We help b2b SaaS marketers turn their video footage into leads | Founder at A2 Media | Ex-Shopify & Affirm.

Hi, I'm Ademola 🙋🏿‍♂️ a professional magician turned video marketer. 

I know, weird combo. But here's the thing: after 20+ years of performing magic, I realized something... 

The same principles that make an audience lean in during a trick are the the same ones that make a buyer trust a brand.

That's why I built A2 Media. I wanted to help as many brands as possible use video the way it should be used: to build trust, tell great stories, and connect with audiences. 

The added benefit of content done right is that it fills pipeline, and closes deals faster 😉

Here's what I've noticed over the years:

Most B2B brands don't lose to better products. They lose to better storytelling. Not because their product is weak, but because they haven't figured out how to earn trust through content.

How it works:

You probably don't need a fancier camera or an influencer to bring in views. But what you definitely need is clearer messaging and a deeper understanding of your buyer. So we start there. What do your buyers believe? What's holding them back? What needs to click before they'll ever talk to sales? Then we turn that into multiple videos that your prospects actually want to watch. Content that positions you as the obvious choice.

The results?
→ Your sales team stops explaining the same thing 100x because the content already did it
→ Your brand shows up in the feeds of people you actually want to close
→ Your pipeline fills with pre-educated prospects who already understand your value
→ Your content drives demos and closes deals - not just brand awareness

We don’t make content for likes. We build video systems that educate buyers, create demand, and do the heavy lifting before the sales call ever happens.

We partner best with B2B SaaS companies that have:
✅ $10M+ in annual recurring revenue
✅ A marketing and social team
✅ Camera-ready talent

A few things we’ve helped make happen:
→ Okta: Multiple video series → 20K subs + thousands of DevDay signups
→ Reveal: 4M+ organic impressions in new markets → acquisition shortly after
→ Nearbound: Cut sales time-to-close by 50% with targeted video series
→ Nice Commerce: 482% subscriber growth + multiple 5-figure deals from video
→ A2 Media: Tripled inbound leads with audience-first video edutainment

(Also trusted by teams at Chili Piper, Close, Runway, Warmly, OpenPhone, Treasury4, and Sendoso)

👉🏿 Let your content do the heavy lifting. Work with us: www.a2media.ca

📸 Ademola Adelakun, MBET

Yesterday, I was a loser and a fraud.

Today I hit 15,000 followers. 

When I was 5 years old, my dad asked me what I want to be when I grow up.

I paused for dramatic effect. 

The moment I entered this world, I knew what I wanted.

And in my heart, I knew I could have taken the easy road.

(Becoming a world leader, or the world’s first ethical billionaire.)

But I chose something more ambitious.

“Father, I say this knowing full well that it will be an arduous journey, but one day I hope to cross the threshold of 15,000 followers on the world’s sh*ttiest social media platform.”

(This is how I spoke back then. I was born in the UK)

My Dad looked at me, smiled and said:

“Son, you can be whatever you want to be.” 

(Less than a year later, my parents had Rotimi Adelakun. Apparently the traditional Nigerian meaning of his name is “backup retirement plan???”)

Today, I’ve achieved what I set out to do when I was 5 years old.

And it’s because all of you choose to continue to tune into my daily mental breakdowns and occasional video advice.

Thank you all for being here on this journey and helping me fulfill my lifelong dream.

Ademola Adelakun, MBET

Our Videos Kick Ass for SaaS. We make the videos. You close more deals. 550+ videos for teams like Shopify, Okta, and Chili Piper.

2025 recap:

- Met 4 elephants
- Worked way too much
- Made new best friends
- Travelled around SE Asia for months
- Celebrated 8 years of love with Maggie Arai  
- Made 0% progress on wedding planning
- Attended 10 weddings globally 
- Became more fluent in Japanese (悪くないね😌)
- Grew A2 Media from 4 people to 9 people
- A2 Media crossed its first $1M in revenue 
- Met some of my team in person in the Philippines

2026 goals:

- Get people to stop calling me “Ade”
- Convince more people that bidets aren’t gross
- Don’t text and drive (you’re lying if you say you don’t)
- Attend less weddings
- Convince Maggie to stay with me forever
- Make at least 6% progress on planning our wedding
- Make more travel VLOG’s
- Spend more time with family
- Finally accept that my brother is taller than me
- Know when to stop working
- Try therapy
- Find a cure for Maggie’s cat allergies
- Adopt a cat
- Play soccer weekly
- Get A2 Media to $2M in revenue
- Grow the A2 Media team to 10 people
- Work with more clients that we absolutely adore

2025 wasn’t perfect. But in a way, it kinda was. 

I expect 2026 to be perfectly imperfect too.

I owe so much of this journey to my friends, my community, and the people here on LinkedIn who’ve supported me along the way. My life wouldn’t be as fulfilling without all of you.

With love,
Ademola.

