From Sewing Machines to 90K Followers: Siya Ndube’s Blueprint for Authentic Influence | The Lucky Hustle

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At 9 years old, Siya Ndube was designing traditional Xhosa attire (umpato) for her aunts’ clients—unpaid*. Today, she’s the MD of Ninki Agency, one of SA’s coolest influencer agencies, and a style force with 90K followers. On this episode of The Lucky Hustle, she and host Darren Morris crack open the real business of influence.

🔍 You’ll hear:
“Influencers aren’t just salespeople”: Why virality is overrated (and what brands should measure).
The 4 tiers of influence: Mega, macro, micro… and where you fit (spoiler: Darren’s a “customer”).
Print media vs. TikTok: How Siya pivoted from magazines to building a community (not just followers).
Negotiation secrets: Why one Instagram post can cost R70K—and how to avoid being lowballed.
💡 “Your page is a magazine. Charge brands like it.” — Siya Ndube
📌 Key moment: 32:00 – Siya’s “model bag” advice for aspiring creators (and why brands ignore it).

#TheLuckyHustle #InfluenceReimagined #NinkiAgency
3 Jun English South Africa Business · Non-Profit

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