🎤 Next Up: The Creator Fireside Chat (May 22nd)
Join us for an intimate 1:1 with a top creator unpacking how they built their brand, forged major partnerships, and stayed ahead of the algorithm. Expect real talk, no fluff, and the type of insights you can’t Google.

📣 Why Relationships in This Industry Are Everything
Why most creators stay invisible—and how to stand out without selling out. We’re breaking down the real pipeline (platforms, agencies, and shoutouts that work), plus how to make yourself impossible to ignore.

Our Next Event:

Thursday, May 22nd: The Creator Fireside Chat 🔥

Join us for an exclusive 1:1 conversation with a leading creator. No fluff, just real talk. We'll dive deep into the journey behind the brand: from humble beginnings to global partnerships, from viral hits to long-term strategy. It’s an unfiltered look at what it actually takes to build in the creator economy today.

Whether you're a marketer, creator, or strategist, expect practical insights and behind-the-scenes stories about:

• 📈 How they got started—and what they’d do differently

• 🤝 Picking the right brand partnerships (and walking away from the wrong ones)

• 🎥 Their approach to content and storytelling across platforms

• 🧠 Thinking like a brand, not just a creator

• 🔮 Where the creator economy is headed next

Who You Know Is Everything

And I don’t just say that—I’ve lived it.

As much as I’d love to say I do it all alone, and on the day-to-day, I do, in retrospect, I don’t. Many interviews, partnerships, and opportunities come from knowing someone gracious enough to recommend me.

📲 How I Got My Job at TikTok

I didn’t apply through a portal.
I didn’t have an inside contact.
I just networked relentlessly—and here’s how it happened:

1. I reached out to someone named Lauren.

   • We barely knew each other, just Facebook friends from mutual hometown circles.

2. We hopped on a quick call.

   • I shared what I was looking for and asked if she’d refer me.

3. She said yes.

   • No magic trick. Just a genuine conversation that turned into a referral.

4. Four weeks later, I started working at TikTok.

That’s it.
That’s the story.

✅ No perfect resume.
✅ No secret playbook.
Just the right person. At the right time. From one conversation.

🌴 How a Brand Trip to the Maldives Happened

I was invited to Brand Innovators, a marketing event for execs, through a friend.

At the time, I had just launched Social4TheWin and probably shouldn’t have even been in the room.

Here’s what happened:

1. I met David Drexler
   → We hit it off.

2. David invited me to his event
   → I met David & Sue Kang, founders of Vue Collection.

3. Partnered with David & Sue on Event
   → We gave away 3 trips to the Maldives.

4. Creator bikini shoot in the Maldives
   → Vue Collection partnered with New York Swim Week.

5. Luxury event in August with Vue Collection
   → Same team, new concept, bigger impact.

One intro → another → a campaign in paradise → another event.

That’s what happens when you show up.
It’s not linear. It’s relationship compounding.

✉️ How One Email Turned Into the Shorty Awards

This one started in the most random way.

1. Emailed Beacon’s help desk
   → one question about their platform and intro.

2. Multiple conversations
   → We stayed in touch.

3. Tried to partner on my events
   → It didn’t pan out, but I’m friendly with the team.

4. Invited me to TikTok Live event
   → Small, invite-only setting.

5. I met Junmian
   → Managing Director of the Shorty Awards.

6. I shared what I was building
   → The vision behind my events and why they matter.
   → She got it immediately.

Since then:

• ✅ I’ve been invited to attend the Shorty Awards

• 🤝 We’re exploring a future partnership

• 🎟️ I got to attend the Possible Summit—for free

• 📱 Launched a new interview series with marketers & creators—started with Reddit, BeReal, and Expedia

• Gary V Called me Daddy!

All of that…
From one email to a help desk.
No pitch. No ask.
Just a relationship that grew naturally over time.

💼 If You’re a Marketer…

When you get laid off, who actually helps you?

I worked at TikTok for over two years.
Two years later, I barely talk to anyone from the team.

• LinkedIn Easy Apply? 1,000+ applicants per role.

• Recruiters? They care about filling the role, not you.

• The only thing that matters?
  People who know your work—and want to see you win.

🔄 Your Career Will Keep Moving. Will Your Network?

Most marketers don’t stay in one role for a decade.
You job-hop. You pivot. You level up.

But every time you do, one thing determines how fast you land:

Who’s in your corner?

Whether you’re:

• 🎯 Moving from agency to brand

• 🚀 Going in-house at a startup

• 🔄 Resetting after burnout or layoffs

You don’t need more Slack groups or LinkedIn likes.
You need people who pick up the phone when you call.

🤝 Why These Events Matter

This isn’t just about panels.
It’s about being in the room before you need something.

Because the best:

• Jobs

• Referrals

• Opportunities

Rarely go to the most qualified person
They go to the most connected one.

🎥 And Yes — Meeting Creators Makes You Better

The best marketers today don’t just work with creators, they know them.

Because when:

• Your CMO wants a last-minute TikTok campaign

• You need a speaker with real influence

• You’re building social content that hits

You won’t have time to cold-DM 20 people.
You’ll need:

• ✅ Creators you trust

• ✅ People you already vibe with

• ✅ Names you can text, not pitch

This is where those relationships start.
Better ideas. Faster execution. Real connection.

That’s the difference.

💼 If You’re a CREATOR…

Let’s be real for a second:

You can make great content.
But if brands or agencies don’t know you, you’re not getting the deal.

🌱 Want to Grow? Build with Others

Every creator you admire?
They didn’t grow alone.

• They collaborated.

• They swapped audiences.

• They DMed each other ideas.

• They showed up, even when there wasn’t a check involved.

🤝 Why These Events Matter

Whether you’re:

• 🎥 Looking to collaborate with creators outside your niche

• 💬 Wanting to swap content ideas or cross-post

• 🤝 Hoping to connect with marketers for future partnerships

These rooms are for you.

🎥 Get to Know Marketers

You don’t need to pitch every marketer in the room.

Show up.
Have real conversations.
Exchange contacts. Share stories.
Let them get to know the person behind the page.

Because the next:

• Brand partnership

• Collab video

• Paid opportunity

It isn’t going to come from a cold email.
It’s going to come from someone who’s already met you.

This is the stuff that doesn’t show up on your For You Page.
But it’s what makes everything else possible.

• Real people.

• Real community.

• Real growth.

🤝 That’s Why I Host These Events

Not just to talk about trends.
But to put the right people in the right room, before they need something.

Panels are cool.
Free drinks are great.
But the magic? That happens between the programming.
When a marketer and a creator start talking… and something clicks.

So yeah, who you know is everything.
And it all starts by showing up.

See you at the next one.