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19: Dr Bola Olabisi: Championing Women Inventors and Innovators
Dr Bola Olabisi my guest on The Elephant in the Room podcast is the founder of the Global Women Inventors and Innovators Network. She set it up in 1998 in recognition of the challenges that women face in bringing commercially viable products to market. Over the past two decades she has worked tirelessly to spotlight inventors and innovators across the world.
I was lucky to be a part of her journey when she launched the awards in Africa a long time ago and was privileged to be invited to be a judge alongside an eminent panel for the 22nd GlobalWIIN awards last year.
In the past Bola has been a Member of the Advisory Group of the European Commission’s Network of Women In Decision Making In Politics And The Economy; a consultant on Global Innovation Outlook under Women’s Entrepreneurship for IBM and a Governor on the Board of the University of East London.
Recognised in 2019, by the Mayor of London as one of the 100 WOMEN THAT MAKE LONDON GREAT listen to Dr Olabisi speak about her passion and what drives her 👇🏾
Listen to the full episode here 👇🏾
https://thepurposeroom.org/podcast/
Follow the show on your favourite platforms iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts
Listen to the audiogram here 👇🏾
Shownotes
👉🏾 At the time, I don't think that I went out looking to set up the GlobalWIIN network. I happened to stumble into a gap. And I've been brought up to be that kind of person where you see the need to bridge that gap and you just go for it. If you feel that you have the capabilities to do it. And so I've found that at that time, there were very little that was known about inventors both men and women. Historically we had more male inventors very very few women were known to have invented anything. In most cases, they would tell about Marie Curie and that will be the end of it. And there was a need to be able to show that we do have the intelligence. Women have the capabilities. And I felt that somehow we hadn't fully utilised and promoted what women were capable of doing. I thought, what could I do about it? One of the things that I do know how to do is to network and to be able to bring together a huge amount of expertise, knowledge and encouragement from people that I know in order to set up the network that specialising in putting the spotlight on women, inventors and innovators.
👉🏾 I quickly realised that this was an area that we needed to look at and applied for a PhD, I needed to do more research. And I was already working in this particular area. I felt that we needed to promote more role models of ingenious women and the role that they play in society. I was on the right track in terms of the work that I was doing, that I was partnering with the right kind of partners. Many of them within these educational institutions, being able to take that on board and move it into a direction that would advance the women who at the time have a very challenging journey to be able to move up the ladder. Now in terms of the European funded project that you speak about I would say it's the same sort of thing in the sense that we had a lot of women who are working extremely hard, who are bringing their remarkable work, but very little was being put in terms of putting the spotlight on their achievements. And I felt that if you're not in a leadership position, it can be extremely hard to influence decisions. So you need to be successful. You need to be able to make those decisions.
👉🏾 And I was so delighted when I was asked where the GlobalWIIN would be a partner in this EU funded research project, which cuts across five countries. And we looked at the results. We did our research. We looked at women innovators in particular and tried to see how, when bringing their innovative ideas within the workplace, How is it being received? Are they easily seen as a challenge or are they seen as an invaluable asset within the workplace? And how do they incorporate them at top management level? So the research was quite intense it took three years to do. I hope that we can safely say that we are getting better. I don't think we're there yet. We needed to ensure that we promote more women in order to access the decision-making positions as I said, there's so much work to be done.
👉🏾 At first, when we started, we focused mainly on inventors women inventors. But we soon began to see to see that there's an importance in ensuring that innovation plays a big aspect in what we're doing and not just leaving it at inventors. Now we have grown over the years. We've had our challenges. We grew in a way at first where the numbers were extremely high. 2,750 members, we had the support of government departments, corporates, and a lot of partnership with a lot of institutions.
👉🏾 But over the years, we have seen that support, especially the financial aspects support slowly diminish. In fact, we were one of many women's organisations, and I would say that at the time when we started in 1998, we are probably one of the only ones that’s still standing. The focus has changed so we have had to look at a way to survive. A way to keep what we’re doing going and we felt that having the regional networks. Which means that we have networks within the regions of Africa, Asia, Pacific Europe, Northern America, and most recently we've looked at the Middle East whereby they have the same ethos, the same aims and objectives, but it's regionalised. And then of course automatically related to the global network whereby we work together in order to have a bigger and stronger voice.
