51³Ō¹ĻĶų

Can you give us a potted overview of your career journey?

I'm originally from the Caribbean and moved to New York to study my undergraduate degree in accounting before settling in the UK. I started out in typical junior accountant roles, learning the ropes and gradually working my way to Head of Finance and VP Finance positions. While accounting is a vital function, I realised I was more drawn to forward-looking strategy. I wanted to help create the numbers, not just report on them!

That led me to work with for some large marketing agencies for a number of years, where I collaborated closely with client directors and creative teams to grow businesses from a financial perspective.

I knew I wanted to build something from scratch and bring it to the mass market, which sparked my interest in start-ups. I chose to do my Executive MBA at 51³Ō¹ĻĶų because of the focus on innovation and entrepreneurship. It was a life-changing experience and gave me the business foundation I needed to complement my financial background.

After completing my programme, I left my job to work directly with Tech startups and Iā€™ve been doing that for over ten years now. Finance has always been consistent throughout my career, whether itā€™s fundraising, revenue strategy, or using numbers to guide decision-making. I love how numbers can shape strategy and drive a business forward.

Iā€™d always had this nagging feeling to venture out on my own, even though it felt pretty scary! Now, as the founder of my own business, Iā€™m essentially doing what Iā€™ve always done from a financial and commercial perspective, just for earlier-stage companies. The biggest change in my role is that Iā€™ve found myself doing a lot of business mentoring and coaching. Based on the feedback, a lot of clients find this especially valuable as itā€™s a quick way to tackle business challenges as they happen.

When I think about my legacy, I want to help people be the best version of themselves, whether that is helping a direct reportā€™s growth, being a sounding board to the CEO, or mentoring a peer to reach their goals. That is where I find the greatest satisfaction.

The theme for Black History Month this year is ā€œStanding firm in power and prideā€. What are you most proud of?

A few years ago, I might have said I was most proud of something like closing a Series A or Series B fundraise, which are significant achievements. But when I reflect now, what stands out most are the people who I have been able to have a positive influence on. In my senior roles, Iā€™ve had junior staff members, often women, reach out to me and thank me for my support and guidance. Some have said that seeing me in a visible, senior position inspired them, or hearing about my ā€˜squigglyā€™ career path made them realise there isnā€™t just one way to succeed.

As a Black woman, what I am most proud of after 25 years in the workforce, is seeing more and more of my peers and young people feeling empowered to be their authentic selves. They all want to do a great job, but they no longer feel they need to adapt to someone elseā€™s persona in order to succeed.

Through my impact work, I aim to help more people embrace their authenticity. I feel proud that I can play a role in encouraging others to be themselves, and Iā€™m also proud of myself for having the courage to be my own authentic self ā€“ which has been a long journey. There have been times Iā€™ve been in a room where no one else looked or sounded like me, and I wondered if I should speak up. But Iā€™ve learnt that I deserve to be there, that I have a voice, and I am going to use it.

How do you think people in leadership positions can use their own power to empower others?

Listening is the first thing that jumps to mind. In senior leadership positions it can be easy to forget that you need feedback too. Leadership isnā€™t a one-way street where you say, ā€œweā€™re going to do everything my way.ā€ The best thing a leader can do is absorb from other people because that gives them a fuller perspective. Listening, in this sense, means truly understanding and respecting other peopleā€™s opinions, even if you donā€™t agree. Itā€™s about acknowledging that someone elseā€™s viewpoint is valid and true.

I spoke earlier about authenticity, and I think a good leader allows people to be themselves and doesnā€™t try to mould someone in a ā€˜mini-meā€™. Itā€™s important to understand that people donā€™t have to act like you or follow the same career path to be effective. We all come from different backgrounds, whether that is coming from a less privileged background or being the first in the family to go to university, and with that comes unique perspectives. Diversity of thought really helps businesses. If everyone thinks alike, you end up with blind spots and missed opportunities.

Mentoring is great, but I think sponsorship is more important. Leaders need to actively create opportunities, such as bringing junior colleagues into important meetings, giving them real projects, and supporting their growth in tangible ways. If we want more women in management, for example, we need to create environments where they can truly thrive.

And finally, be kind. You donā€™t know what someone is going through, and it costs nothing to be kind.

Can you tell us about any projects and initiatives you have been involved with which help break down barriers?

When I became a parent, I began to think even more about the impact I wanted to have on the world. I wanted my hard work to mean something. It was around the time of George Floydā€™s murder and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement that I really started to reflect more deeply and researched how I could get involved.

I got involved in a couple of social groups and early last year, and I came across the impact work of World Afro Day, which was founded byĢżMichelle De Leon. It resonated with me, especially because of my own journey. It wasnā€™t until was about 40 that I finally felt comfortable enough to wear my natural hair out in public.ĢżThere is so much history and pressure tied to the idea that to be seen as professional or attractive, your hair has to be long and straight. But thatā€™s not how my hair grows.ĢżSo many of us put damaging chemicals in our hair to fit a particular perception of beauty and it just felt wrong.

