Pink Leaf Social

04/10/2025

We’re still pinching ourselves!

has been named as one of the UK’s 100 most inspiring small businesses for 2025 by .

Three years ago, on the banks of the River Thames we, myself and , found ourselves disheartened by the endless stream of beige, boring, and transactional networking events that left us feeling unseen and uninspired. 🙄

As new business owners, we craved genuine human connection, not awkward elevator pitches, forced referrals, or cliquish circles.

We set out to create a new kind of community and redefine networking that’s rooted in creativity, authenticity, and ease rather than pressure and performative hustle.

And that stroll along the river, led to .

Now over 2,150+ strong, we host online & in-person events, immersive LinkedIn Audio Rooms, offer handy guides & resources and a soon-to-be-launched paid membership, designed specifically for introverts, misfits, and those disillusioned with mainstream business culture.

It’s a bit of a dream come true to see that, following a nationwide search, our Antisocial movement has been selected as part of this year’s line-up. 🤩

Follow the campaign and discover 100 of the most innovative and admired small businesses across the UK, as we count down to Small Business Saturday on 6th December 2025.

Like many who are part of this campaign, we look forward to championing business owners, creatives, freelancers, entrepreneurs and founders who crave connection without compromising their individuality, mental health, or sense of belonging.

🎉 Find out more about the fantastic
campaign via the link in bio.

🥂 And if you’re keen to join the Antisocial movement, drop us a DM, always happy to chat.

[📸 credit - ]

26/09/2025

Things are getting tougher for lots of small businesses right now.

I’ve been hearing it in conversations over coffee, in my DMs and at our networking meet ups.

The truth is tinkering around on social media may solve some of those frustrations, but if you’re serious about taking your business to the next level, you need to understand more than just algorithms and canva.

I was so pleased when invited me to be a part of their line-up of business fairy godmothers at next week’s CakeBizFest.

🎂 Cake makers get ready to move from winging it to flourishing

🎂 1st - 3rd October

🎂 11 fabulous women in business sharing how to make those shifts (I’ve tagged them in last slide so you can see what’s in store 😉)

Disclaimer: I don’t know a thing about baking, but I do continue to work closely with purpose-driven businesses and charity founders so they turn the page on chasing viral trends and confidently celebrate their uniqueness through storytelling!

🎟️ Book your ticket via link in bio!

📸 And special thanks to for these “pretty in pink” photos

05/09/2025

Would you do this? 🧐

Glenn Sturgess does.

In fact he actively encouraged people to read just one page of a book at a time and then head for a walk to let it percolate. 🚶🏽‍♀️

He was talking as a panellist at the London Lunch Club and I absolutely love this idea...

The topic for this week’s Meet Up was “curiosity” ... I was on the edge of my seat, nodding along enthusiastically because at the root of our own creativity as business owners, is curiosity.

Challenging ourselves to think differently, to keep learning, to embrace community and find pockets of inspiration and wander to elevate our work and develop ways to empower peers and clients.

Thank you ; and for another great afternoon with business friends and misfits.

I didn’t manage any pictures this time, but I left with much much more!

Who’s going along to the next one on 6th November 2025? 🌿🚶🏻📚

03/08/2025

“We want to make entrepreneurship more accessible, and that starts with sharing credible, expert knowledge with those who need it.”

knows a thing or more about the entrepreneur ecosystem and I’m delighted to kickstart this week’s Summer School! 👇🏾

I’ll be delivering a 60 minute masterclass on how social media can be the most powerful tool for visibility, credibility, and connection.

The truth is, without the right strategy, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or invisible in the crowd.

And as an ethical social media marketing strategist, expect less gimmicks and more truth telling so you grow your brand with purpose.

Let me know what’s a sticking point for you on social media right now? 🤔

📌 Or better yet, join me on 6th August at 10am.

Summer school is open until 22nd August and it’s free & open to everyone. There’s an incredible range of topics for founders at every stage of their founders’ journey.

🔗 I’ve added registration details in my stories!

22/07/2025

On the day of Nelson Mandela’s birthday, I found myself in with and .

Surrounded by photos of resistance.

