I LIKE NETWORKING: a new platform for women and non-binary people in the creative industry has become a success and is expanding
Like many across the world, I LIKE NETWORKING’s founder Isabel Sachs lost her job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As someone in the creative industry, she understood how hard it was to find employment in the normal world, let alone in the middle of a pandemic.
Her response was to start a small networking group, in June 2020, where industry leaders would open their black book of contacts and give some of their time to support those who had difficulty getting started (or getting ahead) in the industry, with the aim of tackling the lack of support & diversity in the sector.
Without any funding, I LIKE NETWORKING evolved into a full- blow career platform for women and non-binary people in the creative industries, with an events series to upskill as many people as possible, newsletters, job boards and a podcast, with a range of guests from all over the world, featured on The New York Times, Stylist and beyond. In total, the pilot program saw over 215 mentoring sessions, over 500 events attendees and more than 2000 podcast downloads from June to December 2020.
The mentoring scheme will still be free for those selected through an online application form. I LIKE NETWORKING aims to create a movement where mentees will eventually become mentors and have a huge community of members supporting each other throughout the career paths.
The I LIKE NETWORKING mentoring scheme applications will launch in March with the programme starting from September, with four encounters between the mentors and the mentees. Applications will be via UnderPinned, I LIKE NETWORKING’s 2021 sponsor.
In 2021, I LIKE NETWORKING is also offering a membership scheme to expand on their motto over collaboration over competition. The membership gives access to a community of like-minded individuals to facilitate support, networking and access to all of their events. The membership is now live to book, from £8.50 a month, with bursaries available for those who cannot afford it.
Notes to editor
About I LIKE NETWORKING
I LIKE NETWORKING is a platform which aims to support women and non-binary professionals looking for a career in the creative and cultural industry and those who already work in the field but feel stuck.
About the founder, Isabel Sachs
Isabel has over fifteen years of experience as a project manager, working on a variety of for non-profits, culture organizations and consumer-led companies, conceptualizing and producing branded experiences that engage core consumers, as well as communications campaigns, having serviced clients such as Levi’s, Converse, Lipton, Red Bull and Lollapalooza, amongst others. She created and sold an award-winning cultural agency, based in Brazil, producing over 50 events a year including international tours, and managing a roster of artists and a theatre company. Recent public speaking appearances include General Assembly, The New York Times International Women’s Network, New Talent Fashion, Creative Entrepreneurs and You-Volution.
About Underpinned
UnderPinned was founded in 2018 on the idea that freelancers deserve better. It aims to support freelancers with every aspect of their career management and progression through an innovative Saas product, educational courses, and media creation and engagement.
2021 Mentors:
Adrienne Klasa, World Digital Editor, Financial Times
Anna Helwing, VIP Manager, Art Basel
Barbara Casara, Football Marketing Director EMEA, NIKE
Ben Cooper-Melchiors, Executive Director, East London Dance
Bonita Darkoh, Content Strategist, KPMG / Arts and culture editor at large, GUAPMAG
Carin Baur, Associate Director – Insight and Data Management, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Carol Almiron, Communications Manager
Carrie Scott, Curator, Art Historian, TV Presenter, Art Writer
Cassi Young, Specialist, Head of Sale, Bonhams
Claudia Canavan, Digital Beauty and Health Editor, Women’s Health
Cleo Thompson, Music Brand Partnerships, UTA
Dr Cliff Lauson, Senior Curator, Hayward Gallery
Ellie Liddell-Crewe, Unlimited Project Manager, Artsadmin
Eva Martinez, Dance curator, producer, dramaturge, consultant and former Artistic Programmer at Sadler’s Wells
Fernanda Moraes, Art Advisor, Founder +FV Arte Bureau
Fiona Livingston, Associate Director, Marketing and Communications, HarrisonParrott
Francesca Polo, Coach & Vastari Co-Founder
Georgia Attlesey, Creative Producer
Geraldine Zanaska, Founder & Director of Compass Music
Gilbert Johnson, Artist Manager and Co-Founder, Hear This Records
Helena Knightley, Ecommerce Trading Manager, Dr. Martens
Ida Norheim Hagtun, Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Isabel Atherton, Head of Global Partnerships, LYMA
Isabella Coraça, Dress Curator & Lecturer
Jade Coles, Events Curator
Jess Kangalee, Founder, Good Energy PR
Jessica Barlow, Founder, No Agency Method
Jessica Teal, Principal, Teal Media
Jodi Muter- Hamilton, Founder, Black Neon Digital
Kitty Stogdon, Project Editor, Bloomsbury Publishing
Kuba Shand-Baptiste, Society and Arts Editor at The Conversation
Lauren Rosemary Hook, Senior editor at the Feminist Press
Malakaï Sargeant, Artist & Cultural Producer
Marcela Moreira, Director, Global Marketing (LATAM), Warner Music
Mariam Sharp, Director at CulturalSIX
Marta Gut, Global PR Manager, Rapha
Mollie E Barnes, Curator & Founder She Curates
Nadia Strøm Vistisen, Events & Partnerships Manager
Nina Giglio, Brand & Content Marketing Manager, WGSN
Paula Abreu, Associate Director of Programming, SummerStage
Petra Van den Houten, Head of Major Gifts at Royal Northern College of Music
Phoebe Dodds, Founder, BURO155
Pragya Tiwari, Founder, Oijo and Regional Director, Flint
Renée O’Drobinak , Communications Manager, HawkinsBrown
Ruby Baker, Creative Producer
Sara Nisha Adams, Editorial Director at Hodder & Stoughton and Author
Salma Tuqan, Deputy Director, Delfina Foundation
Sophie Busby, Corporate Partnerships, Tate
Stephanie Brennan, Founder, Rock to Roots
Toni Sloane Lawrence, Management Consultant, Lobus
Valeria Facchin, Assistant Curator, Fiorucci Art Trust
Vick Bain, Music Consultant, Founder F-LIST
Vivi Kallinikou, Director of Content and Outreach, Art Rabbit
Wells Fray-Smith, Assistant Curator: Special Projects at the Whitechapel Gallery