Kendra J.

Your senior leaders are talking, your middle managers are translating. 
No one's sure they're saying the same thing.

You and 2,000+ leaders I've worked with closely know this challenge well. 

The problem I've identified over the past 8 years often isn't capability. It's that senior leaders and middle managers are speaking different languages.

That gap is where I work.

I help organizations:
→ Close the communication disconnect between senior leaders and the people executing their vision
→ Turn "great doers" into managers who actually lead instead of just doing harder work
→ Build a shared operating language so teams stop working past each other

Fifteen years ago, I was that struggling leader. An IC promoted for performance, handed a team, and given no formal training on how to actually lead them. 

Great at execution, drowning in leadership, too proud to ask for help.

Seven years ago, I founded The Venned Group to solve the problem no one was naming.

How we work:

S.P.A.R.K. Method™ → Diagnostic-first development that meets your people where they actually are
Targeted Workshops → Communication, collaboration, and trust-building across levels
Executive Partnership → Senior team alignment because the disconnect starts at the top

The best time to close the gap is before it costs you your best people.

Send me a DM and let's talk.

Founder

The Venned Group specializes in cultivating the next generation of leadership. Through high-touch, cohort-based training programs, we partner with senior leaders to develop their mid-level counterparts. Our unique approach ensures that tomorrow's leaders are equipped with the necessary skills to effectively guide their teams, influence peers, and communicate seamlessly with top-tier executives.

What sets The Venned Group apart is our laser focus on personalized cohort-based training. Unlike generic, one-size-fits-all programs, we understand that each organization has its unique DNA. Our programs and workshops are adaptable, ensuring that your leadership challenges are addressed head-on, resulting in sustainable growth and improved organizational dynamics.

Over the last 14 years, I’ve built two successful companies and have spoken in over 14 international countries, sharing my expertise with a growing community of over 100,000 people.

My mission is to help companies create engaging content, generate leads, and profit from social media, and empower speakers to gain confidence, secure paid gigs, and become thought leaders.

I’m the founder of ZC Social Media, where we specialise in social media strategy, content creation, and lead generation, and of The Credibility Formula, dedicated to helping speakers become professional speakers and recognised thought leaders.

My portfolio:

→ I'm the founder & CEO of ZC Social Media, a social media agency with a vibrant online community of over 100,000 people
→ I’m the founder & CEO of The Credibility Formula, where I coach speakers to build their confidence and secure paid speaking engagements
→ I offer bespoke 1-2-1 training and consultancy to help businesses and individuals master social media
→ I lead the ZC Social Media Growth Academy, a programme designed to help businesses grow their online presence
→ I am a published author, recognised as a Top Voice on LinkedIn, and have made appearances on BBC, ITV, and BBC World News to share my insights on social media and thought leadership
→ I’ve had the privilege of speaking for NATO, a top brand to work with, further establishing my credibility on the global stage

My results:

→ 100k+ online community
→ 14+ years as the owner of ZC Social Media Agency
→ Speaker at events in 14+ international countries
→ Published author and recognised thought leader
→ TV and radio appearances on BBC, ITV, and BBC World News, Sky News, Ch4 and KMTV

If you want to learn more about how I built this, you can join my newsletter and receive a free video on “How to Get More Speaking Gigs from LinkedIn”:

→ GO HERE: http://www.zcsocialmedia.com/newsletter

If you want to explore 1-2-1 training or consultancy, visit my personal site:

→ GO HERE: http://www.zcsocialmedia.com

If you want to join the ZC Social Media Growth Academy:

→ GO HERE: http://www.zcsocialmediaacademy.com

If you want to join The Credibility Formula to gain confidence, get paid gigs, and become a thought leader, DM me.

Instagram: @zcairns
Facebook: ZoeCairnsUK
Twitter: @zoe_cairns
YouTube: @ZoeCairns

Zoe Cairns

We’re all set and ready for The Kent Business Show tomorrow at Ashford International!

