You may know her as the sultry singer, Karma Luna. Or perhaps as a public relations queen. Maybe you know her as a pretty epic entrepreneur… If there’s one thing for certain, Tamaryn Nicholson is an independent woman, and the strides she took during the Covid-19 pandemic are testament to this.
While some may have floundered when their main source of income was reduced due to lockdown salary cuts, Tam didn’t flinch. In fact, she took action, starting her own PR and social media business, Luna Unlimited.
Two years on, she’s representing a whole host of brands and personalities. Remember when international artist, Lauv’s single was launched in SA? Tam publicised it, and it’s a highlight of her venture.
She hopes to grow her business to an international scale, working with companies and individuals all over their world and making their dreams come true.
She may be in the business of helping others to get recognised, but Tam’s entrepreneurial journey is founded on the principles of self-empowerment and independence.
As she puts it, "I started a business to empower myself financially to have the freedom to earn more money. I also love that I can make my moves and decisions without having to check in with someone above me. This also increased my confidence in my work and I get to select who I work with and when I want to do pro bono work to help empower others."
She adds the perk of being an entrepreneur is having independence. "Whether that be financial, in decision making or what work you choose to do."
But it’s not all rosy. "The challenge is also that independence – you carry all the responsibility and uncertainty. Working for someone provides a sense of comfort when it comes to making decisions, brainstorming and financially."
Another obstacle Tam opens up about is imposter syndrome – finding the belief she was worthy of running a successful business. But she didn’t let it get her down. Instead, she took action.
"I upskilled myself wherever I could, leaned on a good support system and, honestly, prayer was a big catalyst. I also learned ways to heal my imposter syndrome and believe in my worth and that I am good at what I do because I work extremely hard and I am extremely passionate about what I do. The more comfortable I got in the work also made it easier."
The biggest lesson she’s learnt? "Failing is okay! Making mistakes is okay!" She just cautions to learn from them and to be kind to yourself in the process.
She also believes in the power of networking and maintaining positive relationships. "Don’t let your ego get too involved. This will be more valuable than you know," she warns.
She feels social media is a powerful tool we can all use to encourage and support other women entrepreneurs.
"Try to purchase their product and service wherever you can. I think it’s also important to be a source of emotional support for each other – we also need more honesty on how challenging it can be – not always showing the glitz and glam of it. Being more vulnerable."
Tam's top entrepreneurial tip
If you’ve got a business idea but you’re not sure whether or not to go ahead with it, Tam advises, "I think any idea is worth diving into but do your prep and research first. Make sure you understand the industry and field you are going into and wisely evaluate the risks involved – don’t go in blindly.
"Test out the waters, check in with friends and strangers to get their thoughts but ensure you have discernment because too many opinions can throw you off track so be careful."
Follow Tam’s Instagram accounts: Luna Unlimited, @lunaunlimited | Karma Luna, @karmalunamusic
