Victoria Tollossa, MBA

Director of Marketing 

Illume

Founder & CEO

Mitchell Sandler LLC

Centre Law & Consulting, LLC.

Marketing Manager

First Edventures

Founder

IDL Entertainment Group

Co-Founder

Victoria Tollossa is a two-time founder, Grammy-nominated storyteller, and the creative force behind Illume — a personal branding agency helping executives and mission-driven entrepreneurs amplify their influence and visibility.

Blending business acumen and brand strategy, Victoria has helped clients secure funding from top firms, attract high-level talent, close multi-million-dollar deals, grow powerful social media platforms, earn industry awards, and land major speaking opportunities — not by chasing attention, but by owning their narrative.

Her work has been featured in Entrepreneur, Inc., Fortune, and Business Journals. She’s collaborated with both Fortune 500 brands and high-growth startups, including high-profile clients like Target, Ford, Seventh Generation and Bravo’s Real Housewives.

A trusted voice on storytelling, social media strategy, and the future of personal branding, Victoria is a frequent speaker, strategic advisor, and a fierce advocate for building businesses that reflect both purpose and power.

Victoria Tollossa

15: I recorded my first album.
16: Called Jive Records everyday for months (literally).
17: Got rejected by Jive Records.
18: Got into an Ivy League school, moved to NYC, heart of the music industry. 
19: Recorded more song, networked all over the city. The hustle was on.
20: Got rejected by everyone. Again.
21: I continued to practice, sing and dance... Every. Single. Day.
22: Met a big-time producer who gave me my first break.
24: Recorded more music, pitched all the record labels in NYC. This was gonna be it!
25: Got rejected by everyone — “We don’t get it, it’s just too different.”
26: Of course now I was now deemed “old” for the music industry, so I wrote for songs for others.
27: Moved to LA. Alone. 4+ writing sessions a week, grinding.
27: Launched an experiential marketing agency. A new lane.
28: Wrote a song that would later be nominated for a Grammy. Finally!
28: Also wrote 100+ songs that would never see the light of day. 
29: Got burnt out. Industry chewed me up and spit me out. Got out with low self esteem. Negative attitude. Totally jaded. 
29: Experiential marketing agency took off — 140+ team, huge clients.
30: Got pregnant and had my son.
31: Became a single mom. Everything changed.
32: Forced to exit the agency. 
33: Moved back east, lived with my mom. Did what’s best for my son.
34: Went back to school, got my MBA, moved out on my own.
35: Got a “real job” at a law firm.
36: Pandemic hit. Everything flipped again.
37: The struggle was real.
38: The struggle became even more real.
39: Quit corporate. Started a personal branding agency. A new chapter.
41: Scored a $10 million deal, sold the company and rode off into the sunset in my Maserati.

Ok… just kidding.
(About the last part, that is.)

We love to hear stories that resolve neatly at the end.
But real life doesn’t do that.

If you were hoping for a neat lesson, here it is:

The real win is NOT quitting.
It’s betting on yourself when the world says no.

So if you’re in the middle of your mess, your setback, your “I don’t know what’s next”…

Keep going.
The next chapter is still yours to write.

CEO @ Illume | Grammy-nominated Storyteller & Personal Branding Strategist for Executives

"Why do I need a personal brand? I'm not an influencer."
I hear this from execs all the time.

Ok fine, you're not trying to become TikTok famous.

But, I'm pretty sure you are trying to close deals faster, build credibility, and shorten the path to yes.

That’s exactly where a strong personal brand works in your favor.

A visible, authentic presence online creates familiarity.

Before a prospect ever meets you, they’ve already:

• seen your posts
• absorbed your insights
• connected with your story
• formed an opinion about who you are

So when you do get in the room, the heavy lifting is already done.
And the sales process accelerates.

