You know that question, “So, tell me about your career and how you got to where you are now?”
Yeah… that one.
The one that makes your mind go completely blank, like, “uhhh… from last week?” Even though you know you’ve done things, your brain just refuses to cooperate at the moment. That’s exactly how I feel right now but I’m going to give it a go and tell you how I ended up being a creative producer.
Before graduating, I was applying to jobs every single day . Laptop, phone – honestly, probably carrier pigeon if I could. Then one very normal day, I came across an assistant producer traineeship at Sky Creative, advertised by Creative Access.
Fast forward two years, and I was an official assistant producer, working across campaigns and productions I’d only dreamed about being part of. My biggest flex? Working with Danny Dyer on two separate projects and him actually remembering me. I mean, maybe a big round afro helps, but I’m claiming it anyway.
After an incredible run at Sky building my skills across sports, news, and entertainment, I felt the itch. Time for a rebrand. And really, when better to do that than in your 20s?
Leaving wasn’t easy. Great team, elite snack breaks and freebies… the works. But I knew it was time. So, I did what any reasonable person would do, I booked a one-month trip across the Kurdish region of Iraq and explored more of Egypt. Side note: fun fact – did you know the first Neanderthal population was discovered in Iraq? You’re welcome.
When I came back to London, I started looking at different opportunities across the creative industries to reignite my spark. Luckily, my good pals at Creative Access always have great masterclasses and free access to theatres and events lined up, so it made it easier to re-connect with people and get back into the flow. Thinking about it, Creative Access has always been there for me, even throughout my time at Sky. From the monthly book club sessions to regular check-ins, you’ll always feel motivated to keep exploring and putting yourself out there. It can be scary, but it definitely doesn’t have to be lonely when you’re first starting out.
Creative Access has always been there for me.
I think this is the perfect time to mention that I’ve been directing and producing my documentary, Scared to Be a Mother: The Black Maternal Experience, which focuses on Black women and the mortality rate in the UK, throughout my last months at Sky and up until now. Because I had this ongoing project, I was introduced to different communities and people across multiple fields, including the health and film industries. When I came back to London, I attended a free film screening hosted by The New Black Film Collective, who work to make the creative community accessible to everyone at no cost. I ended up connecting with the organisers over a passionate conversation about film and our shared interests, and later volunteered with them as a project assistant. During my time with them, I tapped into the world of festival programming and even hosted Q&A screenings and events. A new interest was unlocked in my mind.
Months rolled on, and I am now working on multiple independent projects and expanding my network – from curating my first art exhibition featuring 17 amazing women artists back in March, to now doing a short course on furniture and spatial design with the V&A. I am continuing to explore and really figure out my creative practice, because one thing I’ve learned from my many adventures is that you don’t have to be limited to the industry you first started out in. It’s okay to jump around and figure it out at the same time.
I have many career aspirations and just as many creative interests. One day, I’ll build my own studio. I’ll produce for children’s television. I’ll keep telling important stories through documentaries, and I’ll step into the world of museums and public programming – creating experiences that bring people together.
Because for me, it’s never been about choosing one path. It’s about building a career expansive enough to hold all of them. That’s what makes me a creative producer.
So be bold. Be brave. Be daring.
Your creativity is there for a reason…So why not use it?
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