It’s been a while since we last shared an update here at Prohibition PR, but we are back! And what better way to make a return than by diving into two brilliant new episodes of our podcast, Embracing Marketing Mistakes?
I host the show, and it’s all about allowing marketers to share the real, messy, and sometimes costly mistakes that have shaped their careers, no sugarcoating, no spin, just honest stories with powerful lessons.
And wow, our latest guests really delivered. I sat down with Alice Ter Haar, founder of Badass Unicorn, and Louise Brogan, LinkedIn consultant and author, who both opened up about the mistakes that changed everything for them.
Alice Ter Haar: The Career-Denting Demotion
Alice’s story starts with what seemed like a dream role at Deliveroo; fast-paced, exciting, and full of potential. Then came the bombshell: she was demoted.
Imagine it. One day you’re leading European marketing, and the next, you’re handing your responsibilities to someone else. Brutal.
But instead of letting that crush her, Alice turned it into fuel. She:
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Owned the experience — speaking openly about her demotion on stage, in blogs, and on podcasts.
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Reframed it as a strength — embracing authenticity, personal development, and vulnerability.
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Built something new — launching Badass Unicorn, a training company now working with Google, McDonald’s, and even Deliveroo itself.
Her biggest lesson? Imposter syndrome isn’t something you get rid of; it’s something you learn to dance with.
My takeaway from Alice: Your biggest failure can become your brand’s superpower if you’re brave enough to talk about it.
Louise Brogan: The Expensive Mistake of a Craft Shop
Louise’s mistake was very different, but just as costly, literally.
After maternity leave, she and her sister opened a bricks-and-mortar craft shop. It sounded idyllic… but reality hit hard.
She quickly realised:
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She wasn’t passionate about crafts, so selling felt forced.
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The shop devoured money in rent, stock, and staff.
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She was juggling three small kids, a part-time IT job, and a business that barely paid her.
Eventually, a mentor gave her the advice that changed everything:
“Louise, you’re brilliant at social media. Why aren’t you building a business around that?”
That tough truth pushed her to pivot. She closed the shop and went all in on LinkedIn consultancy. Today, she’s:
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The author of Raise Your Visibility on LinkedIn.
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A speaker and trainer working with clients worldwide.
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The owner of a YouTube channel with over 110,000 subscribers.
My takeaway from Louise: A business you don’t believe in will drain you, but failure can guide you to the work you were truly meant to do.
Why These Stories Matter?
Both Alice and Louise reminded me of something every marketer needs to hear:
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Mistakes aren’t career-enders — they’re often the push you need to pivot.
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Vulnerability is powerful — sharing your failures builds trust and credibility.
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Passion matters — if you’re not into what you’re selling, no one else will be either.
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Resilience is learnable — whether it’s bouncing back from demotion or closing a shop, resilience might just be our greatest marketing skill.
That’s what Embracing Marketing Mistakes is all about. Behind every polished LinkedIn post or award-winning campaign, there’s a story of something that went wrong. And by sharing those stories, we all become better at what we do.
Final Word: We’re Back!
Yes, I know it’s been a bit quiet on the blog front. But with stories like these, I couldn’t stay away.
Alice and Louise reminded me why I started Embracing Marketing Mistakes in the first place — because the most valuable lessons often come wrapped in failure.
So if you’ve missed us, now’s the time to catch up. Listen to these two incredible episodes, subscribe to the podcast, and stay tuned, there’s more to come.
More candid conversations. More marketing mishaps. More surprising lessons.
After all, in marketing, just like in life, mistakes aren’t just inevitable. They’re invaluable.
