Twelve years ago, Elisabetta arrived in London with a one-way ticket, barely speaking English, armed only with courage and a desire to build something meaningful.
Today, she’s the founder of Mint and Lemon, a fast-growing agency helping founders turn their personal brands into powerful business tools.
In this deeply personal conversation, Asim reconnects with the very first guest of his podcast, now the first to return. Elisabetta shares how language struggles once shattered her confidence, how one MD told her she'd never make it, and how she turned that pain into fuel.
From breaking up with her partner and leaving everything behind, to becoming a thought leader with over 100,000 LinkedIn followers, her story is one of grit, growth, and going against the grain.
We talk about:
The realities of starting a business as an immigrant
Navigating the startup rollercoasterHer pivot from recruitment to personal branding
What makes LinkedIn such a powerful platform (and how to actually use it)
Advice for anyone starting their brand or business journey
This episode is a masterclass in betting on yourself especially when the odds are stacked against you.
Chapters
00:00 A Journey of Change and Opportunity
05:51 The Immigrant Experience: Finding Home in the UK
11:56 Embracing Cultural Diversity and Personal Identity
16:40 Building Confidence in Sales and Language
22:04 Overcoming Language Barriers and Criticism28:10 The Transition to Entrepreneurship
30:56 Lessons from Startup Experiences
33:15 Navigating the Chaos of Business Management
34:14 The Realities of Entrepreneurship: Is It for You?
35:21 Inspiration and the Journey to Starting a Business
36:19 The Impact of Role Models on Entrepreneurial Aspirations
37:13 Taking Smart Risks in Business Ventures
38:18 The Evolution of Personal Branding on LinkedIn
39:13 From Recruitment to Marketing: A Business Pivot
40:11 Building a Personal Brand: The Power of Authenticity
41:18 The Journey of Immigrant Entrepreneurs
42:14 Overcoming Language Barriers in Business
43:19 The Importance of Community and Support Networks
44:19 Success Stories: The Hard Work Behind the Journey
45:03 The Art of Writing: Finding Your Voice on LinkedIn
46:27 The Challenge of Creating Engaging Content
47:25 Learning from Mistakes: The Path to Improvement
48:17 Building Relationships Through Authentic Engagement
49:15 The Balance of Strategy and Authenticity in Social Media
50:15 Navigating the Changing Landscape of Social Media
51:41 The Power of Personal Branding on LinkedIn
56:55 Building a Personal Brand: Strategies for Success
01:01:13 The Importance of Community and Connection
01:06:17 Reflecting on Growth and Future Aspirations
