Social Media Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Natasha August Of RM11 Is Helping To Change Our World
Make decisions for where you’re going, not where you are.”
Future-proof your choices, even when you’re still scrappy.
As a part of our series about social media stars who are using their platform to make a significant social impact, we had the pleasure of interviewing Natasha August. Natasha August is the founder of RM11 and a Dallas-based multi-hyphenate entrepreneur redefining premium digital connections. Inspired by the elegance of a luxury hotel, RM11 transforms creators into “hosts” and admirers into “guests,” offering secure, intimate, and elevated one-on-one experiences through private digital rooms. Female-founded and led, RM11 empowers hosts with industry-leading tools and provides guests with exclusive access and concierge-level service, setting a new standard for meaningful online engagement.
Thank you so much for joining us! Can you share the most interesting story that has happened to you since you began this career?
One of the most interesting, and honestly wildest moments of my journey with RM11 happened when I booked a last-minute, 24-hour trip to Bogotá, Colombia — to meet someone I had never met in person. I had only spoken with this person over Zoom after he sent a cold outreach email asking if RM11 was hiring. He lived in Canada but happened to be in Bogotá for a conference. I felt such a strong instinct that he was meant to play a pivotal role in RM11’s story that I bought a ticket that same night and flew down 2 days later. We sat in a café for three hours, talking about the creator economy, the lack of protection for creators, and the need for platforms with integrity. By the time I flew home, he had joined the company. That trip reminded me that building something meaningful requires boldness–and sometimes a passport.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? What lesson did you learn from that?
Early on, I once sent a full internal strategy memo, complete with comments, tracked changes, and sarcastic notes, to a creator we were courting. I somehow attached the wrong version of the document. To my shock, they LOVED the transparency, even joking that it felt like watching the director’s cut of the company. The lesson? Authenticity is disarming. People gravitate toward what feels human and honest. It reinforced my belief that people don’t want overly polished perfection–they want clarity, realness, and people who care.
Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
Failure isn’t a wall, it’s a compass. If you’re in the creator economy, tech, or any innovative space, you must rewire your relationship with risk. My advice: Get comfortable being uncomfortable. The moments that make you nervous are usually the exact moments that move the needle. Build resilience like a muscle. Surround yourself with people who believe in your vision even when you momentarily forget it. And remember, every successful founder you admire has failed more times than you know.
Can you describe how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?
RM11 empowers social media stars, influencers, and creators (including AI models) to connect more intimately and safely with their communities — on their own terms. We created a platform where creators can keep more of their earnings, maintain control over their identity and content, and engage with their followers in ways that feel most natural to them whether that’s through posting content, live streaming, chatting, or video calling. By elevating creators’ autonomy and reshaping how communities interact, we’re changing the narrative from “creators are products” to “creators are people with value, boundaries, and influence.”
Can you tell us a story about an individual who was impacted by this cause?
One creator joined RM11 after being burned by another platform — hidden fees, withheld payouts, false/misleading promotions, and intrusive demands that made her feel more exploited than empowered. Within her first month on RM11, she told us it was the first time she genuinely felt a true ‘creator-first’ experience — something most platforms promise but rarely deliver. For the first time in a long time, she felt seen, supported, and valued rather than commodified. Her healing and growth reinforced why RM11 exists.
Was there a tipping point that made you decide to focus on this particular area?
Yes, speaking with an influencer who had an extremely negative experience on a fansite platform. She was misled, mistreated, and made to feel like her voice didn’t matter. She said she was treated more like a product than a person. Listening to her describe being taken advantage of was the moment I knew we needed to build something better. Not “slightly better,” but fundamentally different — transparent, humane, respectful. That conversation became one of the moral anchors of RM11.
Are there three things the community/society can do to help address the root problem you’re trying to solve?
- Stop giving away content for free.
Creators work hard. Social platforms have conditioned people to expect endless content at no cost, but your creativity is valuable.
- Treat your time like a currency.
Show up where you’re respected, not where you’re drained.
- Stop letting brands define your worth.
Creators should shape their own value, not chase someone else’s metric based on the algorithm’s of someone else’s balance sheet.
Why do you think social media has the power to create social change and positive impact?
Social media collapses distance. It lets individuals share their stories instantly, build communities around shared values, and mobilize people at a scale that used to require institutions. When creators use their influence intentionally, and are given tools to communicate authentically, the ripple effects can touch millions.
5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Started (and why)
1. “Speed is important, but clarity is more powerful.”
I once rushed a rollout because I wanted to “move fast.” We then spent months cleaning up confusion. Clarity saves time.
2. “You won’t have all the answers — hire people who know what you don’t.”
I learned quickly that leadership is about orchestration, not omniscience.
3. “Make decisions for where you’re going, not where you are.”
Future-proof your choices, even when you’re still scrappy.
4. “Protect your energy like a business asset.”
Burnout doesn’t just slow you down — it clouds your judgment.
5. “No one cares about your idea as much as you do, and that’s okay.”
Your job is to champion your vision until others can see it. Passion is contagious when you stay consistent.
If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, what would it be?
It sounds simple — we’re taught it as children — but somewhere along the way many people forget it: treat others how you want to be treated. I would love to inspire a movement centered around genuine empathy. A movement that reminds people to be kind, to show up authentically, and to remember that everyone is carrying something you can’t see. In business, in content creation, and in everyday life, a little compassion goes much further than we realize.
Who would you love to have a power lunch with, and why?
I have two I couldn’t choose from….. Ben Horowitz. He’s a master at scaling companies while keeping culture and vision intact. For RM11, his insights on leadership, growth, and navigating tough decisions would be invaluable. Running a creator-first platform in a heavily saturated market comes with unique challenges — protecting creators, building trust and credibility, and staying mission-driven — and a conversation with him could help shape how we grow responsibly and differentiate ourselves from other paywall sites all while empowering our community. What fascinates me is how he navigates the hardest parts of leadership — the decisions no one talks about publicly — and comes out with a company that thrives.
MrBeast. He’s the perfect example of a modern creator who built a global business empire by staying true to his community. What fascinates me most about him isn’t just the scale of his audience… it’s his obsession with reinvesting in his craft, understanding what people value, and using creativity to build real-world impact. He represents the future of the creator economy: someone who proved that creators aren’t just entertainers, they’re entrepreneurs, innovators, and brand owners. A conversation with him would be invaluable for RM11, because our mission is to give creators more ownership, more safety, and more control. He’s living proof of what’s possible when a creator is empowered to build without limitations.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Readers can visit our website at rm11.com or follow us on social media @RM11_official
Thank you so much for your time! This was very inspiring!
Social Media Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Natasha August Of RM11 Is Helping To Change… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.