👉🏾 I think every day I'm completely amazed with the remarkable inputs of contribution that these women bring to society. It is always very difficult for me to pinpoint one particular one. I would say that we do map the journey. It is an extremely time-consuming task, but where we can, we do. I would refer to them as torchbearers to innovation. They have the qualities that are associated with sheer determination and commitment. And when you see those, kind of qualities in every single one of these women that are bringing these inventions and innovations out. It's very difficult to say, now this is the best one, but I do have some that I would say I really never forget about over the years. I think of Mandy Haberman from the United Kingdom that she had the tenacity and the experience that she had in order to be able to bring this cup to millions of young babies and young people with disabilities. But clearly, she's a role model and an inspiration to so many because she has had to go through a journey of ups and downs and is still standing at the end of it. You know, we've provided and presented awards to exemplary women such as Julia Barfield with her innovative design and concept of the London Eye. To be able to have such a woman being presented with an award by ourselves, but not only that, being able to speak to us about the journey that it wasn't easy. The list goes on. We have lots and lots of interventions in the medical field, in the food industry. Exceptionally creative products and items. And I mustn't forget some of the women that come with such wonderful, useful, invaluable social innovation that are not products. But the social capacity building aspects of education and information transfer. There are some aspects that are not high technology. They're just simply high viability products.
👉🏾 Just before I answer that particular question that you've asked me, I'd like to go back to the success stories. And I think many a time we tend to drill on the success stories and forget that the failures that people have an experience can be such a teaching ground. It's a ground to learn and it's a ground to reflect and evaluate what could be done better. And a lot of the inventors and innovators have failed several times. Sometimes we have women who come back and, you know, put in the same invention for an award and people wonder why are they doing this? And that's because they've gone back to the drawing board, they failed and they're trying to find out is it right now? So I'm a great believer that yes, let's share the success stories, but also let's not undermine the impact of what the failures have been and how they have moved from that failure into the success remit.
👉🏾 Now in terms of the question, you asked about Patents and how the role that we're playing, I think it's important to understand intellectual property rights. Patents are important, but it's not the only way. There are other intellectual property rights opportunities that are there, that people sometimes overlook. Patents are extremely expensive. It's an area that we are constantly looking into to see how we can play a role in perfecting or should I say contributing to making it easier for a lot of inventors to patent their inventions. However, there's a need to understand that other choices that are available such as copyright trademarks, design registration, trade secrets and even using legalities such as contracts.
👉🏾 Our network is a network that provides information and provides choices for people I would not want to sit here and feel that we are the only ones who are making a difference. I would say that we continuously work with other organisations. There's no point in reinventing the wheel. I think there's a need for us to collaborate more. I'm pleased that we have partnered with IPAN, the intellectual property awareness network and joined our voices with them in terms of our commitment to championing the importance and understanding of intellectual property. Within various levels, not just within the businesses and in particular, within the educational system. I think that we need to make it more interesting. The word intellectual property patents's, engineering can sound a little off putting for those people who feel that it's going to be so complicated.
We need to make it as fun as possible. For people to see that it has impact it has an end result and the end result has that invaluable aspects. Within the fast moving pace of the world that we're in today, we cannot ignore the fact that we need to take this into the schools and we need to be able to pinpoint how it all interacts and relate to the work that they're doing. Even, if it's just something that they might feel is not as high tech as they feel it should be, but it's all related in some way or the other.
👉🏾 First of all, of course it is great to be virtual because of the lockdown that we're experiencing and this COVID-19 that everybody's is aware of at the moment, what it hasn't stopped us. We are going virtual, but we're going to make it as close as possible to what we’ve done in the past. I would say in terms of what are we doing that's different this time? I think we are taking a gender inclusive, and inclusiveness much more seriously. We have a lots of men that are role models that support our aims and objectives, and that we need to put the spotlight on them so that other men can also see the impact that women are having in society. Through their innovation. So we've introduced the Paul Attridge award category, which is mainly for men to enter and we've seen some remarkable entries of both partner teams of men and women.
