How To Become A...

What does it really mean to be an ethical queer brand owner?In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Adam, founder of Rainbow & Co, to talk about building an LGBTQIA+ apparel and accessories brand that puts community, representation and integrity first.From studying graphic design and advertising to running a business from his apartment, Adam shares how personal experience, creative instinct and a strong moral compass led him to create queer merch that actually reflects the full community, not just the parts that are most visible.Adam shares:Why he always wanted to do something creativeHow studying graphic design, media and advertising shaped his pathWhy university was harder than expected as an autistic personHow early side hustles on Etsy gave him his first taste of selling onlineWhat he learned from working for a luxury leather jacket brandWhy burnout pushed him to leave full-time employmentHow an autism diagnosis helped him understand his working styleWhy he started Rainbow & Co after noticing a gap in Pride merchHow he taught himself to build a website, design products and run the businessWhy trans, lesbian and bi-focused products became so important to customersHow he turned a pocket guide into one of the brand’s bestsellersWhy subtle queer design can matter just as much as bold statementsWhat “rainbow washing” means and why he refuses to do itHow Access to Work and support workers helped him build a sustainable businessWhat it means to grow slowly, ethically and on your own termsHe also opens up about:Masking, burnout and late diagnosisWorking from home while others do 9–5 jobsWhy he wants to hire based on values, not just experienceCreating a business culture that reflects the ethics of the brandWhy queer-owned businesses matter in Pride season and beyondIf you’re interested in:Queer-owned businessesEthical brandingPride merchSmall business journeysAutistic entrepreneursCreative careersLGBTQIA+ representationThis episode is for you.Visit his business here: https://rainbowandco.uk/

In this episode, Grace sits down with Paul, founder of BOL Foods, a leading plant-based, nutrition-focused food brand.Paul’s journey is anything but traditional. From dreaming of becoming a professional footballer, to working on a game reserve in South Africa, to breaking bones as a snowboard instructor… his path zig-zagged before leading him into the world of food.After 14 years helping scale Innocent Drinks, Paul took a leap into entrepreneurship, building BOL into a brand focused on making healthy, convenient food accessible to everyone.We talk about:Taking unconventional career paths (and why they matter)What working at Innocent Drinks taught him about businessHow BOL Foods was born from a real gap in the marketThe realities of launching and scaling food productsWhy most ideas don’t work, and why that’s okayBuilding a strong team and company cultureThe importance of passion in business✨ “If you don’t truly care about what you’re building, it’s very hard to get through the tough times.”This episode is perfect for anyone interested in startups, food & drink, or building a purpose-driven brand.

In this episode, Grace sits down with Nina, the creative behind Nina Bombina, a colourful gifts and homeware brand known for its joyful, dopamine-filled designs.From always wanting to be an artist, to navigating photography, marketing jobs, and eventually building a thriving product-based business. Nina shares the honest, winding journey behind her brand.We talk about:Starting a creative business during lockdownTurning designs into real, sellable productsSelling at markets vs online (and why markets win for her)Getting stocked, featured, and discoveredBalancing creativity with making a livingThe reality of running a physical product businessThis episode is packed with insight for anyone dreaming of building a creative brand or wondering if there’s space for them in a competitive industry (spoiler: there is).✨ “I thought it wouldn’t go anywhere… but I proved myself wrong.”

What does a Glastonbury stage manager actually do?In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Dan, the programmer and venue manager behind the Rum Shack at Glastonbury, to unpack what it really means to run a late-night festival stage, scout emerging talent, and build community-focused programmes that change lives.From MCing and MySpace hustle, to founding Lyrix Organix and being invited to run the Rum Shack stage at Glastonbury (first asked in 2013), Dan’s path is full of detours, practical hustle and intentional values.Dan shares:Why he fell into the music scene at universityHow temp jobs (Transport for London) helped him develop real-world admin & people skillsStarting Lyrix Organix and early nights that helped launch artists (Ed Sheeran among them)How he programs 60+ artists across five days and maps the arc of a festival nightWhy he programs outside the mainstream agent-driven modelScouting talent before they’re “hot”: the Koji Radical exampleThe logistics puzzle of limited Glastonbury tickets and sharing bands across stagesBuilding, rotating and mentoring a backstage team (many are former students)Creating Levelling the Field: a trainee programme for deaf & disabled festival workersTurning festival accessibility into paid, transferable work across other eventsPractical advice: “Start anywhere, follow it everywhere”He also opens up about:Imposter syndrome (and why it doesn’t stop him)Balancing values with the practical workload of running a stageWhy rotating crews and artists matters for inclusion and freshnessHow youth development and long-term scouting create career pipelinesThe emotional side of programming, visualising how a night will flowIf you’re interested in:Festival production & stage managementLive music programming & artist scoutingCareers in events, youth development or accessibilityHow to launch creative initiatives that scale across festivalsThis episode is for you.Resources: https://lyrixorganix.co.uk/https://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/areas/the-common/levelling-the-field/

In this episode of How To Become A, Grace sits down with multi-hyphen creative Timi to uncover how he built a career as both a film photographer and DJ, without following a traditional path.From shooting campaigns and newspaper features to DJing in front of 80,000 people at Twickenham Stadium, Timi shares how networking, authenticity, and genuinely loving what you do can open unexpected doors.We dive into:How he turned a disposable camera into paid photography workShooting England rugby captain Maro Itoje for The TimesPhotographing Emma Raducanu for VodafoneBecoming a resident DJ for Saracens and performing at major stadiumsWhy having a unique style matters more than formal trainingHow to price yourself as a creativeThe power of putting your work out thereTimmy’s journey proves you don’t need one fixed dream, just passion, consistency, and the courage to ask.If you’ve ever wondered how to turn creativity into a career, this episode is for you.