Our Videos Kick Ass for SaaS. We make the videos. You close more deals | Built for $10M+ Growth & Marketing teams. 550+ videos created for clients.

POV: You get laid off by your AI manager.

I’ve been dialing since I was in diapers.

Sales isn’t hard, you’re just lazy and stupid. Stop making excuses. 

You just have to block out all the noise and hustle.

I was on the phone 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

My meals? I cried, they appeared. No time wasted cooking.

Bathroom breaks? Nah, diapers. 

I couldn’t even TALK, but I 👏🏿 was 👏🏿 closing 👏🏿 deals.

So what the f*** is your excuse???

If your goal in 2026 is to sell more, here’s your motivation.

HANG THIS PICTURE UP ON YOUR WALL AND GET TO DIALING.

Our Videos Kick Ass for SaaS. Need content that converts? We make the videos. You close more deals. | Built for $10M+ Growth & Marketing teams. 550+ videos created for clients.

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“I mean, we’re basically rich now right?” 

It was 2018. I’d just started my new job at Shopify making $70,000/yr.

(For my American audience, that’s like $112.87 USD/yr with the current exchange rates)

I remember telling Maggie that I couldn’t believe that I’d made it already.

How we were about to live our dream life, and how at my age I’d already found the job to fund it. 

I mean look at these numbers: 

Rent: $500
Groceries: $500
Fun budget: $500

So what was I going to do with the remaining gajillion dollars I was making every month?

It was all so exciting! I had gone from an unhappy employee at my last company, to working at my dream company, and being paid a salary I was thrilled about.

There was just one big problem that I hadn’t realized yet.

And if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you’ve experienced this too. 

So I ask you…

What happened the last time you hit a big goal of yours? 

Something you dreamed about. Something you worked your ass off for.

You reach it and then… what?

Inner peace? Eternal fulfillment? A sense of calm that lasts for generations to come?

Pffft 😂

…Yeah so, this was my very first lesson in the fact that human beings cannot live without aspirations and goals. 

And the more we learn, the more we yearn. (That was a bar 🔥)

But the problem is, we often chase things at the expense of what matters most:

Our health. Time with loved ones. The things that make us, us.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with ambition.

Just don’t lose yourself going after shiny things for the wrong reasons.

Accomplishment feels amazing… but only for a moment.

I mean, when I joined Shopify, that high lasted two weeks, max.  

Then I was on to the next thing.

We all get caught up in the chase.

But most of the time, we’re chasing for approval, admiration, or validation from people who don’t really care about how we live our lives. 

It’s easier said than done but, choose your own happiness as much as you possibly can.

Dig deep and find what that thing is. 

I’m willing to bet that it’s not tied to the milestones you’re chasing right now.

But there’s still time to change that :).

Let joy and fulfillment guide you.

📌 P.S. To me 8 years ago: INVEST YOUR DISPOSABLE CASH IN BITCOIN, DON'T F*** THIS UP.

k, so I have to admit that this is WAY worse than I thought it would be 😭😭

Is anyone else a huge fan of Asana?

Well, we might be bigger fans than you. How big?

Big enough to make them a video they didn’t even ASK for.

(More like a content remix)

Most people just use their product. 

We stalked them. 

Then proceeded to fall into a rabbit hole of their content across platforms…

Then we blinked, blacked out, and woke up having made them a video?

Yeah, inspiration hit us pretty hard 😂

You see, Asana’s video content is already fantastic.

On top of that, their branding is incredible.

We just added a little bit of A2 Media magic on the visual storytelling side of things.	

As a former professional magician, one of my biggest obsessions is directing attention. 

AKA knowing exactly what we want our audience to pay attention to, and when. 

That’s the lens we brought to this piece, and I hope you enjoy it.

Oh and if you’re on the Asana team and you want to use this, DM me and I’ll send you the full file.

No strings attached. 

P.S. LoMo Phillips, you crushed it in this! The way you and the team show up on YouTube is awesome. Keep it up :). 

—-

📌 P.S. Want your team to have content like this? We help teams like Shopify, Okta, and Close, make content that drives viewers to action and closes deals. Let us do the heavy lifting for you 👉🏿 www.a2media.ca

P.P.S. We're not joking about stalking you. Please don't call the police 🚨

This week, many of you told me that "bald looks good on me."

Okay, try lying to me now.

That 12-minute video with less than 200 views? 

It helped close two six-figure deals.

Because it gave the right person exactly what they needed to buy. 

That’s the power of long-form video bb 😉.

It’s the best video format for shifting beliefs, building trust, and moving buyers to action.

For us at A2 Media, we’re betting on long-form.

Because when it’s done right, it outperforms short form in the money making department.

We’ve seen it firsthand:
→ 30-second shorts with 50K–100K views… zero leads in weeks.
→ A 7-minute video with 2,000 views 5 leads in days.

The more time that people spend with you, the more likely they are to trust you.