Here’s how it shows up:

✅ Less time spent on introductions — your reputation gets there first
✅ Higher credibility — your content signals expertise
✅ Faster trust-building — people buy from people they feel they know
✅ Lower resistance — prospects are already warmed up
✅ Better-quality conversations — you’re treated like a peer, not a vendor
✅ Shorter sales cycles — recognized leaders get prioritized
✅ Stronger pricing power — trust increases perceived value

Personal branding is about leverage.

It reduces friction, increases trust, and drives revenue.

So if you’re a CEO, founder, or senior leader?

It’s time to step into the spotlight.
Share your insights.
Tell your story.
Build the connection before the first call.

Your bottom line will thank you.

As a Freelance Recruiter and Career & Relocation Advisor, I help professionals navigate career transitions, job searches, and relocations with confidence.

🔹 Career & Job Market Guidance
🔹 Talent Search & Recruitment
🔹 Relocation Strategy & Support 

For those considering a career move be it locally or internationally, I provide a strategic, personalised approach to landing the right opportunity in the right place.

Having successfully relocated multiple times in my life:

- as a child, 
- a teenager, 
- a young professional, 
- and as a family 

I understand the complexities of job changes and moves at different life stages.

A career transition should feel like an upgrade, an adventure, and an opportunity for growth. 

Not just another job change.

I help professionals turn uncertainty into excitement and create meaningful career paths that align with their goals.

Recruiter / Career & Relocation Advisor

Follow Your Heart

📖 About Follow Your Heart

We all grew up with stories.
Stories shape our decisions, inspire change, and give us courage to move forward.

Yet, when it comes to career changes and relocations, too many professionals feel lost, uncertain, or stuck.

That’s why I created Follow Your Heart (FYH) 
a space where professionals share their real stories of:

🔹 Why they took the leap
🔹 How they navigated career transitions & relocation
🔹 What they learned along the way

Because a job change or relocation isn’t just about work. 

It’s about:

✨ Finding the right opportunities in the right places
✨ Creating a life that feels aligned and fulfilling
✨ Overcoming fears and embracing new possibilities

Follow Your Heart is more than just a platform.
It’s a community of professionals who inspire and support each other in taking bold steps.

📖 Got a story to share?
🌍 Thinking about your next move?
🔗 Website coming soon: www.fyh.ch

Health Med. Wellness + Performance

I began my leadership journey at 25, an experience that stretched both my professional and personal capabilities. ​My approach has always been to give more than I take, to uplift and empower others, even when they lack belief in ​themselves. Leadership is a lifelong pursuit, filled with sacrifices and emotional challenges. 

Authentic leadership starts ​with oneself; mastering personal leadership paves the way to effectively leading others. I recommend the leadership ​assessment tool (EQ-LA), built on the foundations of self-awareness and continuous development, to aid in your ​leadership journey.

Learn more and take the assessment here: 
https://hmedwellness.com/meaningful-fun

Copy and paste the URL ☝️ into your browser to discover how you can enhance your leadership skills with our specialised EQ & leadership assessment tool.

EQ & Leadership Ambassador 

Nearly twenty years ago, at the age of 27, I experienced my first burnout. Caught in the relentless pace of a ‘work hard, play hard’ culture, I didn’t see the signs until it was too late. 

Burnout was rarely discussed in mainstream circles then, and awareness was limited. This experience taught me that prevention is the best therapy. I now advocate for this burnout assessment tool to help individuals recognise early warning signs and adopt preventive measures to safeguard against burnout. 

Learn more and take the assessment here: 
https://hmedwellness.com/making-change 

Copy and paste the URL☝️into your browser to learn more about how you can prevent burnout with our dedicated assessment tool.

Wellness Ambassador

Skills Alliance

I set up the business from scratch for Skills Alliance GmbH in Switzerland to provide recruitment services across Europe within life sciences. In year two, we quickly grew a multicultural & multilingual team of 8 and achieved north of 1 Million in Net Fee Income. The average tenure per employee over its course was 3.5 years and total intake was 32. I was the first employee at Skills Alliance GmbH. The group signed a private equity deal in 2022.

