Why Being Yourself Is Your Biggest Creative Advantage, with Katy Ennis-Hargreaves of BOLDISM
About this episode
Katy Ennis-Hargreaves discusses the importance of being authentic in creativity and design.
Katy Ennis-Hargreaves of design studio BOLDISM joins Katy Cowan for an honest conversation about what happens when you stop watering yourself down and start living as your full self. They dig into imposter syndrome as a driver rather than a hindrance, the years of being told you're "too awkward" or "too different", and the slow, organic transition toward going all in on who you really are. Katy shares her journey from interior architecture graduate to independent designer with a leopard-print car, why she abandoned the rigid agency blueprint in favour of a more collaborative, human way of working, and how being part of the grassroots Wilson's Republic community keeps her grounded. Along the way, they tackle the bullshit-bingo language of the design world, the difference between genuine substance and hollow social climbing, why "fake it till you make it" deserves the bin, and the truth that no one can ever really copy you because there's only one of you. Warm, funny and refreshingly unprofessional in all the best ways, it's a chat about finding the courage to be bold, the people who shaped us, and remembering we only get one go on this rock.
People in this episode
Host: Katy Cowan
Guest: Katy Ennis-Hargreaves
Topics covered
- creativity
- imposter syndrome
- self-acceptance
- design
- collaboration
- personal journey
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BOLDISM, Wilson's Republic
More episodes of The Creative Boom Podcast
- The Spark: Katy Ennis-Hargreaves on croc hatred, accidental shoplifting and Vivienne Westwood
- The Spark: Malika Favre on Coffee, Dinner Party Dreams and a Cheeky Confession
- Building a Career in Illustration on Your Own Terms, with Malika Favre
- The Spark: Jimmy Turrell on Snails, Rave Culture and Creative Chaos
- Creativity, AI and the Truth About Staying Original, with Jimmy Turrell
- The Spark: James Martin on Pasta, Pet Peeves and a Few Unfiltered Truths
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Creative Boom Podcast podcast page.