And the more they trust you, the more likely they are to buy from you. 

The same is the case for our clients. 

Thoughtful long-form in the right places outperform viral shorts every time.
But the truth is, you need a healthy mix of both video formats. 

Short form grabs attention.

Long form does the convincing.

This video covers how to find a healthy balance of both.

We cover: 
→ Why short-form is burning out your audience
→ Why long-form is finally making a comeback
→ How to do both without doubling your workload

The full video is out on YouTube now. 

Watch here: https://lnkd.in/gERPd_hD

If your videos feel like they should work, but don’t...

You’re probably missing one of these 6 LinkedIn video rules. 

(The video says 5 rules, but I forgot a major one haha. Whoops!)

I’ve been there, and I used to think that the problem was our video quality. 

So I did everything you’re “supposed” to do. 

Bought all the fancy gear, spent more time editing, and really leveled up our productions.

And guess what happened?

That’s right! We didn’t get more leads 😂

I don’t want you to waste years figuring this out like I did. 

So I’m here to reveal some easy tweaks that moved the needle for us. 

Namely:
→ 3 text tips to boost comprehension
→ 3 video tips to keep people watching
→ 1 bonus rule I forgot to say out loud

3 things you should have in the text part of your post: 

1️⃣ Ask a question: Most people don’t comment because they don’t know what to say. Help them!

2️⃣ Don’t spoil the whole thing: Share most of the value in your text post, but leave at least one insight as a reward for viewers who take the time to watch. 

3️⃣ Have a CTA: Doesn’t have to be salesy. Invite them to check out another post, watch another video, or save the video for later. Anything that moves them along the buyers journey.

3 things you should have in the video part of your post:

1️⃣ Always have captions: 80% of people scroll LinkedIn without sound. No captions = No view.

2️⃣ Grab attention fast: A great visual in the first 3 seconds leads to 58% higher watch times.

3️⃣ Add an in-video text title: Viewers should instantly know what they’ll get if they stick around.

There’s a ton more I could tell you, but these 6 things are enough to help you make a noticeable difference in the number of meaningful conversations you have. 

And conversations are where deals happen :).

What did I miss? 

(Let me know in the comments, I just might build my next post around it)

—---
📌 P.S. Don’t have the time (or team) to build a video system that drives pipeline? That’s exactly what we do at A2 Media. Check out "How We Make Our Clients Money" in my featured section 👉🏿 https://lnkd.in/gCVxEcBu

Me: "I don't think we're the right agency for you"

2 years later, we're still working with Okta/Auth0.

You never know where a conversation with no agenda is going to take you.

Now, I'm sure any salesperson reading this is thinking: "Why would you disqualify yourself?" 😂

But hear me out. I didn't even realize it was a sales call.

A couple nights before, one of my best friends reached out. 

She called because I was telling her about how I was stretching myself too thin recently.

"It might help to chat with someone who has gone through the same thing. Want me to connect you?"

I took the call. 

Little did I know my new friend Greg was about to turn my world upside down.

5 minutes in, we're laughing like old friends. 

Talking about all the hard stuff that goes into being THE video person.

Then he says: "Hey, I know this isn't why we're chatting, but we're actually looking for someone to help us out. What do you think about working with us?"

I was shocked.

Someone at this crazy huge company wants to work with US!?

Before I could think, the Canadian in me replied: "I don't know if we're the right people. I mean, we're going through a lot of the same problems, right?"

He laughed.

"Don't worry, I have a feeling you're the right person to do this with."

He was wrong. This is the worst partnership that has ever exis-

I'm kidding. It's been absolutely wonderful.

We've learned a ton from Greg, and we've brought our best work to him and the team.

All because he took a chance on me.

All because of a single call with great energy.

I have to be honest, I wouldn't have a functioning business without my network.

So take those calls. Meet those people. In whatever way suits you.

Sure, you’ll find that some people aren't for you. 

But you meet a lot of incredible people along the way.

Greg, I appreciate you more than you know. Thanks for being a friend, an incredible champion, and a teacher.

And to our day 1 editor Patricio Londaits (who is also in the photo) we wouldn't still have Greg and the team as clients without your vision, and your incredible work.

Let's make 2026 just as great as the last two years.

Guys... Where even is Fort Lauderdale?

Please be nice. I'm Canadian. Btw, you coming to this or what? 

It's called Above the Fold: 
→ 2 days in Ft. Lauderdale (wherever that is)
→ No talks. No slides.
→ 100% hands-on workshops.

We've got a ton of people that I love and respect coming to talk.

People like:
Tas Bober to teach us about landing pages.
Jess Cook to teach us about content strategy.
Eric Holland 💀 to teach us about interactive demos.

Oh, and none of it will be recorded. 

Meaning, if you miss it, you miss it. 

This is the last week to get tickets my friends. 

