Creating The Curve

Hiring people shouldn't feel like walking through a legal minefield - but for most founders, that's exactly what it is. In this episode of Creating the Curve , Anna Bravington chats with HR consultant Reyhana Jano about how to build, manage, and retain a small team without the stress (or ending up in tribunal). Reyhana shares over 30 years of HR experience, from corporate to small business consult...

What if you could create 30 pieces of content from just one idea? In this solo episode of Creating the Curve , Anna Bravington shares her tried-and-tested method for using AI to repurpose content - without losing your voice and your patience. From turning a podcast, video, or eBook into blogs and social posts, to using tools like ChatGPT, Otter.ai, and Descript, Anna walks through a simple framewo...

What happens when your audience isn't quite who you thought it was? In this solo episode of Creating the Curve , Anna Bravington gets honest about her own podcast pivot - how six months of data, feedback, and (accidental) audience research made her realise that her show had outgrown its niche. Originally created for STEM founders, Creating the Curve has steadily attracted a much wider group of han...

Ever feel like your social media sounds like the same song on repeat? You're not alone and you're probably not the only one bored of it. In this solo episode, Anna Bravington dives deeper into the playlist approach to social media inspired by her conversation with Gus Bhandal. She talks about how founders can move beyond the traditional content pillars and start thinking like musicians - creating...

Social media can feel like a monster - too many platforms, too much noise, and too little time to do it all. But what if you could be seen everywhere without actually being everywhere? In this episode of Creating the Curve , Anna Bravington chats with Gus Bhandal , social media strategist, LinkedIn trainer, and co-founder of Uplift Live , the UK's first LinkedIn conference. Gus shares how founders...

When times get tough, it's tempting to retreat into "busy work" - polishing your website, tinkering with code, or creating new products no one's asked for. It feels safe. It feels productive. But it doesn't always move your business forward. In this solo episode of Creating the Curve , Anna Bravington reflects on her conversation with Mark Schaefer and digs into why founders need to lift their hea...

It's easy to get stuck in the day-to-day of running a business: juggling clients, cashflow, and the never-ending to-do list. But if you never look up, you risk missing the future coming straight at you. In this episode of Creating the Curve , I sit down with marketing legend Mark Schaefer - author of 13 books including Audacious , host of the  Marketing Companion podcast, and founder of the Rise c...

Personal brand isn't built in one big moment - it's built drip by drip, post by post, conversation by conversation. In this solo episode of Creating the Curve , Anna builds on her chat last week with Ella Orr to explore the messy reality of showing up online when you'd rather be doing anything else. From why technical founders often loathe marketing, to how even top influencers' first videos are o...

Personal branding doesn't mean becoming an "influencer" or performing a polished version of yourself. At its heart, it's about being seen, known, and remembered for the work you love. In this episode of Creating the Curve , Anna is joined by the brilliant Ella Orr,  personal brand consultant and all-round social media guide, to talk about what personal branding really means for founders and busine...

Leading a business isn't just about being the best at the work - it's about helping other people grow into it. And that can feel really uncomfortable when you know you could do the job faster (and probably better) yourself. In this solo episode of Creating the Curve , Anna Bravington shares the messy, often painful lessons she's learned about leadership - from letting staff walk all over her in he...

Stepping into leadership isn't something most founders feel ready for. One day, you're running everything yourself - the next, you've got people looking to you for guidance, decisions, and direction. And no one gives you a manual. In this episode of Creating the Curve , Anna is joined by leadership coach Nikie Forster to talk honestly about the messy reality of managing people and growing into the...

In this solo episode of Creating the Curve , Anna dives into the messy, real-world journey of building confidence and visibility as a founder. If you've ever hated the thought of putting your face on camera, dreaded LinkedIn Lives, or worried your content wasn't "perfect enough," this one's for you. Anna shares her own behind-the-scenes struggles with being an introvert in business, from using a g...

Whether it's pitching to investors, speaking at a conference, or simply introducing yourself at a networking event, speaking with confidence can be a game-changer for your business. In this episode of Creating the Curve , Anna is joined by Jackie Goddard, speaking coach, performer, and founder of Power to Speak,  to talk about finding your voice, building confidence, and speaking with impact, whet...

