Nikky Lyle is a creative recruiter, speaker and founder of Nikky Lyle Creative. Originally setting out to pursue a career as a designer, her passion for design gives her work as a recruiter an authentic edge. Nikky’s career successes so far have included, being featured on The Dots list of 100+ rising stars, speaking at TEDx 2021, being a D&AD President Judge, starting her own recruitment business and helping countless creatives secure their dream jobs.
Frustrated by the lack of opportunities for progression in her previous role Nikky started her own creative recruitment business and sees this career move as “the best thing I ever did!” Alongside her recruitment work, Nikky has created an impressive range of resources which share her knowledge and help both creatives just starting their careers and those looking to change job roles, including CV and portfolio guides in addition to her Industry Leaders podcast. Nikky tells us she believes “in the power of knowledge being shared” and has made it her “mission to share as much of it as possible – it’s up to the individual whether or not they want to engage with and learn from that content.”
As a lesbian from a working-class background, Nikky is a passionate advocate for greater diversity and inclusion and would like to see more accessibility for people who are currently under-represented in the creative industries. Advising creatives looking to progress their careers, she tells us that, “attitude is everything” and that managing your expectations is also key: “It’s a tough world out there and an even tougher industry. You have to be prepared to be resilient and to keep going.”
We talked to Nikky about pivotal moments in her career so far, what drives her successes and the challenges she’s overcome along the way.
Where did it all begin? What were your first steps into creative recruitment?
I studied at Falmouth University and originally planned to become a creative myself. But when I graduated, it was around the time of the 2009 recession and my brother happened to work in recruitment, so I ended up combining my love for the creative industry, with getting people jobs and the rest is history!
What made you decide to set up our own recruitment agency Nikky Lyle Creative?
This is a story and a half… but I’ll try to keep it brief! I’ve always wanted to build a successful career and I was working extremely hard for the company I previously worked for and kept asking about pay rises and progression. They set some targets which I went above and beyond and was rewarded with a “Rising Star” certificate and a few bottles of prosecco. The progression and pay rise never happened.
I was gutted because up until that point I had been loyal to the company, but after they did that, I felt so let down that I left. When I handed in my notice, suddenly the promises from before were used as a carrot again but by then it was too late. They kept reaching out to me after I left and it one of their final offers that swayed me. It was to invest in me so I could set up my own recruitment business. That offer showed that they always knew my worth, but it wasn’t until I left that they acknowledged it. Which I’ve seen happens a LOT to women in the industry.
I set up a company that turned over a profit and paid back all the investment in the first fourteen months. This made me realise that if I really wanted to run my own company, I needed to take the plunge and do it for myself, so I did. Plus, my investors’ values weren’t in line with my own and I’m really glad I quit and took the risk—it’s the best thing I ever did!
You offer lots of advice and guidance which makes you stand out from other recruiters out there and have built an impressive reputation within the creative industry. What is your company vision and purpose?
I have been through so much to get to where I am today. I came from a working-class background. I moved into my parent’s spare room (a super blessed opportunity!) when I set up my business and I worked six minimum wage jobs to save up and put into my company. I am completely self-funded, and it was so tough.
I believe in the power of knowledge being shared. I want to try to replace some of these industry doors with windows. It took me 10 years of being in the industry to open some of these doors and I never wanted to keep this knowledge to myself, I wanted to share it with anyone who has the ambition, hunger, and drive to learn. I’ve made it my mission to share as much knowledge as possible and it’s up to each individual if they want to engage with and learn from that content.
“I believe in the power of knowledge being shared… I’ve made it my mission to share as much knowledge as possible and it’s up to each individual if they want to engage with and learn from that content.”
Have there been any key pivotal moments in your career that have helped you progress to where you are now?
Being a complete fan girl in the creative industry has served me well. Passion is addictive! I discovered creatives were working on side hustles, before D&AD created the Side Hustle category and that’s how I ended up being a D&AD Judge one year, then a President Judge. Also starting up Industry Leaders in the pandemic opened so many doors for me. But it started off as just a way of inspiring people in the industry whilst we were all in lock down!
Are there any barriers or challenges that you have faced during your career and, if so, how have you overcome them?
When I left my first company, I was frozen out of the creative recruitment industry by my investors. I walked away with nothing. All money in the business bank account, went to them and at that time I moved back to Folkestone, where I grew up, and worked as a bike courier for JustEats, a waitress, in the laundry room of a B&B, behind a bar at a night club, at a gym and as a support worker for disabled adults who live independently. I kept being offered recruitment jobs, which I had to keep turning down because I knew the path I wanted to follow, and I just had to keep going.
Being dyslexic means I see the world slightly differently, which I love. But I also have had the odd occasion where people will point out typos for me on my LinkedIn posts! But it never matters too much to me because the message is always clear, even if the grammar could do with a bit of refining at times. I don’t let it stop me posting for fear of a typo and I would share that with any other dyslexic out there. Like Pip Jamieson says: ‘it’s a superpower!’
“Being dyslexic means I see the world slightly differently, which I love. I don’t let it stop me posting for fear of a typo and I would share that with any other dyslexic out there.”
What did your experience of being a D&AD judge look like and what would be your top tips for creative’s looking to develop their portfolio?
Create more of the type of work you want to be doing. Your portfolio doesn’t have to be limited to the commercial work you produce to pay the bills. Add the stuff in you love, that fires you up as a creative. Keep pushing and exploring, remain curious.
Are there any skills or qualities you’ve noticed which help creatives build a successful career in the creative industries?
Attitude is everything. I always start by managing expectations, especially with juniors. It’s a tough world out there and an even tougher industry. You have to be prepared to be resilient and to keep going. If you’re a woman and from a marginalised community, it’s even harder.
In the longer term I’d love to see society address the systemic barriers which make people need to be resilient, but for now, that’s my one top tip.
Be kind. Give without necessarily expecting anything back. If you’ve got Creative A and Creative B both equal in skill set, but A is an absolute pleasure to work with, Creative A will always be the first option and Creative B will always be, well the plan B, if creative A is unavailable.
Be humble, time is precious. If someone gives you their time to help you further your career, it shouldn’t be taken for granted. Just those attitude shifts will mean people will be more likely to recommend you and put their neck on the line for you or go out their way to help.
“It’s a tough world out there and an even tougher industry. You have to be prepared to be resilient and to keep going. If you’re a woman and from a marginalised community, it’s even harder.”
Do you have any advice for women and under represented creatives looking to kick start their career or move up to a more senior role?
The environment you choose to grow in is everything. If you’re from that background you’re more likely to have a flourishing career in companies that are genuinely committed to helping women and under represented people succeed.
But the very best thing I did for myself as a lesbian, was setting up on my own. Just that freedom to be my own voice and have my own say, without investors or management stopping me. Also, the freedom of time. I’m in the process of setting up a not for profit, to help women and under represented groups in the industry. Being my own boss, means I set my own schedule. Additionally, don’t let anyone tell you that working for someone else is the most secure way to make a living. When you run your own business, you know your own balance sheet – there are no surprises of your own redundancy because you can see everything ahead of you!
“The environment you choose to grow in is everything. If you’re from that background you’re more likely to have a flourishing career in companies that are genuinely committed to helping women and under represented people succeed.”