics they wouldn't want guys to see. I don't think men communicate in the same way as women. I didn’t think I'd be able to bring that out in men to have these conversations that are kind of deep.46:52 - [On embracing herself] If I didn't go that extra mile and go check out all the red lipsticks in Debenhams, I wouldn't be me. It's made me more comfortable being me and proud of things that I wished were different before.42:44 - [On grief and loss] The time on this earth is relatively short and you have to just enjoy what you do and where you go.50:40  - [On the impact of losing her husband] I knew I'd done it before and I could do it again. So I probably didn't have a lot of fears around things that maybe other people that have been with their partners their whole lives have, because they've never been alone.Connect with MildredLinkedinInstagram▶▶▶ Start your journey to being visible on Mildred’s websiteConnect with ZamihaLinkedinInstagramWebsite
How to become an employee influencer (EP8)
22-11-2023
How to become an employee influencer (EP8)
Is it possible to build your personal brand on LinkedIn as an employee?Absolutely yes, and becoming an "employee influencer" is the key.What is an employee influencer and how can you become one?Mildred breaks it all down in this solo episode of Start Being Visible, as well as shares some insights on how companies can actively encourage more of their staff to become employee influencers.▶ If you would like to watch this episode, you can do this on Youtube or on Mildred’s LinkedIn Live.▶ Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review if you enjoy this podcast!Episode Highlights08:37 - (On the value of an employee influencer) The employee influencer is someone who is able to leverage that brand. This is where the value comes in both for you as the influencer and for the organization that you're involved with.10:33 - (On the difference between an employee influencer and an employee advocate) An employee influencer is different from an employee advocate because the employee advocate serves primarily to promote and support their company brand. An employee influencer seeks to contribute to the wider topic that their role represents rather than just the job itself.12:48 - (On owning your personal brand) You have got to own your personal brand. Now, what that means is that you've got to recognise that your personal brand belongs to you and not to your employer.16:50 - (On the importance of consistency) You have got to show up and show up consistently. I believe that consistency is one of the most underrated skills of our time.Connect with MildredLinkedinInstagram▶▶▶ Start your journey to being visible on Mildred’s website
Client Spotlight: Building your personal brand as an employee - with Andrea Pooler (EP7)
15-11-2023
Client Spotlight: Building your personal brand as an employee - with Andrea Pooler (EP7)
Are you an employee looking to build your personal brand on LinkedIn? In this Client Spotlight episode of Start Being Visible, Mildred interviews her client, Andrea Pooler - a Business Management Lead in the jewellery industry who regularly leverages her personal brand on LinkedIn to drive forward business objectives for her organisation.They discuss how to get over the fear of putting yourself out there, the role of content in building your personal brand, and how to get your employer’s buy-in to start your journey to being visible on LinkedIn.▶ If you would like to watch this episode, you can do this on Youtube or on Mildred’s LinkedIn Live.▶ Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review if you enjoy this podcast!Episode Highlights09:47 - [On visibility] I go to events and I speak to people and the first thing they say is, “Oh, I just love seeing what you're posting on LinkedIn. I can't wait to see what the next story is!” That, to me, is what has made me realise how important visibility is.17:23 - [On overcoming hurdles] I would say the thing that I was most afraid of was just putting myself out there. Like once you get over that hurdle, it's very easy. And just to know that, you know, the people that are interested in your type of post will read your post.19:09 - [On making connections] Connecting with people is just as important as making the post, maybe even more important.25:05 - [On creating content] Just come up with a post and post it. Don't get so bogged down in what that content is that you're posting. If you're just starting out, just create something and do it.Connect with MildredLinkedinInstagram▶▶▶ Start your journey to being visible on Mildred’s websiteConnect with AndreaLinkedin
My ADHD nearly killed my business - Joy Foster, TechPixies Founder (EP6)
08-11-2023
My ADHD nearly killed my business - Joy Foster, TechPixies Founder (EP6)
Joy Foster is the founder and CEO of TechPixies, a multi-award-winning social media training company that has helped 13,000+ women across the UK upskill with social media in order to return to work, change careers, or start a business, so they can become financially independent. In this episode of Start Being Visible, Joy shares her surprise at recently discovering she has ADHD, how she almost killed her business after hitting a million pounds in revenue (and how ADHD contributed to that) and why she’s posted a live video every week on LinkedIn for 4 years!If you would like to watch this episode, you can do this on Youtube or on Mildred’s LinkedIn Live.▶ Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review if you enjoy this episode. I appreciate your support in reaching as many women as possible with this podcast! Episode Highlights02:53 - [On the ADHD discovery] I obviously must have masked it quite well and people weren't aware of it, nor was I. So, this is something that is really coming to the forefront now. And actually it only came to the forefront when I started really pushing myself to be the best version of myself.15:15 - [On her upbringing] One of the things that's been massive for me is I don't know that I would care this much about the brain if I didn't have a parent that had so many challenges.19:09 - [On career progression] I think my plan was to take every opportunity that came my way. I think as I've gotten older, I've appreciated that one of my superpowers is that I can bloom wherever I'm planted. Wherever I go, I create a life that I love.50:36 - [On restoring her business] I sort of got my superpower within myself to believe that I could do it without funding, without investment, without loans, without credit cards. And that's been very liberating.Connect with MildredLinkedinInstagram▶▶▶ Start your journey to being visible on Mildred’s websiteConnect with JoyLinkedinWebsite