In this solo episode of Creating the Curve , Anna gets deeply honest about success, squashing, and the invisible pressure to chase goals that don't actually belong to us. Off the back of last week's conversation with Trisha Lewis, Anna reflects on her own journey of un-squashing - from grief, burnout, and doing what she thought she should , to building a business (and life) that actually fits her....

Feel like you're hiding in plain sight? You're not alone. In this episode, Anna is joined by the marvellous Trisha Lewis, communication coach, speaker, and author of The Mystery of the Squashed Self,  to talk about why so many brilliant people (especially those in business) are afraid to truly show up as themselves. We dive into the idea of "self-squashing" - a term Trisha coined for the way we sh...

Running a business can feel like spinning a hundred plates with one hand… especially when you're doing it alone. In this solo episode of Creating the Curve , Anna gets honest about the real blockers founders face, from avoiding the hard stuff to thinking one more app, tool, or course will finally solve everything. She shares the real reason she's launching her free STEM founder community , why sup...

In this episode of Creating the Curve , Anna is joined by award-winning copywriter and author Sarah Townsend for a fun, honest conversation about communication, copywriting, and the realities of running your own business, especially when you're doing it all yourself. They chat about: How to write in a voice that feels like you (not what you think you're "supposed" to sound like) What to do when wr...

In this solo episode of Creating The Curve , Anna follows up her conversation with LinkedIn legend John Espirian and dives into what it really takes to show up online when your brain is busy, your time is limited, and you're not a natural content machine. She shares: Her own struggles with early LinkedIn posting (and feeling rejection) Why she posts less, comments more, and skips the guilt How to...

LinkedIn is supposed to be about people. But somewhere along the way, it started feeling stiff, salesy, and a bit… awkward. In this episode, Anna is joined by the relentlessly helpful LinkedIn nerd John Espirian to talk about how to show up on LinkedIn in a way that's memorable, human, and actually enjoyable - even if you hate posting or have no idea what to say. You'll hear: Why commenting is jus...

Starting a business is one thing. Growing one, without burning out, is something else entirely. In this solo episode of Creating the Curve , Anna Bravington reflects on what happens after the initial rush of launching: when you hit that awkward in-between stage where the work piles up, the fun fades, and you're suddenly expected to be a marketer, salesperson, ops manager, and accountant... all at...

In this episode of Creating the Curve , Anna Bravington is joined by long-time mentor, connector, and all-around business whirlwind Beverley Poole , to talk about something every founder needs - support. Together, they explore: Why technical founders struggle when they try to go it alone How to know what you're good at and when to outsource the rest The importance of building your "trusty tribe" W...

Used well, AI can be one of the best ways to help you save time, reduce stress, and get through your to-do list as a small business owner. In this solo episode of Creating The Curve , Anna shares her own everyday AI processes, from editing podcasts faster , to getting blog posts written quicker , to researching leads more efficiently,  and how AI is helping her balance creativity, productivity, an...

For founders juggling a hundred tasks, AI and Custom GPTs can be a lifeline - if you know how to use them right. In this episode of Creating The Curve , Anna is joined by creative strategist and AI experimenter Frank Prendergast for a refreshing, practical conversation about getting started with ChatGPT and Custom GPTs, without needing to be a prompt engineer or a tech wizard. They explore: How to...

If the word "sales" still gives you the ick - this episode is for you. In this solo episode of Creating The Curve , Anna reflects on the powerful ideas shared by John Tunstall last week and explores what selling really looks like when you strip away the awkward scripts, the cold calls, and the pressure to perform. Spoiler: you're probably already selling in your business. You just don't recognise...

Sales. Love it or hate it, you can't grow your business without it. In this episode of Creating The Curve , Anna is joined by John Tunstall - a sales strategist who's on a mission to fix how small businesses approach selling. If you're a founder who dreads " doing sales," this episode will change the way you think about it. John believes great salespeople are like doctors - they ask smart question...