Looking forward to seeing you all! 🙌🏻

International Social Media Speaker and Trainer |Social Media Consultant | Social Media Strategist | BSc Hons

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Great to be back speaking at The Kent Business Show today at the Ashford International Hotel. Thank you Carole Black and Penny Wallis for the opportunity. A great event!  

I started the day on the Digital Kent Panel, expertly chaired by Josh Whiten, alongside Mark Jennings , Hayden Bloomfield  and Rachael Bryant.

It was a really thought-provoking discussion covering the future of AI, the importance of looking at both the top and bottom of the funnel, and how businesses can strengthen client retention. Some great insights shared across the panel and brilliant engagement from the audience too.

It was also lovely to see so many familiar faces, some I haven’t seen in almost a year, and to meet plenty of new people throughout the day.

A big thank you to Sarah Stacey for all her support throughout the day. Having a great team around you at events like this makes such a difference.

In the afternoon, I delivered my session on AI and the Show-Up System, focusing on how content is being discovered differently and what that means for businesses moving forward.

For anyone who couldn’t make the session, here are three key takeaways:

The way people find content is shifting. Social platforms are becoming more search-driven, which means what you say in your content matters more than ever.

Start with what your audience is already looking for. The most effective content often comes from the questions your customers are already asking.

AI can support your process, but strategy comes first. When you combine the right content direction with AI, it can save time and bring more consistency to your output.

A brilliant day all round. Thank you to everyone who came along, joined the sessions, or stopped for a chat.

#KentBusinessShow #AIForBusiness #ContentStrategy

I forgot the final line of my closing quote… in front of a full room.

I was speaking about social media and how consistency compounds. 

The whole session had built up to this final point. I wanted to end on a quote I love:

“If we always do what we’ve always done, we’ll always get what we’ve always got.”

I started confidently.

“If we always do what we’ve always done…”

And then my mind went blank.

I couldn’t remember the second half.

Internally, I felt that rush. I felt hot. I could feel the slight shake. You know that split second where everything feels louder in your own head.

I paused and said, “I can’t remember the exact wording, but here’s what it means.”

And I carried on.

I explained that if we keep doing the same thing without measuring or improving, we’ll keep getting the same results. 

As I was finishing that sentence, the original quote came back to me, so I delivered it properly.

Big round of applause.

Afterwards, people came up to me and said they loved the authenticity and how I handled it.

What that moment taught me is this:

→ Stay calm
 Your body reacts before your brain does. Slow yourself down. Breathe. The audience will follow your energy.

→ Focus on the message
 You don’t need perfect wording. You need clarity. The meaning matters more than the quote.

→ Keep going
 Momentum is more important than perfection. Most people won’t notice what you think was a mistake.

The more visible you become, the more moments like this you’ll experience. 

That’s part of growth.

Confidence isn’t about never wobbling.

It’s about knowing you can recover.

P.S. If visibility is the thing holding you back and you’re ready to raise your profile properly, DM me about Influence starting in April.

I said yes to a TV interview. When I arrived, it wasn’t what I’d expected.

Not every opportunity is the right opportunity.

A tv journalist once messaged me asking if I could come up to London for an interview. It sounded exciting. Great exposure. A good platform.

So I said yes.

When I arrived, it wasn’t quite what I’d expected. It was a different show, a different tone and not fully aligned with what I thought I was walking into.

It wasn’t “bad”. It just wasn’t right.

And that moment taught me something important about visibility.

As your profile grows, more doors open. But not every open door should be walked through.

Here’s what I now do differently:

→ Research the platform properly
Don’t just look at the logo. Watch previous episodes. Look at the tone. 

See how guests are introduced and what type of conversations they have. Know exactly who the audience is and whether they are your audience. Visibility affects how you are positioned, so make sure you’re comfortable being associated with that platform.

→ Ask clearer questions upfront

What’s the angle of the interview? Are there any sensitive topics? Is it live or pre-recorded? Who else is on the panel? The more information you have beforehand, the more prepared and confident you’ll feel. Never assume the conversation will stay in your lane.

