At the risk of sounding totally bonkers, I was excited to be back at the ExCel for another networking event and game-changing conversations. Thanks to Michelle Raymond. I haven’t felt this level of excitement since I got my first batch of business cards.
In a world where it’s easier to see others as competitors instead of collaborators, a world where scarcity is more common than abundance. Events like these bridge the gap. Where you mix, connect and hang out with others who share and champion your ambition.
With a stellar lineup of speakers, it goes without saying there were a few mic-drop moments 🎤
Key takeaways:
- Do your research, be intentional with your strategy and distinguish yourself. BE the only one in the room. Stand out so you get noticed.
- Certification is key.
- Build a team if you want to work with Tier 1 corporates to mitigate risk. If you can’t deliver a project because you fall ill, your team can step in.
- Give before you ask: networking is about building relationships. Offer help, share resources, or provide value before asking for anything in return.
Billion Dollar Roundtable – a non-profit that recognises and celebrates organisations that achieved spending $1 billion partnering with diverse-owned suppliers.
Krystle Sands from Meta emphasied using your network strategically and doing your due diligence when approaching corporates by understanding their needs.
- What are you buying right now?
- What are some of the challenges that you’re finding within your departments, with your teams?
Then tailor your approach to match their needs.
Expanding Horizons – An Inside Look
A panel of female powerhouses scaling business heights, sharing their insights. Because at the end of the day, we want to hear from impactful individuals sharing real stories, real experiences.
Annemarie Lewis OBE & Yanmo Adetula – the importance of picking the right mentor, because their reputation carries weight. Build your network before you need it.
Claudine Reid MBE– expand your network and find new audiences. A great example she gave was to speak to your accountant they have a huge network you could tap into.
Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE – You have to have skin in the game, do the work. Be magnetic and visible, stand out on LinkedIn. And don’t be disappointed if you don’t win the pitch.
“Don’t be bitter be better“
And there was me thinking networking was a bunch of suits in stuffy hotel meeting rooms handing out business cards like candy on Halloween night.
The Only One
When I joined Midland Bank in 1989 (pre-HSBC) at the start of my corporate journey I was the only one—the only brown skin girl in the office. It didn’t bother me. I thought I’d lucked out to get a job in a bank. I was ambitious and eager to climb the corporate ladder.
DEI wasn’t the hot topic it is these days. It’s encouraging to see how far it has come. But it’s not the system that changed it’s when the people decided to change—to make the playing field more equitable, fairer and inclusive with better-educated leaders and advocates with the cultural intelligence to mix and do business across borders. And I champion the women flying the DEI flag the likes of Samantha Lubanzu, Michelle Raymond, Reshma Sheikh.
And here I am decades later to hear Anna Richardson talk about the programme HSBC runs that helps diverse suppliers get pitch-ready. As I sat listening to her I felt a tinge of pride that my former employer was the Exclusive Headline Partner and Sponsor of the event.
Championing Diverse Perspectives and Leading with Curiosity
If I look like you and I sound like you guess what? Nothing changes. Your results will stay the same. Diversity of thought is a key business skill that promotes personal & professional growth. It’s what makes you stand out from your competitors.
- I want to be in a room where my views are challenged.
- Where my perspective is changed.
- Where I’m thinking bigger and making bolder decisions.
Why?
Because in the words of Karren Brady…
“If you risk nothing, you risk everything”.
Playing safe and not colouring outside the box leads to an unfulfilled life. When your life flashes before your eyes, don’t be the person who didn’t nurture their relationships, missed opportunities and let their dreams die. You deserve to be unreasonably happy. So have the courage and confidence to ask BIG.
Russian Nesting Dolls
As a coach, I have to be mindful of the language I use—namely the use of acronyms. A tip I picked up from DEI expert Samantha Lubanzu on one of her trainings.
You’ve already had me in a box so now you want to put me in another box? Until you feel like a Russian Nesting Doll—unstack one then another then another till you’re left with the tiniest of dolls and realise oh I’m human first—the only label that matters. I’m not a minority, I’m the majority.
DEI is about fostering talent, innovation and growth for the greater good. Please don’t let anyone put you in a box or edit yourself to someone else’s version of what is right ‘n proper so you can *fit in*. Instead, be authentically rebellious. Learn to stand up and amplify your voice.
Global Diversity Awareness Month
Is there something in the air? Or is the universe sending us a clear message to sit up and listen?
Not only was it UK Black Business Week, but October is also Global Diversity Month and next month Michelle Raymond is running the Diverse Business Summit https://lnkd.in/e6xxf7Zs. Where you can network and build relationships with industry giants.
Michelle is relentless in her pursuit of helping diverse suppliers, especially women, secure lucrative and rewarding contracts with top-notch corporates. She’s the “corporate whisperer” or the “connectpreneur”—the person who’s in front of the people who are going to hire you. It’s like having a VIP backstage pass. The skills, network and opportunities she presents, whether in-person or virtual are staggering.
There’s also a great e-book compiled by Lucy Brazier OBE that you can download. Covering a cross-section of articles on topics ranging from resolving conflict to fostering belonging to insights on combating ageism, gender bias, and more.
I tick a few of those boxes: but the one I want to talk about is ageism.
Good Girls Don’t Change The World
I’m an expert on reinvention having been through a few life transitions. And one of the biggest ones was starting a business in my 50s after 29 years in corporate. Women are smashing the age ceiling in their careers and businesses and reinventing themselves—take Trinny Woodall who started Trinny London at 53.
If women like us are willing to break societal norms, we deserve all the support we can get. It takes guts to step out on your own and not be afraid to take risks. Be a rule breaker, be the first, and don’t accept no as an answer.
And let’s throw this into the mix…
What can a blind black woman achieve?
This 👇
DEI in the Workplace and Beyond
Your personal brand says a lot about your values and your cultural intelligence.
I’m passionate about three things: people, places and purpose:
- people – it’s my job
- places – I’m a travel junkie
- purpose – it’s why we’re here
And when you combine all three, you have a culturally curious and creative problem solver.
I attribute a lot of my skills to the life experiences I have had most notably with travelling and my background working for global law firms.
I’ve encountered many cultures on my travels where I’ve seen things that I don’t agree with, especially regarding the treatment of women and girls. But one of the focuses of my travels is to be more culturally aware of the world I live in. To be more accepting and less judgy by challenging my subconscious programming.
A company culture where candidates came from different walks of life enriched my legal career and I made friends for life. From India to Australia to South Africa, Dubai, Singapore to the Cayman Islands. The most potent DEI policy is where you embody it in your personal life.
Your perspective expands in ways you couldn’t imagine. You broaden your business, your horizons, and your network. Your connections can open doors to new markets and endless opportunities.
So when you’re next tendering your services to be on the legal panel for a Japanese bank. Spice it up with some small talk on the sweet subject of Ikigai, and see where the conversation takes you. It’s not just about sealing the deal. It’s about creating connections that go beyond the boardroom.
Save this article and let me know what stands out for you.
“Be the change you want to see in the world” – Gandhi
