Stokely Howard, Co-Founder and Creative Director of video production company Trendy Grandad, shares his reflections on Norwich’s cross-course collaboration week.
Twice a year, Interchange Week at Norwich University of the Arts offers a unique opportunity for cross-course collaboration, as students take part in hands-on workshops that spark new ways of thinking and creating beyond their usual practice.
Reflecting on the workshop he ran for students, Stokely shares his experience with Norwich students, his advice for turning passion into a business, and why opportunities like Interchange Week can ignite creative careers both within and beyond the industry.
In Conversation
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About Stokley
I’m Stokely Howard, co-founder and creative director of Trendy Grandad, a London-based video production company specialising in YouTube and social-first content. At Trendy Grandad, we work with brands and YouTubers to provide regular, engaging social media and YouTube videos that help build authentic connections with their audiences.
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Tell us about the Interchange session you ran and what it was like working with Norwich University students?
The session focused on helping students understand how to market themselves effectively in the creative industry, which can be tough to break into. Working with the students was a really rewarding experience; their energy, creativity and eagerness to learn made the workshop both enjoyable and dynamic.
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What was the main goal of your workshop? What key takeaways did you hope students would walk away with?
The main goal of my workshop was to help students understand the importance of marketing and positioning themselves in the creative industry. It’s a competitive field, so knowing exactly what product or service you’re offering and who your target audience is, is crucial. I wanted students to leave with a clear sense of how to position themselves and their work in order to stand out and succeed.
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What advice would you give to students who are thinking about turning their passion into a business?
Be confident in what you offer and who you want to help, but also don’t resist changing direction when needed. Amazon began as an online bookstore … look at them now. A successful business has to be willing to mould and adapt to the market.
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How did you find participating in Interchange, and why are opportunities like this valuable for students’?
Participating in Interchange was a fantastic experience. Workshops like these are so valuable because they help bridge the gap between education and the realities of working in creative or other industries. They give students insight into what careers are out there and the chance to develop their ideas or career goals.
It can be difficult to know where to start sometimes, but I hope that hearing my story and learning about my experiences can help inspire ideas for their own careers. I look forward to seeing the amazing things the students go on to create.
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