Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gift Igbin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Gift thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The first dollar you earn in a new endeavor is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.

When opening my business my biggest worry was that being 17 and determined wouldn’t be enough to gain someone’s trust in hiring me.

My first client was an amazing business owner, also in the digital marketing industry that needed help with her business branding and social media management. I had found a post through a mutual follower that she was hiring and looking for assistance.

I took the chance and sent a Instagram DM, letting her know I was interested in being considered for the job and that I just started my business but was ready to learn and do my best.

She replied promptly and we made a meeting to talk more. She ended up bringing me on and I began with my first client helping with Pinterest & Instagram Management.

She was my biggest supporter and left me this amazing review that kick started my experience as a social media manager and pushed me to remember that my expertise, motivation and attention to detail will and should always speak louder than my age and how young I am.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hello! My name is Gift Igbin, I am a 20 year old multi-passionate creative that acts and runs my own social media management agency that I started at 17.

In my junior year of high school COVID-19 impacted our world and school went from our classrooms to opening zoom from bed to attend class and this change though at first was exciting and fun became long lasting and demotivating.
As we started applying to colleges I had realized that picking my major wasn’t something I was excited about.

I wasn’t excited to find a 9-5 after school and climb up the corporate ladder. I wanted to act, be a business owner and support other young entrepreneurs. I wanted to do it all. I had constantly had the big dreams and was always known for chasing them but in this stage if my life I had doubted my ability to do it all.

Realizing that the only thing that was holding me back was myself I took the first step and created G.I Social Society in July 2020. I made an Instagram and shared my journey and tips to help other young entrepreneurs also wanting to strive to be their own boss.

I supported them by buying their products, sharing them, creating video content and reviews for their websites and also leaving my DM’s open as a safe space if anyone just needed a friend.

I got so much support back and love for what I had created. A year later Forbes caught on and added me to an article titled “How Teen Entrepreneurs Can Inspire And Motivate Others” I had inspired the writer as I was helping others bet closer to their dreams while chasing mine as well.

In August 2020 I started the second part of my dream, being a social media manager. I worked for a digital marketing as an assistant and learned all I could about this industry while trying to graduate high school from home.

I started to gain clients and heard amazing feedback on my services. From brand design and content creation to social media management and coaching. I was now a business owner.

Lastly was my acting career. I had this dream since I was 9 so in the same vain of taking risks. I decided to go to an acting school in Vancouver Canada and move to be closer to my siblings. It was so scary as not only did 4 years of school get finished online but I was again leaving my comfort zone and stepping out to pursue my craft.

In the two years I worked with amazing individuals that I will always be thankful for but mostly Ava Maria Safai. A young director that had the same drive as me. She saw my talent and gave me a chance to help co-write, act and produce in my first feature film.

I had now completed all three dreams in three years. 17 year old Gift just wanted to be in those rooms, with those people but now I am part of these rooms and those people are my closest friends.

I am a strong believer that God will bless you with the right doors even if you’re not expecting it. I am truly blessed to have theses moments of hard work pay off and I only strive to continue to make dreams bigger than my current situations and chase them little by little everyday.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Finding the pockets that really feel rewarding and fulfilling as an actress and producer is my favourite part when life gets busy and chaotic. This past year, I have found myself emerged in the indie film scene and participated and attended various film competitions and events.

My most rewarding aspects always circulate around the people. The people I have met that are if not more but as passionate as me. It really gives me true happiness and joy to know there are other creatives willing to put all their love and talents to a collective project. Making those genuine friendships has been the most rewarding part of being in the creative field.

The mundane and long days seem less like work when surrounded with people also happy to be on set with you and I am truly blessed to have that opportunity.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

When I started pursuing my goal of being an actress and owning a social media management agency the mission was just to say I had tried it. I didn’t initially think I would have taken it this far and so when I achieved the goal early on it was time to think even bigger.

Now my mission is to spread the my love and passion for the arts from content creation to acting to producing behind the scenes. A lot of people don’t purse the arts for a multitude of reasons. but when I was younger I didn’t feel confident calling myself an actress. Which is something I don’t want others to feel when pursing their dreams, especially when you’re young and you are figuring it all out as you go.

My drive comes from wanting to make space for change and be an inspiration the next generation that needs encouragement when doubt starts to creep in.

I want to be the role-model my 10 year old self would of admired.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giftigbin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/socialgifti
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giftigbin/
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@socialgift?lang=en

Image Credits
Yvonne Hanson – https://www.instagram.com/yhanson_photography/ Photography by Elka – https://www.instagram.com/thestudiobyelka/ Headshots by Nicole – https://www.instagram.com/headshotsbynicole/