Come hang 😁: https://lnkd.in/gZKyHuzp

P.S. Sahil Patel thanks for inviting me to this awesome event! Means a lot :)

Last month, Maggie Arai kicked me out of the house.

This month, she's finally letting me hang out with her new friends. 

You see, Maggie is a brilliant entrepreneur.

And with that, comes a ton of incredible entrepreneurs that want to be part of her circle.

I wanted to hang out with them too.

But apparently, I needed to be VETTED!?

On a serious note, Maggie is leaning back into her gift of hosting events.

Historically, she’s connected thousands of people in Toronto through friend making events. 

Her events were so good that they were covered on Global News and the Toronto Star.

And now she’s doing something similar, but new. 

Have you heard of Founders Who Give A F*ck?

Probably. But if not, it’s a community of founders who well… give a f*ck ;). 

Founders who give a f*ck about other humans, about building values-led businesses, and who are just genuinely cool people.

So I guess what I’m saying is…

If you’re a founder in Toronto, do you wanna hang out with me or not?

More importantly, do you want to be in the room with other cool, likeminded people who are just like you, and hate traditional networking because it’s too transactional? 

Good. I’ll see you there.

February 5th: 7 - 10PM
Location: 10 Dean (Waverley), Toronto
Sign up here: https://shorturl.at/wdb4F

‼️ Tickets are already 50% sold out!

P.S. I’m actually gonna cry if this announcement actually ends up tanking ticket sales LOL.

Canadians waking up today realizing that Hell might actually have frozen over.

You can focus on going viral, or you can focus on making money.

For 99% of brands, you can’t do both at the same time.

I used to think going viral was the holy grail of marketing.

Looking back, that was because I wasn’t seeing the full picture.

A lot of B2B brands we praise for big reach still struggle to understand how it ties to revenue.

Yet, going viral remains the metric everyone seems to chase.

Some of the most successful brands we’ve come across are the ones that think differently about this.

They don’t focus on massive reach. They focus on getting in front of the right people, at the right time, and positioning themselves as the only option.

I have to be honest, it still catches me off guard to see low view counts tied to record revenue months, but that’s how strong the conditioning around “reach” still is for myself and many others.

I’ve seen this play out in my own content as well. When a post has broad, mass appeal, engagement usually goes up. There are more likes, more comments, more shares.

But very few inquiries come in.

When I create content specifically for my ideal customer, the opposite happens.

The reach is smaller, but the conversations are better.

Close rates go up.

We see the same thing with our clients. The videos that perform best from a revenue standpoint are rarely flashy. 

They go deeper into the problems a specific buyer is dealing with. They take time to explain context. They give the viewer space to build trust.

Longer content often performs better here, not because length is the goal, but because trust takes time.

If you’re planning your video content, here’s a simple way to think about it:
→ Write down every problem your ideal buyer has.
→ Create content that helps them move through those problems and change their beliefs.
→ Always point to other helpful content.
→ Make it easy for them to reach out.

Bonus: Don’t be afraid to ask for the sale sometimes. If you’ve given enough value, your viewers will not be offended.

(Personally, I like to do a 95% give, 5% ask ratio).

If you take anything away from this post, let it be this:

Going viral gets eyeballs.

Targeted content gets buyers.

Which is more important to you?

Is this AI, or is Dom Odoguardi really in Toronto right now?

CTAs don’t always belong at the end of your video.

And if that’s where yours live, you’re leaving money on the table.

(📌 Scroll to the comments for a guide for the best places to put your CTA. Then go thank Wistia).

I know what you’re thinking:
→ “I don’t want to be salesy.”
→ “ I just want to educate my customers and not pressure them.”

Well, same. 

I’m a huge believer in educating your audience and solving real problems.

But if you don’t give your viewers any direction after you’ve earned their attention, you’ve missed an opportunity to build trust with them.

This can be done in so many ways:

Encouraging people to watch another video, linking out to a helpful PDF or resource, or even just letting them know straight up that the solution they’re looking for is YOU.

(Just make sure if you’re pitching, it’s not painful to watch. SaaS can be so stiff sometimes lol)

The simple fact of the matter is, education without direction makes it excruciatingly difficult to convert your viewers.

All great content creators know this, which is why all of their videos are designed to take you further down the rabbit hole.

Eventually you consume enough of their content to go “wait a sec… I should work with these people!”

Yes. Yes you should.

That is what a well-designed video content strategy is all about. 

If you look at our website, every single video has a CTA in the first 5 seconds. Not at the end. 

And our conversion rate from viewer to action? 30%.

All from a seemingly harmless button that pops up and quietly encourages people to click if they want to learn more about what they’re watching.

If you don’t explicitly tell people what to do next, they move on.

Or worse, they’ll take all the lessons you’ve given them and buy from someone else who wasn’t afraid to ask.

Don’t waste the attention that you earned. Make sure you do something with it. 

