Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Nora and I am currently based in East London. I was born in Italy to Moroccan parents, and I lived there until 2018. When I turned 18, I decided to move to London on my own to pursue my studies and career aspirations.
I like to describe myself as a ‘multidisciplinary creative’. Since childhood, I have been passionate about various creative disciplines, from film, animation, and fine art, to music and dance. In the Autumn of 2021, I graduated from UCL where I studied Arts and Sciences – an interdisciplinary degree which enabled me to explore my interests academically and dive into a wide range of subjects. The curriculum covered anthropology, documentary filmmaking, psychology, radio, African studies, and cultural studies.
I am now working on upskilling and merging my passions into a stable profession. I have a solid background in audio and podcasting, and my last job was at Sony Music Entertainment, where I worked as an assistant producer in their podcasting and radio division. I am also an up-and-coming DJ and I have played live at events and on radios like Foundation FM and Westside.
What motivated you to apply for Creativity Works: Podcasting?
After graduating during the COVID-19 lockdown, one of the strangest times in modern history, I felt very drained and insecure about how the future would look. I needed something to help me feel inspired again and revive my creative juices.
One day, I stumbled upon A New Direction’s Creativity Works: Podcasting 2022 programme and I was very quick to apply. Taking a documentary radio module at university tickled my curiosity about the world of audio, so seeing the podcasting course advertised was a sign for me to explore this further. Everything about the course looked very appealing, and I saw it as an opportunity to develop some new skills, connect with like-minded creatives and potentially discover new things about myself and what career path I may want to commit to.
How has taking part in the programme helped you with your career plans?
Taking part in Creativity Works: Podcasting supported me immensely with my career. Firstly, the diverse nature of the sessions allowed me to develop a combination of soft and technical skills. Throughout the month-long course, I honed essential skills such as networking, public speaking, accountability, time management, and effective communication. Moreover, I improved my editing skills using audio editing software, and I learned how to set up a mic and record my very own podcast episode.
Secondly, the course had amazing links to the professional world. The team at A New Direction shared with us exclusive and exciting job opportunities regularly, so we could put the skills we learned into practice.
After the course, I was able to land a job as an assistant producer at Sony Music Entertainment, working closely with the narrative podcasts team. This job consisted of a range of creative and admin tasks that required some of the skills I developed during my time at Creativity Works such as: editing audio, brainstorming ideas for podcasts, interviewing and communication skills. The role gave me the chance to grow both professionally and personally, adding valuable experience to my CV.
Finally, the mentorship scheme following the programme greatly helped me with identifying short-term career goals and gaining shadowing experience in radio and podcasting. At the time my focus was to further my experience in the field and expand my network; so my mentor Antonia was very quick to have me shadow her at work. She welcomed me to the set of Spotify’s Nailing It podcast which she was producing, and the BBC 1xtra series Young Fire, Old Flame.
It was my first time witnessing the recording of shows for radio and podcast, so I enjoyed being there and learning about the different stages of audio production from a producer’s perspective.
If someone asked you why they should sign up for this opportunity, what would you tell them?
I would say: don’t be afraid, don’t hesitate and get your application in! There’s really nothing to lose in giving Creativity Works a try, and there’s so much to learn and benefit from.
It’s an incredible and accessible programme for young people and the more you give to it, the more you will be able to take away from it.
Additionally, the team at A New Direction is lovely and everyone is there to support you, guide you, and help you make the most out of any opportunity.