Creatives Like Us Podcast - Ep:37
![text reads Creatives Like Us Podcast Kemar ]picture of a man smiling](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ec0bd22d44db6ecdb2a4ac/ec4689db-edef-4019-b328-11cf02513ddb/Season+3+%23+Website+Creatives+Like+Us+Podcast+Cover.png)
Season 3 #37 Creatives Like Us podcast hosted by Angela Lyons with guest Kemar Sisimayi-Dyke
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe with the podcast provider of your choice or leave us a Spotify review in the comments or an Apple Review here. Thanks!
Making Business Less Frightening and more Fun – with Kemar Sisimayi-Dyke
What does it look like to build a marketing agency, run sell-out networking events, mentor young creatives and go into schools to teach kids how to start businesses – all before your 21st birthday? Meet Kemar Sisimayi-Dyke of Nova Connects.
In this episode Kemar shares how a viral TikTok jewellery brand led him to discover his real purpose, why he sold it and what that decision taught him about doing things for the right reasons. We talk about the story behind the Nova name, his Building Brands Through Connection networking events, working with names like the Sidemen and Elephant Man and the school workshops where kids go from nervous to pitching their own businesses in a matter of weeks.
Energising and full of the kind of insight you don't expect from someone who just turned twenty.
Find Kemar at connectswithnova.com or @nova_connects on Instagram
Start your newsletter with Kit Try it here
Plan your content with Metricool*. Try it here
The system I use to manage and keep track of my business is Moxie. You can try it here
Subscribe to the newsletter
Stay informed and be the first to know when new episodes drop.
Links for Angela
This podcast is hosted by Angela Lyons of Lyons Creative.
If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to be featured on this podcast, please email angela@lyonscreative.co.uk
You can follow and connect here:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Podcast website
Instagram - Creatives Like Us Podcast
Join the mailing list
Support the podcast
Creatives Like Us is an independent podcast that I fund entirely out of my own pocket. If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it going, here are a few ways you can support:
✅ Free & Easy: Leave a review – it really helps new listeners find the podcast.
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: Fuel my work and help cover production costs, here's the link.
📣 Sponsor an Episode or Series: Let’s collaborate! Get your brand a shout-out on the show. Flexible options available.
Interested in sponsoring or have questions? Email me at: angela@lyonscreative.co.uk
Thank you!
Thinking of starting a podcast?
I use the platform Riverside to record. It’s great for audio, and video plus the bonus is the way it repurposes the recording into social media graphics. I’ll take that to make the marketing of the podcast easier. Take a look and try it out here*.
Buzzsprout is my chosen platform to host Creatives Like Us. Once you upload your podcast, Buzzsprout creates an RSS feed and you have the option to load it to all the popular podcasting platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts and many more. Take a look and try it here*.
Angela recording the ‘Creatives Like Us’ Podcast on Riverside with guest - Kemar
Transcript
Angela Lyons (00:00.198)
want me to cut just let me know and we'll just say and we'll just pause for a few seconds and then we'll start again just say it can we cut that and then stop so I know that when I'm editing it in my video my sound editor will just cut it so I just want to double check brilliant thank you so much I'm gonna take my shoes off because I'm standing up on my stand-up desk so I like talking when I was obviously I like stuff you know what I find it really it's really interesting I sit down I'm talking I'm a bit
Kemar Sisimayi (00:02.22)
Okay.
Okay, that's fine.
Kemar Sisimayi (00:14.006)
Okay, that's fine.
Kemar Sisimayi (00:19.342)
okay. Mine is Loo-Id.
Angela Lyons (00:27.812)
But when I stand up more expressive and I get more of I love that Yeah, yeah, honestly on your calls it makes everything just come out more amplified and just really good Good good. Okay, I'm gonna start and then we're just like carry on talking. So Brilliant. how'd you pronounce your surname? Is it sisame? Sisame. Okay, brilliant. Thank you. So today
Kemar Sisimayi (00:29.738)
Yeah, okay, I do understand that. I do understand that. I need to try that. I need to try that.
Kemar Sisimayi (00:39.598)
Sounds fun, sounds fun.
Kemar Sisimayi (00:44.439)
Okay, that's all right.
Kemar Sisimayi (00:49.678)
system I yeah
Angela Lyons (00:55.592)
Hello and welcome to Creatives Like Us. And today I'm joined with Kamai Sissamai and I cannot wait to talk to him. I've looked at his website and I've looked at his credentials and he looks, oh my God, so amazing. So Kamai, over to you. Tell me, what type of creative are you?
Kemar Sisimayi (01:10.616)
So I've been a big creator for a while. I used to study TV and film and now I own a marketing agency. And the amount of different things that we do, we go from production to podcasts to even networking events, even with our clients as well. Creativity is just something that's embedded into me. Different ranges, music, filming, videography. There's just a lot that goes into it. Dance as well. So yeah.
That's what type of creative I am. Yeah.
Angela Lyons (01:41.928)
Brilliant, fantastic, and how long have you been doing it for?
Kemar Sisimayi (01:45.838)
Uh, well, the agency as such. Right. Okay.
Angela Lyons (01:47.897)
Yeah, the agency. So, so we'll come into the agency in a second, but it sounds like you've been creative from a very young age and you, yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (01:55.336)
Yeah. Yeah. So I've been creative all my life, to be honest. I grew up seeing my mum. My mum is a big creator. She's always around different artists. She's always dancing. She's always going to different creative events. So from a young age of, say, six or five even, I'll go out with her and just do little different things. And yeah, it's been quite a long time.
Angela Lyons (02:22.311)
Brilliant, So as I said, I asked you what type of creative art you are. Nova, your company that you have now, it seems to, you describe it as connecting creativity, culture and strategy. I suppose what I'm trying to find out is where do you sit personally in that mix? I know you're the CEO, but are you more of a creative or a strategist or is it a bit of a mix? Could you just expand on that? great.