Hot Tip: Use tools like Wistia, Tolstoy: AI Commerce Platform, or VideoAsk to place CTA’s throughout your content. Most people don’t know this, but you can also put CTA's known as "cards" on YouTube!

📌 Want to see CTA’s in action? Check out literally any video on our website: www.a2media.ca.

Me: "If I was invited to a game show, I'd definitely win."

Mom: "That's nice, honey."

Turns out my mom was right. 

Because I was on a game show recently, and I got absolutely decimated.

...I know I'm not supposed to spoil the ending but Sahil Patel made crushing me look easy on this episode of CRO crimes.

(Even though he was given 50% less time to make his decisions 😭)

For those of you that are new, CRO crimes is the best game show in B2B.

7 lightning rounds. 

Winner gets $100 for the charity of their choice.

But what are the rules, and how do we compete? 

You’ll have to watch to find out 😉

Just know that it was fun, stressful, and hilarious all at once.

And it showed me just how good Sahil is at what he does. 

Sahil, you haven't seen the last of me 😭

P.S. I cannot read Arabic. That's called lying. I'm a liar. 

P.P.S. That chef's knife that you got me is my favourite knife of all time. Thanks man :).

P.P.P.S Ollie Whitfield and Sydney Godfrey, thanks for being great game show hosts!

Do you suck at video? Me too. 

Here are 5 things I wish I knew when I started. 

1️⃣ Your first batch of videos will suck. A lot. Like, a lot, a lot.

You'll hate the sound of your voice, the way you look, and the idea of putting yourself out there. However, if you commit to it for a couple of months something magical will happen... One day you won’t suck 🤷🏿‍♂️

2️⃣ Batching your content is the only way to stay sane. 

Yes, there are creators out there that create net new content every day. Is it insanely hard? Yes. Do they have mental breakdowns every other day? Also yes. The easiest thing to do is stick to one focused day of filming every couple of weeks, and shoot a ton of content at once. Then go back later and chop it up into something useful.

📌 Ex. Record for an hour, cover 10 topics, turn it into 20 pieces of VALUABLE and ACTIONABLE content.

3️⃣ Nobody reeeally cares about your fancy equipment.

Yeah you look better, but your storytelling, delivery, and takeaways are probably still unclear. Stop buying equipment that you don't need to tell stories that people don't want to hear in 4k. A fancy camera won't make your content more interesting, just like an expensive pan won't make you a better cook.

4️⃣ BE YOURSELF, DAMN IT.

The reason the cliche “don’t meet your heroes” is a thing is because people tend to not be themselves online. It's much easier to show up as the person you are and create content authentically (I don’t care if it’s a buzzword, it’s important) than try to be someone you're not. There's nothing more disappointing than meeting people you look up to in real life and realizing that they're not who they said they were.

5️⃣ Listen to your audience.

The questions they ask, the comments they leave, the content they engage with most - it's all valuable data telling you exactly what to create next. Listen to them, and you’ll reduce the likelihood of creative blocks or lack of a clear direction. All you need to commit to is keeping your goals and your viewers’ interests aligned.

If I'd known these 5 things from day one, I would have:

→ Saved thousands of dollars on equipment.
→ Not wasted hundreds of hours trying to figure out what to create.
→ Not stressed over trying to be someone I wasn’t. 

The good news is, now I can teach others to not make the same mistakes.

Be patient, batch smartly, listen to your audience, and stay authentic. 

And for goodness sake, just use your phone. 

Good luck 🙋🏿‍♂️

Who's a creator you look up to? Tag them below.

--
📌 P.S. Want video content that actually builds pipeline without the learning curve? That's what we do. 👉🏿 www.a2media.ca

does anyone else keep getting spam calls on facetime from this guy?

Hey, I'm Maggie! ☺️

I'm obsessed with helping humans connect, make friends, and build community. Basically, all the things that add up to what I call Social Fitness! I use the term Social Fitness to emphasize that our social health is just as important as our physical and mental health, and we need to learn to prioritize it.

These days, I'm:
🔹Helping purpose-driven founders and community builders maximize their impact (and the profit that fuels that impact) through my community, Founders Who Give A F*ck.

🔹Helping adults make new friends through the Social Fitness Club newsletter, where I share information, resources, and updates on new and exciting initiatives to help people find community and make friends.

----

From 2022-2024, I ran Happier, a Toronto-based business that helped adults make new friends. Through Happier, I was featured on Global News and the Toronto Star, helped thousands of adults connect, built a community of 10,000, and cured my own loneliness by finally building the social life of my dreams. 

Happier was born because I know exactly what it feels like to be lonely. Through it, I also learned exactly what it means to build a true community, how to make new friends as an adult, and so many incredible lessons I could never have predicted when I first got started. My passion for connecting people and championing social fitness truly began with Happier, and remains a core part of everything that I do.

------

I hold a JD from the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law, and worked for 3+ years in AI Policy. I remain deeply interested in AI policy, particularly as it relates to how our societies, mental health, and social health will be impacted by AI.