→ Protect your brand values
Exposure can feel flattering, especially when you’re building momentum. But ask yourself: does this align with how I want to be known? Does this support my long-term positioning? One appearance might not define you, but repeated misalignment will.

When you’re building authority, being visible isn’t about saying yes to everything.

It’s about being intentional about where you show up.

And remembering what you stand for. Your values. Your beliefs.

One minute of TV isn’t worth undoing years of hard work building your reputation.

P.S. If visibility is the thing holding you back and you’re ready to raise your profile properly, DM me about Influence starting in April.

“We’re posting regularly on LinkedIn… but it’s not really going anywhere.”

I hear this quite often when speaking with marketing teams.

The company page is active. Posts are going out. Leadership might occasionally reshare something. On the surface it looks like LinkedIn is being used properly.

But underneath that, there’s often a feeling that the platform should be doing more for the business.

More visibility.
More engagement.
More recognition in the industry.

When I take a closer look, the problem usually isn’t the effort going in. It’s that a few important things haven’t been properly clarified before the content starts going out.

Here are three areas I usually suggest marketing teams look at first.

→ Start with the strategy

LinkedIn works best when it’s aligned with the wider goals of the business. Are you trying to attract new clients, support recruitment, position the company as experts in your sector, or raise the profile of leadership?

If that direction isn’t clear, LinkedIn can easily become a place where posts go out regularly but they don’t really move the business forward.

→ Look closely at the messaging

Some of the posts that often gain the strongest response are the ones that show the people behind the business. 

Team moments, behind-the-scenes from projects, photos from site visits or events, and stories that show what the work actually looks like day to day. These types of updates tend to feel more real and give people a glimpse inside the organisation rather than simply broadcasting announcements.

→ Pay attention to what is working on LinkedIn right now

Some formats, topics and styles of posts gain far more traction than others.

When marketing teams understand what types of content are currently performing well on the platform, it becomes much easier to create posts in a way that fits how people are actually using LinkedIn.

Without those three areas in place, teams often end up posting regularly but feeling unsure about whether LinkedIn is really working for the business.

Once they are clear, everything becomes much easier to plan and far more focused.

P.S. I’m currently onboarding two LinkedIn management clients where we’re reviewing these exact areas before building their strategy. If your team would like support bringing structure and focus to LinkedIn, feel free to send me a message.

Im looking forward to speaking tomorrow at The Kent Business Show at The Ashford International Hotel.

I’ll be joining the Digital Kent Panel in the morning, sharing thoughts on the digital trends businesses across Kent should be paying attention to right now.

Then at 2:30pm I’ll be delivering a talk on:

How AI Is Changing Content Visibility and What Businesses Need to Know for 2026.

The way people discover content online is shifting quickly. Platforms are evolving, search behaviour is changing, and the old approach to posting on social media isn’t working in the same way anymore.

In the session I’ll be exploring:

→ One of the biggest shifts happening in content discovery right now
→ How AI is influencing modern content strategy
→ What businesses should be thinking about as we move into 2026

If you’re attending the show, come along to the session at 2:30pm or feel free to say hello during the day.

It would be lovely to see some familiar faces.

#KentBusinessShow #AIForBusiness #ContentStrategy

"We’re posting on the company page… but leadership aren’t really involved".

If you’re in marketing, you’ll know exactly what this feels like.

You’re planning the content calendar.
You’re making sure the page doesn’t go quiet.
You’re pulling the stats together each month to show what’s working.

But senior leaders either aren’t posting at all… or they’re resharing the company update with “Great work team 👏” and leaving it there.

Then the question comes back to you:

Why isn’t LinkedIn growing?

Here’s what’s often missing.

Company pages rarely grow on their own. On LinkedIn, people connect with people first. If leadership aren’t visible in a consistent and intentional way, the company page can only go so far.

When leaders aren’t clear on what they should be talking about, why it matters, or how it connects to the bigger picture of the business, LinkedIn becomes “a marketing job” instead of something the whole business stands behind.

