#8 Larisa Topalo - The power of social medias

When Larisa Topalo arrived in Zurich for love three years ago, with no network nor someone to go to, she decided to launch her own blog. A way to establish a name for herself in this foreign city, and to potentially find a job. 

In her blog "Just moved to Switzerland", Larisa tells about her daily life as an expat, her discoveries, her joys but also her difficulties. And in a city as international as Zurich, her tone and sincerity are really much appreciated. In just one year, she gets 10,000 followers. 

In this discussion, Larisa reveals her origins and tells about her studies between Canada and Europe. She describes her passion for communication and explains to me how she has always been working to value and promote her work.  

Today, more than 42,000 people are following Larisa. Enough for her to quit her job in communications at UBS and to become independent. 

Larisa explains me her business model, based on content productions, influence and consulting missions. You will hear about her tips and tricks to create a community as powerful as hers. 

We discuss about the status of influencers, and their responsibility towards their audience. I question their authenticity, and I get to discover the ins and outs of this business, as well as the best practices for working with influencers. 

We talk about the difficulty for freelancers to define the worth of their work, and Larisa shares her tips and organisational advices. 

The discussion gives me a better understanding what it means to be an influencer, and I discover a sensitive, ambitious and extremely determined woman. So don’t lose a minute, and dive into this powerful conversation. 

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Time Codes

04:23 Getting Surrounding with Inspiring and successful women… to become the best version of yourself 

07:03 Don’t wait to feel qualified enough before doing things: believe in yourself! 

08:20 the origins of the blog “ Just Moved to Switzerland”

09:27 An international child  

12:15 When a creative person chooses business and communication 

15:10 Choosing a communication master in Finland 

17:07 Getting awarded as a student: the talent of selling yourself and your work 

20:01 Starting a career in Communications, through different industries 

Starting “Just moved to Switzerland” 

22:20 A difficult move to Switzerland (for love), just after her studies 

24:25 Launching the blog “Just moved to Switzerland”: a strategy to settle 

26:36 Becoming an “influencer”

29:37 Tips to grow your audience on Social Medias… and why “Just moved to Switzerland” got so successful 

31:30 Showing (or not) your face on social medias 

34:22 Becoming a public face, and dealing with it 

35:38 The responsibility of having a “voice”

Becoming an entrepreneur 

38:59 Feeling confident enough to become independent in a foreign country 

41:56 Starting the business development of the blog 

45:04 Tips and advices to companies: how to work with an influencer

48:43 How to trust influencers? How to keep and authentic and trustworthy voice 

52:30 Defining your worth. And fighting for it! 

Final questions 

55:38 Some keys to organise your time as and entrepreneur 

59:43 Sorority as a key for women 

01:01:44 Why does Larisa doesn’t describe herself as a feminist 

01:04:33 Final questions 

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Interesting links and references 

To follow Just Moved to Switzerland: 

• Blog: justmovedtoswitzerland.com/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/justmovedtoswitzerland/
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.fr/justmovedtoswitzerland/_created/
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/just-moved-to-switzerland/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/justmovedtoswitzerland/

To follow Larisa:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/larisa_topalo/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/larisatopalo/

People she is mentioning in the episode: 

• Alina Russ, Lola’s vegan kitchen https://www.instagram.com/lolasvegankitchen/ 

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Help me grow up Brillantes! 

If you liked the episode, please share it with as many people as possible, rate it with 5 stars and subscribe to the podcast on your listening platform. This help will be extremely precious to me 

Find all the links to listen to the episodes here: www.flow.page/brillantes

Follow Brillantes on social networks:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/brillantes.media/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/brillantes
• Facebook : www.facebook.com/brillantes.media

And her host and founder, Jeanne du Sartel:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeannedusartel/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeannedusartel/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeanneduSartel

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