Black Create Connect Podcast

Lola is an Early Career and 1st level leader Strategist. Through her BOLD and Inclusive Leadership offerings, such as The Launchpad Programme, she specialises in working with firms to create comprehensive developmental frameworks for ALL entry-level and rising talent, as well as inclusive and equitable leadership behaviours for first-level leaders. She also offers business organisations talent retention services to help them support and keep their entry-level and emerging talent. 

Lola was able to advise entry-level workers thanks to her corporate experience, which helped them improve their performance and confidence while also demonstrating how to successfully negotiate the business environment. After being laid off in 2017, she decided to coach full-time and start Soluman Consultancy as a result of her exciting and fulfilling work.

In this episode, Alicia and Lola discuss: 

• Thriving in a career within investment banking 

Connect with Lola here -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lola-bejide/

Join the BOLD Moves Club - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdA_aJYVjRmGn9JZk8spDWVqvpnE65ocLdTQ0tlcOoFVr0MIg/viewform?usp=send_form 

See more about Soluman Consultancy - https://solumanconsultancy.com/

Solomon is an investment banker, speaker, and founder of TotalFiit, a data-driven on-demand wellness platform that helps companies retain their employees. He regularly speaks about Faith, Fitness, and Business and recently competed in his first Bodybuilding Natural Men's Physique competition. Some of the companies he has supported include Microsoft, Nike, Fresh Fitness Food and more.

In this episode Alicia and Solomon discuss 

• The importance of training your mind to see past reality 

Connect with Solomon here -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/solbamidele/

Or  email [email protected]

Sarah Najjuma is the Founder of Virtual Assistant Diary, a Virtual Assistant and Project Management Consultancy based in London, with a global team based in London and East Africa, supporting clients in the UK, US and Africa.

Growing up in Tottenham, London - in a family of 8 children - Sarah was always determined to defy the odds and achieve something great. Her parents fled Uganda as asylum seekers, so she grew up with a strong sense of social responsibility. She always wanted to help others achieve their goals and dreams. 

Virtual Assistant Diary launched after Sarah saw the gap in the industry experienced virtual assistance. Her background as an Executive Assistant, operations manager and project manager gave her the confidence to know that she could be an asset to companies. 

In addition to running her own business, Sarah is also a facilitator for youth workshops. These workshops are focused on personal and professional development, and they aim to give young leaders the tools they need to thrive in their journeys.  Sarah has supported a variety of companies including Amazon Web services, Foundervine, Foxtons, Black Founders Hub and more.

In this Episode Alicia and Sarah discuss: 

• Understanding the right time to start your business

Connect withn Sarah here- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahnajjuma/

Black Men for change - http://www.blackmen-4c.com/ 

Virtual Assiatnt Diary - https://virtualassistantdiary.com/

Philip Udeh was born and raised in London. He graduated from the London School of Economics with a degree in Economics and Business Management.

In this episode Alicia and Philip discuss:

• How sicklecell affected his childhood 

See more about Brain Fud - https://drinkfud.com/ 

Connect with Philip here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-udeh/

Madeline McQueen is a person who believes that everyone has the potential to be amazing. She bases everything she does on Clarity, Confidence and Empowerment. Madeline is invested in helping leaders and teams to be their best both professionally and personally.  She has a background in sales and customer service, managing a team that brought in over £14 million annually in sales. Madeline has a proven track record of helping clients achieve success through my coaching, consulting, hosting and public speaking. She has worked with individuals and organisations to help them define their purpose, unlock their personal power to take their professional and personal development from strength to strength.

Alicia and Madeline discuss:

• The impact of having people who look like you growing up 

See more about Madeline here - https://www.madelinemcqueen.com/

David McQueen is an international speaker, executive coach, and board advisor. His experience spans over 30 of speaking to corporate, public, and third-sector audiences. David has worked with the likes of Sir Richard Branson, Shell Livewire, Startups Awards, SFEDI, Social Enterprise and Unltd

He has also served as a pitch coach for companies across Europe to raise over £100 million in funding, currently sits on the board for Forbes Family and he is the Founder of Black Founders Hub, a tech incubator for Black Founders. His vision is for his company to be part of a wider narrative empowering Black techies to take their futures into their own hands.

