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• Cora Delaney is founder of EYC, a management agency focused on influencer talent.
• Last year, EYC posted sales of more than $1 million.
• This is part of Insider’s Entrepreneur Series”star, rising”, which highlights early entrepreneurs.

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Surname: Cora Delaney

Age: 28

Location: London

Shop: A creative management agency focused on influencer talent.

Backstory: Cora Delaney has always wanted to work in digital marketing, but the “male-dominated and hierarchical” industry doesn’t quite welcome her as a woman, she said. “The systems in place have limited me,” Delaney told Insider. “I wanted to break that, not just for me but for others in the industry.”

So Delaney did research, sketched out a business model and networked to start her own agency, EYC, in 2019. Today, her company provides talent management, event planning, creative direction, and consulting services to brands and clients looking to connect with the audience.

Internally, the office is a safe place for women who, like Delaney, want to rise in the industry, she said. Externally, the company aims to create nurturing environments and nurture a growing number of young social media talent. Digital marketing and

advertising industry

is projected to reach $786 billion by 2026, according to a 2021 report by market researcher Global Industry Analysts. There’s also the rise of the Metaverse and NFTs, and TikTok stars are now earning some top CEOs. Last year, influencer Charli D’Amelio made $17.5 million, while Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson took home $14.7 million, Forbes and the Wall Street Journal reported.

Cora Delaney is on the EYC logo.

Cora Delaney

Growth: In 2021, the company generated revenue of more than $1 million, documents revealed insiders verified. Furthermore, Delaney wants to double that number this year. Last year, the company opened a record label to sign artists and plans to open a media-focused division called EYC NXT to nurture TikTok talent.

Clients have included Apple, Warner Music Group and luxury fashion brands Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. The company also works with high-profile influencers like streetwear model Leo Mandella, reality TV stars the Clermont twins and social media personality Joanna Kuchta. It has also planned parties for YouTube, Bumble and RCA Records.

Before EYC: Delaney studied fashion at the University of Westminster before working as an editorial assistant for online retailer ASOS from 2013 to 2015. She left ASOS to build EYC.

Challenges: Delaney faced pressure from industry peers to quickly build consulting expertise. Instead, she took a “multidimensional approach” to building the company, mapping numerous departments at once and giving the company multiple revenue streams, she said.

Business Consulting: “Running a successful business is and always will be non-linear, and that’s not a negative,” she said. “You can’t prepare for everything that’s going to happen along the way, but you can control how you respond and respond.”

Cora Delaney wanted to start a company that would empower creators and workers.

Cora Delaney

Business Mentor: Delaney said she never had a mentor. She added that her ideas were often met with hesitation and resistance. “I had to learn not to ask for help and do the legwork myself,” she said.

Why now is the best time to start a business: The earlier you start with an idea, the better, especially as the appetite for digital content increases, she said.

“Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are full of people looking to create, share and build brands and identities,” she continued. “The conditions for success have changed, as has people’s access to it.”

When setting: EYC has 13 full-time employees and Delaney plans to expand the company globally this year.

How to deal with burnout: Delaney always finds time to return to her hometown of Herne Bay in south-east England. She said family helps her rejuvenate and reminds her of her humble beginnings. She added, “Going home and having a cup of tea with your dad, far from the city, is just what you need to resist burnout.”