Leaders who don’t match
In 2003, when Liverpool was awarded the European Capital of Culture 2008, I couldn't have imagined how that moment would shape my future. As a teenager, I took part in a public speaking competition where hundreds of young children across Merseyside schools competed to represent Liverpool in international events to promote this. The competition challenged us to answer the question "What does Liverpool mean to you?", my topic was deeply personal: it focused on the fear I carried as an ambitious young Black girl who couldn't see many people who looked like me in the positions I dreamed of reaching.
I won the competition and an opportunity to travel to Illinois, USA to promote Liverpool – a city full of promise.
Despite the University of Liverpool's incredible faith in selecting me as a cultural ambassador, I couldn't help but notice the scarcity of black women in leadership roles.
That experience taught me two crucial lessons. First, the transformative power of having institutions believe in you – the University of Liverpool's investment in young voices like mine planted seeds of ambition that continue to bloom.
Second, the vital importance of becoming the representation I wished to see.
Today, my work as a coach and mentor to young Black professionals stems directly from that teenage fear and observation. Every time I guide a mentee, I'm fulfilling a promise I made to that ambitious teenager who craved role models. I have spent the last 12 years building a career I am proud of and moved around the country and other continents, but my heart remains rooted in Liverpool, where I'm committed to creating the change I once sought.
Diversity in leadership isn't just about statistics – it's about ensuring no ambitious young person has to fear that their dreams are impossible due to their identity. When organisations invest in young diverse talent, as the University of Liverpool did with me, they're not just shaping individual careers; they're crafting future leaders who will return to inspire the next generation.
The faith placed in me during those early University of Liverpool sessions has come full circle. Now, I'm privileged to be that visible example for young people who, like my teenage self, are searching for proof that their aspirations are achievable. This is why I advocate for diversity in leadership and why I dedicate myself to mentoring both through volunteering as a mentor for the Power Platform School, or my own mentorship programmes – because representation isn't just about being seen, it's about transforming fear into opportunity and lighting the path for others to follow.