And I believe that we need to do more of that as well. We also are looking at the young people of today, the under 25, looking at ensuring that we don't miss those younger ones in schools that are doing something that we need to encourage more of. So I think it's going to be an exciting time. It's going to be quite remarkable and
👉🏾 As I explained to you earlier, in terms of my educational background and I was born here in Coventry went to primary school, secondary school. And I've been in the higher educational system too in this country. I know that it can be a pretty devastating experience, especially when you're working extremely hard. You feel, you need to work harder, much, much harder than every other the person to prove yourself. You know, you're doing this only because of your colour and your race, it's consciously there in your mind. And there are some times when it is so subtle, you cannot place it. And I think that's even far, much more dangerous because when you can identify that racism is happening, how to battle and how to be strong and how to get around it. But when it's so subtle that you can't quite put your finger on it, but you know that there are many things that you're doing that could have gone further far, much more. And you can see all the counterparts that are doing far less and yet they're going forward and they're getting hired and you feel that, there's something there. And so I feel that I have experienced racism, but I have not allowed it to stop me. I have moved on regardless and while it has taken longer for me to reach a lot of what I would like to achieve. I can see that I've been able to break down the lots of those barriers.
👉🏾 Thank you so much for raising that because so many times I was working over and over that I haven't got time o think about the awards that I've received, but each and everyone has always been a great pat on the back. And I'm always very appreciative of such a awards.
👉🏾 Well, I think it does matter. There's no doubt in my mind that it matters, but I think sometimes some people don't quite understand what it's there for and why we're doing and why we think that there should be any slogan that says Black Lives Matter. And I think that what it does is it raises awareness. It raises people to question their thought process. It allows people to think about this dreadful ignorance that could creep back into society.
👉🏾 I have so many things that drives me. First of all, I have to say that I have a very strong faith in God, and I am always driven by my faith and the fact that I do want to leave a legacy behind for women. I have looked at my journey and the challenges that I have faced personally. And if what I'm doing can make the lives of another woman if it can make it easier, then I think that I'll be able to pat myself on the back and say that I'm doing something. The world can be so beautiful when we help each other out. And I think that it's my way of giving back to society. Making my family and friends proud of what I'm doing.
👉🏾 Well I think my advice to my younger self now that I've had 22 plus years of experience of Global WIIN is to know my limitations and to know when it's time to, to step back. But at the same time to appreciate what I have achieved over the years, and to be able to celebrate the achievements with everyone. So just take each day at a time, enjoy the quality of life that we all have today. It's a case of the glass is half full rather than half empty.
Important Links
www.globalwiin.com
Facebook: @globalwiin int
Instagram: @globalwiin
https://tvnewslondon.co.uk/roz-speaks-to-global-conference-of-women-inventors/
https://mandyhaberman.com/global-women-invention-and-innovation-network
View all episodes
By Sudha Singh
5
22 ratings
Dr Bola Olabisi my guest on The Elephant in the Room podcast is the founder of the Global Women Inventors and Innovators Network. She set it up in 1998 in recognition of the challenges that women face in bringing commercially viable products to market. Over the past two decades she has worked tirelessly to spotlight inventors and innovators across the world.
I was lucky to be a part of her journey when she launched the awards in Africa a long time ago and was privileged to be invited to be a judge alongside an eminent panel for the 22nd GlobalWIIN awards last year.
In the past Bola has been a Member of the Advisory Group of the European Commission’s Network of Women In Decision Making In Politics And The Economy; a consultant on Global Innovation Outlook under Women’s Entrepreneurship for IBM and a Governor on the Board of the University of East London.
Recognised in 2019, by the Mayor of London as one of the 100 WOMEN THAT MAKE LONDON GREAT listen to Dr Olabisi speak about her passion and what drives her 👇🏾
Listen to the full episode here 👇🏾
https://thepurposeroom.org/podcast/
Follow the show on your favourite platforms iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts
Listen to the audiogram here 👇🏾
Shownotes
👉🏾 At the time, I don't think that I went out looking to set up the GlobalWIIN network. I happened to stumble into a gap. And I've been brought up to be that kind of person where you see the need to bridge that gap and you just go for it. If you feel that you have the capabilities to do it. And so I've found that at that time, there were very little that was known about inventors both men and women. Historically we had more male inventors very very few women were known to have invented anything. In most cases, they would tell about Marie Curie and that will be the end of it. And there was a need to be able to show that we do have the intelligence. Women have the capabilities. And I felt that somehow we hadn't fully utilised and promoted what women were capable of doing. I thought, what could I do about it? One of the things that I do know how to do is to network and to be able to bring together a huge amount of expertise, knowledge and encouragement from people that I know in order to set up the network that specialising in putting the spotlight on women, inventors and innovators.
