I Can Represent

I Can Represent

By Sandra GordonBusinessCareers
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I Can Represent episodes

  • Trish Uwanogho STEM

    Background to the sector

    Despite the evidence that shows diverse teams increase innovation, productivity and revenue, there are clearly still vast imbalances in the UK STEM workforce. In technology in particular, the lack of women from black and brown communities is worrying when the use of technology in our everyday lives.

     When we look at the engineering sector, a 2018 Engineering UK report found that only 8.1% of men

    and women working in engineering were from Black groups, with Black & Brown women only comprising less than 2% of all engineering professionals.

     When we look at figures for high-level employees, the representation of Black & brown women is vastly worrying. Within the top tech firms in the UK, over 70% of boards and senior executive teams do not have a Black member; in fact, Black & brown women make up around 2% of boards and senior executive teams.

    In this episode I am speaking with Trish Uwanogho an inspiring Senior Portfolio Manager working for the Defence Artificial Intelligence Centre which is part of

    the Ministry of Defence. She currently leads the assurance and delivery of multiple engineering projects.

    She has gained over 23 years’ experience working across various sectors such as Defence, Aerospace, Infrastructure, Oil & Gas, Manufacturing and

    Management Consultancy.

    She is the Intersectionality Co-Lead for the Defence African and Caribbean Network (AfCab), where she helps to improve inclusivity within the workplace and is also implementing the Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship Scheme at the DAIC.

    Trish graduated top of her class in 2016 with a Distinction Award in MSc Engineering Management from UWE and holds an MBA as well as a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering.

    With a passion for STEM and promoting diversity, Trish volunteers as a STEM Ambassador to encourage students especially young girls towards becoming the next generation of Project Managers and Engineers.

    Trish is a non-Executive Director at the Stepping Up CIC after successfully completing the Stepping Leadership Programme in 2021.

    1 hr
  • Georgia Ramsay - Magistrate

    Georgia Ramsay is a Change & Configuration Management Analyst for the Council. She has an active union background – became chair of Unison Bristol Black members group.

    Also became an activist within Unison Southwest Region and was Unison Southwest Regional Black Members chair

    for a number of years.

    In 2001 she joined Operation Black Vote (OBV).  Its aim was to increase the number of people from black

    and ethnic minority ethnic groups (BME) who are Magistrates. In order for it to reflect the community they serve. Operation black vote worked with the Ministry
    of Justice to achieve this aim. Over 600 people showed interest in the scheme and after vetting 50 people from the community were selected, and she was one of the 6 that were successful.

    Georgia became a magistrate in 2003, in 2011 she became a ‘Presiding Justice’, and in 2020 started a new role

    in the Judiciary, Diversity and Community Relations Magistrates (DCRM). The main aspects of the role were: to act as a conduit between the magistracy and the community and members of the public and contribute to a range of diversity efforts within the judiciary.

    Georgia also sits on other committees, Pride of Ruth, Nilaari Drug and Mental Health Agency.

     

    You can contact Georgia at [email protected]

    More information about being a

    magistrate at www.gov.uk/become-magistrate/can-you-be-a-magistrate

     

    55 min
  • Sandra Meadows MBE - CEO/Board member

    In this episode, you have Sandra Gordon in conversation with Sandra Meadows MBE a former Chief Executive Officer based in Bristol, Sandra is a Director for the Centre for Mentoring and Coaching, with considerable experience as an advocate, senior manager and non-Executive Director.

    Sandra works to achieve positive transformation and improvement within individuals and organisations, encouraging creativity and new ways of thinking. With a strong interest in diverse and inclusive leadership development, her approach is empathic and gently challenging - bringing the individual into focus to identify and transcend barriers to progression. Sandra is a confident, lively and engaging coach and mentor with experience of working with people from all backgrounds.

