Pitch Podcast

Victoria Buchanan, Artist, Dyslexic, Mother, Mentor, Executive Creative Director at experience agency Tribal Worldwide DDB shares her story from her early years at school - where she was put into remedial class, her college years where she was inspired to bring together her love of being an artist, and the internet at the birth of the digital creative industry. She also talks about her early parenting years and how having the opportunity to work flexibly was the best thing that could have happened for her family, her career and the company she worked for. She says: “If you want to keep your mothers, and keep the women coming back after they have their children, you have to offer them some alternatives to the traditional way of working, because the traditional hours, the traditional way doesn't work.” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melody Sylvester, Mother, Mentor, Head of Film at creative agency ENGINE talks about achieving her dream of working in the creative industry, her new role at ENGINE and what her hopes are in the position, plus her time as a mentor to young people within her community. She says: “I think the best thing people in my position can do is representation. [Young] people need to see that it is possible and that we are here, and that there is actually more of us working in the industry than we sometimes realise.” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sarah Walsh, Mother, Mentor, Head of Production at Coffee & TV shares her story of moving to London and getting her foot in the door in an industry she didn't know much about. She talks about some of her biggest career breaks, including the opportunity to produce the much-loved John Lewis Christmas campaign, The Lonely Penguin. She also talks about her life as a new mum, having recently returned from maternity leave and heading back to work at Coffee & TV. She says: "[It is] really important that we remember the empathic side a woman can give to leading and it sets the bar for the future." See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kike Oniwinde, Founder & CEO, BYP Network, shares her story of being an ex-Great Britain javelin thrower before heading to Florida to study for her Masters in Management. Her time in Florida meeting with Black business professionals, inspired her to set-up BYP Network in 2016. Since then she has worked incredibly hard (along with her team), to grow her brand to over 40 thousand members and is set to grow further in 2020. She says: “Our ambition is to become the voice of the Black professional.” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mother, Filmmaker, Mentor, Producer of the Year, Award-winning Executive Producer, MD and Partner of production company PRETTYBIRD UK, Juliette Larthe is adept at the juggling many women do in their daily lives, taking on many roles and giving them her all. She shares her personal and professional struggles and triumphs in her interview. She says: “When I consider where I went from being destitute and homeless (1987-1992), having seriously nothing and told when I went into an institution that I wasn't coming out... to ten years later winning Best Music Video Producer (2001), it actually brings me to tears.” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sherry Collins interviewed Jamaican filmmaker, and Pitch Cool magazine cover star, Kia Moses about her childhood, living in Jamaica and her multi-award-winning short film Flight. Kia also talks about Those Creative People, the advertising and product development shop she co-founded with her friends in Jamaica, plus her other directing projects including the candy-coloured music video Paradise Plum for Reggae artist Naomi Cowan. Plus what's coming up next. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sherry Collins interview Eloise King, cover star for the Pitch Cool issue her childhood, her time at Channel 4, Vice and ID. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ade Hassan, MBE is the founder of Nubian Skin and grew up between the UK, Nigeria, and the US, an experience that was integral to the founding of her business – a trailblazing hosiery and lingerie brand which caters for black and brown women and their varying shades. In this episode Pitch founder and editor Sherry Collins interviews Ade. They discuss how Ade went from finance (private equity fundraising) to fashion, the reactions from friends and family; as well as the difference between launching a business to running a business. She talks about the importance of giving back and mentoring in order to pass on the knowledge she wishes she had. Ade finally discusses the importance of her childhood and how growing up in a place where everyone looks like you allows you to see the world with no limits; so that you don't settle and the impossible becomes achievable. In 2017 Ade was awarded an MBE services to fashion in recognition of Ade's commitment to her mission to redefine nude. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tea Uglow is Creative Director at Google's Creative Labs and works in Sydney. Google Translate once translated her role as ‘experimental person in charge at Google' where she runs a small team at the intersection of digital technology, arts and culture working on innovative, global, creative and collaborative projects. In this episode of #PitchPodcast Pitch guest editor and cofounder of Utopia Nadya Powell interviews Tea. They talk about Tea's childhood obsession with drawing and how interactivity formed a key part of her art as a student at Oxford's Ruskin School. Tea discusses the importance of moving from being settled to being unsettled throughout your life and career; recounting a multifaceted career which includes her working in a bar, doing book art degree, learning how to code and freelancing at Google for a year and a half. We learn that following a wiggly path is sometimes the best thing to do, as when you do finally end up where you're supposed to be you're ready for it. Tea is a trans woman and talks about the project of inclusion and diversity, challenging cultures and the importance of allowing people to bring a perspective that is not in the room into the room. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Born to Nigerian parents and from Peckham, Jenn Nkiru grew up obsessed with music (she would wake up early on weekends and play records from her dad's collection aged 4). Jenn is a director signed to Iconoclast and she is the cover star for Pitch New Talent (which is out now). In this #PitchPodcast episode Pitch guest editor and cofounder of Utopia Nadya Powell interviews Jenn about her childhood, going to Howard University and the musician Pharoah Sanders, the significance of sound in her work and creative process. They talk futures, the importance of women and black people in her work; and the significance of having her film REBIRTH IS NECESSARY screened at the preview premiere of the Black Panther film at the BFI ahead of a Q&A with director Ryan Coogler. Her final message: Hold on to the childlike aspects of yourselves, be constantly excited, take opportunity and don't impede yourself by overthinking. Watch Jenn's film REBIRTH IS NECESSARY here https://www.nowness.com/series/black-star/rebirth-is-necessary-jenn-nkiru See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Born into a family of scientists from Iran, Chaka Sobhani grew up in Devon and started off as a director – she is now the Chief Creative Officer at advertising agency Leo Burnett and featured in Pitch's Mavericks issue. In this episode of #PitchPodcast Pitch guest editor and cofounder of Utopia Nadya Powell interviews Chaka, they talk about her early childhood obsession with film (she used to get up to watch films at 6 o'clock in the morning aged 7), her time at ITV (she set up ITV Creative) and Mother London. Chaka discusses what it means to tell great stories, the energy of creative studios, and how your 20s are about finding out about what you don't want to do and your 30s are about doing what you do want to do. Her final message: don't wait, just to it and have the best time. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.