Kemar Sisimayi (02:45.134)
Right, so the agency does a lot of things. So marketing is the main part. But when it comes to the actual creative bits, me, I'm just the one that delegates it, structure it with the team that I've got quite a bit of staff now. I'm one that actually structures the creative side of things. So whatever you see posted is very structured and it's very thought out and planned out. Even when it comes to event building brands through connection, which is a networking event, a slash panel.
That's all delegated by myself. So you'll see us wearing like different coloured lanyards. You'll see us doing little games. Yeah, so I'm just that side of things.
Angela Lyons (03:26.203)
What's a different colour? Does that mean you have to represent something different in each department?
Kemar Sisimayi (03:30.214)
Right. yeah, expanding on the line. So, okay. So there's three or four different colors. So blues agency and partners yellows, I believe brands green influences and individuals. So
they would wear them, they're different colorado based on what they are, of course. And then so it's just like a power networking as well. So if your agency looking for brands, you just go to brands, vice versa. If your brand is looking for influencer. Yeah, exactly. So then it just cuts the time between asking everyone, what do you do? You know what I mean? Like, no, I mean, so yeah, so that just cuts that out. And then the panel part, I bring like different
Angela Lyons (03:58.376)
That's a good idea. Yeah. Yeah.
Angela Lyons (04:04.153)
Yeah, go and speak to someone direct. Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (04:13.334)
entrepreneurs or different creators onto the panel to explain their experiences depending on what type of topic it is that month. And yeah, so everyone loves it. We get over 50 to 100 people per networking event. It's fun.
Angela Lyons (04:16.156)
Yeah.
Angela Lyons (04:27.495)
I missed the name of it, tell me the name of it again and when's it on again? And then what was it like? So I'm just gonna say that again. Sorry. Sorry.
Kemar Sisimayi (04:32.095)
Building brands free connection Okay
Angela Lyons (04:39.185)
the cup.
Kemar Sisimayi (04:40.556)
Yep.
Angela Lyons (04:42.757)
Okay, so this event that you've got, what's it called again? Because I miss it, just slightly miss at the beginning.
Kemar Sisimayi (04:48.152)
built in Ransom connection.
Angela Lyons (04:49.859)
Mm-hmm. And when is it on throughout the year?
Kemar Sisimayi (04:53.506)
So it's usually on every month. We just had to do a little rebound. So the next one is going to be next month. We're just trying to secure a date because we are going to be changing locations. We did our previous ones at Box Park Wembley, but we believe we might change it to see a Westminster city hall now.
Angela Lyons (05:08.601)
cool.
Angela Lyons (05:13.563)
Mm-hmm. And so do you, can people sign up for this or do you specifically invite brands and companies to this or can, so anyone listening to podcast, could they contact you and go to the actual event or would it only be just for certain people?
Kemar Sisimayi (05:25.102)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes, definitely. So anyone that wanted to join, you could just go on our page, nova.com, connects with nova.com. You'll see BBTC, or if you see anything to do with the event, can contact us, or you, and then we'll just send you an event by link when it is live. And then yeah, you can get your free tickets. Not to worry.
Angela Lyons (05:30.874)
Mm-hmm.
Angela Lyons (05:45.788)
That is so cool. Thank you so much. So if everyone's listening, they can join and come along for that. Brilliant, brilliant. Brilliant, brilliant. So I was going to ask, what is it, what do you, when you say you need to create this live event, do you do that as well as your day-to-day client work? Because I know you mentioned you delegate. So I just find it really fascinating that you, again, don't take this the wrong way. You look very young and you built up this really big business so far. It just feels like you're doing quite a lot and
Kemar Sisimayi (05:50.923)
Yeah, 100%.
Kemar Sisimayi (06:09.25)
Okay.
Angela Lyons (06:14.471)
I just feel like how would you, I don't know if someone was starting out, just tell me a little bit more about your journey. I think that's what I'm trying to ask is what was your journey so far because you sound like you've created these great events, you've created a marketing agency, you've got like over, gosh, how many companies have you launched throughout your marketing agency to help them build their brand? It just seems like you are doing a lot. So I suppose I'm asking how did you start and like why and how you keep on going and you you seem so young, yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (06:40.086)
Right, yeah so okay. I get all the time. So right, so I've started this agency after I had a previous brand. It was a female jewelry online e-commerce brand called Elysian Embrace. I've now sold that company last year.
Angela Lyons (06:42.211)
It's good thing, it's not a good thing.
Angela Lyons (06:58.631)
Mm-hmm.
Kemar Sisimayi (07:05.577)
since even starting the jewelry brand, like I always knew I wanted to do something entrepreneurial. always loved selling. I always loved getting into it. And my observation of marketing as such, because marketing is literally like the base of your business. I observed different brands, so bigger brands. like, let's say Pandora, for instance, was one of our competitors and a lot of other different jewelry stores. even when it comes to your, like everyone else's brands, I always tell them, research your market.
see what other brands are doing and see what you could actually do to either add to the society or remove from it and then from there that's it people start to see that you're different if you are different people start to love your brand they start to get connectivity with you and yeah you just love it all around and i've always been a person to actually just always do what i like as a such yeah so
Angela Lyons (07:57.116)
I love that. So no one's holding you back, you just do what you want to do.
Kemar Sisimayi (08:01.806)
Exactly, exactly. I'd rather do what I like and enjoy rather than being something that I don't like and enjoy. So that's just what drives me, I believe. just building a company is just fun. We're always like, even us and the team, you'll think like we're all family. It's just nice. It's just nice to have a creative community. So I've always been a part of it. So yeah, I think that's my way of saying it.
Angela Lyons (08:25.905)
Yeah, and what made you, if don't mind me asking, what made you sell the jewelry company? If you, was you enjoying it? Did it come to a point where you enjoyed it or you weren't enjoying it or was it something else?
Kemar Sisimayi (08:30.487)
Right.