I also have a daughter. I tell her she can be anything she wants to be and teach her to love herself, but I realised I should be living that too. So, during Covid, I effectively shaved my head and embraced my natural hair, the way it grows from my head. Because thereā€™s nothing wrong with it.

Thatā€™s why I got involved with World Afro Day. Last year, I responded to a call for volunteer team members to support the mission, and since then, weā€™ve done some incredible things. One of the initiatives has been theĢżā€œFix the Law, Not Afro Hairā€Ģżcampaign, which calls for the Equality Act to explicitly include Afro hair as a protected characteristic. Weā€™ve been to Parliament on multiple occasions, hosted breakfast briefings and info sessions with MPs, and raised awareness about the discrimination people still face simply for wearing their natural hair. This campaign is still ongoing and is about removing ambiguity from the law so no one can hide behind outdated policies or biases.

We also recently set aĢżGuinness World RecordĢżfor the Largest Online Cultural Lesson in 24 Hours. It was a 30-minute session covering the history, science, texture, and cultural significance of Afro hair. And yes, we got the record but most importantly it was about the awareness. I remember one teacher telling me how excited her (predominantly white) students were to learn. Thatā€™s what itā€™s about - planting seeds early, so children grow up with understanding and treating each other with respect.

What action would you like to see taken to encourage more Black women to pursue a career in finance, business and technology?

More representation and visibility of people who are already doing it. Thatā€™s a big one.ĢżItā€™s about planting those seeds early.

I volunteered with UN Women UK recently and attended a conference where one of the delegates spoke about a campaign they had run. They brought tech into schools for young girls and made it relatable. This isnā€™t about saying, ā€œHereā€™s AI and neural networks,ā€ but rather, ā€œHereā€™s how you could use AI to create a podcast, solve a complex science problem or design a dressā€. Itā€™s about showing how tech is for everyone.

That idea of making things relatable really resonated with me, especially when I think about how my daughter engages with the world around her. She is growing up in a house with two entrepreneurs, and even though sheā€™s only eight, sheā€™s already talking about her own business ideas. One day, she told me she wanted to design a bubble machine and get her friends to test it out.ĢżAnd I thought to myself ā€œshe is presenting a business caseā€. That early exposure helps children understand and digest these concepts in a way that feels natural and exciting.

We also need to normalise entrepreneurship. When I was growing up, the path was: get a job and stay there for life. But the world has changed. We need to make it okay to take risks, to fail, to learn, and to try again.ĢżIf we normalise that mindset, more women will see entrepreneurship as a real option and pursue it.

ĢżAnd when they do enter these spaces, we need to make sure they feel like they belong. Creating inclusive environments where people feel seen and supported is just as important as getting them through the door.

Can you tell me about your entrepreneurial journey?

Like many people, Iā€™d always had that dream of starting something of my own. So I thought,Ģżā€œwhy not try it now?ā€.

Even though, on paper, Iā€™m doing the same kind of work I did before, I underestimated the reality of having toĢżsell. I know it sounds obvious, but when you come from a finance or accounting background, you donā€™t always realise how much work goes into marketing yourself and your services.

Entrepreneurship has been a masterclass in self-discovery. Itā€™s shown me that Iā€™m capable of far more than I thought. There were times in my career when I was in toxic environments, where people minimised my potential and didnā€™t give me a chance. But now, Iā€™ve realised just how many transferable skills I have.

That said, I donā€™t think anyone should go into entrepreneurship lightly. The uncertainty and the intermittent revenue stream - itā€™s not a joke! But, even if I eventually return to a full-time role, Iā€™ll take everything Iā€™ve learned with me.Ģż

And youā€™ve launched a podcast!

Yes! The podcast actually started as a way to get my voice out there and then I realised how much I enjoyed it.

I work with a lot of companies building AI and I can see first-hand how it integral it is going to be in the future. However, it dawned on me that a lot of people from underrepresented backgrounds, including those who look like me, may not be engaging in it as much as they should.

So, I started the podcast to raise awareness and make AI more accessible. I wrote an article on LinkedIn calledĢżā€œCould AI Be the Great Equaliser?ā€Ģżand recorded an episode on the same topic. My belief is that if we can harness AI we can help level the playing field. You can now launch a business with fewer resources, such as using AI to build a website or create marketing materials, all with minimal cost. The podcast has now evolved into a kind of mini masterclass series where I interview founders doing incredible things, share essential business, finance and entrepreneurial tips, and discuss practical applications of AI.

What advice do you have for students or fellow alumni?

My advice is to adopt a mindset of continuous learning. Never assume youā€™re the expert as there is always more to learn. Discover what you are passionate about and explore how you can build a career around it. It might sound like a clichĆ©, but I would say have confidence in yourself as you are a lot more capable than you think. Network, network, network! Talk to people, find out what excites them and what is interesting about their work. It might help you to discover your own passion.

Remember, thereā€™s no single path to success. Everyoneā€™s journey is different, and there are many ways to get from Point A to Point B. Embrace your unique route and keep learning along the way.Ģż