So what actually helps?

→ Start with the company goals. What is the business focused on this year? Recruitment? Positioning? New services? LinkedIn should reflect that direction.

→ Align this with the marketing plan. Campaign themes and priorities shouldn’t sit separately from leadership content. They should support each other.

→ Define clear visibility pillars for leadership. Industry insight. Business updates. People and culture. Client stories. When leaders know what they need their posts to be focused on, posting becomes simpler and more consistent.

→ Audit and optimise senior profiles. If someone lands on a leadership profile, does it clearly position them and reinforce the company message?

→ Put structure and support in place. Most leaders aren’t unwilling. They’re unsure. With guidance and a clear plan, everything becomes easier.

Recently, I’ve been working with a large brand in London where we aligned the company page strategy with a leadership strategy, rewrote senior profiles, and mapped out content pillars for the senior team. The biggest shift wasn’t just engagement. It was focus and consistency.

It stopped feeling like marketing pushing content out alone and started feeling properly joined up.

P.S. We’re onboarding two LinkedIn management clients this month. If you’d like to explore a more structured LinkedIn approach for both your company page and leadership team, send me a message.

Looking forward to speaking at The Kent Business Show on the 19th March.

#KBS2026

Final session – don’t miss this - How AI can transform your content #KBS2026
We are delighted to close the The Kent Business Show with Zoe Cairns one of the UK’s leading social media speakers.

AI is making it faster and easier to create great content and Zoe will show you exactly how to use it in your business. From coming up with ideas to writing posts and creating graphics.  You will see how AI can save you hours and help you stay visible.

If you promote your business online you will have the confidence to work smarter and stay ahead. Zoe is known for her practical down-to-earth advice so you will leave with ideas you can use straight away.

Zoe Cairns | 2.30pm | Whitstable Room
19 March
Ashford International Hotel

Just once a year — don’t miss this packed day full of opportunities.
Book your free place now: www.kentbusinessshow.co.uk

#KBS2026 #KentBusinessShow #AIforBusiness #SocialMediaTips #ContentCreation #KentBusiness #BusinessEvents #MarketingTips #WorkSmarter #Ashford #UKBusiness

Marketing can’t carry LinkedIn alone.

After my last post, I had a couple of marketing managers reach out saying, “This is exactly where we’re at… but what do we actually do next?”

So let’s talk about the first step.

If LinkedIn feels disjointed between the company page and leadership, the answer isn’t more posts or another content push.

It’s alignment.

Here’s what I would do first:

→ Plan a date to bring the leadership team together.

Not a quick chat in passing. A focused session purely on LinkedIn and visibility. Use that time to show how LinkedIn can support the business when it’s aligned properly. 

When leaders understand how their voice contributes to the bigger picture, things shift quickly.

→ Bring in someone to guide that session.

This is often where I come in.

Sometimes hearing it from outside the business removes the pressure from marketing and reframes LinkedIn as a business-wide opportunity rather than just a marketing task. 

In those sessions, I walk leadership teams through what good looks like, how personal visibility supports the company page, and what role each person plays.

It gives everyone focus and a shared understanding.

→ Then map the strategy properly.

Define leadership visibility pillars. Agree the themes that reflect the direction of the business. Clarify how personal profiles and the company page support one another. Decide what consistency looks like and who owns what.

When everyone understands the why and the how, action becomes much easier.

What works best is when LinkedIn stops being something marketing are chasing people about and starts being something leadership feel confident contributing to.

That shift doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when there’s structure and buy-in.

P.S. We’re onboarding two LinkedIn management clients this month. If bringing leadership and marketing into alignment on LinkedIn is something you’d like support with, send me a message.

It’s been a week since I shared Influence, and I’ve honestly been overwhelmed by the response.

One of the most common themes in the conversations I’ve had is this:

“I’ve got years of experience… but I’m not sure how to turn it into something bigger.”

