Prepping for the Real World

🟣 A self-development guidebook about bravely taking the lead role in designing your extraordinary world.  A powerful tool for young readers who are enduring periods of self-doubt, stagnation or rejection.

Author of Prepping for the Real World : Student and Graduate Success Secrets 

Young, Brilliant & Ready Ltd

Director and Founder

Royal Holloway, University of London

Senior Visiting Lecturer

TED Conferences

🟣 You Have Everything It Takes To Be Your Best | Cel Amade | TEDxSIMSREE (August 2021)

🟣 How To Deal With Rejection And Get What You Want | Cel Amade | TEDxSurreyUniversity (May 2022)

TEDx Speaker

University of Warwick

Warwick Enterprise

TSAKA Limited

Fairplay Consulting

Management Consultant

41% of graduates don’t feel confident entering the workplace, speaking to seniors and are anxious around their ability to achieve their aspirations. I am passionate about changing this because I believe everyone should feel confident, inspired, and empowered to innovate and reach their full potential.

In the past 24 months, I’ve delivered keynotes and presentations in 7 countries. I’ve also published a best-selling book, rocked the TEDx stage (twice!) and grown my YouTube channel to over 14,000 subscribers. All of which I use to empower young people with the personal development tools they need to step into the world of work or business with confidence.
 
As a result of working with me students, graduates & young professionals:
✅ Feel more driven to take proactive steps towards their academic, career & business goals
✅ Have improved self-esteem to show up authentically & feel less isolated
✅ Develop more self-awareness to disempower limiting beliefs and doubts
✅ Create wellbeing habits for personal fulfilment and happiness
✅ Overcome their public speaking fears and use their voice to communicate with impact
✅ Feel more confident in their ability to create their future, regardless of their background, race and gender

I provide Confidence, Mindset & DEI :
🟣 Keynote Presentations
🟣 Group Workshops
🟣 Group Trainings

What My Clients Say:
🗣“The students visibly blossomed in Cel’s presence as she gently yet firmly encouraged them to ‘recognise their inner champions’ and offered them practical advice on ‘realising their potential and manifesting their goals”
 
🗣“Cel delivered the workshops with excellence. She also gave us what we didn’t even know we needed – a safe space to have uplifting and courageous conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion”
 
Bespoke packages are available on request, so please do send me a connection request and a DM.

And in case you’re curious, when I’m not empowering our future leaders, I can be found in the gym or walking in the park to compensate for my love of peri-peri chicken, and I’m often travelling or volunteering as the youngest Advisory Board member of the School of Business and Management at Royal Holloway University.
 
If you're not ready to work with me yet, don't worry! You can grab some of my tips & free resources:
🔗Free stuff: https://celamade.com/designing-your-own-world-guide/

And remember, if you ever wonder, am I welcome here? The answer is YES🙂

Cel Amade

Where are YOU reeeally from?

I speak my mother language like a foreigner. 

📚 I started learning Portuguese in 7th grade and rarely use it in professional contexts these days.

So when I visit my birth city (Maputo), I sound foreign.
My Portuguese accent is very, very far from perfect.

And when I'm in England, I don't sound local either.

💪🏾 What might sound like a disadvantage OR feel like not fitting in for some, is actually my unfair advantage.

🗣️ My foreign accent is a great conversation starter. 
People remember the 1 who sounded a little different...

🌍 Today is International Mother Language Day 

For anyone who grew up between languages, cultures, and places... There's no such thing as a perfect accent. 

Being able to communicate & connect is enough 🫶🏾

What's your mother language?


#InternationalMotherLanguageDay #Multilingual #Career #Communication

Cel Ileva

Speaker | Author | Interactive Workshop Facilitator | University Board Advisor | celamade.com

Have you ever found a job ad & felt like something was just a little…off?

In this video, I'll be sharing 5 things that a job advert might be hiding from you (and how to spot them).

According to a 2024 Robert Half Survey, 43% of managers feel pressure to hire quickly.

And that pressure can lead to “creative” job advertising.

📌 If you spot any of these 5 red flags make sure you:

1️⃣ Seek clarification in a non-confrontational manner. 

2️⃣ Frame your question as a request for more info. 

What other red flags would you add to this list?


#JobSearch #CareerStarters #LinkedInNewsUK #JobSearch #Hiring

I didn’t study tech. I studied people in crisis.

And it taught me 1 skill I’d tell any grad to master for long-term career success: adaptability.

Not go with the flow adaptability.

I mean the ability to read context and adjust how you respond, without losing your judgment.

🔎 Social work trained me to adapt by:
- Asking and assessing before reacting
- Reading the person in their environment
- Meeting people where they are (not where I am)

👣 Adaptability helped me:
- Communicate across cultures & generations
- Lead people with different working styles
- And navigate unwritten workplace rules

Nobody knows what jobs will look like in 10 years.
And the AI tools used today may be outdated in a year. 

So, don't stress about mastering one specific tool. 

📌 Stay relevant long-term by building adaptability:
- Experiment more (before it's required)
- Practice being a learner (on purpose)
- Read the room (before trying to prove a point)

If you had to pick one human skill for career starters in today’s workforce, what would it be, and why?