    Sandra has worked within (and across) the private, public and voluntary/charitable sectors, including Trustee roles for a range of local and national organisations including: The City of Bristol College, Skills Active National

    Council, NAVCA (Chair), The Bristol Beacon (Vice Chair), BrisDoc, St. Paul’s Carnival and several local statutory Boards and partnership groups. Sandra has also served on the Bristol Mayoral Commission on Race Equality and the
    Commission for Women and works with the current city administration as a City Partner.

    In 2019, Sandra was listed amongst the West Women of the Year and in 2022 voted as one of the Most Influential Women in Bristol. She was also honoured with an MBE for

    Services to the Community of Bristol from HRH King Charles in 2021. A member of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of
    the Arts (RSA), she completed the master’s Level course in Coaching and Mentoring at the University of West of England in 2015.

    The breadth of her experience includes human resources (covering recruitment, employee relations, training and development) within a global FMCG company, business and organisational development, people and performance improvement, contract management, collaboration and partnership development.

    Sandra's client businesses include Statutory Authorities, national and local Charities (inc. Universities as exempt charities) SME's and voluntary sector agencies, working

    with C-Suite Executives, Trustee Boards, Managers and individual staff members.

    57 min
  • Introduction to ICR and founder Sandra Gordon

    Radio Broadcaster and podcaster Sandra Green interviews the founder of I Can Represent podcast Sandra Gordon.

    Biography

    Sandra’s working career started as an admin assistant,

    and she worked her way up to running her own Call Centres across 3 sites for some trusted brands. She utilised the opportunity of a career break to undertake voluntary work in Africa, job coaching the homeless, and to become an accredited Life Coach.
    The trip to Africa also reignited her creative side and led her to starting her own creative business where she worked collectively with Artisans in Africa, which helped to supports their sustainability.  

    Sandra’s social involvement includes a few projects and enterprise that focus on supporting the underrepresented in the city to have the same opportunities to move forward in their lives. 

    A chance meeting in the green room of a TV comedy, gave birth to the idea of Rise a social enterprise, which was established after a discussion the lack of visibility

    of black businesses on the high street. The organisation specialised in providing opportunities for those businesses to promote what they do to a wider audience through organised events, exhibitions and on a weekly local community radio program. Rise also delivered workshops for Black women around personal development and starting their own business. They delivered the annual Rise
    Awards in the city which recognises and celebrates achievements in Business, Community and entrepreneurship.  

    As well as a presenter and Broadcaster for community radio led me to become Strategic lead partner for the Black and Green Ambassadors program – putting Black voices into Green environmental spaces, where traditionally we have been absent.   

    The work for Women’s equality was supported through my work with Bristol Women’s voice, which is a powerful voice for making women’s equality in Bristol a reality, and as

    a member of the Mayoral Women’s Commission and Business task group.  I am currently a Director
    for the Bristol Women in Business Charter, where we believe that businesses cannot reach their full potential if they fail to recruit and retain a gender-balanced workforce. Our purpose is to recognise and support businesses in and around Bristol that are making progress towards gender equality. Our ambition is to help accelerate the pace of change for the benefit of women, the businesses they work in and the communities they live in.

    I became a Commissioner and Co-Chair for the Mayoral

    Commission on Race Equality to help work on collective solutions to tackling the race inequalities faced by so many in the city. I am also passionate about inclusion and representation and was honoured to be appointed as a Magistrate and as a governor for City of Bristol College.
    At the heart of everything Sandra does is about
    giving everyone a chance to be the best they can be and to bring balance and equality to those groups who are disadvantaged in our society. 

    www.SLGcoachingandconsultancy.com


    49 min
  • I Can Represent - trailer

    Black women are still underrepresented - not visible in so many sectors and in key positions that can

    influence and make the changes that are necessary to create a more equitable playing field. 

    ICR, is a platform showcasing some of those women. In their own words you hear about their journey,

    understand their motivation/ inspiration and how they have overcome any obstacles. 

    It is a demonstration of what is possible, you can see it, you can be it. 

    1 min

About I Can Represent

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Black women are still underrepresented - not visible in so many sectors and in key positions that can influence and make the changes that are necessary to create a more equitable playing field.