👋🏽 Doors Opening

Hey! Welcome to Creator Economy NYC — the premier hub where the creator economy connects, learns, and thrives.

We are a week away from our first-ever creator conference — CONNECT!

After years of hosting smaller events and building this community from the ground up, we're taking a huge leap with this full-day experience designed specifically for creators like you.

Today, I wanted to give you an inside peek at what the day will hold. Consider this your personal roadmap to navigate what might be the most valuable day of your creator journey in 2025.

You can secure your $100 off ticket to CONNECT here (for $147).

Stay till the end for an exciting surprise too. Hint: merch.

Let’s dive in.

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✍️ Spotlight

What to expect at CONNECT - our first-ever conference for creators

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM: Doors Open & Welcome

We're kicking things off with registration, coffee, and snacks to fuel your creativity. We’ll even have a barista on site to ensure you get the drink that will fuel you.

I’ll kick off the day with a welcome alongside my companion, Olivia Owens, and then hear a few words from Teachable.

10:00 AM: Knowledge Creators: The Next Era of the Creator Economy

Our first panel explores why today's smartest creators are turning to education. As I've written about before, knowledge creators are positioned to win in 2025 - they build trust, not just traffic, and have natural monetization paths that feel organic to their audiences.

With me moderating and panelists including Jack Appleby, Kaya Yurieff, and Olivia Owens, you'll discover:

• Why education is the most powerful lane in the creator economy

• How to package your knowledge into scalable, revenue-generating products

• Real-world examples of creators turning niche expertise into thriving businesses

11:00 AM: Revenue Streams That Work: How Creators Really Make Money in 2025

Remember our "Commerce Mountain" framework? This panel takes that concept even further, pulling back the curtain on how money actually flows in the creator economy today.

Moderated by Vera from Teachable and featuring Gabby Beckford, Jess Ramos, Lauren Kay, and Terry Rice, you'll learn:

• Which revenue streams are actually working for creators right now

• How to diversify your income without burning out

• The underrated ways creators are monetizing that nobody talks about

12:00 PM: The Authenticity Paradox: Building a Real Brand in an Overexposed World

Join Elfried Samba, renowned branding expert and co-founder of Butterfly 3ffect, for a deep dive on building a personal brand in 2025.

With Olivia Owens moderating, Elfried will share his journey from immigrating to the UK at 14 to transforming Gymshark's social media presence and growing its community from 1 million to 20 million followers.

You'll discover:

• What it truly takes to build an authentic personal brand today

• How to stand out in an oversaturated space

• Strategies for smaller brands to challenge giants

• The key to building a strong, recognizable brand with a clear vision

12:30 PM: Lunch + Networking

Enjoy a catered lunch and dedicated time to connect with fellow creators. Some of the most valuable insights often come from these unstructured moments where you can share experiences with each other.

2:00 PM: Creators 4 Mental Health Workshop

You might remember our event with Shopify last October that focused on mental health in the creator economy. We're bringing a similar experience to the summit, led by Shira Lazar.

Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we've designed a special workshop to help creators relax their minds and develop sustainable practices for wellbeing.

This interactive session will provide practical exercises you can incorporate into your daily routine as a creator, helping you maintain balance while building your business.

3:00 PM: From Creator to CEO: How Creators Build Teams and Systems

This panel speaks directly to that moment when you realize you can't do it all alone. We've talked about the myth of building "solo" before, and now we're diving deeper into what it actually looks like to scale.

With me moderating and panelists including Abagail Pumphrey, Dara Denney, Aneesh Lal, and Mark Pentleton, you'll discover:

• How to transition from solo creator to true business leader

• When and how to hire the right support

• The systems and tech stacks essential for scaling efficiently

4:00 PM: ENDING WITH A BANG with our KEYNOTE from Timm Chuisano

Timm will share his top advice on turning your lived experience into a sustainable business, diving into monetization, storytelling, and why your unique perspective matters more than ever in the age of AI.

I got a sneak peek at it, and it’s truly incredible. I can’t wait for this.

5:00 PM-8:00 PM: Creator Happy Hour

We'll wrap up with our creator happy hour — connect over drinks and light bites at the official post-conference gathering.

This is where the magic of our community really shines, as connections made throughout the day deepen into potential collaborations and friendships. Awwww!

Of course there will be plenty of break time in between sessions and snacks and beverages to keep you fueled.

The "F*ck It, Create It" special surprise

And because no Creator Economy NYC event would be complete without a tangible reminder of our philosophy, I'm excited to announce that every attendee will receive a limited edition "F*ck It, Create It" hat.

Consider it your badge of honor as someone who doesn't just talk about creating — you actually do it.

Why this all matters

If you've been following our journey, you know that Creator Economy NYC started with just fifteen people in a Lower East Side bar. Now, we're hosting a full-day conference featuring some of the most successful creators and experts in the industry.

This growth didn't happen overnight… it happened because we consistently showed up, provided value, and built a community that truly supports each other.

Whether you're just starting your creator journey or scaling a six-figure business, this day is designed to meet you where you are and help you take that next step.

The path up Commerce Mountain looks different for everyone, but the principles remain the same: start where you are, learn from those who've gone before you, and most importantly — f*ck it, create it.

I can't wait to see you there next week. If you haven’t already, secure your $100 OFF ticket to CONNECT below.

📚 Resources

2 FREE resources to accelerate your creator growth

The Creator Goal Setting Guide: A simple but powerful document to help you declare who you want to BECOME in 2025.

The Creator Accountability System: Your visual companion for consistent creation in 2025 (I’m using this now to send one newsletter a week!)

✌🏽 Stand Clear of the Closing Doors Please

Thanks so much for reading! See you at CONNECT on May 10!

LFC(reate),

Brett