Tell us your name and a little about yourself.
My name is Kieron Johnson. I’m a content producer and the owner of a creative content consultancy called Regal Content (www.regalcontent.co.uk).
I also contribute interview-based feature articles to media outlets like Forbes, Fortune and Business Insider, so I’m normally the one asking the questions!
What exactly does your company do?
Regal Content creates branded content (e.g. blogs, guides, newsletters, etc.) to engage, educate, entertain and, ultimately, convert browsers into buyers.
We have a popular footwear/apparel brand and a well-known multinational venture capital conglomerate on our client roster, but we’re always on the lookout for additional content partnerships with emerging and established brands.
What were the biggest challenges you have faced and how did you overcome them?
Your business may well offer excellent service – even the “crème de la crème” – but, if nobody knows it exists, your balance sheet will inevitably show losses, not profits.
So, our biggest challenge at Regal Content was to increase our visibility by getting the word out there about our business and the value we can add to brands, regardless of their size. Networking on LinkedIn not only helped us to rise to the challenge but throw down the gauntlet to our competitors, too!
What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you at the start of your career?
Don’t let other people’s hopes, dreams or expectations stop you from changing direction. As the saying goes, “You are the captain of your own ship. Don’t let anyone else take the wheel.”
Who are your biggest influences and people you admire and why?
In terms of interviewing VIPs (which is an important part of our content creation strategy at Regal Content), one of my biggest influences is the British journalist, Sir Michael Parkinson. A combination of his working-class roots and his classic “no holds barred” interviews – with legends like the late Muhammad Ali – went some way towards motivating me to do what I do today.
Inspired by Parkinson, I recently landed an exclusive interview with another British icon I admire (who has also received a knighthood from the Queen) – Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group. Ever the consummate professional, Branson approached our interview with the same youthful energy and enthusiasm that he did when he burst onto the start-up scene 50 years ago. His entrepreneurial gifts aside, I respect Branson’s longevity, humanity, and generosity of spirit.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are?
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to two people – namely, my parents. Their humble, selfless and industrious example is one I’ve long admired. It taught me how to make something out of nothing.
What do you see as your greatest success in life?
So far, my greatest success in life has been daring to do what I love, love what I do (and get paid to do it).
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