Twelve years ago, Elisabetta arrived in London with a one-way ticket, barely speaking English, armed only with courage and a desire to build something meaningful.

Today, she’s the founder of Mint and Lemon, a fast-growing agency helping founders turn their personal brands into powerful business tools.

In this deeply personal conversation, Asim reconnects with the very first guest of his podcast, now the first to return. Elisabetta shares how language struggles once shattered her confidence, how one MD told her she'd never make it, and how she turned that pain into fuel.

From breaking up with her partner and leaving everything behind, to becoming a thought leader with over 100,000 LinkedIn followers, her story is one of grit, growth, and going against the grain.

We talk about:

The realities of starting a business as an immigrant

Navigating the startup rollercoasterHer pivot from recruitment to personal branding

What makes LinkedIn such a powerful platform (and how to actually use it)

Advice for anyone starting their brand or business journey

This episode is a masterclass in betting on yourself especially when the odds are stacked against you.

Chapters

00:00 A Journey of Change and Opportunity

05:51 The Immigrant Experience: Finding Home in the UK

11:56 Embracing Cultural Diversity and Personal Identity

16:40 Building Confidence in Sales and Language

22:04 Overcoming Language Barriers and Criticism28:10 The Transition to Entrepreneurship

30:56 Lessons from Startup Experiences

33:15 Navigating the Chaos of Business Management

34:14 The Realities of Entrepreneurship: Is It for You?

35:21 Inspiration and the Journey to Starting a Business

36:19 The Impact of Role Models on Entrepreneurial Aspirations

37:13 Taking Smart Risks in Business Ventures

38:18 The Evolution of Personal Branding on LinkedIn

39:13 From Recruitment to Marketing: A Business Pivot

40:11 Building a Personal Brand: The Power of Authenticity

41:18 The Journey of Immigrant Entrepreneurs

42:14 Overcoming Language Barriers in Business

43:19 The Importance of Community and Support Networks

44:19 Success Stories: The Hard Work Behind the Journey

45:03 The Art of Writing: Finding Your Voice on LinkedIn

46:27 The Challenge of Creating Engaging Content

47:25 Learning from Mistakes: The Path to Improvement

48:17 Building Relationships Through Authentic Engagement

49:15 The Balance of Strategy and Authenticity in Social Media

50:15 Navigating the Changing Landscape of Social Media

51:41 The Power of Personal Branding on LinkedIn

56:55 Building a Personal Brand: Strategies for Success

01:01:13 The Importance of Community and Connection

01:06:17 Reflecting on Growth and Future Aspirations