Kemar Sisimayi (08:35.37)
No, it's not even that. I loved the jewelry company, but that wasn't initially what I wanted to do. I've started that company as like a test project and I didn't expect it to go viral on TikTok and this other stuff. So, but what it's done with me, like I've got everything I wanted from it. So what it did for me was one, teach me patience, also teach me how to manage stress levels. Cause you know, at one point,
one of our videos got us like 200 orders within an hour and then now I'm having to find different suppliers for the jewelry one and then get the boxes made and on top of that contact people that are sending requests about where's their package and yeah it's just a lot so I think I use that as like a lesson for me for me sorry and yeah and then when I did come to terms of selling it I was almost like
I was sad, but I was also happy at the same time. Because then I said, all right, what I wanted to actually do is help people and help brands and different things. I'm even.
outside my apartment, we got Wembley Market and different brands and stuff are trading and I was always helping them build websites and filming and stuff like that. So when I did have the brand, said, I'm going to sell this and actually start helping more the community side of things and helping brands and stuff. I just enjoyed it. And it's different, especially when you're getting into different businesses as well, you know, experiencing different things like gyms that I work with and a mooboo and it's just amazing. So.
Angela Lyons (09:57.897)
I love that.
Kemar Sisimayi (10:11.02)
I found more passion into that and then that's what made me actually go for the group.
Angela Lyons (10:12.891)
Yeah, that's what I noticed actually. must have, as you said, everything start, all businesses start with, well, they have the base of marketing, but I noticed that you've got everything from tech startups to gyms to product-based businesses. like, is there any particular one that excites you or do you just like feel comfortable with all of them?
Kemar Sisimayi (10:27.831)
Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (10:34.062)
know to be honest I mean it used to get exciting when you're going into different fields but now that I've dibble and dabbled in every one it's a bit different now so I believe product-based businesses are like more of my go-to I would say I don't really have like a preferred one to be honest because everyone is just different experiences everyone's different people
think the side that I'm now involved in that is more fun now is absolutely bringing like different celebrities and influences into these type of brands. Yeah. Cause I think that's the fun part. Cause you get to just see how bright everyone is. Everyone's vibrant. Everyone's having fun. You know what saying? It's like, it's all fresh. And, even the young creators, we did another event, at one of my other clients is called London Eats. It's in Gravity Max, Wandsworth. And.
Angela Lyons (11:13.797)
Yeah, are they all fresh?
Kemar Sisimayi (11:26.99)
We did a creators event, a big creators event. There was over 150 people there. Free food, free games, et cetera. And the atmosphere is just amazing. Like, I just enjoy that. And people was all recording. Everyone's doing like little interviews. It's just fun. So, yeah.
Angela Lyons (11:36.145)
Yeah.
Angela Lyons (11:42.631)
Yeah, I suppose sharing everything online too, like just the buzz of it and just...
Kemar Sisimayi (11:48.456)
Exactly. So yeah, I think that's it really. I don't really have a niche.
Angela Lyons (11:52.028)
Yeah, cool, cool. Is there anyone? So I'm just asking off the side, but is there anyone famous that we might know that you're working with at the moment, like influencers or? Then again, I'm saying this like as a 52 year old lady that really doesn't look at TikTok or know what's created. I get it from my kids. I saw, what was it? I was at Adobe live event a couple of weeks ago and I saw, gosh, my kids are gonna laugh at me. I think it was one of the guys that helped create Sidemen or works with them. And there was another guy called Nico.
Kemar Sisimayi (11:56.832)
No, it's.
Kemar Sisimayi (12:00.846)
Kemar Sisimayi (12:05.202)
Okay.
Kemar Sisimayi (12:12.215)
Okay.
Angela Lyons (12:21.799)
Yeah, and I was just like, who? My kids were just laughing at me. So if you tell me some creators, I might know them, I might not. I'll ask my kids afterwards.
Kemar Sisimayi (12:22.643)
Nicholas Amelona, okay.
Kemar Sisimayi (12:32.677)
Okay so we have worked with Decide Men before, they do have a charity match coming up. Pagey Cakey is another one, we've got some even Jamaican artists like Byron Messiah, we had him come to one of our other events as well. Elephant Man, yeah yeah yeah yeah exactly so there's a couple there's a couple we worked with Central Sea before so yeah there's a few.
Angela Lyons (12:35.899)
Mm-hmm.
Angela Lyons (12:49.735)
I know that one. I know him. Yeah.
Cool. Yeah, nice, nice. And how do you promote yourself actually? How do you promote Nova as a business? Or is it word of mouth? How do people come to you or find you?
Kemar Sisimayi (13:08.47)
We're a bit different. So we've only been up for years. Actually, our first year birthday this April. But thank you. But I believe like, yeah, word of mouth is, I believe, our strongest. Our second strongest is just me going to different networking events and stuff like that, or different businesses. I would just go into different businesses or one of the team would. And then we'd just discuss what we do, et cetera.
Angela Lyons (13:18.599)
Congratulations!
Kemar Sisimayi (13:37.487)
but yeah, word of mouth is the first, I believe. And then networking is like the second strongest. Yeah.
Angela Lyons (13:40.036)
Mm-hmm.
Brilliant. Where did, just again, me being just interested, because I love the name of your company too, Nova, where did that come from and what sparked that?
Kemar Sisimayi (13:49.484)
Okay.
So funny enough, the agency used to be called something else before. used to be called Simple Socials, Simple by the E. And then the name didn't stick with me. So I was discussing, I was sitting there with my brother brainstorming different names. And I kept saying, reach for the stars, reach for the stars. I said, Nova's a star. And I looked outside and I was like, yeah, this is right. This is right. So.
Angela Lyons (14:19.515)
for it.
Kemar Sisimayi (14:21.262)
I wanted something that gives the brand a meaning, especially for the people that we have on the team and also the companies that we even involve ourselves with. So when I say reach for the stars, want to reach very high. So Nova came in and I love Nova. And then when I started looking at Nova stars and stuff, I saw that as different colors. So even with the color element, I just realized, OK.
Angela Lyons (14:35.217)
Yep.
Kemar Sisimayi (14:48.16)
Nova would be black and white, but then we can use different hints of colors for different things. And yeah, Nova stuck with me since. Yeah.