Maggie Arai

My main goal in life is to be happy.

(I mean, that’s kind of everyone’s main goal, right?)

But it’s easy to forget that. Easy to get distracted by secondary goals we *think* will make us happy (but often don’t).

I got obsessed with positive psychology 6 years ago because I felt like something was missing.

I learned a LOT, but it turns out the main thing missing was people.

I’ve always had amazing people in my corner, but for most of my life, my social circle was way too small.

Getting out of my comfort zone, hosting my own events, and meeting literally thousands of people is what finally changed that.

I went from feeling so lonely and disconnected to having the kind of connection I couldn’t have even dreamed of.

So this is just a reminder that if you’re lonely, your people are out there.

You don’t need to change who you are.

All you need is the courage to put yourself out there and go talk to some strangers ☺️.

—-------

Hi, I’m Maggie 🥰! I’ve hosted 60+ events, connected 1000s of adults, and now I help Founders Who Give A F*ck find their people, and host incredible events that skyrocket their personal brand and fill their calendar with leads. 

If that sounds up your alley, come join me! My DMs are always open to connect with cool new people 📨.

I Help Founders Who Give A F*ck Find Their People ✨ | Meet likeminded founders, host profitable events, & get more leads | 1000s connected ☺️

The New Year can get toxic fast.

Planning for another year can be incredibly inspiring! But there’s so many messages this time of year, and not all of them are good.  

And there’s one piece of advice that’s at the top of my sh*t list.

“Disappear for X weeks and come back better!!”

“Time to go on silent mode.”

Basically, any advice that tells you to cut yourself off from other people in order to move forward.

Because time and time again, I’ve seen that the opposite is true.

We need connection to grow.

We need to meet other people (and lots of them!) to expand our worldview, find new ideas, and so much more.

Disappearing until you’ve transformed can feel really appealing.

It suggests you can accomplish anything by just blocking out distractions.

And I’m not saying that’s never true.

But the problem with this advice is it also gives you permission to lean into the part of you that’s scared to be seen until you’ve gotten everything right. 

It’s justification for trying to improve in a vacuum.

And that kind of improvement is SLOW. It’s painstaking.

For me, the year I stopped hiding from the world and went all-in on connection was the most transformative year of my life.

I pushed past my fear of being seen (and rejected), posted videos about loneliness that racked up tens of thousands of views, hosted dozens of in-person events, and met thousands of people. 

And that was the year I made changes beyond what I’d even known were possible.

I can genuinely say I’m a different person now in ways that my closest friends and family consistently comment on.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you.

We’re all on our own journeys.

But if I could make one 2026 resolution for every single person in the world, I’d choose connection.

Because what you can accomplish with others is head and shoulders above what you accomplish alone.

And, the journey is a lot more fun with amazing people by your side! 

---------

PS: If you're a founder who wants to connect more in 2026, my community Founders Who Give A F*ck might be a fit for you! We're soft launching this January with a group of founding members. If you'd like to be one of them, check us out and apply at fwgaf.com

Building community for Founders Who Give A F*ck

My word for 2026 is audacity.

That might resonate if you (like me) sometimes get too comfortable playing it safe.

There are two main ways to interpret audacity:
1️⃣ Being arrogant, disrespectful, and rude
2️⃣ Being bold, confident, and willing to take risks

I wasn’t born with audacity. Maybe you weren’t, either.

And when this quality doesn’t come naturally, it’s easy to talk yourself out of taking those 2nd category ‘bold risks’ by convincing yourself that they fall under the 1st category of being arrogant or disrespectful. 

That looks like:

👉 Not asking for the sale because you don’t want to seem pushy. 
👉 Not making new connections because you don’t want to bother anyone. 
👉 Not reaching out to people you admire because they’re farther along in their journey than you are, so why would they respond?

When you never ask, the answer is always no.

The only way to change that is to start asking. Start going after the things that feel bold, risky, and audacious to you. 

For a lot of people, reaching out and trying to build new connections can feel audacious.

(I know, because I remember when the thought of reaching out to a stranger or sending a cold email made my heart pound!)

But the risk of rejection is 10000% worth it for the payoff of amazing connections.

(I know, because building my own courage to connect completely changed my life). 

If you’re interested in building your connection skills this year, I’m hosting a free online training next Wednesday on how to make connection your business superpower in 2026!

Sign up to join us here: https://lnkd.in/dJ-w2DpV

It’s not more ethical to have low prices. 

It just makes you overworked and underpaid.

I had to learn this the hard way across multiple businesses. 

When you’re building an impact-driven business, coaching program, or other offering you care deeply about, it’s common to want everyone to access it.

But when you try to help everyone, you end up helping no one.

✨Fun bonus: you burn out in a massive way. 

(Subtweet @ myself). 

What you’re selling is valuable!

