Welcome back to the Executive Coach Podcast and part two of my conversation with Kemi Lawson. Today we dived into the fascinating story of her career transition. After a successful 15-year corporate career, Kemi made the bold decision to leave and pursue her passion for creativity and business.

In today’s episode, we explore the challenges she faced in the corporate world, including the systemic biases and struggles as a Black woman in the UK workplace. Kemi shares her journey of stepping away from the corporate grind, creating her own path, and starting her own business, The Cornrow.

We also discuss the mindset shifts she’s had to make in the process, the importance of confidence, and the impact of movements like Black Lives Matter on her entrepreneurial journey.

Key Takeaways:

• Push and Pull Factors of Career Transition: Kemi shares the personal and professional motivations that led her to leave her corporate job. The pull of her creativity and desire to share her heritage, coupled with the push of dissatisfaction in a corporate environment full of systemic challenges, led her to create her own path.

• Challenges Faced as a Black Woman in Corporate: Kemi opens up about the obstacles she faced as one of the few Black women in senior roles within corporate spaces. She discusses the difficulty of accessing mentorship, informal networks, and being surrounded by a lack of diversity in leadership.

• The Importance of Changing the System: Kemi shares her reflections on how institutions need to evolve to be more inclusive and supportive of diverse employees, especially for those who aren’t part of the traditional “prototype” of a white, middle-class, cisgender male.

• Creating Your Own Table: Kemi discusses the empowering shift from striving to get a seat at someone else’s table to creating her own. She highlights how entrepreneurs can break free from traditional corporate structures and build their own business that aligns with their values.

• The Role of Black Lives Matter in Entrepreneurship: Kemi explains how the Black Lives Matter movement provided a boost of confidence and support for starting her business. While the momentum has slowed, she discusses how it shaped her entrepreneurial mindset and helped her business gain visibility.

• Mindset Shifts for Entrepreneurs: Kemi reflects on the important mindset shifts required to transition from the corporate world to running your own business. These shifts include embracing uncertainty, building confidence, and understanding the value of carving out your own path.

Connect with Kemi www.thecornrow.com

Connect with Maya www.mayagudka.com