Angela Lyons (14:55.719)
Perfect, I love that. I think it's way, well, I'm glad you changed it from simple socials, because that also sounds like you might just be doing social media or something like that. then it didn't, yeah. So Nova kind of gives it more of a, I suppose it's the ambiguous name, but then people can dig deeper and find out a bit more about it. Yeah, I like that. Yeah, and it sounds, yeah, sounds good. I like that one. Perfect.
Kemar Sisimayi (15:04.587)
Exactly.
Kemar Sisimayi (15:12.236)
Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
Thank you.
Angela Lyons (15:19.193)
So when we start our businesses and we, well suppose you mentioned your mum already being the person that inspires you, is there anyone else along your journey that's been like a catalyst to say just do this now or go for it or I know you sound quite self, like a self-starter should I say, is there, but there is anyone else along the way that's been your catalyst connection?
Kemar Sisimayi (15:39.981)
I would say my dad, he has like pushed me to do different things, get creative. My brothers as well. He also helped me like have like a sense of drive I would say. Definitely. And then yeah, I think those are like the three main sisters. My granddad actually. My granddad, he's amazing. So I used to do accounting for him.
for his type of clients and stuff and there's quite a bit of stuff that I've done that you may not have known yet but yes I used to do accounting for my grandad and my grandad is like a bigger like he's an entrepreneur he's big on that but I've realized with the family that I have they never stopped me from actually doing what I want to do so like they always support it so like they always say if you need investments and different stuff like that they're always trying to drive me to actually do something
Angela Lyons (16:08.231)
Is there anything else you don't do? Gosh.
Kemar Sisimayi (16:35.91)
community-wise and also just working so yeah i believe those are like the top five in my list yeah yeah exactly exactly yes very yeah yeah
Angela Lyons (16:41.607)
Oh, that's amazing. I love that, so you kept it with the family. I love that. It sounds like family is very important to you.
supportive that's so cool that's so good to hear very good to hear what else because i don't ask let me just think sorry i'm gonna do a clap two secs
Kemar Sisimayi (16:58.669)
were.
Angela Lyons (17:05.425)
So in your own marketing, say that there, I think on your website, you say you want to make other people's businesses less frightening. Is there anything that's in your business that is frightening or anything that you're nervous about? Or do you get support with something you're not too sure about? do you just, it just, just, that just struck me when you said you want to make business less frightening, but obviously we're also in the business of making businesses. Is there anything that makes you nervous or frightened about anything?
Kemar Sisimayi (17:34.926)
In terms of business, well, there's a lot that frightens me. I think for every business, the frightening part is not having capital. I think that's the biggest thing for all business. Bottom line, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because you have to survive at the same time, also keep the business running, maintenance costs, all that other stuff, especially subscriptions, my God. Yeah, so.
Angela Lyons (17:45.467)
Bottom line. The bottom line.
Angela Lyons (17:57.896)
I suppose that's a lot isn't it? yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (18:03.79)
I believe the main thing right now is customer satisfaction. So I believe also all big businesses, you start to see that they're always asking for reviews or surveys and stuff. I believe customer satisfaction is one of the biggest things, especially in a service-based business.
I'm always asking our clients like is there anything that you would want us to improve on? Things that you want us to change things that you want us to do I think that's one of the main part because if you don't keep your customers etc happy or satisfied at least You start to see that they kind of fade away or Eventually have a decision to leave or something like that So I think that's our main part is just keeping them sustained and keeping them energized on their business because not all the time like your business will grow within a month or two, but just keeping you
motivated to actually keep on. So I believe that's one of our topest level of stress right now, frightening stuff. But yeah, I wouldn't say anything else.
Angela Lyons (19:00.507)
Yeah, yeah. It's interesting about you asking about reviews and testimonials. It's funny enough, because every time I finish a project, I always say I leave a link to my Google form or Google review page and just try and get testimonials. But sometimes, is there a tip where maybe you can give us or the listeners can give you can give them that if they haven't done it, do you bug them again to do it or do you like keep on at them or like how many times did you bug them to get this review done?
Kemar Sisimayi (19:26.356)
And I mean, you can bug them twice. I wouldn't go further. It's a bit of a tricky one for me as well. I get a bit shy. I would half send a message, then I wait an hour, I send it and I just throw away my phone. But yeah, just nudge them twice. Like there's no harm in it. Sometimes they do forget as well. So following up is also a good thing. But yeah, just say it.
Angela Lyons (19:29.281)
You
Angela Lyons (19:38.693)
You
Angela Lyons (19:42.886)
Yeah.
Angela Lyons (19:49.521)
Yeah. Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (19:51.906)
Hey, could you just do a quick five minute review or two minute review? That'll be okay with it.
Angela Lyons (19:56.104)
Yeah, yeah, it's funny actually because I'm you're right about because they might have forgotten or it's at the bottom of their email list, their email, you know, it's just like, you know, the unread email that's been there for last two weeks. So yeah, yeah, no, it's true. It's Yeah, go for it. Go for it. Yeah, I was gonna say for our ask me.
Kemar Sisimayi (20:02.029)
Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (20:06.07)
Yeah exactly exactly I've got question for you actually so
Angela Lyons (20:13.927)
Yeah, let's start again. if you got to say that again. But yeah, for out if you want to go question for me, I'm just going to do it again because my dog went I don't know if it picked up. Did you hear it? Two secs. So then you can say, got a question for you in one minute.
Kemar Sisimayi (20:20.076)
Yeah, I heard it. Yeah. That's worried.
Kemar Sisimayi (20:30.85)
Yeah, so I do have a question for you. What made you start this podcast, Creatives Like Us?
Angela Lyons (20:38.023)
good question. Thanks for asking. Yeah, because it's good to go back for the reason why I started it. I went to Central Saint Martins and one of the reasons I started product design, even though I graphic design now, but one of the things that I noticed was that I wasn't represented. This is like years ago. was only like there was about, gosh, about 50, 60 of us on the course and there was only about a handful of black people on there.
Kemar Sisimayi (20:47.703)
Okay.
Angela Lyons (21:03.397)
and I wanted to talk to creatives. This podcast started from a student actually, who I met at a party and she said to me, I was trying to find a podcast around black creatives and get me inspired to join a course at uni. And I was like, there must be a podcast out there like that. I said to her, but actually I'm thinking of starting one about black creatives. And she said, you should do it. Cause I definitely listen. So she was the one, even though I had the idea in my head, I really just thought, you know what, let me just do this. So just started it.