As a founder who gives a f*ck, you wouldn’t be selling it if you didn’t believe in its value. 

So charge what it’s worth. 

That’s what allows you to have a sustainable business, keep having the impact you want to make in the world, AND brings you the financial freedom to give back.

--------------

Want to connect with more values-led founders who give a f*ck about other humans and their impact on the world?

Come join us over at Founders Who Give A F*ck!

We're hosting events (online and in-person), retreats, and lots of other experiences through 2026 to help you get connected.

Join us here: fwgaf.com

I’ve hosted 60+ events and helped 1000s of adults make new friends.

Now, I’m focused on helping founders turn real connection into their competitive advantage.

Why?

Because building your dream business is infinitely easier when you’re well connected.

Because having the courage to connect will unlock opportunities for you that genuinely go beyond your wildest dreams.

And because I’m ready to see Founders Who Give A F*ck start winning big while staying true to their values. 

Here’s what that looks like:
🔹 Events, retreats, and other experiences for founders who are sick of traditional networking 
🔹 Connecting Founders Who Give A F*ck to support each other’s growth
🔹 And, 1:1 coaching for founders who want to build their courage to connect

I believe wholeheartedly in the power of connection to transform our lives at a personal, professional, and societal level.

It’s easier than you think to build a network without feeling fake, transactional, or like you’re not allowed to be yourself (aka, all the things you hate about traditional networking). 

If you’re curious about how you can turn genuine connection into your superpower in 2026, sign up for my free online training next Wednesday! 

Free registration here: https://lnkd.in/eDNPhtNQ

Anybody else's to do list feeling especially long??

The math of hours available - hours needed to complete tasks is not adding up this week 🥰 ✨

F*ck Networking.

Right? There’s a pretty good chance that you hate it too.

I avoided networking events for most of my life because:
😬 I never felt like I could be fully myself
👺 A lot of networking spaces felt suuuper judgmental 
(like people were constantly sizing you up for how smart/useful/successful they thought you were)
👽 Asking a non-work related Q had people looking at me like I had 9 heads

I didn’t see the value in going to events like that.

But when I came out of my shell and started meeting 1000s of new people and developing new relationships, my life COMPLETELY changed.

And eventually I had to admit that what I was technically doing every time I built a new relationship was… shudder… networking?!

Just NOT your grandpa’s type of networking.

Building relationships IS building a network. But it’s the version that allows you to actually connect with other people in a way that feels authentic to you. 

It’s the version that’s a whole lot more focused on giving than taking. 

ANDDD… it’s the version you’ll experience when you come to my FIRST in-person event of 2026 👀 😉

F*ck Networking: https://lnkd.in/e3hEAv4t

(Thank you Ademola for the name suggestion, which fits beautifully with my brand 🥰 )

This one’s happening in Toronto on February 5th, and is open to all founders, builders, and solopreneurs who care about building genuine connections, not just transactional relationships.

Grab your early bird ticket (honestly dirt cheap @ $20 + a free drink) before they sell out! https://lnkd.in/e3hEAv4t

------

PS, if you're not in Toronto but still want to make 2026 the year you build the genuine relationships that help your business thrive, come join us at fwgaf.com 🥰 

I'll be hosting lots of online and in-person events throughout the year, including an upcoming webinar on turning connection into your 2026 business superpower!

Filling a room with people ≠ a real event.

This should be obvious, but I’ve been to a loooot of events that… SUCK 🙁.

And the worst part is that it only takes a few SMALL, thoughtful changes to set the tone, dial up the energy, and create an experience people will rave about! 

Yet I keep ending up at events where:

🥴 There's 0 structure, organization, or activities
😅 Everyone’s pitching, bragging, or trying to escape the pitching & bragging
🏃‍♀️ The organizer isn’t even in the building (??)

And it doesn’t have to be like this!!

Terrible networking events happen because the traditional ‘rules’ of networking are wired into our brains. 

Just like we instinctively know not to have loud conversations or pull our phones out in a movie theatre, we 'know' that if we’re going to network we need to pull out the dress shirts, hide our personality, and try to seem impressive.

You can't even really blame people for being braggy, on edge, or stiff when they’re networking, because those are the rules they’ve been told to follow!

UNLESS you create an event that plays by different rules.

Anytime I’ve attended or hosted those kinds of events, I leave absolutely BUZZING with the energy of being in an incredible room with incredible people.

That’s why I created F*ck Networking. 

https://lnkd.in/e3hEAv4t
 
This event is for founders who are sick of traditional networking events where there’s no real structure, connection, or authenticity. 

I’ve hosted 60+ events that connected 1000s of people, so I know what it takes to build an event that actually brings people together (and, keeps them coming back).

And I’m bringing all of that experience to F*ck Networking.

We’re selling fast (early bird tickets are already SOLD OUT) so make sure you grab your ticket if you wanna join us! 🤗 

https://lnkd.in/e3hEAv4t

Finally, a founder event where you don’t have to pretend everything’s perfect.

