Viv Onumah-Yau 邱凯琳

Hi hello! I emerge from the other side to you in the mountains of Aburi, Ghana! 🇬🇭 

How do founders, biz owners and influencers create less harm? 

In 2020, when I refreshed @beeinfluenceuk my influencer marketing agency to expand into talent management, I began representing my first climate activist. That turned into pitching to and winning work with an environmental org and eventually, led to a wave of intros to people working across climate and nature who I now proudly represent! I’ve somewhat become known as a ‘climate momager’ (when did I transition from sister to mum status.. pls 😭)

Before that, I originally came from a background of managing YouTubers in beauty/lifestyle, family vloggers who worked with huge brands owned by seriously grim companies. Back then, I didn’t think about the deals we did - what harm these brands are doing to the planet and people.

Lots of life happened - political awakenings. reckonings. hard conversations. ego checks. money worries. ethics evolving. unlearning. being hypocritical. getting things wrong.

what does ‘sucess’ or ‘making it’ actually mean when facism is rife, genocide continues and systemic oppression continues to affect all of us every day?

Sometimes the balance is hard, but it’s harder to justify looking the other way tbh.

Though our purses might be a little lighter, myself and my clients (alongside many other anti-oppressive biz owners/creators) are trying to prove that it is possible to reduce harm, and still make a living.

If you’re in the creative space; a founder, biz owner, content creator, marketing - this isn’t about perfection. It’s about paying attention, asking questions, doing the search and turning down things when it doesn’t sit right. 

I wanna know how others navigate this work?