Ash Rathod

You already know storytelling is essential for your business and brand. But storytelling is much more than the words on your website, content and other communications. The right narrative can inform your short and long term strategy, help align your team, outmanoeuvre the competition and build a tribe of ambassadors.It can help you attract and retain the right customers who are willing to pay you more for a longer period of time and tell others to do the same.It's about high level performance. ie. increasing profits for the business and providing unique value to the people you serve.I specialise in guiding businesses do exactly this. My philosophy centres on a "Story-First Approach," a method that has proven to be the missing link for many who struggle with brand identity and growth.The challenge most people face when building a brand is twofold: either they're paralysed by indecision, never taking the first step, or they jump in headfirst, producing content without a coherent strategy. Both paths lead to a stagnant or unclear identity. The root cause? A lack of strategic direction.  I can help with that.---I studied media and communications specialising in script-writing, where my love for storytelling started. I worked in TV media alongside the London arm of global ad agencies such as StarCom, OMD, PHD Media and many smaller DRTV agencies. My portfolio stretched across global FMCG, (P&amp;G and Unilever) and automotive (Ford and Toyota) brands before moving to Turner Broadcasting (now Warner Bros. Discovery) to work on kids brands (such as Mattel and Hasbro). As the online world began to grow, I moved into Digital Marketing where I helped scale the Manchester office of a Bournemouth based media agency, going from media owner to client side, which consisted of a team of 20+ designers, marketers, copywriters and BDMs.Then after a short sales role at BT, I decided to start my own creative agency, to help start-ups to SMEs with with their communications online.This was almost 16 years ago. I'm proud to say I still run and I own that brand consultancy and design studio in the UK which has focused on serving start-ups to corporations over those years. Right now my focus covers:L&amp;D Training (1:1 &amp; Corporate teams)Speaking at eventsBrand Strategy workshops for start-ups and SMEs.None of these are an overnight fix.But if you are serious about shaping and growing your brand, I can help you do this faster than most.NB. My profile picture has been touched up with AI to change the colour of my shirt and  background

Brand Story Strategist | Managing Director

A brand strategy + design collective specializing in creating compelling content for digital communications. We work with forward-thinking founders, c-suite stakeholders, and marketing teams who passionately strive to lead the change in making the world of work a better place for all.

Our capabilities include:

Brand Strategy

  - Storytelling for brands 
  - Storytelling for leaders

Activation

  - Content Production
  - Media Planning

I fixed myself. 

AI has given me what I thought I could never have. 

A glimpse into what I’d look like if my skin colour stayed the same.

Or if I removed all the pigmentation on my skin (which can be done in real life. I had the option but declined) 

So which one do I prefer? For me, it’s a no brainer. The real me, in the middle. 

The left and right image was created by Nano Banana Pro. 

Which to be honest, as a tool, it’s amazing. In fact I’ve been playing with it a lot. I have been playing with a lot of AI tools. Image. Music. Vibe coding. And I will be using them a lot in my content, in my work processes and creating new business ideas. 

The next wave of AI tools will open doors for many people. I really am positive but cautious about it all.

Because it has to be used the right way and the right way for me is this:

Don’t be lazy with the tools (Use it to add a layer to the great work you do vs diluting it)
Don’t just blindly copy others. (‘differentiate or die’ mantra is still relevant. Now more than ever)
Don’t hide behind it (ie. pretend you’re something you’re not or try hiding the fact you’ve used AI. Especially if it’s likely to be in doubt for others)

I’m sure there are many other pros and cons. (let me know yours in the comments)

What I will be doing is making sure I inform my audience when I do use AI. For example, I am playing around creating a digital twin. And it's a lot of fun. But I won’t pretend it’s me. I’ll let others know when it’s not. Even when the tech becomes much better than it is now when even more  people won’t be able to tell. 

I think in this new phase, the people that are honest and upfront about how they communicate to their audience are going to be the ones that build trust. And ultimately the ones that win.

For me, I don’t want to fool anyone. Including myself. 

And more importantly. I don’t need to fix myself.

I already did that. 

When I accepted myself for who I really am.


---

#PersonalBranding and #Storytelling in an #AI world

Brand Storytelling in an AI World | Creative AI Workflow Consultant

This is not a real ad. 

