Joining a new job is scary… Joining a new industry is terrifying

Throughout my career, I’d dabbled in working with influencers from the brand side. Those relationships were always project-based, and once the campaign ended, so did the connection. I loved that part of my role and always felt drawn to it, but fear held me back from exploring it properly. The idea of jumping down the job ladder and starting again felt like failure.

Logically, I knew that wasn’t true. And I kept coming back to the same thought… if not now, when?

With the support of my family, I took the leap and joined 86. A company that genuinely caught my attention in all the ways that matter:

• A supportive team
• Working from home
• Flexible hours
• An amazing roster
• Room to grow

Check. Check. Check.

Last week marked my first month, and here are my biggest takeaways from agency life and the world of influencers

Firstly, life isn’t as glamorous as it looks. Yes, influencers attend incredible events and walk through doors many people never will. But behind that is a huge amount of work. Long hours. Constant self-doubt. Rejection. Trends that rise and disappear overnight. Behind every perfectly curated feed is strategy, planning, endless editing, idea generation, and the pressure of trying to stand out.

And it really is crowded.

In the UK alone, there are over 7 million content creators, and influencer marketing spend is expected to exceed £1.3 billion this year. Standing out is not accidental. It takes consistency, creativity, and resilience.

Something else I’ve learned quickly is that the best-performing content is rarely the most polished or overly scripted.

The strongest campaigns are the ones that truly align with the influencer. Content that fits seamlessly into their usual output, reflects their real life, and features products they already use and genuinely rate.

Audiences can tell when something feels forced. And so can the data. UK studies show that trust is the biggest driver of influencer effectiveness, with audiences far more likely to engage with creators they perceive as authentic. As a result, brands are starting to shift. There is a growing willingness to trust influencers and their talent managers, to listen to their experience, and to collaborate rather than control.

When that trust is there, the results speak for themselves. Engagement rates improve. Content performs better. And partnerships feel more natural, more sustainable, and more impactful for everyone involved.

Behind every strong creator is also a dedicated talent agency

Working constantly to understand the person behind the profile. Who they are at their core. Why people connect with them. What works for their audience and what doesn’t. It’s not just about deals, it’s about protecting their voice and helping them grow in a way that feels right.

In a world where AI is rising and the fear of being made obsolete feels very real, my first month at 86 has only reinforced how valuable human connection truly is. You cannot replace intuition, empathy, or trust with a computer. You cannot replicate lived experience or relationship-building with an algorithm.

This job is about people. Understanding human nature. Working collaboratively in a symbiotic relationship where everyone brings something to the table.

It’s been a busy month, but I’m loving it. And I genuinely cannot wait to see where this next chapter takes me.