WHEN aid worker Carla Speight got the chance to photograph Green Day performing, her friends in social housing barely believed her.
The 38-year-old was once a motivated teenager desperately trying to break into the media industry, but was “crushed” when a teacher told her to give up on her dreams.
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As a working-class girl from a small town in Manchester, working under the glare of the media spotlight “was just never an option,” says Carla.
Instead, teachers insisted that she get a “real job as an administrative assistant or in retail,” so she became a deaf-blind support worker.
But the mother of two couldn’t let go of the burning passion in her heart.
She knew she wanted to work in media in some way, so she continued to seek out freelance photography and PR assignments whenever the opportunity arose.
Twenty years later, what was once a side job for Carla is now her full-time job.
She runs her own PR and talent agency called Carla Speight & Co and recently launched the PR Mastery for Business Appwhose value has already been estimated at £2.4 million.
“This social housing girl went from working as a deafblind care worker and a single mother to turning her hobby into her dream job,” Carla tells Fabulous for our exclusive series Bossing It.
“It’s about creating your own moments at the right place and the right time.
“I always say that I shouldn’t do this job, that it’s a hobby that got out of hand.
“I was always interested in media, but I never had the opportunity to see it as a viable career when I was in school.”
Carla started photographing music and comedy gigs in exchange for a ticket, getting the gigs by sending speculative emails.
“If you don’t ask, you don’t get,” she says.
From that point on she came into contact with some of the biggest names in the music and comedy world.
Her work as a photographer gradually evolved into talent management and PR representation, which brought her more press coverage and more celebrity TV appearances.
Carla’s top five business tips
- Hire an accountant
- Don’t be rude to people
- Create your own right place, right time
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help
- Always believe in yourself no matter what happens
Her A-list clients include Lionel Richie, Robbie Williams, Kaiser Chiefs, Take That and Lewis Capaldi.
She is particularly passionate about the comedy industry and has been hired by her self-proclaimed heroine Sarah Millican, as well as Katherine Ryan, Jason Manford and Joel Dommett.
“When I look back on my career, I have to take a moment to really believe that all those things happened,” she says.
“I have been to many places and have worked incredibly hard to get where I am today.
What I’ve achieved is a far cry from what I thought I would achieve, and I’m proud to have proven that teacher wrong.
Carla Speight
“What I have achieved is a far cry from what I thought I would achieve. I am proud that I have proven the teacher wrong.
“I will always be grateful to everyone who opened doors for me and recommended me in the early days of my career.
“I now pass that on and support as many people as possible as they did for me.”
‘Pay it forward’ is the starting point of the new app by serial entrepreneur Carla.
What do PR agents do?
PR agents manage and enhance the image of their clients, whether it is a celebrity or a company.
They do this by building relationships with the media and ensuring that their work receives press coverage.
We do this by writing and distributing press releases, creating career opportunities and organizing events to increase visibility.
In addition, they engage in crisis management by developing communication plans and limiting negative publicity, especially when scandals occur.
PR agents ensure that all communications are consistent with their clients’ brand image and values, and monitor public perception to manage their reputation.
As a child, she worked weekends in her mother’s gift shop and realizes that small businesses are “the backbone of our economy.”
The PR Mastery For Business app is a toolkit that Carla specifically designed to help small business owners gain media attention and increase their visibility.
She was able to start designing the content for the app in 2020, without any investment, because everything was written based on her extensive experience and PR knowledge.
The app has new AI developments that will be launched in two months, which Carla hopes will see its value rise to a seven-figure sum.
This social housing girl went from working as a deafblind care worker and a single mother to turning her hobby into her dream job
Carla Speight
“I’ve done all this with two kids,” adds the mother of Ben, 17, and Max, 13.
“That’s what I do it for, they are my greatest motivation.
“I look at both boys and think back to my circumstances. As a single mother, there are so many stereotypes that they can fall into.
“And they don’t just fall for it, because they look at me and think, ‘Well, she’s managed to create something wild for herself and she calls it work. ‘
“I hate to be such a sentimental person, but you know how it goes.
“You can be whatever you want.”