Director - Continental Europe

CareerNRG

I set up my own independent recruitment consultancy providing global recruitment services.

Hays

I joined James Harvard to set up a pan-European division offering recruitment services within life sciences. By 27, I had hired, led, trained and developed over 30 multicultural and multilingual entry-level recruiters while transitioning from a senior consultant averaging 1 placement a week across multiple European countries. I was the first foreign language speaker at James Harvard. Hays acquired the company in 2007.

European Research Director

RDL Corporation

I started my career in recruitment when joining M3 (part of the RDL group) which RDL had only recently acquired. My role included setting up a division offering contract and permanent recruitment services across Europe within life sciences. I was the first team member to build a pharma desk at M3.

European Recruitment Consultant

Finding the right job is hard. Relocating is even harder. I make it easier, more meaningful & 🤩

I’ve relocated. Reinvented. Restarted.
Not just once but over and over again.

I know what it means to leave the familiar behind in search of something better.

That’s why I don’t just help people relocate or change jobs. I help them relaunch.

Success isn’t about where you go next but who you become when you get there.

Over the years, I’ve led recruitment teams across borders, trained 100+ professionals, and helped thousands of candidates navigate significant transitions in life and career.

But I’m not in this for the metrics.

I’m in it for the moments when someone stops playing small and starts living with conviction.

Follow Your Heart ❤️ isn’t just a brand.
It’s a way of life.

If you’re standing at the edge of change, I’m here to help you leap.

Thomas Tsangaras✌️

“A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because its trust is not in the branch but in its own wings.”

Trust is fundamental in all strong relationships,
especially the one with ourselves. 

Like a bird on a branch, we might not know when a situation may change unexpectedly, but knowing we can rely on our own abilities can make all the difference 🤩

Just as the bird trusts its wings to keep it safe, 

we too must trust our:

– Skills
– Abilities
– Instincts

to navigate through life’s uncertainties.

When contemplating changes like:

– a job shift
– a relocation
– a career transition

the fear often arises from the question: 

 ‘What if something goes wrong?’

Well, the answer from the bird would be:

“Let’s trust in our own capabilities and be prepared to act should challenges arise.”

Do you agree?👍

Thomas Tsangaras

🌍 Guiding Careers & Relocations | Helping People Navigate Change | Founder @ Follow Your Heart ❤️

The pilot flying the plane from one place to another doesn’t own the aircraft nor is he a shareholder of the airline.

Yet, he has complete control and responsibility for the plane and its passengers.

The football manager doesn’t own the football club nor is he a shareholder of the brand.

Yet, he has complete control and responsibility over its players and the pitch.

The heart surgeon who operates on a patient doesn’t own the hospital nor is he a shareholder of the clinic.

Yet, he has complete authority over the operating room.

Ever seen someone walk into the cockpit because the plane was flying through turbulence?

Ever seen a football manager being told what to do at the 60th minute because his team was 2–0 behind?

Ever seen a heart surgeon being put under pressure midway through the operation?

No, you have not.

Why is it, then, in the business world, that we have so many who think they know better?

Just because your team is struggling or you’re behind target it doesn’t give anyone, whether a shareholder or a director, the right to interfere with your work.

So when you see someone in the office constantly sniffing around, like a hyena putting their nose into other people’s business, ask yourself two questions:

1.	How can they effectively do their job while obsessing over someone else’s?

2.	Is there something more sinister going on here under the pretence of “knowing better”?

As a company, if someone doesn’t do a good job, you have the right to replace such an employee.

The pilot touches down. Replace him.
The football manager finishes the season. Replace him.
The heart surgeon comes out of the operating room. Replace him.

But you do not have the right to interfere with their job while they are performing their duties.

Agree?👍

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Thomas Tsangaras✌️

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taplio

The Battle

Victoria Tollossa

Thomas Tsangaras✌️

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Victoria Tollossa's LinkedIn Performance

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