Nurture Digital Marketing Community: Women in Leadership on the Audacity of Boldness with Makaela and Zion

Welcome to Nurture Digital Marketing Community a space for local businesses to hear directly from our very own Makaela McLean and special guests.

The Nurture community is a perfect welcoming space for entrepreneurs and founders who are keen to hear from other business owners as we explore business and life.

To celebrate Black History Month we are exploring the topic of BOLDNESS 💫 and Makaela interviews Zion Murrell.

I’m Zion Murrell, 36, Founder of The Shenanigans Club a London-based social club for women aged 30+ who want to step out of their comfort zones, have fun, meet new people, and build genuine friendships. I’m also a mum to a 10-year-old daughter, and like most women, I juggle life, work, and everything in between.

I started TSC in late November 2023 as a casual idea, but I quickly noticed a recurring theme with women around my age and older I spoke to: colleagues, acquaintances, women at social events, and even some associates I met along my life journey were struggling with friendships.

Many had no friends, no close friends, unreliable friendships, or social lives that felt limited to just brunches and coffee. That sparked my little mission to create real connection for women.

For me, boldness is having the courage to put yourself out there, even when you’re unsure how things will turn out. It’s showing up authentically, taking risks, and moving forward despite fear, while also being persistent taking small steps consistently, even when progress feels slow or invisible.

I don’t have a big team or external funding. I run TSC from my own pocket. For me, slow progress is better than none, and I try to do things weekly that may benefit TSC’s growth, even if the impact isn’t immediately visible.

Launching TSC was very audacious. I had no detailed plan, funding, or team just an idea and a heart for helping women connect and make long-term friendships. After repeatedly hearing from colleagues, acquaintances, and women at social events that they struggled to make real friends or meaningful connections, I realised this was a genuine need in London.

At my first meet-up, women said things like, “I joined to meet new friends.”, “ I don’t have friends to do things with.” and “thank you for hosting this, I needed it.” That moment convinced me to commit seriously. It’s been a journey of ups and downs, but every successful meet-up/event reinforces why it’s worth it.

Yes. Boldness is no longer just loud confidence or dominance. For modern women entrepreneurs like myself, boldness is resilience, consistency, and showing up even when progress is slow. I don’t believe you have to always be the loudest one in the room as an entrepreneur and as a woman. You can be bold and dominate in other ways through how you present yourself, your authenticity, and the spaces you create for others.

My biggest fear was that people simply wouldn’t show up. Even though I’m confident in creating content and pressing “post,” I’ve hosted previous meet-ups and events for free where only four people turned up out of twelve sign ups. That can be disheartening for anyone, but I’ve learned from networking with experienced hospitality professionals and taking on some of their advice that this is a common challenge even for those running events for decades.

Despite that fear, I've continued to set up my events anyway. I don’t care if one person comes or twenty, my objective is always the same and that’s to connect with women and give them the chance to try something different. That first bold step just launching the event and putting myself out there proved that connection only happens when you show up.

The legacy of bold Black figures inspires me to persevere and create impact despite obstacles. I draw inspiration from Taraji P. Henson, Nipsey Hussle, and Malcolm X each of whom faced immense challenges but stayed committed to their purpose. Their stories and principles, resilience, persistence, and using their voices to create change motivate me to keep pushing forward with TSC. They didn’t give up on their dreams, and their journeys remind me that growth takes time, and persistence is everything.

Yes, definitely. There’s a quiet but persistent boldness that comes from knowing the odds are often stacked against you, yet choosing to show up anyway. For me, it has manifested into consistently hosting events, creating safe spaces, supporting other women, and building a platform without waiting for external support or perfect conditions.

Put yourself out there a little bit more. Take one small action that pushes your comfort zone. Introduce yourself to someone new, make time to attend relevant business events, post about your work, or speak up in a meeting. Boldness doesn’t have to be loud; it's about action and consistency. Every small step builds confidence over time.

I want TSC to be known for one bold characteristic, and that is 100% authenticity. It’s a space I’m passionate about helping women to come together organically and show up as themselves. Imperfect, human, and completely enough. We prioritise real connections, meaningful experiences, and wholehearted support over numbers or trends because we live in a world nowadays that’s obsessed with aesthetics, fakery, followers, and keeping up with the Joneses. So being true to who you are is in my opinion, the boldest thing you can do. TSC is all about enjoyment, empowerment, and creating a community that leaves a lasting, positive impact.

About the author:

I am Makaela, a Marketing Consultant and Founder of www.nurturedigitalmarketing.co.uk Nurture Digital Marketing is created to support entrepreneurs and small businesses. I am a marketing consultant that specialises in digital marketing, content creation, marketing strategy, brand management, website creation, social media management, and more. Send an email if you have any questions that you would like a quick and reliable answer to.