#EarlyCareers #SkillsOnTheRise #LinkedInNewsUK #FutureOfWork

Dick Dastardly had the fastest car.
Yet he never won a single race.

He was too busy setting traps for everyone else.

When I started writing my book in 2021, I shared early drafts with people who discouraged me from writing.

I believed in my work. So I asked published authors in my accountability group for help instead.

They read my drafts, gave me feedback & launch tips.
They weren't threatened by my progress. 
They were too busy running their own race.

→ In less than a year, I too became a published author.

If you're a career starter, you'll meet people who spend more energy watching your lane than running in theirs.

That's their race to lose.
Yours is to keep moving 🏎️

Have you ever worked with a Dick Dastardly? 


#EarlyCareers #CareerAdvice #FutureOfWork

School taught me 1 of my most valuable career lessons.

Back in primary school, I broke the school record for my age group and qualified for the inter school competition in 1999.

That year taught me 1 career lesson that equipped my younger self to navigate 150 job rejections & secure my 1st full-time job without an interview.

To this day, I still hold tightly to that lesson 🫶🏾

Knowing what you know now, what career lesson would you share with your 21-year old self?


#CareerAdvice #CareerStarter #LinkedInNewsUK #Mindset

⚡THE Business Growth Strategist for Vibrant Women Scaling a Business you LOVE! | Coaching Consultants, Coaches, Agency Owners & Creatives | Global Speaker | Super Connector & Sisterhood | Mum of 3 ⚡

You deserve a business where you work with your dream clients, earning the income you want to and enjoy the freedom you crave.

You're bloody brilliant at what you do, whether that be coaching, consulting or creating.  

BUT, you get stressed out with the sales & marketing side of things as you've never been shown how to attract, nurture & convert your dream clients in today's fast-paced and highly competitive world.  

If you worked in corporate for years, like me, there was always teams of people to do that & experts you could talk to solve problems, right?! 

Now, out in the wild west of entrepreneurship, you find yourself lonely and overwhelmed, not being able to prioritise the money-making activities that will help you to grow your much needed business and keep attracting those dreamy clients!  

This is where I come in my love (yes, I'm from the north of England and love a 'darling, sweetheart or love!').
  
I created this business as a movement to ignite vibrant women to grow a profitable business that does great, feels great, and IS great! 💜

I work with female business owners like you to grow your business and protect your sanity & energy as you achieve your wildest dreams! 

⚡Sisterhood is my jam so please come along to one of our free monthly super-connector sessions to ignite your network with fabulous women who will cheer you along every step of the way!  https://www.laurabrunton.com/networking.

⚡If you're already close or over the £10k months, you'll love working with me on a 121 basis. I help you to scale in a sustainable way, giving you back the time and energy that you're burning through and a clear and exciting strategy to implement

As a mum of three young children, I know all too well how all-consuming growing your business can be and how high the stakes are for you: failure is not an option, nor is spending 7 hours a day on LinkedIn & having coffee chats with people who just want to 'pick your (considerable) brains.'  

I'd love to show you the exact steps to magnetise your dream clients, confidently sell your fab services an feel like you are truly building something special.

High energy, hugs and the most incredible experiences are guaranteed when we join forces! 

Come and say hi in my DM’s! 💌

Laura Brunton

I know I’m supposed to be excited about International Women’s Day.

But if I’m honest… I struggle with it.

Because every year I see the same thing.

❌ Brands posting pink graphics.
❌ Companies hosting panels about “empowering women”.
❌ Leaders writing thoughtful LinkedIn posts about how much they support women.

And then on March 9th… it all quietly disappears again.

Supporting women isn’t something you switch on for a day.

It shows up in who you promote:

Who you pay well.
Who you introduce to opportunities.
Who you recommend for the big stages.
Who you back when they’re not in the room.

The women I admire most aren’t waiting for International Women’s Day to champion each other.

They’re doing it every week (in fact on the daily and not just for white, straight cis women): 

✔️ Referring work.
✔️ Making introductions.
✔️ Opening doors.
✔️ Putting other women on stages.
✔️ Celebrating loudly when women win.

That’s the energy I care about.

And if we did more of that all year round…

We probably wouldn’t need a special day. 

Anyone else? 🙄

THE Award Winning National Business Coach for Vibrant Women Scaling a Business you LOVE | For Coaches, Consultants, Agency Owners & Creatives | Global Speaker | Super Connector Community Founder⚡

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Can you give her a big cheer?! 👏🏼 

In our time together Meg has: 

✔️ Doubled her revenue
✔️ Grown her team
✔️ Executed 5 sell out launches 
✔️ Supported a wide range of clients
✔️ Prioritised her mental health & joy
✔️ Created her first event that she's hosting 

She is the kind, clever, hilarious and cares so deeply about the success of her clients.

I am loving every minute of working with you darling Meg.

If you'd quite like similar growth to Meg, let's talk about 1:1 coaching with me in our fabulous Vibrant programme. 

DM me Vibrant and let's talk 🫶

You work with incredible clients.

The money comes to you.

