A word from our CEO
I’m thrilled to bring you the next instalment of the Global Expert Interview Series with Tre Lowe, a multifaceted expert known for his remarkable journey from the music industry to entrepreneurship and mentorship. You may recognize him as one of the contestants on the latest series of “The Apprentice,” where he will be battling for the title of Lord Sugar’s business partner.
Tre’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary. Before his appearance on “The Apprentice,” he achieved stardom as one half of the British garage band Architechs. Their hit track ‘Body Groove’ soared the UK chart and has over 100 million streams across all platforms. However, Tre’s aspirations stretch beyond the world of music. Beneath his cool exterior lies a passion for knowledge and innovation.
Tre Lowe is recognized as an award-winning Producer-Songwriter, Mentor, and Entrepreneur. His remixes have graced tracks by industry giants like Usher, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston. He is the founder of MBL Entertainment, a record label, and Alpha Clique, a Success Coaching & Consultancy company.
In this exclusive interview, Tre Lowe shares his insights into entrepreneurship, mentorship, and the importance of aligning personal values with business decisions. He discusses his experiences, challenges, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
You can also catch Tre Lowe in action on “The Apprentice 2024” series, with the first episode airing on Thursday, February 1, 2024, on BBC One.
Julia Ager
Jus Agency
Interview
Julia: Tre, thank you for joining us! Can you tell me what led you to become a passionate advocate for men’s mental health and well-being, and how has it shaped your career?
Tre: I’m proud to describe myself as a musician, wellness entrepreneur, mentor, and property investor. I talk a lot about men’s mental health and that’s come from my personal struggles with my own health and being paralysed at age 15. I’ve had to deal with lots of different health conditions such as tinnitus and Crohn’s Disease.
My journey has been shaped by both my successes and personal struggles. These experiences built my passion for advocating men’s mental health and well-being, which I frequently discuss on international media platforms. In the music industry, people have always been reluctant to share internal issues because it’s all about trying to look good, but I made a decision some years ago that all the challenges that I have been through, I have to share to make a difference. Today, music, wellness, and mentoring are integral to my life. I also wear the hat of a landlord and property investor, adding diversity to my portfolio.
What projects are you excited to be working on right now?
I’m excited about many things this year. One is music and the reason why that’s exciting is because for many years, I left the music behind in order to pursue mentoring and other projects. Then sadly, my brother who was the other half of our band Architects, passed away as one of the early victims of COVID in 2020. In his memory, we decided to re-release our hit song Body Groove (2021 tribute) in his honour. We’ve just surpassed 20 million streams on Spotify alone with track. Across all of the channels we’re on about 30 million.
What makes this so exciting is the promise I made to myself after my brother’s passing. I vowed to ensure that his legacy and our musical legacy are celebrated and never forgotten. We’ve just released some of the music my brother created before he died. I’ve been personally involved in giving it my unique touch to take it to the next level. Look out for the track on all platforms, the song is called Running on The Spot. This year is going to be crazy, I’ve got so much more music to release.
I’m also excited about a wellness project that I’m working on. I’m in the process of creating a product that provides the body with exactly what it needs to unlock its full potential without relying on anything artificial. I firmly believe in the body’s innate ability to heal itself using the natural resources and plants we have in this world. I’m not entirely against pharmaceuticals, I believe there’s a lot we can do to support our bodies before turning to pharmaceutical solutions.
I’m also excited to be creating a new multi-million pound property venture with my family based on my fathers property portfolio. My father, who arrived in the UK with very little in the early ’60s, was the only survivor among eight siblings. I’ve only lost one sibling and that broke me. I just don’t know how my dad did it. He’s one of my heroes and my first mentor in entrepreneurship. When he came to the UK he made some very smart property investments, and he’s now passing the torch to the next generation.
How has prioritising values and alignment impacted your business relationships and results?
