Success in media, culture and entertainment rarely follows a straight line. Behind the public recognition are years of preparation, unexpected setbacks, difficult decisions and the courage to keep going when opportunities do not arrive as planned.
That was one of the key messages from a panel discussion at UK Black Business Week 2026, where moderator Hannah brought together Sebastian Thiel, Ramel London and Linda Ayoola to discuss their experiences across media, film, broadcasting and the music industry.
From building independent platforms to navigating career changes, the conversation offered practical lessons for creatives and entrepreneurs looking to establish themselves, grow their networks and turn opportunities into sustainable careers.
Success Takes Time, Even When Nobody Is Watching
One of the strongest themes throughout the discussion was the importance of patience and trusting the process.
For professionals working in creative industries, progress can sometimes feel frustratingly slow. Audiences often see the finished product, the public recognition or the career milestone without seeing the years of work that came before it.
The panellists reflected on the importance of gaining experience, developing relationships and remaining open to opportunities that might not immediately appear to advance a career.
The message was clear: not every step needs to be a major breakthrough. Sometimes, the work happening behind the scenes provides the foundation for the opportunities that follow.
For those starting out, this means resisting the pressure to measure progress solely through visibility, titles or immediate financial rewards. Building a career is also about learning the industry, understanding how decisions are made and developing the skills needed to make the most of future opportunities.
The Power of Starting Behind the Scenes
The discussion also highlighted how valuable behind-the-scenes experience can be for anyone hoping to build a career in broadcasting and media.
One of the lessons shared was that reaching a national platform can take years of persistence. The journey is not always glamorous, and progress may involve taking on responsibilities that receive little public recognition.
However, working behind the scenes can provide an understanding of how the industry operates, helping professionals build relationships, sharpen their skills and prepare for bigger responsibilities.
For aspiring broadcasters, presenters and media professionals, the lesson is to see early opportunities as part of a longer journey rather than dismissing them because they do not immediately offer visibility.
The experience gained along the way can become an important advantage when the right opportunity eventually arrives.
When a Project Falls Through, Find Another Way Forward
The realities of working in film and entertainment were another important part of the conversation.
Projects can take years to develop, only to be cancelled or delayed for reasons beyond the creative team’s control. For filmmakers, this can mean investing significant time and energy into an idea without seeing it reach the screen.
Sebastian Thiel’s journey reflected the importance of remaining adaptable in an industry where uncertainty is part of the business.
Rather than allowing setbacks to bring progress to a halt, the discussion explored the value of finding other ways to keep working, including directing projects developed by other people.
That willingness to pivot can help creatives continue building their portfolios, strengthening their reputations and developing relationships while waiting for their own projects to move forward.
The wider lesson applies well beyond film: being committed to a long-term ambition does not mean being rigid about the route taken to achieve it.
Sometimes, the next step is not the project originally imagined. It is the opportunity that keeps you moving.
From Banking to Music: Recognising the Opportunity to Pivot
Linda Ayoola’s experience offered another perspective on career change and the value of transferable skills.
Her transition from banking into the music business demonstrated that a professional background does not have to dictate the limits of a person’s future.
Moving into a different industry requires more than enthusiasm. It also demands an understanding of how businesses operate, the ability to build relationships and the confidence to contribute in unfamiliar environments.
The conversation touched on her involvement with Platoon, the music company where she joined the leadership team as chief operating officer.
Platoon went on to become part of Apple’s music business, highlighting the scale of opportunity that can emerge when talent, timing, relationships and business strategy come together.
Her journey offered an important reminder for professionals considering a career change: the skills developed in one sector may be valuable in another, even when the two industries appear worlds apart.
Rather than starting entirely from scratch, it can be possible to bring existing experience into a new environment and use it to create a different career path.
Building Your Own Platform Instead of Waiting for Permission
A recurring theme was the importance of creating platforms that allow people to tell their own stories and shape the conversations taking place around them.
In media, waiting for an established organisation to recognise your potential can be a slow process. Building an independent platform offers another route to developing an audience, demonstrating expertise and creating opportunities.
The discussion highlighted the work involved in developing The Mainstream and using a podcast and media platform to connect with audiences and industry figures.
Building a platform, however, involves much more than publishing content. It requires consistency, a clear identity, an understanding of the audience and the ability to turn attention into meaningful relationships.
A growing audience can create opportunities for interviews, collaborations and commercial partnerships, but those opportunities need to be supported by a clear sense of purpose and a willingness to keep delivering value.
For emerging creatives, the takeaway is straightforward: do not underestimate what you can build with the resources already available to you.
A small platform can become a starting point for something much bigger when it is developed with intention and consistency.
