Putting People FirstThe Return of the Human Touch

Welcome back to the club! In this episode, we grab a chat with Lauren Wilgress from Creative Joy. Lauren swapped the big corporate agency world for the charity sector, and she now runs her freelance business while living all the way over in the Philippines.

We get into how real stories beat big budgets, why you should stop selling and start listening, and how to actually make the digital nomad life work without burning out.

Key takeaways:

• What everyday businesses can learn from charities about building real trust with people.

• How to share a great story and get seen online, even if you have zero budget to spend.

• Why getting to know your customers for the long haul easily beats chasing quick sales.

• The honest truth about working as a digital nomad with a seven-hour time gap (hint: it takes a lot of planning).

• Why putting people—both your team and your buyers—at the heart of what you do is the best move you can make.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and intro

01:05 How Lauren fell into design and marketing

02:01 Swapping big corporate clients for the charity sector

04:20 The fun (and headache) of marketing with no budget

05:35 Helping teams grow and meeting clients where they are

07:28 Building long-term bonds instead of fast sales

10:09 Using stories to stand out in a crowded space (like Christmas appeals)

12:26 Easy ways to actually listen to your customers

14:57 Picking a niche and finding friends over rivals

20:16 The reality of living and working in the Philippines

23:49 Sorting out client chats with a 7-hour time gap

28:18 The number one tip to change how you talk to customers

Links to shout outs in this episode:

Check out Lauren and the great work she does with charities and non-profits at Creative Joy.

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-willgress-8637431a9/

Visit Creative Joy: https://www.createjoy.studio/