A: As much as I love making money, I also value making a difference in as many lives as I can and working with people whose values align with mine. For me, it’s not just about the financial gain; it’s about being in sync with the people I work with. Let’s say there’s an opportunity that could potentially bring in millions, but it doesn’t align with my values, I’d walk away from it without hesitation. Sometimes, even if you can work with someone, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good fit, and such experiences can have a lasting impact. Sometimes you can work with people but it doesn’t work out and that can affect you forever. As an entrepreneur, money isn’t everything to me , peace of mind, purpose and well-being mean a lot more.
For instance, I love people who give back. I’m Nigerian and we love to make money, but I’m drawn to people who want to contribute, to give back, it may not always be with money but through sharing knowledge or experiences. In the end, we can’t take our wealth with us when we’re gone, and it often leads to disputes among relatives. I want my legacy to be about making a meaningful difference, and I prefer to surround myself with people who understand and resonate with that legacy, rather than those solely motivated by money.
I avoid getting involved with people whose values, integrity, and sense of purpose don’t align with mine. I want to understand their motivations, what drives them in their business, and why they believe my involvement is essential.
Why do you believe that everyone should embrace personal branding?
Personal branding wasn’t something I was into, especially during my time in the band. I didn’t have a desire to be in front of the camera or on social media. My fascination lay more with the people behind-the-scenes —the ones responsible for the music’s creation, production, and the entire process. Fame wasn’t something I actively pursued. Not that I’m not shy at all, I just always felt fame can be a massive headache!,But there are two ways to approach life: one from a self-centric perspective that can lead to playing life small, , and the other from a sense of purpose, aligning with your true potential – which is often scary, or uncomfortable. Most people tend to view life through the lens of self-doubt, scared of what others might think, or feeling that they are too small to make a real impact.
But when you shift your perspective to one of purpose, it changes the game. My purpose is to help people recognize their own greatness – so by default, I must also recognise my own talents. If I can make a greater difference being seen, being visible, then so be it. From that standpoint, I believe everyone should embrace personal branding, be seen, and be mindful of the impact they can have. In this busy world, being seen, especially as an entrepreneur, is often vital.
The very first thing is to get a good sense of who you are, and what your limitations are – this conversation with self can be brutal. But it is important to be truthful with yourself. You can’t build anything of power, on shaky foundations. Once I have gone through this process, what I call – Uncover, Discover, Create, I then move on to POWER.
Everybody has a potential of being more than whatever they are right now, most people are living tiny little versions of themselves, maybe tapping into 2% of what’s possible of themselves, rather than getting into the 80% and 90%. So if a personal brand is an extension of your biggest self, then everybody should be doing it.
Personal branding when looked at as an extension of your true self and purpose, becomes a powerful tool. There are some people who think they will not be able to have impact but forget that only one person needs to hear them. If they heard them, that person’s life could be different. That’s why purpose is everything to me.
What approach do you live by or teach to your mentorship clients that have the biggest impact?
A: It’s all about personal development, understanding yourself and what motivates you.. I’ve invested a great deal of time and money in my personal development training, especially because of my health challenges. I needed to become as strong as I possibly could because what I had to deal with was something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Also i’ve always wanted to maximise my potential to the fullest.
By ‘power’, I mean the following acronym:
- P for Purpose: Understanding your purpose, which should be about making a positive impact on others.
- O for Others: The people around you who can support your journey, your allies, early adopters, and advocates.
- W for Wellness: Taking care of your mind, body, and soul; a healthy foundation is essential.
- E for Execution: Whether it’s through projects, social media, word of mouth, advertising, or public speaking.
- R for Responsibility: Taking ownership and responsibility for your brand and its impact.
I believe in the power of word of mouth and personal recommendations. When it comes to advertising and getting your message out there, be relentless. Speak, share, network, and promote your personal brand, service or new products wherever you can. Look for opportunities that align with your values and positioning.
It’s important to stay true to yourself and ensure your personal brand is truly congruent with who you are. C. Also be resilient, be willing to grow. Even if something feels daunting, it’s an opportunity to dig deep and overcome your obstacles. People like Stephen Bartlett, Will.i.am, Akon, Kim Kardashian and KSI are perfect examples of people who have leveraged their personal brands with power. They may have started in one field but expanded into others.