Networking Is More Than Collecting Contacts
The panel also explored the role of networking in creating professional opportunities.
Social media platforms such as LinkedIn can help people discover one another, share their work and begin conversations that might otherwise never happen. But visibility alone does not guarantee that those connections will lead anywhere.
The discussion emphasised the importance of being intentional about how relationships are developed.
That could mean sending a thoughtful email, following up after an introduction, communicating clearly about what you do or identifying a genuine opportunity to collaborate.
For creatives and entrepreneurs, the ability to explain the value of their work is particularly important. People need to understand not only what you do but also why it matters and how working with you could benefit them.
The lesson is to move beyond simply being present online. Build relationships, communicate professionally and make it easy for people to understand what you bring to the table.
Collaboration Can Take Your Work Further
The conversation also demonstrated how partnerships can help independent media platforms expand their reach.
Through collaborations with established organisations, including BET UK, media projects can gain access to wider audiences, new networks and opportunities that might be difficult to secure independently.
Coverage of events such as Essence Festival 2024 and interviews with personalities including Meagan Good, Natasha Rothwell and Kandi Burruss illustrated the possibilities that can emerge when a platform develops its identity and builds relationships within the industry.
For smaller media organisations, these opportunities underline the value of establishing credibility, producing work consistently and being ready to deliver when a partnership becomes available.
Collaboration does not mean abandoning your own identity. It means finding opportunities where different platforms, audiences and areas of expertise can complement one another.
Protecting Your Peace While Pursuing Your Ambition
While the discussion offered plenty of advice about career growth, it also addressed an equally important question: what happens when pursuing success begins to cost too much?
In competitive industries, it can be tempting to accept every opportunity, attend every event and remain constantly available in the hope that the next connection will lead to a breakthrough.
But not every opportunity is worth taking.
The panellists reflected on the importance of being selective, understanding personal priorities and recognising when an opportunity does not align with longer-term goals.
For some people, that may mean declining work that does not serve their ambitions. For others, it may mean making more room for family, personal wellbeing or projects that bring genuine fulfilment.
The point is not to reject opportunities unnecessarily. It is to understand that time and energy are limited resources, and how they are spent can shape both professional and personal outcomes.
Success becomes more meaningful when it is built around a life you actually want to live.
Mental Wellbeing Is Part of the Work
The conversation also acknowledged the emotional demands of working in high-pressure creative environments.
Rejection, uncertainty and long periods without visible progress can take their toll, particularly when professional identity becomes closely tied to achievement.
The panellists discussed the value of practices that create space to reset, including prayer, stretching and moments of stillness.
These practices may look different for different people, but the underlying principle is the same: looking after yourself should not be treated as something to consider only after the work is done.
Knowing when to pause, reassess or walk away from a situation can be just as important as knowing when to push forward.
Persistence matters, but so does recognising the difference between a difficult season that is helping you grow and a situation that is no longer serving you.
What Creatives and Entrepreneurs Can Take Away
The discussion at UK Black Business Week offered several lessons for anyone building a career in media, culture, entertainment or business:
- Be patient with your progress. Important opportunities may follow years of work that few people see.
- Value the experience behind the scenes. Early roles can help you understand the industry and prepare for future responsibilities.
- Learn to pivot. A setback does not have to end your ambition, but it may require a different route.
- Use your transferable skills. Experience gained in one industry can become an advantage in another.
- Build your own platform. You do not always have to wait for someone else to give you a voice.
- Turn visibility into relationships. Thoughtful communication and consistent follow-up can make networking more meaningful.
- Be selective with opportunities. Not everything that looks impressive is right for your goals.
- Protect your wellbeing. Your ambitions should leave room for the life you want beyond work.
The Bigger Picture: Building a Career on Your Own Terms
Ultimately, the conversation moderated by Hannah was about more than finding success in competitive industries. It was about understanding that careers are rarely straightforward and that progress can come through unexpected opportunities, difficult decisions and the willingness to change direction.
Sebastian Thiel, Ramel London and Linda Ayoola brought different experiences to the discussion, but the central message connected their stories: building a sustainable career requires more than talent alone.
It takes patience, adaptability, relationships, a willingness to create opportunities and the judgement to know which ones deserve your time.
For the next generation of media professionals, filmmakers, broadcasters and entrepreneurs, the challenge is not simply to get into the room. It is to build something meaningful once they arrive, create opportunities for others and recognise that success does not have to come at the expense of personal wellbeing.
At UK Black Business Week 2026, the conversation served as a reminder that the journey matters, the setbacks can teach valuable lessons, and sometimes the most important career move is having the courage to do things differently.
