Carlii Lyon

[1:29] Carlii tells us what she has learnt about using storytelling to help people become leaders in their field. Her biggest lesson was observing her clients recognise that if they were going to be seen, they were the ones that were going to make it happen. She talks about the importance of recognising that you have something to give and something to tell; and taking the steps to put yourself out there.

[2:02] People have a belief that when they’re finally good enough, someone else will see that and want to put them out there - but in fact, we need to flip that on its head. When we decide we are good enough, then we can put ourselves out there and take our brand to the next level.

[2:43] Carlii talks about the process of working with Miranda Kerr when she had just started working with Victoria’s Secret, and recognising that she needed to make sure more people knew what Miranda was doing, and leverage the opportunities her existing platform offered.

[3:50] We discuss exactly what a publicist is: the person who is making sure you are seen and heard in all of the right places. Publicity is a multi-faceted role that goes far beyond media relations; it includes making sure your clients are at the right events, meeting the right people, and collaborating with the right brands.

[5:09] Carlii talks us through how to write a stand-out bio on LinkedIn. She shares how by taking the platform far beyond its original function as an online resume, and seeing it in its current form as a social media platform, we can make a real impact. Tips include using a conversational tone, and injecting your own individual personality instead of putting on your ‘professional’ mask.

[6:26] Tips on writing your LinkedIn bio: write your bio like a story, read it aloud to make sure it feels like you. We discuss whether to use first vs. third person tone, and maximising your ranking in the algorithm, plus the importance of making your first three sentences a mini elevator pitch and how to do just that.

[10:19] Showing up online, and posting on Linkedin, as an introvert. The keys are in finding your own unique voice and how to present it, experimenting with creating content and working smarter, not harder by relinquishing the need to reinvent the wheel.

[13:12] We talk about the importance of being authentic when showing up on socials. Carlii recommends anchoring all your content to your values and the message you want to communicate, and then experimenting with the framework, or with how you’re communicating that message.

[13:52] Carlii shares what she learnt the time she went viral on LinkedIn, and what it was like to wake up to thousands of messages from people all over the world who resonated with it. This experience cemented her understanding of how powerful social media is, and the importance of using that power to generate opportunities.

[15:40] She believes it’s crucial not to measuring yourself on vanity metrics and instead, to focus on consistently showing up, coming from a place of wanting to add value. Her mantra for showing up on socials: ‘Don’t give up, show up’.

[17:31] We discuss how to navigate some of the roadblocks on social and why some people are still cold-calling on LinkedIn; Carlii believes the key to success is to replicate a normal human, real relationship dynamic.

[19:20] Why everything changed for her when she went into ‘creator mode’, how this helped her be in more control of who she connects with on LinkedIn.

[20:24] Most people would assume Carlii is an extrovert, when in fact she is an introvert. What has worked for her in showing up online as an introver is firstly, focusing on people she wanted to serve, rather than focusing on herself; and secondly, the game-changing power of having an alter-ego à la Beyonce’s Sasha Fierce to become who you want to be.

[22:52] Carlii opens up about about her greatest fear, which is running out of time – and how she transforms her fear into an opportunity by keeping this fear front-of-mind at all times.

[26:47] Carlii’s ultimate dream is to write a book, and we discuss procrastination around writing a book, creating space to make it happen and giving yourself permission to make it a reality.