👉🏾 I quickly realised that this was an area that we needed to look at and applied for a PhD, I needed to do more research. And I was already working in this particular area. I felt that we needed to promote more role models of ingenious women and the role that they play in society. I was on the right track in terms of the work that I was doing, that I was partnering with the right kind of partners. Many of them within these educational institutions, being able to take that on board and move it into a direction that would advance the women who at the time have a very challenging journey to be able to move up the ladder. Now in terms of the European funded project that you speak about I would say it's the same sort of thing in the sense that we had a lot of women who are working extremely hard, who are bringing their remarkable work, but very little was being put in terms of putting the spotlight on their achievements. And I felt that if you're not in a leadership position, it can be extremely hard to influence decisions. So you need to be successful. You need to be able to make those decisions.
👉🏾 And I was so delighted when I was asked where the GlobalWIIN would be a partner in this EU funded research project, which cuts across five countries. And we looked at the results. We did our research. We looked at women innovators in particular and tried to see how, when bringing their innovative ideas within the workplace, How is it being received? Are they easily seen as a challenge or are they seen as an invaluable asset within the workplace? And how do they incorporate them at top management level? So the research was quite intense it took three years to do. I hope that we can safely say that we are getting better. I don't think we're there yet. We needed to ensure that we promote more women in order to access the decision-making positions as I said, there's so much work to be done.
👉🏾 At first, when we started, we focused mainly on inventors women inventors. But we soon began to see to see that there's an importance in ensuring that innovation plays a big aspect in what we're doing and not just leaving it at inventors. Now we have grown over the years. We've had our challenges. We grew in a way at first where the numbers were extremely high. 2,750 members, we had the support of government departments, corporates, and a lot of partnership with a lot of institutions.
👉🏾 But over the years, we have seen that support, especially the financial aspects support slowly diminish. In fact, we were one of many women's organisations, and I would say that at the time when we started in 1998, we are probably one of the only ones that’s still standing. The focus has changed so we have had to look at a way to survive. A way to keep what we’re doing going and we felt that having the regional networks. Which means that we have networks within the regions of Africa, Asia, Pacific Europe, Northern America, and most recently we've looked at the Middle East whereby they have the same ethos, the same aims and objectives, but it's regionalised. And then of course automatically related to the global network whereby we work together in order to have a bigger and stronger voice.
👉🏾 I think every day I'm completely amazed with the remarkable inputs of contribution that these women bring to society. It is always very difficult for me to pinpoint one particular one. I would say that we do map the journey. It is an extremely time-consuming task, but where we can, we do. I would refer to them as torchbearers to innovation. They have the qualities that are associated with sheer determination and commitment. And when you see those, kind of qualities in every single one of these women that are bringing these inventions and innovations out. It's very difficult to say, now this is the best one, but I do have some that I would say I really never forget about over the years. I think of Mandy Haberman from the United Kingdom that she had the tenacity and the experience that she had in order to be able to bring this cup to millions of young babies and young people with disabilities. But clearly, she's a role model and an inspiration to so many because she has had to go through a journey of ups and downs and is still standing at the end of it. You know, we've provided and presented awards to exemplary women such as Julia Barfield with her innovative design and concept of the London Eye. To be able to have such a woman being presented with an award by ourselves, but not only that, being able to speak to us about the journey that it wasn't easy. The list goes on. We have lots and lots of interventions in the medical field, in the food industry. Exceptionally creative products and items. And I mustn't forget some of the women that come with such wonderful, useful, invaluable social innovation that are not products. But the social capacity building aspects of education and information transfer. There are some aspects that are not high technology. They're just simply high viability products.
👉🏾 Just before I answer that particular question that you've asked me, I'd like to go back to the success stories. And I think many a time we tend to drill on the success stories and forget that the failures that people have an experience can be such a teaching ground. It's a ground to learn and it's a ground to reflect and evaluate what could be done better. And a lot of the inventors and innovators have failed several times. Sometimes we have women who come back and, you know, put in the same invention for an award and people wonder why are they doing this? And that's because they've gone back to the drawing board, they failed and they're trying to find out is it right now? So I'm a great believer that yes, let's share the success stories, but also let's not undermine the impact of what the failures have been and how they have moved from that failure into the success remit.
👉🏾 Now in terms of the question, you asked about Patents and how the role that we're playing, I think it's important to understand intellectual property rights. Patents are important, but it's not the only way. There are other intellectual property rights opportunities that are there, that people sometimes overlook. Patents are extremely expensive. It's an area that we are constantly looking into to see how we can play a role in perfecting or should I say contributing to making it easier for a lot of inventors to patent their inventions. However, there's a need to understand that other choices that are available such as copyright trademarks, design registration, trade secrets and even using legalities such as contracts.