So I called it Creatives Like Us. I trademarked the name. I bought the website domain name too. And I've got it properly up on the RSS feeds and bus route and all of that. And I just thought, you know what? I've just got to get more black, brown voices out there because there's a lot of us out there, but a lot of us also hide away and don't want to be seen. And I think the creatives industry is quite...
Kemar Sisimayi (21:36.556)
Great.
Kemar Sisimayi (21:47.191)
Yeah.
Angela Lyons (21:58.372)
should I say? I can say quite white. So it'd be you know good to get more black creators out there.
Kemar Sisimayi (22:03.15)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's true, it's true, it's true. From my experience as well, like...
the field is very less saturated, I would say, with us black folks. And there's so much of us that's so creative, especially growing up in different areas and stuff like that. You just start to see that nowadays, especially Gen Z. There's just a lot of them. I believe there's hundreds and thousands of businesses opening nowadays and everyone's starting their own studios, podcast studios as well, film studios, different other creative stuff. So yeah, I would say to all of us black people,
Angela Lyons (22:24.38)
Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (22:37.658)
out there. Don't feel afraid to jump on calls like this and do different things and just put yourself out there. I always say social media is like now your biggest avenue as well to get yourself out there. So don't be scared to do it. We need more of you on the field and then hopefully you'll be seen by more of us.
Angela Lyons (22:54.375)
Yeah, perfect. is it. That is exactly Thank you for saying that. think that's brilliant. Absolutely. You know I'm going to use that as a sound bite. If that's okay. But no, it's true because like you said, especially, I don't know, maybe because I'm in London, we're both in London. So I suppose sometimes it doesn't bother us too much. But then there's also people I've been seeing online that are creators. And for the last few years, they've been getting loads of work, especially after...
Kemar Sisimayi (23:01.472)
Okay. Yeah, yeah, that's fine.
Kemar Sisimayi (23:11.885)
Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (23:21.4)
Right.
Angela Lyons (23:22.343)
2020 in George Floyd, they're getting loads of work and all of a sudden it's just, you know, the companies have pulled back their budgets or they're not using much MDI budgets anymore. And those creators are slowly but surely getting dropped or not getting promoted as much, which is like, you know, and I'm not saying it because they're black, but they're also very good, brilliant at what they do, but these companies not backing them anymore. And I feel that's quite sad because they're like, oh, we've done, we've done our bit now and let's move on.
Kemar Sisimayi (23:50.691)
Yeah.
Angela Lyons (23:51.836)
to something else. yeah, I just think that, yeah, more creatives, people of color need to show their work and just, yeah, come on podcasts like this or start your own podcasts. So I know my friend David Oku, he's got one called Hidden Layers, and he's a graphic designer, illustrator, and he is amazing. You know, his work is stunning, beautiful work. And I know that he started a podcast talking to black creatives and he do, he...
digs deeper into more of their, I suppose, the struggles that they've had and more of the, you know, the ups and downs of being a black, being a creative and being black. So I suppose I'm doing some of that in this podcast, which is, you know, hopefully getting to the right ear holes. But yeah, anyway, let's get back to you. If you don't mind, we can carry on talking, it's up to you.
Kemar Sisimayi (24:28.406)
Yeah. Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (24:36.896)
Yeah, making an impact.
Kemar Sisimayi (24:44.866)
Not too hard, not too hard.
Angela Lyons (24:47.899)
I know, I said I wouldn't take too much of your time. So, yeah, so thank you very much again for being on the podcast with me. I'm really enjoying our chat, so it's really cool.
Kemar Sisimayi (24:50.766)
That's fine.
Kemar Sisimayi (24:55.342)
Yeah, same. This is fun. Like, I think this is my first online podcast. Yeah, that's why when you messaged me, I was like, I was just so excited. I was like, yeah, I want to do this. Because I wanted to be more on feels like this. People don't really see me speak as much. So for you to actually do this and have me on here, it's like, it's amazing. It's amazing. Yeah.
Angela Lyons (25:00.345)
Serious?
Angela Lyons (25:17.369)
Yeah, brilliant, I'm so glad, I'm so glad, I'm so glad. And as I said, it's funny actually at the moment, I've got, so this is gonna be coming out, this is season three this episode, and I've got a few more people lined up, and I'm like, there's a load of ladies, and I'm not, there's nothing wrong with the women, because I'm here for the sisters, but it's like none of the men are coming forward or putting themselves forward, and I find that really interesting, it's the men not like to talk.
Kemar Sisimayi (25:27.586)
Okay.
Kemar Sisimayi (25:41.826)
I don't know what it is, I believe so. Like from my experience anyway, like we love to be like the shadow almost. We don't want to put ourselves out there. And even my assistant, she told me that I have to push myself out there, use my social media a bit more. I'm like, I don't want to, you know what mean? Like, I just want to be like the person that helps behind the scenes. But.
Angela Lyons (25:55.439)
Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (26:04.046)
Yeah, now it's time for me to actually push myself out there. as I said, again, for all men that is in the shadows and is like me, get yourself out there. It will work in the long run. And also it's just, it's just better to be transparent with your, with your customers as well. People want to see who the owner of your businesses and stuff like that. So I suggest to do it.
Angela Lyons (26:07.847)
100 %
Angela Lyons (26:19.42)
Yeah.
Angela Lyons (26:24.187)
Yeah, I 100 % agree because we all know that you are, your business is Nova and you've got your logo but you want to see the face behind the logo, you to see the person and you know see who you are. Yeah, brilliant, I was going to ask one more question. I've got a couple more questions if that's all right. You okay? Yeah, yeah, cool, cool, Spank holiday. What are you up to today anyway? What are you doing later? you doing anything?
Kemar Sisimayi (26:32.514)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (26:42.626)
Yeah, that's Take your time.
