The Première

Dear creator,

I think one of the hardest parts about becoming a creator is figuring out where to begin.

Perhaps you've spent hours scrolling through Instagram, saving posts from creators you admire, dreaming about the kind of content you could make and the life you could build for yourself.

You have a hundred ideas, a camera roll full of inspiration, and a feeling that you could be really, really good at this.

But every time you sit down to create something, you find yourself questioning everything.

What should I post? What do I want to be known for? Why would anyone want to follow me? Am I even interesting enough?

And before you know it, another week has passed and you've done… absolutely nothing.

I know this feeling all too well.

Almost a decade ago, I started posting outfit selfies to my 5,122 Instagram followers whilst juggling law school, multiple jobs and, eventually, my own talent management agency.

I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I had no industry connections, no one to ask for advice, and spent an embarrassing amount of time comparing myself to other creators.

A few years later, I'd made my first $100,000, worked with global luxury brands and attended fashion week. But behind the scenes, I was still that same girl who felt painfully out of place, trying to become someone I thought the industry wanted me to be.

It took me years to realise that the very things I was trying so hard to change about myself were the things that made me different.

And that I couldn't build a career that was truly mine without first figuring out who I was.

Which brings me to The Première.

On Saturday 5th December 2026, I'm bringing together a curated group of 20 aspiring creators in Sydney for a day I wish someone had given me when I was starting out.

I've put together a rather special day for us:

• An intimate panel conversation with Jiny Maeng, Tom Dickinson and Scarlett Frazer. Three of my dear friends, each with their own remarkable creator journeys in this industry. We'll talk about how they got started, the mistakes they've made, and the things they wish someone had told them sooner.
• A personal brand strategy workshop with me. This is where we'll get to BUSINESS. We'll audit where you are, where you want to be, identify the gaps and turn all those ideas into a strategic plan you can actually put into practice.
• Your very own creator roadmap. You'll work through a specially designed Creator Atelier workbook, so you'll leave with your personal brand, creative direction and next steps written down. No more wondering where to begin.
• A beautiful space to create. We're bringing The Première to a beautiful Sydney venue, with time set aside to capture content and put some of your newfound creative ideas into practice.
• And perhaps my favourite part: the community you'll meet. We'll share lunch, exchange ideas and spend the day with 20 people who understand what it feels like to have big ambitions for yourself.

In many ways, The Première is a little introduction to what I hope to build with Creator Atelier: a place for ambitious creatives to learn from one another, find their people and build something they're proud of.

I spent years trying to figure everything out on my own. And whilst I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything, I often wonder how different my journey might have been if I'd had someone to guide me in the beginning.

I can't promise that one day will make you a successful creator. But I hope it will give you something I spent years searching for: a little more clarity, a little more confidence, and a place to begin.

I'd love to see you there.

Vanessa Vanessa Li · Founder, Creator Atelier