Mission & Impact

 

What inspired the founding of The Kusp, and how has its mission evolved since inception?

 

"I actually stumbled into the creative industries. It started off with artist management, before I quickly realised there was a massive pool of talent from my community - South London - trying to get into spaces within film, television, fashion and more. So I wanted to create accessible spaces where talent could interact, and connect authentically with industry leaders and gatekeepers. Within those spaces, we wanted to make sure everyone felt seen; as being somewhat an introvert myself, I felt large scale networking events are good for building community, but tend to be ideal for more extroverted individuals.

 

Then “curated for introverts, accessible for extroverts” became our motto. Delivering masterclasses to begin with, and it’s evolved over time - expanding into mentorship, showcase events, talent sourcing and a membership for talent. And the reason behind our approach as a social enterprise was based on conversations I was having with talent; they struggled with access. Access to industry insights, to networks, to job opportunities. They were skilled but on the brink of that next step that could propel their career, and just needed a bit of support. Hence the name, The Kusp - spelt incorrectly of course. 

 

I would say the mission has remained the same, but the ambition has shifted from national to global. To build an inclusive ecosystem that empowers underserved talent from marginalised communities to thrive and access opportunities with no limits, across the creative industries locally, and globally."

 

 

 

 

Can you share a specific success story where The Kusp significantly impacted an underrepresented creative's career?

 

"Great question. Thankfully, there’s a lot, but one that comes to mind - and allowed us to feel that we were heading in the right direction - is in relation to one of “The KuspAlumni” , Renee Maria-Osubu.

 

She had joined the community through University of the Arts London and was doing fantastic work, telling important stories through her photography and documentaries! Again, with our experiences, we wanted to ensure that talent was truly seen by industry specialists. During one of workshops with award-winning production company, Somesuch, we had five spots available for upcoming directors to have their work reviewed by a producer, and she submitted her documentary, “Dear Philadelphia”. The Somesuch team loved it, provided feedback but also invited her in for a chat. Couple months later, she was signed as a director on their esteemed roster.

 

Great to see that by just merely creating these spaces and showing talent that they deserve a seat at the table, positive career shifts can happen!"

 

 

 

 

Community Engagement & Partnerships 

 

How does The Kusp identify and collaborate with industry partners to support its mission?

 

"It all depends on whether our missions are aligned. Have they done work in this space before to improve access for underserved groups, or would they like to and haven’t had the time or resources? Being impact-driven from an equitable stand-point can be seen as an afterthought, but when you realise the prioritising representation within creative teams can improve the industry - and your company - exponentially, then there’s ample opportunity to tap into. A report from Mckinsey showed that ethnically diverse teams are 39% more likely to outperform companies that aren’t; and in relation to retaining top talent, it’s also reported that 69% of Gen Z and millennials workers are likely to stay with a company if it is diverse.

 

For us, collaborating with industry partners allows them to connect with talent authentically, and build potential working relationships that last on multiple fronts."

 

What role do mentorship and networking play in your programs, and how are they structured?

 

"Mentorship and networking play a valuable role in our day-to-day operations at The Kusp. From warm introductions for our members to our growing industry, to our Informal Mentoring Scheme. We try to keep our approach flexible and not too rigid, as it gives more space for autonomy and adjustment in a way that works well for both mentors and mentees in our community."

 

 

"humility is easily demonstrated through collaboration."

 

 

Industry Trends & Challenges

 

From your perspective, what are the current barriers to entry for underrepresented groups in the creative media industries?

 

"If I were to pick one word, it would be visibility. That’s visibility of job opportunities which often is limited to closed groups or networks. Visibility of affordable and accessible training - the creative industry is evolving in more ways than one, so training is important but making it affordable is crucial. Not everyone has £1k - £3k sitting around to do a 2-week course that could change the trajectory of their career.

 

Lastly, I think more visibility of talent - in different disciplines - is needed. Sometimes just having a platform or an advocate of your work can do wonders for your work, and future opportunities as a creative. We’re doing what we can to address the above."

 

 

Organizational Culture & Growth

 

How does The Kusp foster a culture of inclusivity and support within its team and community?

 

"Very good question. Similar to the above answer, we listen. No point preaching a message that you don’t implement yourself. That’s one of the reasons we came up with our manifesto as a team, and have it as our source of truth. We want to actively be a company that cares, listens and works with purpose. 

 

There’s six points, but one that stands for me and relates quite nicely to this question is: “we all work to serve” each other in one way, shape or form."

 

 

 

 

Can you share any upcoming projects or initiatives that The Kusp is particularly excited about?

 

"Thankfully, there’s quite a few but the ones that are top of mind include our partnership with Somesuch - making it 5-years in a row. Delivering a director showcase, access to internship opportunities and we’re expanding our work to their LA offices.

 

Talking about expansion, we are growing our community across UK regions like Brighton, Manchester and more.

 

We have launched a new company, The Kusp Hub, an ecosystem for recruitment and education within the creative industry, focused primarily on diverse talent. It’s completely free for employers and talent to join.

 

We’re also half-way through our four-part event series with Black Dog Films. Focused on upskilling and connecting upcoming talent through masterclasses, feedback sessions and more."

 

 

 

"'we all work to serve' each other 

in one way, shape or form."