Experience the captivating journey of Christopher Ward, founder of Model Strangers, as he unveils the power of human connection through street photography. In this episode, Ward shares his unique upbringing in apartheid South Africa, the birth of his mission to capture the essence of humanity, and the transformative lessons he's learned from interacting with strangers on the streets. Dive into his natural ability to forge meaningful bonds, overcome challenges, and find joy in the moments that make us come alive. Ward's story is a testament to the impact of empathy, kindness, and embracing our common humanity. Join us for this inspiring conversation that celebrates the stories that shape us and promote understanding among people.

In this episode of 'Stories That Shape Us', our host Samuel Agbede sits down with Niyi Oludipe, Director of Shepha Properties. The conversation ranges from Niyi's journey of moving from Nigeria to the UK, overcoming numerous challenges to establish himself in a new country and his eventual success in the property sector. He freely shares his personal struggles, life-changing decisions, the role of his faith and the importance of persistence. Niyi also reveals how books and biographies have been crucial in influencing his mindset. The episode climaxes with discussions about setting up Shepha Properties, the lessons learned and the satisfying feeling of creating high-quality homes for families.

Join us on this interesting conversation with David Forrest, a writer, software engineering tech lead, and a PhD holder in Experimental Particle Physics as he shares his experiences, life lessons, and perspectives. We delved into a variety of topics, circling the themes of self-worth, heart attitudes, diverse cultural appreciation, and love.

Join us on this insightful conversation with Ken Nwokoroafor, a leading voice in the personal finance space, and the author of the book ‘Financial Joy: Banish Debt, Grow Your Money and Unlock Financial Freedom in 10 Weeks’. In this episode, we dive deep into the personal stories that have shaped him.

Ken shares his journey from humble beginnings to financial independence and the pivotal moments that have defined his path. From growing up in Nigeria to moving to the UK and facing financial challenges, Ken's story is one of resilience, determination, and self-awareness. He shares how he overcame debt and financial struggles, and how he and his wife Mary founded "The Humble Penny" to help others achieve financial independence and create financial joy in their lives. Tune in to discover the lessons Ken has learned along the way, including the power of prioritizing values, the importance of investing in self-education, and the mindset shifts needed for financial abundance. Whether you're looking to take control of your finances or seeking inspiration to pursue your dreams, this episode offers valuable insights and practical tips for creating a life that truly matters.

In this episode, our host, Samuel interviews Jimmy, a military veteran with 26 years of service. Jimmy shares valuable insights, life lessons, and stories from his time in the military, highlighting the values of discipline, courage, respect, and the misconceptions surrounding the military. He discusses the challenges of transitioning to civilian life and the importance of gratitude and personal growth. This engaging conversation delves into the impact of family togetherness, the power of storytelling, and the significance of seeking new experiences and perspectives in life. Join us as we explore Jimmy's journey and the stories that have shaped him.

Join us as we sit down with Tabitha Nyariki, a Kenyan-born advocate for child literacy and racial equality. Get to know Tabitha as she shares her life story, from her childhood in Kenya to her inspiring journey of founding the NGO Kosi Africa . From her mother's influence that shaped her childhood to her experiences in student politics, you'll hear Tabitha recount her life with honesty and wisdom. Listen in as Tabitha recounts her experiences living in different countries, and how each of these experiences helped shape her into the person she is today.

Tabitha also shares her unique insights into the complex issues of racism and equality. Hear from her firsthand about the practical ways to tackle racism and the importance of educating oneself. Be inspired by her work in the charity space and the difficulties she had to overcome in starting an NGO.

Finally, in this conversation, Tabitha talks about her personal struggles and how she learned to find motivation despite her failures. From her move from Mauritius to Glasgow to her experiences in student politics, listen to her reflect on the life lessons she has learned along the way. So, tune in to this inspiring conversation with Tabitha and be inspired by her journey, passion, and resilience

Join us on this deep conversation with Tolulope Oke, Global Head of Diversity At Diageo and Multi-Award Winning Diversity Champion where we discuss everything from the people who have had an impact on her life’s story to pivotal moments in her career to lessons she’s learnt from growing up as a minority in the United Kingdom.

More specifically, in this episode, we spoke about:

• Her faith and the impact of her faith on her life’s journey

• The necessity of being kind to yourself and healing from the past

• Dealing with grief

• The importance of role models in shaping the next generation and closing the generational wealth gap

• Being true to yourself and not defining ourselves by other people’s expectations

Tolu ends this episode by saluting other black women for their strength, resilience, and contributions to society. She reminds listeners to embrace their own journey and to be proud of their accomplishments.

In this episode, our host, Sam interviews Dr. Nike Folayan, a Chartered Engineer and the co-founder of the Association for Black and Minority Engineers (AFBE). As part of the Black History Month theme of celebrating sisters, they discuss Dr. Nike's journey and her work in advocating for diversity in the engineering industry.