F*ck Networking is 50% sold out!

Come join other Toronto founders to *actually* connect next Thursday, Feb 5th.

Your ticket includes a free welcome drink, so tbh it’s basically free to come hang with us and meet other cool founders 😉 

(I mean, what else are you gonna do in this weather anyways?? 🙃❄️)

I don’t know what I’m doing.

And this is my FOURTH business.

My very first post here on LinkedIn was about how scary it was to leap into entrepreneurship full time, and commit publicly to doing that.

It was terrifying to post, but it also really resonated with people.

But the longer I’m on here, the more I’m starting to notice that I actually feel pressure to NOT admit when things are scary, hard, or not going right.

Because how can I sell anything to founders if I admit I find entrepreneurship hard, too?

Here’s the thing: I know some stuff VERY WELL. 

Connection? Hosting kick*ss events? Finding your people? 

Yes. Call me. 

I am confident in my abilities in these areas.

But that doesn’t mean I know everything, or that I have all the answers. 

And I don’t want to feel like I shouldn’t say that, or become someone who only talks about my wins on here.

Entrepreneurship is hard. 

It can be messy, lonely, and make you question your sanity a bit 🙃 

That’s why I’m hosting events like F*ck Networking! 

It’s why I’m so focused on bringing together Founders Who Give A F*ck and helping you find your people.

Because those support networks are what make it EASIER. 

Even when everything feels like a mess.

Sign up here (Early Bird & Tier 2 are already sold out): 

wygo.world/f-networking

-----------

Hi, I’m Maggie. I help Founders Who Give A F*ck find their people, kick founder loneliness to the curb, and build warm leads by hosting kick*ass events ☺️.

You have a golden opportunity to make a change this New Year that's actually FUN.
AND, that will genuinely make you healthier and happier.

We all know being healthier is the most common New Year's Resolution.

But our versions of healthier are usually all about getting to the gym or meal-prepping. They miss another aspect of health that's just as important:

Social fitness.

Meeting new people, going to social events, saying hi to your neighbour...

These things are often seen as low priority.

We're living in a culture that has constantly treated social fitness as non-essential, and now we're seeing the consequences of that play out in a wide scale loneliness epidemic. 

I will talk about human connection, community, and the enormous importance of our social ties until I'm blue in the face. 

Because working on my social fitness completely changed my life.

I know what it's like to be lonely and disconnected, and I'm so grateful to the past version of me that decided to change that. 

You can change it too. 

If you only do one thing differently in 2026, make it connection.

You'll be blown away by where that takes you. 

https://lnkd.in/gCXBXG58

👉🏼 P.S. If this resonates with you but you don’t know where to start, please feel free to reach out!

I’m happy to point you in the direction of useful resources, hop on a call, or even work with you 1:1 if there’s a good fit. 

I’ve been where you are, I’m intimately familiar with how hard it is, and I’ve learned a LOT from years of work focused on connection and social fitness.

Open video: Why you should add social fitness to your list of goals this year on cbc.ca

Why you should add social fitness to your list of goals this year

Think about the worst event you’ve ever been to.

Like, the one that felt like a hostage situation bc of how much you wanted to leave.

What made it so bad??

What about the absolute BEST event that you still think about years later?

What things, big or small, did the hosts do that you loved?

To be clear I am NOT asking anyone to name names!! 🙃  

Just curious about everyone’s event experiences as someone who’s hosted 60+ and is looking to host more this year.

What stuck with you, no matter how small?

If you’re a founder who’s sick of fake, transactional networking events, this is for you. 

LAST CHANCE to join us for F*ck Networking this Thursday!

(https://lnkd.in/e3hEAv4t)

F*ck Networking is a chance to sit and have small group conversations with other founders, builders, and creators who want to genuinely CONNECT.

Traditional founder networking has this weird culture I’ve never loved. 

People walk into those rooms and feel pressure to dress a certain way, brag about their revenue and accomplishments (because that’s what everyone else is doing), and it gets treated as a space to pitch, sell, and impress—NOT to form real relationships.

F*ck Networking is about flipping that on its head.

I’ve hosted 60+ events designed to help adults find community and build real relationships.

So I know how to create a culture of connection.

And that’s what you’ll get at this event!

No awkward small talk or feeling like everyone you meet is judging whether you’re ‘successful’ enough. 

Just a space to connect, have honest conversations about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, and build your support network with other founders who give a f*ck.

This is about developing the genuine relationships that help you get through the hard times, celebrate your wins, and open doors to incredible opportunities you never realized were possible.

So, yeah… F*ck Networking.

It’s time to actually connect, instead.

Just a few spots left: https://lnkd.in/e3hEAv4t

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📸 Ademola Adelakun, MBET

Maggie Arai

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The Battle

📸 Ademola Adelakun, MBET

Maggie Arai

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