Following your curiosity, with Mel Wiggins

Things We Talk About In This Episode:Multi-layered, multi-hyphenated careers and what to call yourself if you’re asked at a partyBeing led by curiosity, the value of deep-dive research, and the joy of starting something newMel’s early career in the not-for-profit charity sector, and the turning point she reached that led her to galvanise a group of volunteers and ultimately, to co-create Freedom Acts, a not-for-profit group aimed at ending modern slaveryHow pregnancy can be an impetus for both creativity and personal rebellionDoing something new, how to “be a learner at every stage,” and how to get things done despite feeling totally unqualifiedPivoting careers, self-doubt and self-worth wobbles when it comes to moving from charitable work to for-profit work, the desire to “do good,” and the realisation that roles, and work, can be “both-and” rather than “either-or”Finding your ‘ideal community’ on Instagram, and building space to make that community part of your offline lifeStarting an “accidental business”Allowing your values to drive your business, or the work you do in the worldThe inner work that goes into making peace with charging for your services, skills and timeThat women need to have more stakes and autonomy in economics, finance and making money… and that we are to be trustedNavigating the world of online influenceThe concept of being influential as an improvement (what it means to be “improvingly influential”)Mel’s research into what people consistently find “influential” in both social and personal contexts (three core pillars of intuition, integrity, and impact)The value of finding and maintaining our own personal boundaries when sharing onlineThe very human desire to “be seen” - and giving ourselves permission to admit this and pursue itLinks mentioned in this episode:Mel’s websiteMel’s business, AssemblyMel on Instagram, @melwigginsFreedom ActsSara’s podcast episode “Using Instagram for Charity Fundraising, with Creating for Good”Sara’s story in Stylist magazine: “How becoming the breadwinner changed my relationship with my husband”Tara Mohr (coach and author) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meandorla.substack.com