Dr. Nike shares her insights on the importance of courage and kindness in making a difference. She emphasizes the need to stand up for what you believe in and the value of having a strong support system. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by change-makers and the significance of staying true to oneself while navigating societal pressures.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Nike's personal experiences and beliefs shine through. From being inspired by her mother's bravery and confidence to drawing strength from her faith, she shares how these influences have shaped her determination and commitment to making a positive impact.

Join Sam and Dr. Nike as they explore the power of courage, kindness, and finding one's identity in this thought-provoking conversation.

In this episode, we sit down with Peace Itimi, the founder of FoundersConnect, a platform that documents the African tech startup landscape and stories of founders on the continent.

Peace shares impactful anecdotes from her life and the key takeaways that have helped her grow. She emphasises the importance of failure as a learning opportunity and how it can lead to growth and feedback. Her journey is a reminder that success is not always a straight line, and that it's okay to take risks and learn from those experiences.

In this interview, Peace further talks about the phrase "do it afraid" and how it has become a mantra for her. For Peace, "doing it afraid" means acknowledging and feeling the fear and anxiety that comes with taking risks, but still pushing forward and taking action. She emphasizes that fear is a natural response, but it shouldn't stop you from pursuing your goals and dreams.

In this episode, we have an amazing guest, Ollie Folayan, a chartered process engineering consultant, visiting professor at the University of Dundee, and an award-winning diversity champion. Ollie shares personal stories on his family background, faith and upbringing. He further shares his experiences with racial discrimination and how it has shaped his career and advocacy work.

Ollie emphasizes the importance of community in professional development and how it can help individuals overcome barriers and achieve success. He also provides insights on creating effective initiatives for promoting diversity and inclusion in organizations.

This podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Ollie's insights and experiences provide valuable lessons on how to overcome barriers and achieve success in the face of discrimination. Tune in to this episode to learn more about the importance of community, education, and research in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Bayile is a social entrepreneur and project manager with 12 years of experience in the hospitality industry in various roles in marketing,operations and consulting.

Bayile’s experiences led her to start Dechomai in 2015; a social enterprise empowering Black and Minority Ethnic communities with leadership and entrepreneurial skills so they can be financially independent.

Dechomai’s mission is to stimulate a vibrant entrepreneurship eco-system within Ethnic minority communities.

https://dechomai.co.uk (https://dechomai.co.uk/)

Bayile has a passion for developing and coaching black and ethnic minority youths into leaders and change makers and serves on the Advisory Board of many BME businesses as well as being President for the Scottish Women in Business (SWIB), Young Enterprise Scotland Alumni Board member, Women’s Enterprise Scotland Ambassador.

Bayile sits on the NSET Programme 1 Board and Scottish Government steering committee for social Enterprise, and Co-chair for Social Enterprise Equalities subgroup

Wuraola Oyewusi is a Data Scientist, Technical Instructor and Pharmacist, a passionate professional committed to advancing Artificial Intelligence practice. She has held roles in AI Research as a Researcher(Data Science and Data Curation) at the Imperial College London and previously Led Research and Innovation at Data Science Nigeria.

Her research interest is in Natural Language Processing and she has also been in the forefront of the unstructured data application and open source access, especially in the area of health and language. She is the Author and Instructor of the ⁠⁠Hand-on Natural Language Processing⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Advanced AI: NLP techniques for Clinical Datasets⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ Hands-On Data Science and AI for Healthcare⁠⁠ courses on LinkedIn Learning, contributed to the Springer ⁠⁠AI in Medicine⁠⁠ Textbook and teaches Tech in Yoruba on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. You can follow her research⁠⁠ publications⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠medium blog⁠⁠"

Ebuka Mordi is a creative fashion and commercial photographer based in Nigeria. His work has featured in Vogue Italia and he currently advises Adobe on their Lightroom suite. Ebuka's remarkable journey started several years ago when he picked up his iPod and started to shoot photos with it.

Ebuka's journey into photography, as you would discover in this episode is not just about capturing beautiful images; it's a journey of self-discovery. Throughout the episode, he shares personal stories that offer a glimpse into his stories of growth. Listen in as he recounts the moment his talent was recognized, the initial struggles of turning a hobby into a successful business, and how he overcame the obstacles on his path.

As we venture into Ebuka's creative world, he provides insights on how he continues to drive progress in his craft, including his ventures into teaching Skillshare classes, running a YouTube page, and even selling NFTs. What stands out to me in Ebuka's story is the importance of authenticity, consistency and staying true to your creative vision. Join us on this fascinating journey and be inspired by Ebuka's story.

Sir Geoff Palmer is Scotland’s first Black Professor and is Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University. He was knighted by the Queen in 2014. His groundbreaking work, the barley abrasion process has revolutionised the world of brewing and has earned him the ⁠⁠American Society of Brewing Chemists⁠⁠ Award of Distinction, considered the "⁠⁠Nobel prize⁠⁠ of brewing".