5 unconventional books to help you on your journey to being visible
01-11-2023
5 unconventional books to help you on your journey to being visible
You’ve probably heard the saying that “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.”In today’s solo episode of Start Being Visible, Mildred shares five unconventional books that will help you on your journey to being visible - plus a bonus must-have one that you absolutely need in your collection!If you would like to purchase any of the books mentioned, you can do so using Mildred’s Amazon affiliate links below. If you would like to watch this episode, you can do this on Youtube or on Mildred’s LinkedIn Live.▶ Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review if you enjoy this podcast!➖➖➖➖➖Episode Highlights07:56 - (On purpose) I believe that when you have a real understanding of who you are and who you're created to be, you have this transformation in your mindset that you were actually created by God to be amazing, and there's so much in you that you can add to other people. 17:58 - (On visibility) Sometimes people feel like, well, I need to be ready to be visible. I need to get all my stuff together. I need to have the right messaging, the right words to say. I need to build an audience. You put all of these things together and all of these building blocks that you need to have before you start your journey to being visible. And that is actually a form of procrastination.23:20 - (On sharing content) The more you give away, the more people realise that actually this person, one, cares about my success, two, they know what they're talking about, and then three, that makes them think, if she's going to give away all this stuff for free, then how much better is the stuff that she's charging for?26:15 - (On money) Money is a tool for good. I believe that money buys you choice. I believe that money can change your lives, but even more so the lives of other people around you. I believe that is actually a really noble thing to aspire to have.➖➖➖➖➖Links to purchase the books mentioned in this episode (*These are Amazon affiliate links)An Enemy Called Average by John Mason https://amzn.to/3Fzzh7SQuiet by Susan Cain https://amzn.to/49nsGuXAtomic Habits by James Clear https://amzn.to/3MiyoEtGive and Take by Adam Grant https://amzn.to/499EQHuWe Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers https://amzn.to/3tNKhf7Bonus! Start Being Visible by Mildred Talabi https://www.startbeingvisible.com/book ➖➖➖➖➖Connect with MildredLinkedinInstagram▶▶▶ Start your journey to being visible on Mildred’s
200,000 followers on LinkedIn doesn’t happen overnight - Damilola Felicia Badmus, Personal Branding Consultant (EP4)
25-10-2023
200,000 followers on LinkedIn doesn’t happen overnight - Damilola Felicia Badmus, Personal Branding Consultant (EP4)
Damilola Felicia Badmus is a professional Photographer, Personal Branding Consultant, author, podcaster and a LinkedIn Influencer with over 200,000 followers on the platform. In this episode, Mildred and Damilola discuss the dos and don'ts of growing your audience on LinkedIn, the different ways to monetise your personal brand, and the best strategies for creating highly engaging content. If you would like to watch this episode, you can do this on Youtube or on Mildred’s LinkedIn Live.▶ Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review if you enjoy this podcast!Episode Highlights08:04 - [On Google rankings] One of the important parts of being visible, especially on LinkedIn, is that it helps with your profile ranking. Sometimes I check out my name on Google and my name always comes up at the top all the time and that's because I do a lot of posting.11:12 - [On personal branding] I started a podcast about two months ago and without any paid ad, without influencer marketing, just content marketing, I have over close to 1,000 plays on each of the podcasts. So that's to tell you that your branding really matters.22:15 - [On getting started with content] Start with what you know. If you find it difficult talking about yourself, start with the knowledge you know and what you want to share with people.39:34 - [On LinkedIn growth] I think one of the things that has also helped me grow on LinkedIn is trying to get busy and trying to do different activities.57:32 - [On visibility] I think visibility has to do with you just showing up, letting people know what you do without being shy of what you do, and also using the digital tools we have available to your best advantage.Connect with MildredLinkedinInstagram▶▶▶ Start your journey to being visible on Mildred’s websiteConnect with DamilolaLinkedinWebsite
The judgement is coming from within - Monwara Ali, Charity CEO (EP3)
18-10-2023
The judgement is coming from within - Monwara Ali, Charity CEO (EP3)
Monwara Ali has had a varied career in the public and civil society sectors, spanning 32 years. She is currently the Chief Executive of Waltham Forest Community Hub in London, a leading charity known for their collaborative and agile approach in working at a grassroots level, and a mentor and coach for women leaders and trailblazers.In this Client Spotlight episode, Mildred and Monwara discuss the hurdles Monwara has had to face on her journey to being visible as a female, Asian, Muslim leader in the public sector.If you would like to watch this episode, you can do this on Youtube or on Mildred’s LinkedIn Live.▶ Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review if you enjoy this podcast!Episode Highlights09:00 - I feel that culturally we're led to believe that men have those leadership roles and their role is very much to tell us what to do and that means they should be the leaders and we should be the people that work behind the scenes to make them a success.23:25  - I had to set that good example and it wasn't comfortable. I don't want anyone listening to me to assume that being authentic and vulnerable is easy. Well, I now know it's easy because actually I couldn't care less what people think.29:49 - I wanted to find a way also to provide an opportunity for young women to be involved in it. Because I see like in terms of vision, I see the huge alignment, but sometimes it's so far apart other people may not easily anticipate. 39:15 - I kind of feel like now is my time and nothing's going to stop me. I'm a firm believer, I guess, whether you want to call it faith, spirituality, for those who don't believe in a particular faith. But I do feel like the thoughts wouldn't be put in my head or planted in my head or my heart if I wasn't meant to do it.Connect with MildredLinkedinInstagram▶▶▶ Start your journey to being visible on Mildred’s websiteConnect with MonwaraLinkedinWebsite