We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Murray. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.

Nicole, appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Taking a risk has been the identity of Entrepreneurship. The start of Agape Collective began as a risk in March 2020. We all know the world stopped no one worked and no one knew what was next. In that reality with an uncertain future not just for myself but for humanity I decided to start a marketing company and a visual artist management company. It began in the basement of my colleague‘s home which was the only place feasible to work out of with nothing open because of Covid. The risk was investing in an idea, a concept, and a vibration without truly having the full resources and bandwidth. And the world is in a completely uncertain crisis. The business came together by working through the real goals of what we were looking to accomplish. I previously worked for an agency so the experience was there but the clients with whom I shared a passion for their mission and purpose was something that I did not have at the time. Soon after we started to gain clients such as the US Census Bureau, as well as smaller clients and Brands, and created different online and in-person activations to celebrate empowerment within business.

The second business is The Kulture Museum started just as a managing visual artist. I’ve always enjoyed and appreciated art. My colleague who is an amazing renowned visual artist suddenly asked me to manage his work. Which was something that I did not have experience in but I was very interested in learning the structure of creating a brand from a visual artist perspective. With a branding background and a passion for visual arts, it became the perfect Union and we started to create experiences and sell tons of beautiful amazing inspiring art. In time we begin to manage more artists and expand the vision to form partnerships and expos like Art Basel, Chicago Expo Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, and many others. A year into working out of his basement we opened the Kulture Museum which is an artist gallery, artist studio, entrepreneurship working space, and event space. The last three years have been a true blessing and testimony of following faith, leading and being led with purpose and allowing love to be the seed and foundation of the work.

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.

My name is Nicole Murray. I am an Entrepreneur and founder of 3 companies -Agape Collective: business empowerment and marketing. We work with major businesses, brands, and start-ups to create, advise, and lead strategies to empower and advance goals and opportunities. We have,
-The Kulture Museum: located in Chicago, Illinois 629 W. Cermak. It is an artist gallery, artist studio, Entrepreneurship workspace, and Event Space. We host many community empowerment workshops, artist events, shows, and experiences. Home of 10 visual artists, 9 entrepreneurs, and 6 performing artists.
-The third company is Mogul Nation: youth entrepreneurship training. We work with youth 7 to 23 on becoming entrepreneurs, art therapy workshops, internships paid, and a host of additional experiences and programs to enrich and empower the youth of Chicago and beyond.

What inspired me to get involved in the fields was the awareness of my purpose and understanding that my work should serve that. I previously have had experience in Marketing with major brands and startups but my passion for helping people, businesses, brands and campaigns provides a power to empower. I truly enjoy as an entrepreneur having the authority to create ideas and align connections that provide the opportunity for things to grow.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing our clientele was to align with the right clients for our mission, skill, and interest. Also providing a product or service that is authentic in strategy and collaborative in how we execute the results. For example, in art and culture, our artists are very focused on bringing art to life in a way that tells a story, creates value, and empowers in some way. We also work as a team to assist when needed and share support and promotion collectively.

For marketing, it is working with clients who share the same goals and work ethic on projects that matter. Most of our clients and collectors are word of mouth or have experienced Agape Collective in some way. This is the foundation of building the next phase. A solid team and organic promotions to begin a genuine brand awareness. We work on making our ideas and client’s projects a work embedded in long-term empowerment through brands, campaigns, activations, events, products, and the people we serve.

Strategy over tactic.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the thought process of creating campaigns, brands, and companies from a big budget. As an entrepreneur with a community empowerment focus the budgets to begin a project or expand on ideas are often very small or close to nothing. My background is working with big brands and big budgets, that yield big returns. Our goal with starting a new start-up business is it takes a different strategy to create something from limited resources. This is also a part of the magic of creation and the beauty in entrepreneurship. To create from a place of purpose with the resources and knowledge they build.

The unlearning was the reality that the goal is still the goal. The resources that I have are enough to get started if it’s the right time and opportunity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.agapecollective.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/agapecollective?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-murray-b3108029