David also hosts two podcasts: BRAVE Leadership on his own and Working Progress with his wife. He was also the Presenter on Virgin Media Pioneers and Channel 4’s Vocation Vocation Vocation.

In this Episode Alicia and David Discuss: 

• The impact growing up in church had on his confidence & character 

See more about David here - https://davidmcqueen.co.uk/about 

Adrian Daniels is a digital consultant, podcast coach and mentor who has over the past decade has built a versatile skill set and a reputation in the UK Tech and Digital industry; including running startups, agencies and online academies, whilst being the forefront of commercial success at various companies.

Within this time, he’s spoken at and hosted various workshops and events in the UK, picked up notable plaudits and has privately consulted high-net worth individuals and even influencers affiliated with the Royal Family, on their personal digital strategy.

In this episode Alicia & Adrian discuss:

• Schooling in Ghana 

Connect with Adrian here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielsadrian/

Listen to Sound of Accra Podcast - https://linktr.ee/thesoundofaccrapod 

James is an award-winning social media expert and founder of Shogun Social, a company that helps companies create and post content like content creators. He specializes in helping companies create engaging content for their social media platforms.

Born in Southampton, England to a Caribbean family, James has worked with clients ranging from Barclays and Southampton City Council to Hubfit and more.

In this episode James and Alicia discuss:

• How he fell into a career in advertising 

See more about Shogun social here - https://shogundigital.co.uk/whysocialmedia/ 

Connect with James Gayle here - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/james-gayle-the-social-shogun 

Jusnah Gadi is a music business educator and founder of Young Music Boss which is a resource hub and network building tool for young music entrepreneurs and creatives. YMB aims to prepare the next generation of music industry professionals as well as build an alliance among young music creatives, entrepreneurs and relevant music associations. At the heart of YMB is the desire to empower young professionals through our online content, events, educational tools and consultancy services.

Jusnah is also the Co-founder of Hot N Juicy Shrimp LDN, which brings authentic Southern American flavours to the UK. 

Jusnah is fast becoming a formidable and much needed force in the music industry. Jusnah is also passionate about developing the ecosystem of the Tanzanian music industry and consults various artist teams guiding them on how to maximize income and building a solid infrastructure around their artist. 

In this episode Alicia and Jusnah discuss:

• Building credibility by gaining expertise 

Connect with Jusnah Gadi - 

https://www.instagram.com/diamondlanelondon/?hl=en

Young Music Boss - https://www.instagram.com/youngmusicboss/?hl=en  - https://www.youngmusicboss.com/

TES - https://www.instagram.com/tesentspace/?hl=en 

YMG Awards - https://www.instagram.com/ymbawards/?hl=en 

Hot n Juicy Shrimp - https://www.hotnjuicyshrimpldn.co.uk/

Lesha is the Black Create Connects Program Director, and she has extensive experience in the project management industry. She has a passion for software technology, so she decided to dive into that world and gain various professional qualifications. She knows how to build relationships on all levels by interacting with business clients, personal clients, and the public. Through her love of speaking with people she went on to study business management and become a business consultant who educates others about business tools and opportunities available to them.

She's also a self-published author who has written three goal-setting planners (with her latest planner featured in the Black Pound shop in London), as well as workshops on goal setting, social media training, and business management classes for teenagers and adults alike.

In this episode Lesha and Alicia Discuss:

• Why Lesha decided to work with BCC and where her passion comes from

Connect with Lesha- https://www.amazon.co.uk/2022-Journal-Lesha-Graham/dp/1914442091

Buy a planner - https://www.leshagraham.com/ 

Amazon- https://www.amazon.co.uk/2022-Journal-Lesha-Graham/dp/1914442091