And here's more context. 

I set myself a challenge to see what these AI tools were capable of and created this. My main learning out of all of this is, this still took a lot of human thinking, time and general input. 

So my challenge was to create a completely speculative ad using just AI tools. 

I chose a brand that I love. Love for their messaging and what they stand for. And then got to work. 

I would say this is still rough around the edges and an important thing to note is that I have no real idea what the brand strategy is so this should be considered. Real creative campaigns take time and a lot human collaboration. I did this completely on my own (and it shows I think :)  

There are also inconsistencies in the creative given the time I gave myself to create this. 

But in the main, I think the tools that are out there are really impressive. And I had a lot of fun with this. 

Tools I used were:

Weavy for workflow
LTX Studio for storyboarding
FreePik as the main base suite and character dev
Higgsfield (It's Popcorn element to experiment with characters)
Nano Banana for stills
Magnific for upscaling still resolutions 
Topaz to upscale video resolution
Kling 2.5 Turbo 2 for video
Seedream 4 Edit - Varied camera angles
Eleven Labs for VO and SFX
Suno for Music 

Then the usual tools I use:

Photoshop to retouch certain stills
After Effects for speed ramping elements
Premiere Pro for Editing

I plan to do a full walkthrough in the next few weeks if time permits ! :)

Would love to know your thoughts.


#Storytelling #AI

Anyone who says “AI content is quick and easy” is wrong. 

Well, sort of.

Producing AI creative content can be more efficient than many traditional methods but we’re not talking about a lot of the AI slop we’re accustomed to seeing on our feeds.

And those well versed in the traditional workflows (storytellers, designers, content strategists, ad creatives and marketing teams) shouldn't fear losing their jobs. If they up skill, they will actually rise to the top because they have the strongest superpower. Talent, experience and a way of thinking that comes from years of putting in the work that will make them stand out. 

But when working with clients or in collaboration with others, it’s important to have systems and workflows in place. This includes traditional workflows, not just AI. And by the way, the two still have a place in this world. It’s not as binary as many make out.

That’s why at DFC Studio we use Weavy. Weavy, (recently acquired by Figma) is a node based workflow system for creative AI work with a lot of the AI image and video tools in one place. It gives you, your team and clients an overview of the process from start to finish. 

Some clients won’t want to see this but some will. But for sharing and collaborating with your team it's great as it's important that you have systems in place that are transparent, repeatable and scalable. 

Or even if you’re working on your own you can go back quicker and reiterate/refine when client feedback comes back. 

If you’re interested in up skilling your team, At DFC Studio we offer consultancy and workshops to help you do this. These can be done in person or remote. If interested, please reach out (below or in my DM)

---

#Storytelling #Creative #AI #Marketing #Workshops

What Visionary Leaders Get Right About Brand

Brand isn’t just built by the things you do externally.

It's about how you show up internally too.

How your team feels every day.

In this weeks Watercooler Brand Talks (4pm Friday UK), we’ll be talking about the link between leadership, culture, and brand.

Why the strongest brands aren’t built by marketing teams alone. 

They’re shaped by the people leading from the front.

We’ll cover:

– What visionary leaders actually do differently
– How culture quietly builds (or breaks) your brand
– Why brand is the outcome, not the starting point

Join us live and definitely bring a question or two as we have two of the most visionary brand legends in this week as our secret guests who's brains you'll really want to pick.

This is going to be soooo much fun! See you there!

What Visionary Leaders Get Right About Brand

AI took me backwards, not forwards.

In a good way. 

The deeper I get into AI led creative work, the more I find myself leaning on traditional film theory.

At university, (many years ago :)) I specialised in script writing. Dialogue was the starting point, but it never stopped there. I fell into camera movement, physics, timing, weight, motion. How things enter a frame. How they leave it. Why something feels real even when we know it is not.

What fascinated me most was not learning the rules. It was learning them well enough to bend them. To stretch credibility without breaking belief. That’s the magic of film making. Whatever medium. To create moments that feel grounded, even when logic tells you they are constructed.

That mindset has been shaping my use of AI today.

The tools are new. The thinking is not.

If you treat AI as a shortcut, the output shows it. But if you approach it like film making, with intent, some restraint when needed, and an understanding of how humans read motion and story, the work will land very differently.