People see you as successful and yet…

You know you’ve outgrown the version you built.

Not because it’s broken, because you’ve expanded.

🤍 The conversations you want to be having are bigger.

🤍 The standards you want to hold are higher.

🤍 The way you want to lead feels different.

Most try to solve it by adding more.

Another offer, strategy or launch... 

But the next level rarely comes from adding. It comes from refining.

Building a business that actually matches the leader you’ve become.

That’s exactly why VIBRANT exists.

This is our premium 1:1 coaching experience for high-achieving women who are ready to grow without losing themselves.

You don’t need more noise.

You need clarity, perspective and high challenge with high support.

So, if that voice is asking, “Is this it?”

🤍 Now is the time my friend.

To explore working together: DM me VIBRANT.

Let’s explore whether you’re stepping into your next chapter or staying comfortable.

Because you are too PHENOMENAL to stay within this identity lag for long.

✔️ Looking smug as I just got my hair done

❌ In agony as I have a tooth infection

🙄 Nothing inspirational to share today my friend.

BUT...

You have my love & high energy heading your way as always! 

What we up to this weekend? ⬇️

We have people viewing our house this afternoon... will have to update you on this more next week 😮 

2026 is proving MEGA already!

"Eww - She's so Unpalatable?"

Get used to it 💋 

This book is going to take the world by storm.

So many wise words and accounts from strong, bold, bright women.

We were all incredibly moved by such poetic, activating words and SPIRIT 💪🏼 

Now more than ever is important for us all to speak our truth, to stand up for the fullest versions of ourself. 

Congrats to you Sophie Jane Lee and all involved.

Loved every minute of seeing such vibrant and powerful women in these rooms! Please shout if you were there ⬇️

🎶 (SOUND ON FOR DRAMATIC EFFECT)!

Tamu T. Yinka Ewuola Marnie Nash Samantha Harman Janine Coombes Charelle Griffith Chartered Marketer MCIM Samantha Murrell Beth Hocking Meg Hutson Nina de Sausmarez 💃 Yasmin Sampson - Da Rocha Wendy Gannon 📸 Lou The Grief Guide Hynes Sapna Pieroux Michelle Hartley FCIPD Jennie Blake and soooo many more!

There's no feeling like getting that 'I'm in!'

We've worked with 1000's of women over the last 5 years and we appreciate everyone single one of you.

As do our kids for helping their parents to do:

🫶School runs
🫶Dance lessons
🫶Football training 
🫶Story & bed times
🫶142 meals & snacks a day
🫶Clothe, heat, home & protect them

If you're looking for coaches who love & support you dearly and will never take you for granted...

You've come to the right place! 

Welcome in Helen 💜

Ps our eldest refused to participate as it was 'cringe.' 

He has a point to be fair but that won't stop me! 🙄 😂

“You can’t read the label when you’re inside the jar.”

And honestly… 

That might be one of the most accurate descriptions of running a business I’ve heard in a long time.

From the outside, Sophie Jane Lee business already looked brilliant.

✅ Nine years in business.
✅17 years working with major brands.
✅A thriving storytelling agency, Electric Peach.
✅Speaker. Author. Voice and visibility expert.

She wasn’t struggling.

But she had this growing pull to work more directly with founders.

✅Helping bold women find their voice.
✅Step onto stages.
✅Become known as leaders in their field.

The challenge wasn’t ability - it was clarity.

✅Too many ways to help people.
✅Too many ideas.
✅Too much energy going in too many directions.

So we stepped back and simplified things.

✅Two clear offers for founders.
✅Her mastermind, now fully booked 2 years running.
✅And her public speaking programme She’s Electric.

She said:

“I was doing really well in business… and now I’m doing even better.”

But the thing she said that meant the most to me was this.

"Laura - when you’re in someone’s corner… you’re in their corner. Ride or die."

And that’s exactly how I see it.

Because even the most experienced founders sometimes need someone outside the jar to help them see the label.

Sophie, you are extraordinary!

If you haven’t come across her work yet, go and follow her.

Her book Beyond Palatable is also phenomenal.

And if you’re a founder who already has a strong business but knows there’s another level waiting…

I'd love to talk

Just message me VIBRANT 💜

Sophie Lee Client Results for Business Coach Laura Brunton

Scaling a team, billion pound tenders + raising 2 kids is no joke.

Yet Ffion Jones did this and more.

In our time together she achieved this and added £90k of revenue to her growing business.

A dream client from start to finish, truly.

An action-taker, super reflective and takes radical ownership of her results.

Please join me in celebrating her 👏🏼 

And if you fancy a bit of this, DM me Vibrant

Ffion Jones - Founder Testimonial Laura Brunton

"Sometimes you just need someone to hold your hand as you walk your journey."

Incredible words from the formidable Madeline McQueen 

To have been your coach & confidant is a pleasure and honour.

As she quite really shares, EVERYONE needs support from someone as they're scaling. 

Whether they'll admit it or not.

If you'd like to grow with a coach who truly gets YOU, I'm right here.

DM me Vibrant and let's talk 

#businesscoachuk #femalefounder

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The Battle

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