Kemar Sisimayi (26:50.35)
Let me check my calendar. I'm so bad. Like if I don't have my, if nothing's scheduled on my calendar, I will not remember. So I make sure everything's on here. Absolutely nothing. This is the only thing. Yeah, exactly. I feel like this is the best longest weekend that we've had for quite a long while.
Angela Lyons (26:53.511)
Are you chilling out or are working?
Angela Lyons (27:00.743)
You
Angela Lyons (27:04.945)
Cool, so you're gonna chill today. Cool.
Angela Lyons (27:11.857)
Has it been busy? You've been busy from run up to this weekend.
Kemar Sisimayi (27:14.926)
Yes, I think I'm just in constant meetings and then on top of that because I work with like different networks as well so some of my companies like for Ubox for instance which is a box and a strength gym we manage all of their different gyms around the country so sometimes we'll be in different locations oh it's just a lot but yeah this is like the best weekend I've had for a while it's like a nice holiday yeah
Angela Lyons (27:38.31)
That's so cool. Well, I'm glad we get to chat. It's a nice, comfortable chat and then you can, after this, come and relax and then just relax for the day and watch some, I don't know, crappy TV or Netflix. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I was going to ask, what is your own future projects? Because you say, again, looking at your own socials and your marketing, you say that it's novarious connecting and it's still evolving. So what would the, what does the next chapter for you and your agency look like?
Kemar Sisimayi (27:42.882)
You know?
Kemar Sisimayi (27:48.492)
Yeah, know, binge watch.
Kemar Sisimayi (28:09.622)
Right, so there's a couple things. So one of them is I've recently acquired a warehouse that I am going to be subleasing different rooms, different spaces for people to open whatever they want in there. They can have a photography and film studio. They can have even a nail shop. It's up to them. So that's one of the other thing that one's called Nova Studios. So, it's like a creator's hub almost.
And then the next one was what I mentioned at the start was the different studios that I have. So the film and photography studios, the podcast studios, and recording studios. I'm going to be having, so we've got two right now, but we're going to be having different ones around London. And so if, and that's going to be like, we don't know yet if it's going to be either subscription or you can just book as well. Or we might even have both options, but.
That's essentially going to be something that people would be able to access all around London. So if you're from East, you've got studios in East, West, studios in West. So that's just the next projects that I wanted to do. Yeah. Cause I've, I've gotten so many requests from people saying, do you have a podcast studio here? this one's a bit too far. Do you have one in South? Like there's just a lot of different stuff that people are requiring now, now that people are just starting to get more into business. So I feel like a creator's hub is going to be the next different thing. Next step is don't for no.
Angela Lyons (29:16.423)
Nice. Nice.
Angela Lyons (29:34.609)
I that, creative hub, Nova Creative Hub, I love that. That's so cool.
Kemar Sisimayi (29:35.492)
but yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So that's the next thing now, yeah.
Angela Lyons (29:42.609)
Brilliant, brilliant. So that's going to start off in London, then the UK, and then Europe, and then global,
Kemar Sisimayi (29:48.43)
100 % 100 % I was going to open because I'm half Zimbabwe half Jamaican so I was going to open one in Zimbabwe as well eventually that might happen this year if it all goes well but yeah that creators hub it's gonna just be like the hotspot and highlight for all creators I want to allow them to have access to everything that they would need in one location yeah
Angela Lyons (30:13.575)
Brilliant, brilliant. I love that. That's cool, because then that makes it easy accessible for other people. Because once you've got a hub like that, other people meet other people in different parts of that hub. Like you said, they might have the photography, the podcast, and then they can start working with each other. So you'd have this creative community going on there too. So that'd be really cool. Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (30:32.308)
Exactly. And I believe like, in my opinion, there is a lot of stuff to do as a creator in London, but there isn't enough places to go to do so, you know? And even the councils have seen this, like they're opening a creators corner in Camden, for instance, they've got a billion pounds to actually do that project. So they've already started to notice a lot more of us coming out now as creators, essentially.
Angela Lyons (30:59.495)
Mm.
Kemar Sisimayi (31:02.192)
So for us to capitalize on that, we should have more, you know what saying? You have to do it now one and two, just have more spaces for people that actually get involved in. Because some people live in different areas, right? They may want to do something, but they don't see other people doing it. So they won't be energized to do it themselves. Especially in the area that I grew up in, Northwest London and Wales.
Angela Lyons (31:05.543)
You've got to do it now.
Angela Lyons (31:19.367)
Mm-hmm.
Kemar Sisimayi (31:24.776)
there wasn't much of that being showed around so if there's more different things being shown around especially local in a local basis as well then people like the youth as well will get more energized to actually do different things yeah
Angela Lyons (31:36.648)
Mm-hmm. I totally agree with that. agree with that. 100%. Also, if they see, I know we're coming back to you and your personal brand and showing your face, but if they see you doing it too, I think they'll be even more so inspired. Like, I think you've got to get yourself behind this, not just Nova, the business. I think you, Kamar, have got to be the face of that. It sounds like when people will get inspired from you. Because you are an inspiring person with all the work, you know, the companies that you've set up and what you're doing now, you know, and the events. That is just...
Kemar Sisimayi (31:45.898)
exactly
Kemar Sisimayi (31:52.589)
Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (31:55.958)
Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (32:02.325)
Thanks.
Angela Lyons (32:05.635)
it's not easy to put an event on either so it's just if you yeah
Kemar Sisimayi (32:07.97)
You know, I understand. Yeah, thanks. I really appreciate that. Because there's a lot of things that we actually do behind the scenes. So I've opened something called Nova Foundations as well. So I do actually go to different schools around London and actually do little workshops and stuff. And right now I'm in conversations with Ofsted and even trying to bring a different curriculum in. So like there's a lot of different things. yes. But.
Angela Lyons (32:33.529)
you like just that's what that is like just flying coming that is amazing but this is that is another reason why i want to start this podcast i just like think that this is like golden nuggets where this is going to inspire next generations where you going into schools especially where you know
Kemar Sisimayi (32:43.01)
Yeah.