And this is where personal branding really matters.

A personal brand isn’t just about posting on LinkedIn.

It’s about getting clear on what you know, what you stand for, and how that knowledge can become something scalable.

For some people, that’s a digital product.
For others, it’s a membership.
For others, it’s a structured programme or workshop.
But none of that works if your thinking is still stuck at “I just deliver services”.

Inside Influence, we spend time mapping this properly.

What do you actually know inside out?
What do people repeatedly ask you for help with?
What could that become if you structured it intentionally?

Because monetising your knowledge isn’t about adding more work.
It’s about packaging what you already know in a smarter way.

That’s a huge part of building a personal brand that grows beyond you.

There are five spaces remaining for April.

P.S. If you’ve been sitting on knowledge you know could become something more, DM me Influence and we’ll start the conversation.

#PersonalBrand #OnlineBusiness #ThoughtLeadership #Influence

Who really cares how many followers you’ve got?

It’s something that kept coming up again and again yesterday while I was speaking to business owners. 

The focus was on growing connections, increasing follower numbers, and watching those numbers climb day by day.

And I completely get it, because those are the easiest metrics to see.

But they don’t tell you whether your content is actually working.

They are vanity metrics!

What really stood out to me is that most of the conversation centred around growth in numbers, rather than what those numbers were actually leading to.

You can have a large audience, but if no one is interacting with your content, it becomes very difficult to turn that visibility into results for your business. 

On the other hand, a smaller audience that regularly comments and engages will create far more opportunities to build relationships and convert.

If you’re reviewing your own LinkedIn or social media performance, this is where I would focus your attention:

→ Look at how your content encourages people to respond

Think about whether your posts are giving people a reason to join in. 

Sharing a thought or an update is one thing, but inviting opinions, experiences or perspectives creates a very different outcome. When people comment, it opens up conversations, and those conversations are often where opportunities begin.

→ Pay closer attention to engagement rate over audience size

If your posts are consistently getting comments, shares and saves, it shows your content is connecting with the right people. A growing follower count with little interaction can look positive on the surface, but it rarely leads to action. 

Engagement is what signals interest and intent.

→ Increase your visibility while keeping engagement strong

It’s important to reach new audiences, but not at the expense of interaction. 

Formats like LinkedIn carousel posts can help increase reach and encourage people to spend more time on your content, while Instagram trial reels are a strong way to get in front of new audiences. The balance of visibility and engagement is where growth starts to build.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to grow your followers, but it’s worth asking what those followers are actually doing once they arrive.

Because it’s not the number of people who see your content that grows your business… it’s the number of people who respond to it.

P.S. If you’d like support with your LinkedIn strategy, feel free to DM me.

If platforms can push content to millions in minutes…
Why can’t they stop harmful content just as fast?

I’ve been following the Mark Zuckerberg case and it’s really made me think. (News case here: https://lnkd.in/eSHta7CA)

Social media platforms are built to keep us on them. 

The scrolling, the suggested posts, the notifications, none of that is random. The longer we stay, the more money the platform makes.  That’s just how the model works.

For adults, that’s one thing. We can (hopefully) manage our time and make choices.

For young people, it’s different.

They are growing up with feeds that never end, content that can shape how they see themselves, and now AI making it even harder to tell what’s real and what’s fake. That worries me.

Where I think the bigger issue sits now is content moderation, especially with AI. 

The speed at which fake news, deepfakes and harmful content can be created is frightening.  Waiting until something has already gone viral before taking it down isn’t good enough.

If platforms have the technology to push content to millions within minutes, they should also have stronger systems at the posting stage. Not just reacting once the damage is done.

Social media has done amazing things for connection and business.

But we can’t ignore the other side of it.

What are your thoughts?

taplio

The Battle

Kendra J.

Zoe Cairns

Followers

Posts

Engagements

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Performance ScoreZoe Cairns's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Kendra J.

Zoe Cairns

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Zoe Cairns's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreZoe Cairns's LinkedIn Performance