Breaking the Mould: Crafting a Future Beyond Expectations

There is no denying that thinking about the future is daunting, from deciding your path to wondering if it is the right one for you. It is scary, so I hope my blog provides you with a sense of comfort, but also inspiration to help you make the right decisions for yourself with confidence.

Starting Out: Figuring Out What You Want

Let’s start from the beginning. At school, I was achieving great grades and received all my university offers, but I didn’t love the idea of spending 3-4 years studying a subject in depth that I did not enjoy. At this point, I was looking at all my options: I could study one of the subjects and change my degree if I didn’t like it, I could study something completely new and gamble on that, or I could shy away from the norm and complete a degree apprenticeship.

Despite not knowing my future career path, I did know some of my strengths as an 16-year-old and had a sense of the things I enjoyed overall. For example, during sixth form, I was head student and enjoyed organising events, balancing many tasks, and leading them to completion. By understanding what I enjoyed at school, I used this to direct my degree apprenticeship applications and applied to Leonardo’s Project Management Degree Apprenticeship.

Shying Away from The Norm: Being Brave

Of course, going against the norm naturally results in resistance. When I was applying for degree apprenticeships, I was told it was a ‘waste of time’, that ‘the degree is not the same as going to university’, and that I would ‘regret making that choice’. Let me make this clear: I am so glad that 17-year-old me decided to apply for degree apprenticeships. Genuinely, the person I am today, three years into my degree apprenticeship, is someone younger me could only dream of – and I really do hope you find the same bravery in your decisions as I did.

Learning Along the Way: Understanding Yourself

By making the choice for myself, I was able to learn more about who I am as an individual—my wants, needs, passions, and aspirations. I’m not going to pretend that I have it all figured out now either, because I don’t, but I do know what methods to use to help me imagine what future me looks like, what decisions I need to make to get there, and whether or not it will actually make me happy.

This all comes down to one concept: visualisation. When I was in school, trying to make the next big decision about my life, I visualised where I saw myself in five years’ time, the person I wanted to be, the traits I wanted to have, and, overall, how I wanted to feel. This activity, although very small, has a huge impact when it comes to navigating the daunting decisions we have to make.

Fast forward to now: although the past few years have been even more incredible than anything I could have dreamed of; I do have to mention that dreaming (and visualising) big definitely played a huge role in helping me navigate my early professional years.

Navigating the Professional World

Transitioning from school to the corporate world was a big jump, and something I initially struggled with. It was difficult trying to balance a new job and a degree, all while staying authentic to who I am. That’s when I found the Ethnicity Inclusion Network at Leonardo, our employee resource group that supports and empowers ethnic minorities within the business. I signed up as the communications lead and secretary and began hosting workshops, attending events, and sharing the stories of our employees. I found a fire in me that I didn’t think I would find at work.

It’s cliché, but being uncomfortable is often what we need to give ourselves that little push to become closer to who we are meant to be. Being involved in the network was like opening Pandora’s box; the opportunities, experiences, and skills I developed, alongside my normal day job and degree, have been the backbone of understanding the impact I want to have as an individual. Honestly, it was that same fire that I tried to find in everything I did at work and beyond. It has been because of my degree apprenticeship that I had the ability to explore my passions and use my voice, which has contributed to me winning regional and national awards - an achievement I could have never imagined.

Fuelled by Passion: Introducing The Brown Girl League

My role in the Ethnicity Inclusion Network has since evolved to Vice Chair, and I now have a bigger impact on Leonardo’s Inclusion and Diversity Strategy, ensuring that colleagues are empowered in an inclusive working environment.

The role I played at Leonardo inspired me to continue creating waves in the corporate world and creating the opportunities needed to ensure that marginalised individuals have the space they need to use their voice and feel empowered. My fire has turned into a mission to support organisations in creating an inclusive environment and to inspire young professionals to find their passions.

Introducing The Brown Girl League (TBGL) - a community born to create a space for MENASA women with similar experiences to connect. At TBGL, we have three key pillars:

• Building a Meaningful Community
• Supporting Career Advancement
• Empowering Personal Growth

In less than a year, TBGL has grown more than I could have imagined. We have gained over 10,000 supporters across our social media, partnered with major businesses, and become a platform for impactful events and discussions for global majority women across industries.

Alongside positively impacting the women in our community, TBGL has honestly had a very positive impact on me as an individual. I have connected with one of the most incredible women I know, who has supported me on this journey as a co-founder, but also as a best friend - a bond we found unexpectedly, but one I will always treasure.

If you would like to get involved with TBGL, either as a brown girl or an ally, or to support and collaborate with us, check out our Linktree.

My Lessons: Your Blessings

I have learned many lessons as I’ve navigated the early years of my career, and I hope that every single one of them is a gem you can use as a ‘power-up’ as you begin your journey.

• Be an Authentic Version of Yourself
  With everything I do, I’ve done it as my authentic self. Every decision I’ve made has been based on what I think was the right decision, what would make me happy overall, and what I think is morally correct. Every journey is unique, and by being yourself, you are living a life that is right for you, embracing the opportunities you have, and making decisions based on how you feel rather than what others think.
• Embrace the Journey
  Although its cliché, life is a marathon, not a sprint. You are not expected to have it all figured out or know exactly what you want but try to understand what you don’t want. Embracing the journey is pivotal in developing the mindset you need as a young professional - you are allowed to be fluid, try new things, and figure things out - just make sure you enjoy the process as you do.
• Find Your Tribe
  A common theme in my blog has been finding your tribe. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for the incredible people who are part of my personal and professional network. I have learned so much from the inspiring people around me, and they have been essential to my growth. Find people who inspire you, believe in you, and to whom you, in return, can provide value.

The Most Important Part to Remember

Your journey is unique to you, and it’s important to follow what you find interesting and what feels right for you. Naturally, there will be moments of difficulty that you may hesitate to navigate, but you should always remember the values you hold to your core - what creates the fire in you? It’s important to note that you may not have found your fire yet, or what used to be your fire isn’t anymore, and that’s okay. Keep trying new things, keep being receptive to the opportunities in your life, and always remain confident that you will, eventually, figure it all out, and everything will make sense in the end.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I hope you feel inspired, comforted, or motivated. If you have any further questions, or would like my support in creating an inclusive working environment for ethnic minorities or young professionals, please reach out to me on LinkedIn.