I ultimately teach my clients to be relentless in pursuit of being all they were born to be. To leave no stone unturned, to unleash every ounce of their talent and abilities. To live life like its their last year on earth, fearlessly, safe in the knowledge that the only failure is a life led in the comfort zone.
Who has influenced your journey and what have you learned from them?
One of the most influential figures on my journey has been my dad. Growing up in London, especially as a young black male, I was fortunate to have a father who was not only present but also successful in his own way. My dad’s tenacity left a lasting impression on me.
My dad worked for British Railways on borderline minimum wage while raising six children, demonstrating tenacity throughout his life. He saved every penny he could, invested in properties, even though sometimes tenants didn’t pay, and never gave up. This level of tenacity, born out of his own struggles, has been a guiding principle for me.
My dad also instilled in me the idea of not blaming external factors for your failures. He could have blamed his skin colour, lack of money, being Nigerian, but he didn’t. He believed that success came from taking action, regardless of the circumstances. This mindset taught me not to give up, no matter the challenges I face. I don’t blame anything or anyone for my failures. I am ultimately, even if it may seem like life has dealt hard cards. I could blame my health and a lot of things but I don’t give a damn about those things. It may be tough but deal with it, decide you’re going to be tenacious, and do not give up. If something isn’t working, you might need to pivot or scrap it – fail fast, as they say. Don’t be embarrassed by that. But you keep moving forward and do it to the day you die.
Also my entrepreneurial journey has taught me the importance of clearing the weeds around you. Some family and friends, often unknowingly, can hold you back. They may see your ambitions as too risky or unrealistic. It doesn’t mean cutting off your family. But you have to dial down that noise. When people are telling you your best interest because they see you as some sort of limitation but you have to see yourself as unlimited and be willing to fail.
Taking risks and being willing to fail is part of entrepreneurship, and I have failed so many times in my life. I’m going to keep failing in my life. But that’s the beauty of success. You can only be successful if you’ve failed, or you’ve studied someone else that’s failed.
Are there any books, podcasts or recommendations you have for businesses looking to grow?
Here are a few:
- “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill: This classic book is a must-read for entrepreneurs full of valuable insights and wealth building strategies.
- “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki: Most people don’t have a rich dad. Most people have a poor dad or no dad so it’s important to learn these tricks that are not taught in school
- “Diary of a CEO” Podcast by Steven Bartlett: I listen to this podcast religiously. It’s one of the best entrepreneurial self development type podcasts. Steven Bartlett is one of the most inspirational young people for someone younger might be listening to this. He’s an example of someone that just doesn’t give up. He made his millions, he’s carried on, he’s making a difference. He inspires millions.
- I actually also LOVE 50 Cents motivational book – Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter.
Finally I believe having a coach or mentor is very important because we don’t know it all and there’s no point in making the same mistakes that someone else has really made. We should learn from others and have a coach or mentor to guide you in some way, shape or form.
You’re currently a contestant on The Apprentice UK, how are you feeling about the show and is there anything you can share about the experience?
I can’t share too much about the show, for obvious reasons, but I do want to say the experience of the show has had me grow in ways I could never have imagined. I feel like I have grown 10 feet taller. The show isn’t just a business challenge, it is more accurately a mental resilience and mindset challenge. It is amazing what can be achieved with very little time, very little sleep, relying on a team of people you’ve only just met. I am so grateful for the opportunities the show has given me to not only showcase my talents and abilities, but also to inspire so many others. It’s great people reaching out to me, or stopping me on the street. All the blood, sweat and tears has been worth it. It’s precisely why I tell my clients to keep reaching, keep soaring, never give up. Who knows what is possible.
Amazing, thank you and best of luck on the show!
Find and follow Tre on Instagram and through his website. Tune in to watch Tre on The Apprentice on BBC One.
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About Jus Agency
Jus Agency is an international marketing agency that helps clients to grow, scale, and launch their businesses through a variety of services, including Fractional CMO services, Strategic Marketing and Expert Team Hires. Our mission is to help our clients achieve their business goals and realize their full potential.
To learn more about all the ways we can help you grow your business, head to www.jusagency.com or get in touch julia@jusagency.com
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