8 Creative women to follow in 2021
There’s no denying the uptick of creativity brought upon by the events of the world. These innately resilient visionaries have launched collectives and brands brimming with resources and inspiration essential to our unique times. But it’s one thing to dream, and another to muscle through the plan. Creative energy can be a handful at times, leaving you unsure of the how’s, where’s and when’s to manifest it. Whether it’s aspirations for a freelance career, small business or personal growth, we’ve got a list of new-generation female bosses, founders and entrepreneurs, powered by creativity, who should be on your radar in 2021.
1. Nikky Lyle, @nikkylylecreative
There’s never been a time more challenging or competitive than now for the creative arts workforce, impacting inexperienced and underrepresented groups first. Beaming the spotlight on diversity and equal opportunity, Nikky Lyle, with a 10-year background in recruitment and consulting, launched her own creative recruitment brand, with the aim to elevate under-represented groups to kickstart their career. On top of guides to writing cover letters, CVs and portfolios, she’s all about helping job-seeking creatives build skills, freelance, and connect with industry leaders.
2. Kim Darragon, @kimdoesmarketing
The past year saw a tidal shift in digital marketing, one of highly-personalised communities, intimate virtual experiences and meaningful messages. In a noisy market, a firm grasp of trade secrets goes a long way, which is what marketing expert Kim Darragon imparts through consulting services for small businesses and startups. Her clients include magazines Courier and Monocle, and she’s given webinars on DIY SEO to TikTok branding, and services like auditing and coaching. She’s also launched a line of beaded merch, how cool is that?
3. Phoebe Lovatt, @phoebelovatt
We dare say that the OG cool girl of all creative women is Phoebe Lovatt. She founded The Working Women’s Club in 2015, establishing a roaming event concept for working-women globally to exchange knowledge, collaboration and experiences. As an avid writer and independent creative, Phoebe’s first book, The Handbook For Women Who Do Creative Work, is highly regarded as the bible for creative female freelancers. Her newest book, Work Ethics, explores ways of working, principles and ideas. She also has a weekly newsletter and self-explanatory multimedia platform Intellectual Property.
4. Kei Maye, @kei_maye
For over a decade, digital artist Kei Maye had forged her way in the visual arts industry, picking up a range of self-taught skills as a freelancer in web and graphic design. She went on to sell art products and consultancy services, and poured experience-based tips into her book Up The Ante, breaking down pricing, finances and paperwork, sparing young creatives from the legwork. Designed to troubleshoot business costs and expenses, Kei’s resources, templates, tools and calculators are available on her website CreativeChamps.
5. Bianca Bridges, @biancabridges
If you’re an avid follower of food accounts, chances are you’ve stumbled upon mouth-watering flatlays of breakfast spreads on Instagram’s @breakfastlondon, founded by multi-hyphenated media specialist Bianca Bridges. Created to keep track of London’s dazzling cafés and menus, Bianca grew it to a blog, wrote a restaurant guide book, and started an award-winning food blog Pretty Hungry. Bianca’s bottomless appetite is palpable in a range of creative gigs in lifestyle and dining brands, and entrepreneurial spirit by founding a couple of dining concepts and at-home infrared sauna brand Sweat Blanket.
6. Ravneet Gill, @ravneeteats
The 2020 lockdown revealed a voracious appetite for cooking classes on social media, and that’s how pastry chef Ravneet Gill took the foodie world by storm. The co-founder of Puff Bakery put together an online pastry school, teaching students the fundamentals of baking and patisserie, with phenomenal success and rapid career development. She cinched baking columns for The Telegraph and The Guardian, and judges the Junior Bake Off 2021. Ravneet’s other passion is in elevating the UK’s hospitality industry, which she advocates on her community platform, Countertalk.
7. Mona Chalabi, @monachalabi
Think numbers are boring? Not according to data queen, Mona Chalabi, best known for her exceptional journalism and handwritten/hand-drawn data visualisations as seen in The New Yorker, The Tate and The Design Museum, to name a few. Mona can be credited for making data geekery cool again and optimising charts and graphs into thought-provoking stories for young people. Mona’s repertoire also extends to video production, leaning into topics on racism for BBC, and sex education series Vagina Dispatches for The Guardian.
8. Stefanie Sword-Williams, @stefaniew
Imposter syndrome, low self-esteem, mental blocks, burnout… these are just a few of the common things creatives grapple with. After witnessing talent drain and underrepresentation in her seven-year advertising job, Stephanie Sword-Williams started F*ck Being Humble as a guide on positive self-promotion, which now houses workshops, courses, events and talks. Her shining attitude and influential mentoring paid off in 2020, when she landed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe listing and became a first-time author of the ‘2020 Career Bible’.