👉🏾 Our network is a network that provides information and provides choices for people I would not want to sit here and feel that we are the only ones who are making a difference. I would say that we continuously work with other organisations. There's no point in reinventing the wheel. I think there's a need for us to collaborate more. I'm pleased that we have partnered with IPAN, the intellectual property awareness network and joined our voices with them in terms of our commitment to championing the importance and understanding of intellectual property. Within various levels, not just within the businesses and in particular, within the educational system. I think that we need to make it more interesting. The word intellectual property patents's, engineering can sound a little off putting for those people who feel that it's going to be so complicated.
We need to make it as fun as possible. For people to see that it has impact it has an end result and the end result has that invaluable aspects. Within the fast moving pace of the world that we're in today, we cannot ignore the fact that we need to take this into the schools and we need to be able to pinpoint how it all interacts and relate to the work that they're doing. Even, if it's just something that they might feel is not as high tech as they feel it should be, but it's all related in some way or the other.
👉🏾 First of all, of course it is great to be virtual because of the lockdown that we're experiencing and this COVID-19 that everybody's is aware of at the moment, what it hasn't stopped us. We are going virtual, but we're going to make it as close as possible to what we’ve done in the past. I would say in terms of what are we doing that's different this time? I think we are taking a gender inclusive, and inclusiveness much more seriously. We have a lots of men that are role models that support our aims and objectives, and that we need to put the spotlight on them so that other men can also see the impact that women are having in society. Through their innovation. So we've introduced the Paul Attridge award category, which is mainly for men to enter and we've seen some remarkable entries of both partner teams of men and women.
And I believe that we need to do more of that as well. We also are looking at the young people of today, the under 25, looking at ensuring that we don't miss those younger ones in schools that are doing something that we need to encourage more of. So I think it's going to be an exciting time. It's going to be quite remarkable and
👉🏾 As I explained to you earlier, in terms of my educational background and I was born here in Coventry went to primary school, secondary school. And I've been in the higher educational system too in this country. I know that it can be a pretty devastating experience, especially when you're working extremely hard. You feel, you need to work harder, much, much harder than every other the person to prove yourself. You know, you're doing this only because of your colour and your race, it's consciously there in your mind. And there are some times when it is so subtle, you cannot place it. And I think that's even far, much more dangerous because when you can identify that racism is happening, how to battle and how to be strong and how to get around it. But when it's so subtle that you can't quite put your finger on it, but you know that there are many things that you're doing that could have gone further far, much more. And you can see all the counterparts that are doing far less and yet they're going forward and they're getting hired and you feel that, there's something there. And so I feel that I have experienced racism, but I have not allowed it to stop me. I have moved on regardless and while it has taken longer for me to reach a lot of what I would like to achieve. I can see that I've been able to break down the lots of those barriers.
👉🏾 Thank you so much for raising that because so many times I was working over and over that I haven't got time o think about the awards that I've received, but each and everyone has always been a great pat on the back. And I'm always very appreciative of such a awards.
👉🏾 Well, I think it does matter. There's no doubt in my mind that it matters, but I think sometimes some people don't quite understand what it's there for and why we're doing and why we think that there should be any slogan that says Black Lives Matter. And I think that what it does is it raises awareness. It raises people to question their thought process. It allows people to think about this dreadful ignorance that could creep back into society.
👉🏾 I have so many things that drives me. First of all, I have to say that I have a very strong faith in God, and I am always driven by my faith and the fact that I do want to leave a legacy behind for women. I have looked at my journey and the challenges that I have faced personally. And if what I'm doing can make the lives of another woman if it can make it easier, then I think that I'll be able to pat myself on the back and say that I'm doing something. The world can be so beautiful when we help each other out. And I think that it's my way of giving back to society. Making my family and friends proud of what I'm doing.
👉🏾 Well I think my advice to my younger self now that I've had 22 plus years of experience of Global WIIN is to know my limitations and to know when it's time to, to step back. But at the same time to appreciate what I have achieved over the years, and to be able to celebrate the achievements with everyone. So just take each day at a time, enjoy the quality of life that we all have today. It's a case of the glass is half full rather than half empty.
Important Links
www.globalwiin.com
Facebook: @globalwiin int
Instagram: @globalwiin
https://tvnewslondon.co.uk/roz-speaks-to-global-conference-of-women-inventors/
https://mandyhaberman.com/global-women-invention-and-innovation-network