Founder@ Interview
Interview with Lawrencia Nelson
“Do not be afraid to ask questions and learn from others in the same industry as yourself, research on how they started and see what you can learn. Be resilient and constantly keep going, do not be deterred by setbacks. .” – Lawrencia Nelson
Today we feature Lawrencia Nelson , the founder at Lena Media Consultancy. We hear their story in their own words, their successes, their challenges and their insights.
Let’s start by getting to know you. Can you please tell us a little bit about you and what you do?
My name is Lawrencia Nelson and I am the founder of brand building agency Lena Media Consultancy. Lena Media is a brand-building creative agency servicing brands in the Lifestyle and Beauty Industry.
We help niche brands to find their creative voice and connect them with their chosen audience. Our aim is simple, we support inclusivity, help brands to grow and create brand awareness. We have worked with several brands such as Black Girl Sunscreen, Wild Seed Botanicals, Kiya Cosmetics, Treasure Tress, and many others. Web:
https://www.lenamediaconsultancy.com/ I started the agency as I felt frustrated that there was a plethora of amazing entrepreneurs from ethnic minority backgrounds, plus size entrepreneurs and they were not receiving the recognition they deserved.
Hence why I decided to start my own agency and connect them with mainstream media. Over the past 18 months, we have helped our clients to secure collaboration with TV Channel ITV and secured features in mainstream publications.
A great introduction and start to this interview. Can you please tell us, how did you start, from what age, and what made you decide to change direction and start?
? I started a blog back in 2016 as I always loved to write but I never had the confidence to actually start it as I was apprehensive no one would be interested in what I had to write about. Honestly, my blog just grew and grew, I started pitching my articles to publications for features. I was also interviewing entrepreneurs from different industries but mostly lifestyle entrepreneurs.
I loved that there were a plethora of entrepreneurs from ethnic minority backgrounds who needed their voices to be heard. I was inspired by the moves they were making from all over the world. Some of my favourite interview articles to date were Ghanaian powerhouses Valerie Obaze and Menaye Donkor who I interviewed for a publication in the UK called ‘Black Hair & Beauty’. I wanted to tell the world their story, as these entrepreneurs had great energy and most importantly great brands.
In 2018, I decided to become a brand consultant as I wanted to help entrepreneurs gain awareness and felt I had the network to do so. I got my first client which was a massive sunscreen brand for Black women in the US in 2018. I rebranded Lena in 2020.
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I started Lena Media as I am passionate about the growth of black-owned brands and wanted to connect these brands to the mainstream press. We are living in a time where there are so many black entrepreneurs doing amazing things and most importantly creating iconic brands. Growing up I suffered from acne and was constantly recommended a skin care product that did not work, which may not have even been catered for a young black girl. Now fast forward twenty years later we have individuals creating vegan and organic skin brands catered to people who look like me. They care about what we put on our skin.
I love this term which I heard recently from a client ’catered for us by us’. My daughter is growing up in a world where her favourite hair products are catered by people that look exactly like her. Representation is key, and it matters to the highest level.
Thank you for that insight. So can you tell us…What does your business do and where is your company based?
Lena Media is a brand-building creative agency servicing brands in the Lifestyle, Beauty, and Fashion industry. We help niche brands to find their creative voice and connect them with their chosen audience. Our aim is simple, we help brands to grow and create brand awareness. The company is based in London.
What’s the story behind your success? What led to your aha moment? how did you get to where you are now?
I started the business as I wanted other niche brands to grow and help them gain awareness for their brands, many of these brands felt they were not heard and I wanted to help change that narrative. I started by interviewing entrepreneurs and decided to start my own agency from then on.
Thank you for sharing that. What’s been your life’s biggest lesson so far?
Starting from nothing. I was constantly told ‘a lot of businesses fail in their first year’. I had no experience of running a business so whatever. I pretty much learned how to run a business by watching my managers and directors at my 9 to 5. I used to watch how they would deal with certain situations, and how they would speak to clients and overcome difficult scenarios. I would then put my own personal spin on it.
Initially I was a one-woman band, doing everything by myself from prospecting new clients, account management and admin.
That the world of entrepreneurship can be a lonely place, there are times that it can be amazing and times that you need to stay determined, motivated and resilient. Always have in mind, why you started the business that keeps me going.
If you were to go back in time, what piece of advice would you give to your younger self?
Believe in yourself, believe in your brand. You are your brand so own it. Have faith and do not be disheartened if you face rejection initially, keep going. I would also say make sure you have a good accountant from the set go, it makes a world of a difference.
Invest in an accountability partner, another individual who helps you to keep to your goals and business commitments. Writing your goals down is very important as you can see what you have achieved, it is a real motivating factor. Hard work and determination really pay off and having faith. The harder you work, the better results you will receive.
We’re nearly halfway through our interview so it’s a great time to ask how does your business runs. What three tools make your business run better?
My business does not require that much, all I need is a phone, laptop and work space. As my business is remote I can pretty much work anywhere in the world.
What do you know now that you wished you had known before?
That the world of entrepreneurship can be a lonely place, there are times that it can be amazing and times that you need to stay determined, motivated and resilient. Always have in mind, why you started the business that keeps me going.
What has been your greatest or proudest achievement or moment?
Seeing my clients featured in publications that they always wanted to be featured in.
Securing collaborations with a TV network based in America for one of my clients.
What future life goals do you want to achieve and why?
I want Lena Media to be seen as one of the biggest agencies to support diversity and inclusion.
To finish our inspire questions…”We believe that sharing inspiring words can inspire others.” If there was one positive thing you would say to someone to inspire and empower them what would it be and why?
Do not be afraid to ask questions and learn from others in the same industry as yourself, research on how they started and see what you can learn. Be resilient and constantly keep going, do not be deterred by setbacks.
“Thank you it has been great learning more about your founder story and Lena Media Consultancy”
To learn more about Lena Media Consultancy Visit https://www.lenamediaconsultancy.com/
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