The recent sizzle reel is a snapshot of that experimentation. It’s not perfect but continuing to dig into what’s possible. 

Essentially storytelling principles wearing new clothes.

Those on the look for someone with a huge amount of experience with operations, delivery, automations, content production and more importantly leadership, Ryan is your man! 

If you're considering working with Ryan and want to speak to me then please do. 

A fab colleague he was.....and an extremely kind human being who is always ready to help, support, upskill and progress the team he works with.

What a loss to PodFirst and what a potentially huge gain for the next company that bags Ryan on their team!

Straight-Talking Guy | Cutting Through the Crap to Deliver Solutions, Growth, and Results That Actually Matter 💥

I have now left PodFirst and I am officially on the lookout for my next role. The timing isn’t perfect with Christmas approaching, but sometimes life pushes you into a new chapter sooner than expected. I made the decision because it was the right one for me and where I am heading next.

I am proud of what I achieved during my time there. It was challenging, fast paced and full of opportunities to grow, and I am grateful for the experience and everything I learned along the way.

For those who don’t know me well, here is what I bring to the table.

I am someone who cares about the work and the people involved. I take responsibility seriously and I show up fully. I work best in environments where pace, clarity and ownership matter. I enjoy solving problems, building systems, improving processes and keeping things moving even when things get busy. I thrive in roles where I can bring structure, calm and direction without losing the human side of it all.

My experience covers operations, delivery, leadership, automation, content production and working directly with clients to get projects over the line. I am at my best when I am trusted to own outcomes and make things happen.

So now I am looking for the right place to bring all of that into something new. If you hear of anything or know someone looking for someone with my skill set, I would really appreciate you pointing them my way.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far.

Onwards.

Nausheen I. Chen

Get clients, investments and influence by speaking confidently | Public Speaking Coach for entrepreneurs and execs | ex-Fortune 50 | My featured section has a gift for you.

You know who gets the most clients and promotions?

The person who can speak the best.

You might be an expert in your domain.
But if you don't speak with confidence, no one will trust you.

Your career and business will suffer because you struggle to speak powerfully.

Your next client will go to the person who presents better than you.
Your next promotion will go to the person who communicates better than you.
Your investor might pass because they are not convinced of your value and worth.

You’ll feel weak and powerless.

It’s crazy because you have a lot to share with the world.

But your speaking skills let you down.

Here’s the good news:
It doesn’t have to be like that.

Now imagine:
You ace sales calls and win dream projects because you speak with confidence.
You get that promotion because you present with clarity in the boardroom.
You build a powerful brand because the world listens when you speak.

I can help you get there.

I’ve helped 500+ entrepreneurs and execs become confident and effective speakers.

• Entrepreneurs like Wes, who had stage fright and went blank when he was in the spotlight.

• VPs like Sarah, whose voice shook every time she presented in the boardroom. But became a confident speaker working with me and secured 2 leads worth $350,000 for her company.

• LinkedIn creators like Jasmin Alić, Ruben Hassid, Lara Acosta, Sophie Miller, Nigel Thomas, Nicholas Boucher, and Mando Sallavanti III who now speak on big stages with credibility, authority, and influence.

I can help you become a confident, powerful speaker too.

Are you ready to stop missing opportunities and start attracting them?

DM me ‘SPEAK’ to find out how.

Who am I:
• 3-time TEDx speaker.
• Award-winning ex-filmmaker.
• Communication skills trainer at Fortune 50 P&G.
• Official LinkedIn Instructor for public speaking courses.
• Coached 500+ execs at Google, Amazon, SAP, AT&T, IBM, Twitch, European Chamber of Commerce.

I'm also a part of the @elgato professional program as well as the LinkedIn Creators program.

Public Speaking Coach for stage and camera

I coach entrepreneurs and execs on how to speak on camera with maximum impact, create a powerful brand and grow professionally.

I grew from 1k to 302,000 followers on Instagram. 

In 5 months. This is how it happened: 

This year my goal was to grow beyond LinkedIn. 

Instagram seemed to be the natural choice: 

2 billion users vs 1 billion here. 

But I had already tried posting on instagram last year. 

Repurposing content from LinkedIn. 

No luck. Crickets. 

Then I hired a coach. 