Angela Lyons (32:49.115)
they might not think that they can do something like this or they think or the other side of it is they just say, I just want to be a contact writer. And cool, if you want to be a contact writer, that's cool. But there's a lot of work that goes into that beforehand. And someone like you coming along to show them this, that is amazing.
Kemar Sisimayi (33:00.525)
Exactly.
Kemar Sisimayi (33:04.846)
Exactly and and that's why I'm even trying to build up my page a bit more when it comes to the content side because there's a lot of things that we do that we just don't show and I believe it should be shown not for the fact of any benefits from it essentially but it's just showing spreading love spreading positivity and also showing that there's something more than what we have now anyway and there's something more that's coming to what we have so
Angela Lyons (33:25.095)
Mm-hmm.
Kemar Sisimayi (33:29.132)
Yeah, even the school stuff is just fun and the kids love it. We're teaching them how to build websites, create their own businesses, teaching them even to have ideas in creating businesses, creating names and sometimes we'll even go have them in like different markets as well to go start trading. So it's the best side of things.
Angela Lyons (33:46.171)
What physical markets as in like a street market? that's amazing. What kind of products have they done so far?
Kemar Sisimayi (33:53.838)
So a lot of them are doing like basic stuff so like cookies or like bakery stuff or if it's like clothing different little things
Angela Lyons (33:57.945)
nice.
Angela Lyons (34:03.222)
I love that. Are they quite excited when they get to the stalls or are shy?
Kemar Sisimayi (34:07.704)
They're bit of both, like there's some of them that's energized, there's some of them that's like, I'm in the market. But yeah, you get mixed, you get mixed emotions, but they all love it at the end. like, once they even start to see that you can actually make money off doing your own thing or a business, they just, they just go crazy for it.
And then after that, you just see them bouncing different ideas. Now we don't even have to support them no more. They're saying, okay, I want to start this. I want to start that. They're going on camera, creating their own logos. Like it's just fun. So yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Angela Lyons (34:37.959)
brilliant that's fantastic that's fantastic do you want me asking about how old are you 20 you are 20 my gosh my god that's so cool that's so cool I'm just in awe of you just you know your energy and just you know just passion of just setting up business and and inspiring others it's amazing
Kemar Sisimayi (34:43.054)
20.
But yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (34:56.334)
Thank you.
Kemar Sisimayi (35:00.738)
Thank you. Thank you.
Angela Lyons (35:01.655)
I was going to say what would you tell your teenage self but you weren't found, that's what I normally end on the last question but you're so like, you're still a teenager. It was only a few years ago but what would you tell your teenage self if there is anything that, is there anything that you would tell your teenage self that you would maybe, I don't even know what the question would be to get you going quicker or is there anything that would have inspired you or something?
Kemar Sisimayi (35:25.378)
Kemar Sisimayi (35:28.962)
There's two things I would probably tell my teenager self. Do things for the right reason and do things because you love it.
Angela Lyons (35:37.07)
Mm-hmm. That's great.
Kemar Sisimayi (35:39.532)
Yeah, that's the thing too. Even though it's like just a couple years ago.
Angela Lyons (35:42.917)
yeah literally brilliant okay so i end the podcast by asking people it's a fun quick fire question it's one or the other so we say crisp or chocolates
Kemar Sisimayi (35:55.757)
Okay.
Kemar Sisimayi (35:59.566)
Chris.
Angela Lyons (36:00.945)
Beach or Forest?
Kemar Sisimayi (36:02.872)
speech.
Angela Lyons (36:03.985)
Book a Kindle.
Kemar Sisimayi (36:05.678)
Kindle.
Angela Lyons (36:06.938)
Reggae or something.
Kemar Sisimayi (36:08.769)
Reggae.
Angela Lyons (36:10.129)
Patty or a sandwich? What flavour?
Kemar Sisimayi (36:12.184)
Pazee.
Kemar Sisimayi (36:17.026)
that's the jig on beef.
Angela Lyons (36:19.271)
Okay, cool. No hesitations there, so thank you very much.
Kemar Sisimayi (36:22.408)
yeah. Not to worry. Not to worry.
Angela Lyons (36:26.577)
Brilliant. I've really enjoyed our chat. Is there anything else that you'd like to add to the podcast? Obviously, I'll ask you for your socials in a bit. Is there any other questions that you've got for me or you want to add anything in?
Kemar Sisimayi (36:36.936)
Yes, I wanted to know your insights on why you even started graphic designing. I believe that's something that's really creative and you have to really use your brain especially when it comes to creating different graphics, brand assets, different stuff like that. So what got you into graphic designing as such?
Angela Lyons (36:54.019)
Yeah, funny enough, actually, as said before, went to my modern centre of St Martin's, I studied product design. So I made a lot of my projects and projects were products, like furniture or design, something around electronical toys or something like that. It was it was all product based. But when I was actually doing the degree, I found out that I liked making things, but I preferred presenting them like visually and.
Kemar Sisimayi (36:59.032)
Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (37:03.915)
Okay.
Kemar Sisimayi (37:17.153)
Okay. Yeah.
Angela Lyons (37:20.519)
I of fell out of love with product design and also I couldn't really get a job with it afterwards. And one of my tutors said to me, you're really good at like making the work look good. Even though your work is good, you make it really good. It says something around graphic design. I was like, no, no, no, I let it go for ages. And then I got a job working in Habitat, covered maternity leave, funny enough, for receptionists. But in that department, there was a graphic designer there and he showed me what he was doing. And I was like, oh my God, this is actually really what I want to do. And I love doing it and I love creating.
Kemar Sisimayi (37:30.434)
You
Angela Lyons (37:50.236)
That was, gosh, so many years ago. And I just love, I love, love, love magazines. I love design. I love just creating. And again, around marketing designs, I love working with businesses and making them look good and making them just, yeah, especially startups. love like, especially if there's someone that's come up with their own business and they say, can I have a logo? I'm like, no, it's not just a logo. We have to do a bit more work around it. And coming up with something unique for them, that's what I love doing.
Kemar Sisimayi (38:13.612)
Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (38:19.52)
Mm-hmm. And what would you say is something that let's say even Nova could help support you in when it comes to even this or anything else graphic design wise or even creating wise? What do think we could help you with?
