In this episode of Work in Progress, Nicole Engelmann sits down with business strategist Lucia Desperati for an honest conversation about the realities of entrepreneurship. Lucia traces her journey from art school in Italy to building her own agency in London, sharing the lessons learned through rapid growth, burnout, and reinvention. Together, they unpack the importance of aligning work with personal values, diversifying revenue streams, and understanding your financial needs as a founder. Lucia also opens up about her evolving relationship with personal branding, the power of community, and why testing ideas early matters. A thoughtful, practical discussion for anyone navigating the unpredictable path of entrepreneurship.
Host & guest info:
Nicole Engelmann
Nicole is a London-based personal branding photographer and videographer, working with small business owners and creatives across the UK and beyond. She’s here for the camera-shy, the visibility-dodgers, and the “I’m not photogenic” crowd - turning nerves into magic with scroll-stopping visuals that feel so you. Whether it’s in the streets of London or on a retreat in Ibiza, she’s got your best angles (and your brand) covered.
Nicole's website: www.londonbrandingphotos.com
Follow Nicole on Instagram: www.instagram.com/londonbrandingphotos
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-engelmann
Sign up to her newsletter: www.londonbrandingphotos.com/newsletter
______________
Lucia Desperati
Lucia Desperati is a strategist, entrepreneur, and speaker dedicated to creating sustainable growth for micro-businesses. As the founder of Revenue Avenues, she helps business owners uncover and build revenue streams that align with their lifestyle - avoiding burnout and maximizing impact. She also leads Loom of Ideas, a creative, tech, and consulting agency, and Yocory, a SaaS platform for business management. Lucia is passionate about translating strategy into action. Through her 1:1 mentoring, RevOps programs, and interactive workshops, she empowers entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into scalable, aligned revenue systems.
Lucia's links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciadesperati
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revenueavenues
Revenue Avenues: https://revenueavenues.com/
Loom of Ideas: https://loomofideas.com/