Sir Geoff was also recently honoured by King Charles with his portrait which is on public display at Edinburgh’s royal palace as part of celebrating the Windrush Generation. The special display commemorates the positive contributions these pioneering men and women have made to the United Kingdom. In this reflective and historically-rich conversation, we discussed Sir Geoff's journey, upbringing, pivotal moments in his life, the famous “Barley Abrasion” process, and what advice he would give to younger people looking to get involved in activism and science.

Growing up with hardworking parents who instilled the value of diligence, our remarkable guest - Sofiat has dedicated her life to making a difference in the world. This has shown in her founding ⁠⁠Computer Science Academy Africa (CSAAfrica)⁠⁠ - an initiative aiming to provide young Africans in STEM with access to quality computer science education and her numerous speaking/mentoring involvements. She also founded the Nigerian Student Society at the University of Glasgow. Sofiat's passion for helping others (particularly through CSAAfrica) has led to her being awarded the Future World Changer Award by the University of Glasgow. In this episode, we explore her upbringing, pivotal moments and why she believes in giving back to others. Her dedication to teaching, community outreach, and creating positive change is truly inspiring.

Sofiat takes us behind the scenes of running an organisation such as CSAAfrica and one highlight was her candid explanation that the journey wasn't always easy. She feels grateful that she kept on going.

Finally, we discuss the importance of self-care and balance while striving to help others. Our guest shares their insights on setting boundaries, prioritizing wellbeing, and recognising one's strengths and resources when setting goals. Don't miss this inspiring episode as we uncover the power of kindness, determination, and the pursuit of making a positive impact in the world.

Join us for an interesting and fun conversation with our guest, Dami, as we uncover the power of competence in building confidence and the impact of leaving a positive legacy. Through Dami's story of resilience and resourcefulness as a Nigerian immigrant in the UK, discover how his journey, at different times driven by faith, family, and personal growth, led him to overcome challenges and to create a career for himself.

Dive into the heart of Dami's immigrant experience, from culture shock to the struggle for work opportunities, and how his determination transformed a lack of resources into newfound skills. We discuss the significance of developing transferable skills and humbly embracing opportunities for learning and growth, all while keeping one's ego in check. Learn how Dami's people skills and focus on personal development allowed him to transition into a new career and make informed decisions.

In this episode, we share valuable insights on humility, breaking goals down into manageable stages, and the importance of focusing on personal development. Listen in as Dami's story encourages you to embrace the power of competence, religious tolerance, and the pursuit of a lasting legacy.

On this episode of Stories That Shape Us, Enoch Adeyemi shares insightful stories on varying topics from the impact of his upbringing on him to the importance of dreaming big dreams and surrounding yourself with the right company to overcoming challenges while climbing the corporate ladder amongst other topics. He further talks about how gratitude has played a big role in his giving back to the community. Enoch also talks about ⁠Black Professionals Scotland⁠ - including the challenges he faced in the beginning and why he believes in the mission. Enoch ends this episode with gratitude for his family - parents, wife and other people who have played a big role in his life.

Join us on this inspiring episode as we sit down with Odinaka, a learning and development professional and transformation catalyst. Listen in as Odinaka shares her work-related experiences, her mission of personal transformation, and her founding of the Graduate Journey Podcast. We cover a wide range of topics and learn about Odinaka's story in this engaging conversation.

Odinaka discusses her role as a transformation catalyst and how she uses various mediums, such as writing and speaking to young adults, to inspire and empower others in their personal journey. We also talk about her co-founding of Sharing Life Africa, an organization that aims to provide access to quality education for children. One of her favourite initiatives at the organization focuses on the Cash Transfer Program, which provides cash and training to women in the community, allowing them to start businesses, support their families, and send their children to school.

Throughout the episode, we touch on Odinaka's passion for education and her commitment to making a lasting impact in the sector. She shares her experience teaching in a rural community in Nigeria and how she was inspired to co-found an amazing company in the education space. We also explore her transition to the University of Pennsylvania for her Masters, her struggles adjusting to a new environment, and her experience starting a podcast to share her journey. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to hear Odinaka's story and learn from her wisdom and experiences.

Join us on this fun conversation with Adora, a software engineer at Microsoft, founder of NexaScale and author of the newly released book “Beginning Azure Devops”. We talked about her upbringing, and her family's impact on her life. She talked about dealing with the pressures of people looking up to her, how she structures her time to be more effective and some of the lessons she has learnt in juggling a busy but productive life.

Join us on this deep, enlightening and emotional conversation with Henry Anumudu about his life's stories, upbringing, pivotal moments, what excellence means to him, lessons from working to improve education in under-served communities and dealing with grief.