What actually happens after filming wraps?In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Holly to explore the world of post production, the part of film and television that shapes the final story you see on screen.From editing and sound design to ADR (Additional Dialogue Recording), grading, music, and delivering shows to Netflix, Amazon and Apple TV. Holly shares what it really means to be a Post Production Coordinator.We talk about:• Growing up wanting to be an actor • Musical theatre and auditioning for drama school • Rejection and losing her agent • Working in restaurants while chasing creative dreams • Hitting rock bottom in 2019 • Therapy and rebuilding confidence • Falling into post production unexpectedly • Working in Soho — the UK’s post production hub • What ADR actually is • How editing changes a storyline • The magic of music and score • Freelance life in film and TV • Long contracts vs downtime between projectsHolly also shares:• Why being organised is everything • How to break into the industry without connections • The reality of working on Apple TV, Amazon & Netflix productions • Why post is where the magic really happensIf you’ve ever wondered how a script becomes the show you binge, this episode reveals the hidden world behind the edit.

What does it really take to become a head chef?In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Andy — Head Chef at ROVI (part of the Ottolenghi group), to unpack the real journey behind running a high-performing kitchen.From growing up in a hospitality family (with a dad who owned nightclubs and restaurants) to working his way up through kitchens in Australia and London, Andy shares the truth about the industry — the highs, the burnout, the pirate-ship energy of kitchen culture, and the leadership skills no one talks about.We cover:Starting out in a family restaurantCulinary school vs on-the-job trainingMoving from Australia to London without a job lined upWorking your way from chef de partie to sous chef to head chefWhat being a head chef actually involves (hint: it’s not just cooking)Managing big teams under pressureMenu development, seasonal produce & working with a kitchen gardenCooking for 200+ guests in Sicily & IbizaThe harsh realities of the hospitality industryWhy supporting independent restaurants mattersAndy also shares the mindset you need to survive in kitchens: ✔️ Work ethic ✔️ Resilience ✔️ Thick skin ✔️ Passion for food ✔️ Leadership under pressureIf you’ve ever dreamed of running a kitchen, opening a restaurant, or just want to understand what happens behind the pass, this episode is for you.Resources:https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/locations/rovi

How do you turn years in the classroom into a business that actually helps kids?In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace talks with Ramita, a former middle-years teacher who founded Elevate, a curriculum and mentoring platform that supports pre-teens (especially girls) with resilience, confidence and social skills.Ramita walks us through:Her original path (pre-med → genetics → a life-changing volunteer teaching stint)Why she loved teaching and why teacher burnout is realThe moment she decided to build something outside school: designing an 8-week curriculum for tweensHow Elevate launched in Singapore, then pivoted online during COVID to reach kids worldwideWhat the Elevate workshops and school programmes actually cover (resilience, social skills, transition support, online wellbeing)How she built the Elevate Festival, turning curriculum pillars into hands-on experiences for girlsBusiness realities: juggling teaching + entrepreneurship, finding funding/customers, and dealing with feedbackPractical advice for educators who want to start a venture: test ideas, lean on your network, iterate, and accept that “failure” teaches you the next moveResources:https://www.elevate-ra.com/

What does it really take to become a fashion designer?In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Alethea, a designer at Next, to break down the reality of working in fashion, from high street accessories to predicting next year’s trends.From growing up on a council estate with dreams of becoming a designer, to working for Vivienne Westwood, to designing pieces you’ve probably seen on the high street, Alethea’s journey proves there’s no single route into fashion.Alethea shares:Always knowing she wanted to be a fashion designerThe teacher who helped map out her pathStudying fashion at university and foundation yearWorking for Vivienne Westwood and Lulu GuinnessWhy she moved from designer brands to the high streetHow fashion really makes moneyThe difference between designer labels and commercial fashionWhat it’s like seeing your designs out in the real worldThe pressure of development trips to factoriesHow trends are actually predictedWhy macro trends (like politics and economics) shape what we wearNavigating feedback and rejection in creative rolesThe realities of working in fashion productionShe also opens up about:Why you don’t need to be “fashion crazy” to work in fashionHow to break into the industry without connectionsWhy you should make your mistakes working for someone elseThe importance of developing thick skinWhy creativity and commercial awareness must work togetherIf you’re interested in:Becoming a fashion designerWorking in high street fashionTrend forecastingCreative careersHow to get into the fashion industryCommercial design rolesThis episode is for you.