Angela Lyons (38:20.081)
Yeah, so yeah.
Angela Lyons (38:35.289)
What now with my business? Do you know what I'd really love is more of a and I'm actually trying to find somebody to help me at the moment, more of a social media presence. I do have one. I do have one and I'm starting it by the marketing wise. I think there's something around video that I'm missing a trick there. And I think it might be if there's something around that and promoting my business or promoting or helping small businesses, getting themselves out there and promoting.
Kemar Sisimayi (38:51.822)
Right.
Angela Lyons (39:03.333)
I suppose along the way helping them and promoting myself. But with video is one of those things where I always go, my God, who wants to do video? Who wants to see me? And then I put something on TikTok and then it goes mad. And I'm like, my God, I'm coming off, I'm coming off. So I suppose it's video and being more confident with that, I'd say. Yeah, I think that's my number one. Yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (39:14.636)
Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (39:21.292)
Yeah? Okay, so we'll support you on that then. We'll support you on that.
Angela Lyons (39:25.935)
What you... How'd mean? How is that?
Kemar Sisimayi (39:30.4)
As in we'll help you. We'll help you with the social media presence. Yeah, yeah, yeah. This is why I do it. This is why I do it. There's a couple people that we help as well, like mentors as well. So like, it's not really much to us. So, we wanna help you on that. Yeah, I love your mission. I love your mission. It's fun. So, it's great, yeah.
Angela Lyons (39:35.591)
Okay.
Angela Lyons (39:45.422)
Okay. brilliant. bless you. Thank you. Thank you. that's fantastic. That's fantastic. brilliant. Thank you so much. And if you know of anybody that would like, you think that would like, especially a man, a creative that would like to cover the podcast, I'd love to have them. I've got some, I've had, I've got, you and another guy, only two guys that have said yes. And for this season, for this season.
Kemar Sisimayi (40:11.042)
Wow. of... okay, okay, Right. Right, right.
Angela Lyons (40:13.883)
No, no, no, not the whole podcast, not the whole podcast for this season. So I've got, I've asked 10 people so far or 10 people who come forward. So yeah.
Kemar Sisimayi (40:20.928)
Okay.
Okay, I was getting scared for a second. said for the whole thing, there's a real message that we might have to send out.
Angela Lyons (40:27.361)
No, not the whole thing. No, no, no, no.
you're funny yeah yeah. brilliant. Okay so is it you know what you just said something to your mentor people and you didn't tell me about that. There's there's so much more I think we could just do part two.
Kemar Sisimayi (40:36.425)
Okay, great.
Kemar Sisimayi (40:45.249)
Yes.
Yeah part two there has to be a part two. Okay so the mentoring people so I mentor a couple people young and even older when it comes to like business we put them in like different instruction missions as well so we actually test them we like help them do pitches as well I believe that's one big thing that people struggle to do is sales and pitching.
So that's another thing that I teach people. And then we do like different calls. either weekly calls, sometimes I'll tell them to go to a client and meet me there. There's a lot of different things that we do involve in the mentoring. So yeah.
Angela Lyons (41:21.479)
that's great. That's great. Do people approach you for the mentoring or is it that you reach out to them?
Kemar Sisimayi (41:28.439)
both so some people do approach me, especially if you found me from somewhere if you met me somewhere
And then sometimes I see that there might be a gap in something that someone's doing and then I shout out to them and just say, look, I want to mentor you. There's a couple of things that I want to do. And then, yeah, they just, they just accept and then they get excited as well because now we're just getting them into different things. There's a lot of people that don't even know what they want to do. So what I do is I just have them in everything. And after like a month or two, we tell them, OK, so what is something that you really enjoy doing? And then they always end up telling me and then we just put them in that field.
So yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's fun. It's Appreciate it.
Angela Lyons (42:04.43)
I love that.
Yeah, you're an inspiration. You are a joy. Honestly, I love it. Your parents must be very proud of you. I'm sure they and your granddad and your brother, your family. Yeah. fantastic. no. Thank you. Come on. So tell people where they can find you online and how they can connect with you, please.
Kemar Sisimayi (42:16.448)
Yeah, yeah, no, definitely. Thank you as well.
Kemar Sisimayi (42:26.19)
So on Instagram and LinkedIn, can find me as kmaa-sysemai-dyke, which is Dyke. My company page in Instagram is nova-codex. NovaConnects. And the last place that you can probably find us is connectswithnova.com. That's our official page where you see everything from Nova, from our events, from our marketing, and different creative spaces that we have. Everything's on there. Yeah.
Angela Lyons (42:54.311)
Thank you so much. Yeah, and I'll put the all those links on your website and all those places they can connect with you in the show notes and that'd be amazing. Thank you so much, Kamar. And welcome to the Crips Like Us podcast family. So thank you so much and thank you for joining me today.
Kemar Sisimayi (43:00.439)
Yeah.
Thank you.
Kemar Sisimayi (43:09.377)
It's amazing.
Kemar Sisimayi (43:14.444)
Anytime, anytime, if you want me back, I will come back and we've got way more stories to tell.
Angela Lyons (43:17.607)
100 % I'll 100 % have you back. Take care. It's alright, brilliant. Thank you. Oh, don't cut off, don't cut off. Yeah, don't cut off. So I'm just gonna say thank you again and have a great day.
Kemar Sisimayi (43:22.656)
Okay, perfect perfect. I've enjoyed myself. Okay. Yeah, that's
Angela Lyons (43:33.093)
That's it. Let's do that again.
Kemar Sisimayi (43:34.208)
thank you.
Angela Lyons (43:42.44)
Thank you so much, Kamar. Have a great day and keep being creative like us and speak soon. Bye bye. Stay on the line. It's got to upload. brilliant.
Kemar Sisimayi (43:48.846)
Speak soon, bye bye.
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe with the podcast provider of your choice Spotify is the easiest - leave a message in the comments or leave us an Apple Review here. Thanks!
* This will contain an affiliate link. I will get some monies from it. I only promote the things I use and work well for me.