It was on this same day that one of my heroes walked into that gallery as I observed the photos he captured in South Africa of people in protest.

👉🏾 It’s there in black and white and yet the media still chooses to debate who deserves to die and who deserves to live, who should be vilified and who should be protected.

I went this weekend and sat again with poet Maya Angelou’s verses because sometimes you need a reminder that your ancestors have brought you this far, so you can keep on going. ✊🏽

“You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.”

19/07/2025

24/06/2025

If you knew me six years ago … 👀

I’d be telling you one of the reasons I hate networking was because I hated walking into spaces where I felt unwelcome.

Unwelcome as a woman, a black woman, a black woman from a different country who’s made the UK her new home.

I’ve changed my networking strategies over the years from pining to be included, to attracting opportunities and moments of connection that feel honest and generous.

A prime example 👇🏾

Last week I attended ‘Creatives Like Us’, a movement that brings together Black and Brown creatives, entrepreneurs and business owners. What a vibe! 🙌🏾

One of the discussions hosted by ; and was about the power of community.

And it’s through communities that I met . First at in February this year, then at Creatives Like Us launch event a few weeks later. When we saw each other again after Atomicon, this conversation happened.

I’ll be speaking at this Thursday’s event in Shoreditch. A day rave hosted by Jess and her biz babes.

From someone who spent those early days hiding away at the coffee station at networking events, to embracing new opportunities that match my energy and purpose! Did I mention there’ll be dancing 💃🏾 🪩🍑
thomas recently shared that one of the things our nervous system needs as women is safety, connection, momentum and space.

And I couldn’t agree more …

Remember and celebrate your self-worth! 🙌🏾

🔗 In my newsletter this weekend, I’ll be sharing ways to redefine your networking so it works for you. Sign up via Link in Bio

17/06/2025

This is how I introduced to the world almost 6 years ago.

I had been freelancing quietly in the background for about year, but at the time of writing this post, we were in the middle of a pandemic and I didn’t have the confidence to shout about it while so many businesses around me were struggling.

And since today is National Freelancers Day, I thought I’d share what 2020 Yolanda shared in that Instagram post, verbatim. 👇🏾

“Steven Bartlett recently said the following: “Overthinking (and the procrastination it creates) stems from trying to make perfect decisions in a world where perfect decisions only exist in hindsight.”

I think for many of us and in the wake of a global pandemic, this has been a struggle I can certainly relate to.

How do you make a big decision in a world of uncertainty.

Well says “You don’t have to get to 100% certainty on your big decisions, get to 51%, and when you get there, make the decision and be at peace that you made the decision based on the information you had at the time”.

The lesson, being 100% certain doesn’t exist and so I’m leaping with 51% and that is enough to be at peace.

So, welcome to my official business page where I’ll be sharing a few tips and treats about marketing on social media, but where most importantly I’m interested in getting to know you and how we can better share your story online.

Here’s my giant business commitment ... I am here for you as a cheerleader for independent business owners and a passionate advocate for charities making a difference where we live.”

🤔 So much has changed in the ways I empower businesses but my values have remained rooted in purpose.

When you walk this freelancing road alone it takes an enormous amount of courage and a giant leap of faith, so hats off to all my fellow freelancers out there who continue to ride this crazy entrepreneur rollercoaster 🎢

Do you ever look back at your early posts? What’s changed for you?

[📸 1: an impromptu shot snapped by the ever talented at ‘s Atomicon last week]
[📸 2: My first photo shoot by my dear friend in 2019]

10/06/2025

What does ethical marketing even mean?

It was during a recent discovery call, that a founder asked me this and we spoke at length about what it means to actually work with an ethical social media marketer.

So here’s how it works:

It means not using cheap tactics, manipulation or inflammatory language to market your brand or business and it also means being honest about who you are and the way you do business.

Sounds scary?

It shouldn’t be!

My work digs deeper than many mainstream marketing services so that marketing feels true to your brand, improves employee advocacy, strategically & sustainably grows your network, converts leads, and sees you becoming a TRUSTED industry voice. 

🌱 If you need a confidence boost, book an Ethical Social Media Strategy Session. Work with me to clarify your unique message with a value-driven content strategy that has storytelling at its heart. Forget chasing viral trends, champion your values.