Within 2 weeks we: 

→ Revamped my profile. 
→ Created a content strategy. 
→ Co-wrote scripts for reels geared for high reach. 

(Btw I worked with Alessio Bertozzi. They’re huge on insta). 

The results? 

→ 300,000+ new followers in 5 months. 
→ Doubled my mailing list. 
→ Sold out my cohort. 

This is the difference a coach can make. 

Without a coach: 
I would have struggled for months. And given up. 

With a coach: 
I now share my message with 300,000+ more people. 

Amateurs try to DIY alone. 
Pros go to the experts for coaching. 

P.S. Do you have a coach? Yes/no?

The CEO’s Public Speaking Coach • ex-Fortune 100 communications trainer • 3-time TEDx speaker • Public Speaking Professor at CEU • LinkedIn Learning Instructor • Founder, The Confidence Accelerator • Keynote Speaker

I’m a married woman in my early 40s. So I get asked: 

“Why don’t you have children?” 

This question can only ever have two answers: 

1. “Why is it any of your business?” 
2. “Because I…why is it any of your business?” 

The truth is: 

When someone asks you a personal question, 
What they’re really asking is: 

“Why aren’t you playing by the same rules as me?” 

They don’t always wish for you to succeed. 

They only want you to play the same game as them. 

So the moment you start playing your own game, 
Living by your own rules: 

You break free. 

You can choose what success looks like for you. 

For some, it might be having kids. 
For others, it might be traveling the world. 
Or being your own boss. 

Don’t let other people’s idea of success dictate yours. 

Find the game you want to play and play it. 
Unapologetically. 

P.S. What’s something exciting you’re working on?

Learn secrets of Top 1% Communicators in my free live masterclass on Dec 13. Sign up on the link below👇

Your body speaks before you do (even on Zoom). 

These 5 gestures can damage your first impression: 

Once you master body language, you can: 

→ Project confidence. 
→ Build trust instantly. 
→ Persuade and influence anyone. 

You see, perception matters. 

In every meeting, presentation, and interaction. 

When you learn to communicate without speaking, 

You become a top 1% communicator. 

The video below shows two types of body language. 

Which one do you think creates the most impact? 

♻️ Repost if you found this video helpful. 

P.S. Follow me Nausheen to never miss another video.

The world's top 1% leaders don't speak to inform. 

They speak to connect. This is how: 

Ex-President Obama was a trained speaker. 

Throughout his career, he’s been: 

- Heckled. 
- Asked tricky questions. 
- Challenged by hostile audiences. 

Once someone started yelling in the middle of his talk. 

Want to see how he dealt with the disruption? 

Check out the video for a break down of his reaction. 

Remember: 
Leaders don't focus on the noise in the crowd. 
They focus on the calm in their mind. 

P.S. Who is your favorite speaker of all time?

The 4 words that instantly win trust and deals: 

(Top 1% communicators keep this a secret) 

The 4 words are: 
“Is there a way…” 

Them: “This is too hard.” 
You: “Is there a way we can make this easier?” 

Them: “This is too expensive.” 
You: “Is there a way to make this worth your investment?” 

Them: “This is not working out. I’m leaving.” 
You: “Is there a way to make it work for you?” 

(Ok try the last one only when it’s worth it ;)) 

To win, you don’t need to be louder or more assertive. 
To win, you need to let the other person win too. 

P.S. Will you try this out this week? Yes/no?

"I don't need to rehearse, I'll improvise". 

No, dear leader. You will try to "wing it". 

Improvising gets you applause. 
Winging it gets you nowhere. 

Here's why: 

When you go without preparing you’re “winging it”: 

→ You only spend time perfecting your slides. 
→ You glance at them before you present. 
→ You read your slides in the meeting. 
→ Your audience starts multi-tasking. 

When you learn to improvise, you’re winning it: 

→ You spend time working on your speaking skills. 
→ You improve body language, voice, energy. 
→ You work on your confidence levels. 
→ You develop a strong speaking skillset. 
→ Then you walk into that presentation and improvise. 

Once you develop strong speaking skills, 

You can walk into any room. 
And always be able to improvise. 

PS that’s me improvising with my team in NYC. 

PPS - How long do you prepare for big presentations?

When you’re desperate, people can see it. 

