Today we’d like to introduce you to Rakim Thompson.
Hi Rakim, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I broke into social media marketing in the UK by helping my father take his barbering business online. What started as a side hustle quickly grew into East London’s first Black-owned barber supply service — and before long, we were shipping across the entire UK.
Hungry to level up, I moved to Atlanta and studied Entertainment Business and Marketing at SAE, sharpening my understanding of how creativity and commerce collide. From there, I worked with powerhouse agencies like Jackson Spalding, I Lab Deloitte, and Spoke Customs, managing corporate accounts and learning how big brands move.
But just weeks before COVID hit, I made the leap. I quit my job, bought a one-way ticket to the Netherlands, and carried nothing but faith, a single client paying me $1,000/month, and zero savings. During lockdown, I doubled down — signed up for Upwork, took role after role, and stacked win after win. My reputation grew, and soon I was recognized as a Top-Rated Social Media Manager.
After working with multiple agencies, I realized something: I was the one doing the heavy lifting. So I built something of my own. That’s how The REBL Brand LLC was born.
Since then, I’ve managed hundreds of accounts, scaled campaigns across industries, and built a six-figure agency — without ever hiring long-term employees. Instead, I’ve mastered the art of outsourcing and scaling lean.
Now, I’m taking things global. I’m building new projects designed to help businesses of every size harness the power of social media, AI, and strategy to scale faster, reach wider, and win bigger.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As smooth as running a business can be, it definitely wasn’t without its bumps. I didn’t have a team, investors, or anyone holding my hand — it was just me, faith, and the voices of virtual mentors like Gary Vee keeping me locked in. Hearing people like him made me fall in love with the struggle. I started looking at every obstacle as fuel, turning pressure into motivation, which helped smooth things out when times got heavy.
The truth is, the hardest part hasn’t been the strategy, the ads, or the content — it’s the people. Social media is a people business before it’s a marketing business. Learning how to manage different personalities, attitudes, and expectations has been the biggest challenge. But I’ve learned to navigate it with patience, communication, and boundaries.
Even when things get rough, I stay rooted in faith. That’s what keeps me pushing, knowing the bigger and better is always on the other side of the grind.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
First and foremost, I’m an artist and songwriter. That’s where my passion started. But I knew early on that if I wanted to really pursue my artistry, I couldn’t be confined to a 9–5. So I built an agency that lives inside the creative world, where all I need is a laptop and WiFi to make money. That freedom gave me the leverage to travel the world, create music, and still run a full marketing business at the same time.
Since leaving Atlanta, I’ve lived and worked across the UK, Europe, Dubai, Jamaica, Africa, and even Australia. I’m known for two things — my music and my marketing. Those are my two loves, and I’ve built my life so I never had to choose between them.
What really sets me apart is the lens I see the world through. I’m a global citizen — born in London with Jamaican roots, raised in America, then building in Europe and Dubai. My life experience is layered, and it’s given me a different kind of adaptability and perspective. Wherever I land, I know how to rise and make it work. That mix of artistry, strategy, and world experience gives me a flare you just don’t find everywhere.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Honestly, I never really had an outside mentor. My father, uncles, and aunts were all entrepreneurs, so that’s what I grew up seeing. They lived life on their own terms — traveling, running businesses, never clocking into a job — and from a young age I knew that’s the lane I wanted too.
Outside of that, I leaned heavy on online mentors. People like Gary Vee played a huge role in keeping me consistent and motivated, especially during the grind. Sometimes hearing those voices was the reminder I needed to keep pushing.
As for networking, what’s worked best for me is just moving with genuine energy. I love the hustle, so I show up, put in the work, and connect with people naturally. When you’re authentic and your grind matches your words, the right people end up finding you just as much as you find them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Reblai.io
- Instagram: @reblai.io
- Facebook: Rax Thompson
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rakimthompson
Image Credits
Malike Sidibe – 3 shots
Marco Milko – Single image
