Ladbroke Grove - with entrepreneur, public speaker, and strategist Isabel Sachs

Isabel Sachs is a D&AD and Lovie Award-winning entrepreneur, public speaker, and strategist, named one of Startups Magazine's 21 most influential women in business and one of The Dots' 100 women transforming the creative industry. Over 20+ years she's worked with brands and creatives to build communities through strategy, communications, and events, with keynotes and workshops for Apple, The New York Times, The British Museum, the V&A, and KFC.

She's the founder of I LIKE NETWORKING, the award-winning platform which has mentored 1000+ people to date. Before London, she ran an acclaimed cultural agency in Brazil and has worked with Converse, Red Bull, and Lollapalooza.

Isabel is Brazilian, has lived in just about every corner of London, and is completely obsessed with the city. She over-orders popcorn and candy, reads constantly, and will happily talk your ear off about reality TV and pop culture. She needs more Bravo fans, so if you're one of them, say hi.

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1. Where do you rest your head?

Ladbroke Grove. Since moving to London I've lived in East London, Bloomsbury, Mornington Crescent... but I've been in Ladbroke Grove the longest and I love it here. Sorry, West London haters. Trellick Tower looms over the whole area — that brutalist beast. Some love it, some can't stand it. And there's a good restaurant underneath it, for the record.

2. What's something amazing about your area that only the locals know about?

There used to be an amazing bookshop that was also a book agent, but it's now been sold and I was devastated. It's a Daunt Books now, which is fine, but I miss that place so much.

That said, it has GREAT places to eat. Lowry and Baker does the best avo toast in town, Golborne Deli is the vibe for wine, Layla does the best pastries, and there are two newsagents (here and here) that sell magazines from all over the world. I love that when I walk down the street I bump into people I know from the pub. We've got a TON of pubs nearby, from The Cow to Ladbroke Arms, which does some of the best pub food IMO.

When I first moved to the area I started boxing, in a parking garage that had been taken over by Box Clever (they've since moved). One day, lo and behold, David Beckham walked in. 

Also, everyone knows West London for Notting Hill Carnival, which is still very much alive. But our claim to fame is that Bob Marley recorded big chunks of his music right here at Basing Street Studios,  where a lot of Exodus came together in 1977. 

3. Where's your favourite free place to visit in the city?

The Serpentine Gallery. I'm a runner, so I love that I can do a loop of the park, stop to take in some art and keep going. Perfect.

4. And your favourite local spot for a cheap bite to eat?

Not technically local, but when I first moved to London and was staying East, I had lunch at the Bagel Shop every single day. Obsessed. At weekends though, the Acklam Village Market is right on my doorstep and the arepas are brilliant.

5. What would your perfect no-spend London day look like?

Make coffee and drink it in bed reading a book. Then a long run from Hyde Park all the way to Battersea Park - I love crossing that bridge. Stop at the Serpentine and the V&A on the way back. Keep an eye out for brand activations in Chelsea (there are often freebies - juice, coffee, once even ice cream). Borrow my neighbour's dog for a walk and some cuddles. Finish with drinks at a friend's or mine, watching terrible reality TV.

6. What made you decide to launch I Like Networking?

I tell people it started with a lot of Netflix and crying. It wasn't a grand plan at all. I lost my job in 2020 and had time on my hands, so I put together a small mentoring and networking idea as a one-off volunteer thing. And it just... kept going. One event turned into another, people started showing up, the ideas kept developing - and we ended up mentoring over 1,000 people.

7. Where's the most unexpected place you've found yourself networking in London?

Literally anywhere. I talk a lot. Buying coffee, browsing in a bookshop - some of my best connections have started in the most random places.

8. What's your top tip for someone who feels intimidated by networking?

Be interested, not interesting. If you're genuinely curious about people, that's all you need. You don't need to sell yourself - just start a conversation and see where it goes.

9. What's the latest hidden London gem you've discovered?

I'm a bit obsessed with The Cosmic House - it's wonderfully odd. And the tea room at the Wallace Collection is a dream. Neither are that recent a discovery, but both are very fun.

10. If you were Mayor of London, what's the first thing you'd change?

I'm not sure it's strictly a Mayor of London issue, but I'd want policymakers across the board to recognise the creative industries as the huge economic and innovation driver they are - and properly fund the schemes that support grassroots scenes and emerging talent at every age. That's how we keep the industry alive.

11. In three words, what makes someone a Londoner?

Openness - the best of London is how multicultural it is. Having a local pub and a local corner shop. And cycling for hours in the summer, across parks, to see your friends in the sun.

Follow Isabel on Instagram here and I Like Networking here.

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