(How ex-people pleasers can avoid looking desperate) 

These "cheat codes" took me 42 years to learn: 

1. When you meet someone you look up to: 
Don’t praise them non-stop. 
Just start a regular conversation. 

2. When you really need that client: 
Don’t follow up over and over. 
Give them a timeline or add scarcity. 

3. When you want someone to like you: 
Don’t just obsess over the person. 
Work on making yourself interesting and appealing. 

When you stop looking desperate, 
You stop feeling it. 

And start feeling your own worth instead. 

Ps Which one will you try?

I just spoke at Web Summit with 70,000 attendees. 

Here are 5 weird lessons I learned: 

1. The “SPEAKER” badge gives you instant credibility: 
→ People see you’re “pre-selected” for your expertise. 

2. Speaking on stages is great, networking is better: 
→ The real magic happens in 1:1 conversations after. 

3. Use your talk as your calling card when networking: 
→ Ask new people you meet to come see you speak. 

4. Express genuine interest, show real enthusiasm: 
→ If you “fake” interest in someone, they will know it. 

5. Have a networking strategy before you attend: 
→ Then invest time in having real conversations. 

Every single event is an opportunity: 
New collaborators, potential clients and connectors. 

Start speaking on stages to be visible. 
Start networking to be remembered. 

P.S. Do you love or hate “networking”?

You’re losing credibility when you use weak words. 

Here’s what to avoid saying (and what to say instead): 

Most people use weak words without knowing it. 

But it takes their power away. 

When you speak using powerful language: 

→ You get taken more seriously. 
→ You build trust with every word. 
→ You become the most impactful voice in any room. 

In this cheatsheet: 
I show you the weak words you’re using unknowingly. 
(And what to say instead). 

Don’t let weak language weaken your reputation. 

PS Which ones have you heard the most? 

PPS - LAST day to register for my free masterclass. 

No replays. Only live coaching and awesomeness. 


https://lnkd.in/dRr7yEgt

Your words can make or break your reputation. 

Here’s how to avoid being perceived as “violent”: 

The words we use show others who we are. 

So if you’re using aggressive words like: 

→ “Kill” this project, 
→ “Crush” this meeting, 
→ “Destroy” the competition, 

Then you’re not just showing aggression - 
you’re promoting it. 

In the infographic below I show you 20 easy ways to replace aggressive language. 

Remember - 

Aggression repels. 
Charisma attracts. 

Follow me Nausheen to turn it on when you speak. 

P.S. Which of these have you heard the most?

#1 mistake people make in high-stakes conversations: 

They don’t “own” the room. This is how to fix it: 

When you walk into a: 

- Raise negotiation 
- Pitch meeting with an investor 
- Or even a charged conversation with your in-laws 

You’re walking into a potentially dangerous situation. 

Best case you win. 
But worst case, you walk away feeling defeated. 

Most people focus on getting the words right. 

But here’s what actually makes the difference: 

Your “presence” in the room. 

→ How well you can read others. 
→ How you make others feel seen and heard. 
→ What you communicate with body language. 

I collaborated with my friend Andrea Petrone, the CEO’s leadership coach to share our best strategies. 

When you learn how to make your presence felt, 
You can turn losing battles into conquests. 

P.S. Had a tough conversation lately? Yes/no?

How to win high stakes conversations

Your body language can undermine your reputation. 

This is how to fix it: 

The way you stand. 
The way you move your hands. 
And even the way you make eye contact. 

It can make or break your message. 

Here's how you can master your body language: 

→ On camera: 

Make eye contact with the camera. 
Keep your hands visible to emphasize. 
Frame yourself at eye-level to convey confidence. 

→ In person or on stage: 

Keep your feet shoulder-width apart to project stability. 
Move purposefully to keep your audience engaged. 
Use expansive gestures to convey your authority. 

→ Anywhere: 

Smile naturally to build rapport and show warmth. 
Use open body language to show approachability. 
Vary your gestures to keep communication dynamic. 

Remember, 
Your body speaks louder than your words. 

Master body language to become unforgettable. 

♻️ Repost to help others improve at non-verbal cues. 

And follow me Nausheen to communicate better. 

P.S. What's your favorite tip from this cheatsheet?

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Ash Rathod

Nausheen I. Chen

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The Battle

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