In this episode of the Meet Your Inspiration podcast, Rich and Meri chat with Zoe Cairns, th UK's leading social media expert and founder of ZC Social Media. Zoe shares her inspiring story, from her humble beginnings in Medway, Kent, to becoming an international speaker at organisations like NATO, and a trusted advisor to leading businesses and brands across the UK.The conversation covers Zoe’s remarkable journey, including her early days juggling multiple jobs while studying business and computer science, her leap from mortgage broking into the uncharted world of social media consultancy, and the challenges of building a business, and a brand, from scratch. Zoe breaks down practical strategies for personal branding, digital networking, and authentic community engagement, emphasising the power of consistency and resilience.• Building an international speaking career through LinkedIn and bold self-promotion• Key lessons from her experiences with NATO and leading business events• Navigating career pivots, recession setbacks, and reinvention• Growing ZC Social Media from a solo venture to a thriving agency and community academy• Actionable tips on content creation, work-life balance, and leveraging AI responsibly• The importance of authenticity in social media and the lasting impact of strategic networkingZoe’s story is a testament to continuous learning, the value of giving back, and turning setbacks into set-ups for growth. Listeners will come away with real-world advice for building a business, a personal brand, and a life rooted in purpose, adaptability, and genuine connection."Once you start to walk... the door starts to open." – Zoe Cairns"The only way that you’re going to grow... is if you want to grow a community." – Zoe Cairns00:54 - Introducing Zoe Carnes, Social Media Expert01:25 - Zoe's Journey to Speaking at NATO07:02 - Zoe's Book: Behind the Book07:16 - How the Hosts Met Zoe: The ZC Live Event09:36 - Zoe's Early Days: Education and First Jobs13:22 - Making the Leap to Internet Marketing16:33 - Navigating the Career Transition18:33 - Opportunities and Early Social Media Landscape21:26 - Why Social Media? The Power of Engagement23:00 - Ad Break23:53 - Learning Social Media Through Experience24:44 - Staying Updated in the Dynamic Social Media World26:41 - The Evolution of Social Media Platforms30:29 - Effective Social Media: Time Management & Engagement34:06 - Strategic Content: Generic vs. Reactive Posts37:10 - The Genesis of ZC Marketing and Team Building40:07 - ZC Marketing's Approach to Client Success42:43 - The Journey of Zoe's First Event45:40 - Host on the Value of Guest's Events47:43 - Guest on Free Academies and Community Building48:40 - The Accidental Journey into Public Speaking49:57 - Impact of COVID on International Speaking51:10 - Speaking Anecdote: Meeting Jarek and Tony Robbins54:27 - Guest on Vlogging Authentically and a Future Docu Series56:27 - The Genesis and Vision of Zoe Growth Academy59:18 - Understanding Algorithms and Leveraging AI for Content01:03:07 - Guest's Future Plans: Agency, Training, and Speaking01:04:00 - Strategy for Work-Life Balance: Protecting Weekends01:06:37 - Key Habit: Continuous Professional Development (CPD)01:07:30 - The Power of Planning and Structured Scheduling01:08:26 - Conclusion: Connecting with ZoeFollow Zoe on:https://www.zcsocialmedia.com/https://www.instagram.com/zcairnshttp://linkedin.com/in/zoecairnsIf you would like a free 7 days to experiance Zoe'S Social Media Academy which if you are using social media and especially if you work in marketing this will unlock you opportunity to grow follow this link:https://www.skool.com/socialmediatraining/about?ref=20632328cf154dfcb0cddb0fa62a3faf Our Sponsors:https://www.hempsteadhouse.co.uk/https://whatsoninkent.com/https://theitustapp.com/ Quote BOD for a 10% discount on the first year's membership