For budding influencers, class is now in session.
Jessica Henig, founder of Unlocked Branding, is rolling out Social Media University, a new platform launching today that promises to decode the influencer industry for the next wave of creators and industry professionals.
The platform is free to join. “We wanted it to be accessible for anyone who is interested in building a career in media and their network,” Henig tells Fast Company. “This community was built on after years of successfully building talent into top tier brands themselves, and we’ve seen such high demand from others who want to know where to start.”
Henig knows the formula, after helping shape some of the internet’s It-talent, including Alicia Breuer, Millie Leer, Pia Mia, and Montana Brown among them.
Those who sign up can expect a mix of online and in-person interactive masterclasses with leading industry voices, seminars, trips, and community events, as well as mentorship and behind-the-scenes access to Unlocked Branding’s global network of creators and partners.
“The missing link from young people, over the past few years especially, has been that they are missing in person community,” says Henig. “Working for yourself can be isolating sometimes and we want to get everyone in the same room to foster connections and creativity.”
With rising unemployment and a college degree no longer guaranteeing a career path, the creator economy has become a bright spot for young people navigating a bleak job market. The number of creators globally is expected to grow at a compound annual rate between 10 and 20% and the total addressable market is expected to increase to a projected $500 billion by 2027, according to Goldman Sachs.