🌱 Build sustainable, strategic marketing systems that truly aligns with your audience. Through my 3 month Social Growth Accelerator, I work with marketing teams to refine your approach and build community, not just followers on platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram.

🌱 Pick my brains for an hour and use my experience to help kick-start your ethical marketing story. Think of it as real-time problem solving that gives you the results you need to transform your social media presence.

🌱 Invite me to speak at your next event, podcast, masterclass or online community about how to boldly market your brand as a business that cares

🌱 If you’re not ready to commit to working with me yet, sign up to receive my FREE monthly newsletters for tips & strategies on how to grow with purpose

🏳️‍🌈 🏴 🏳️Why does this matter … well when the world is trying to get us to turn our backs on things like DEI, climate change and equity for all, meaningfully marketing your business builds lasting connection with customers with heart.

I’m here to remove the pressures, the grind & mechanics of marketing and get you back to your why.

💌 Always open to a chat, book a discovery call via the link in bio

05/06/2025

This is not a drill!

My amigos from

📣
📣
📣
📣
📣 Espresso+ community
📣 & ‘s Cole Collective

and so many wonderfully smiley LinkedIn and Insta friends, drop a palm tree (🌴) if you’re heading to ‘s Atomicon next week?

I’m FINALLY pulling together an itinerary and I know I’ve probably missed the boat on tickets and invites to various pre-parties, pre-pre-parties, dinners and drinks meet ups 🫠🍹🌴.

Would love to see you before the main event on 10th June and of course exchange hugs, laughs and more while we soak up the parting words shared by all the incredible speakers.

I’ve put together a few networking tips for before, during and after this electric event over on LinkedIn.

Check out my stories for the link to the post 😉.

And to those who’ve already checked in, I’m getting organised, I promise!

29/01/2025

Are you making friends with your future self?

Picture yourself in 10, 20, 30 years time...

☀️ What does your day look like?
👗 What are you wearing?
🌊 What is the view from your window?
🧘🏾‍♂️ How are you approaching work?
💕 Who are you surrounding yourself with?

What does success look like for you at THAT age?

🔮 Maybe you’ve written that book, finished that screenplay, bought / sold that company and you’re living the healthiest version of yourself.

I ask this because transforming our story requires imagination, creativity and introspection.

Looking ahead (not in the past) will help you to create the life you want to live and imagining with such focus and detail will turn those scary decisions and distant dreams into a very tangible reality.

I think it was who shared on a podcast episode that being able to fully trust in your own decision making requires practice, to become a habit, that will lead you to the best version of your future self.

As we head into week two of the Personal Branding Challenge, I’d like to encourage my fellow founders to ditch the comparisonitas, and hone in on what the ultimate version of your future yourself would want you to be doing in this moment, RIGHT NOW, to start building the life you want to look back on with a smile on your face.

I see personal branding as the habit we need to keep practicing to create the best future version of ourselves.

What would 80 year old you be advising you to make a start on? 👵🏾 👨🏽‍🦳

09/05/2024

Visibility as a female founder 🤔

Let’s discuss ...

The good news, according to Finder, is that:
📣 almost 1 in 5 (18%) companies in the UK are led by women in 2024, more than 880,000
📣 7.5% ethnic minority female-led companies and
📣 more than 1 in 7 (15%) are mixed (both men and women).

The bad news is that the funding gap is still HUGE!

On average, a female founded business receives a mere £763k in funding compared to £4.7 million for male owned businesses.

Let’s change that ...

My work as a Founding Advisory Member with recognises that the tide is turning for female founders and I want to keep the spotlight firmly shining on a more inclusive, diverse, and prosperous entrepreneurial ecosystem.

We need to first break down the barriers that keep the playing fields uneven.

It’s not enough to just see myself and other women in business pop into your feed every day. Visibility means action.

I’m pleased to say that I am featured in the inaugural Female Founders Rise Service Based Directory, alongside 150 incredible female founded businesses.

Women who are driving innovation, leading businesses, and shaping multiple industries.

I’ll be adding the link to the directory in my stories so you can work with them and amplify women in business too.

What’s your visibility journey been like?