Life's A Bag Podcast

Meet Lady Phyll, Co-Founder of UK Black Pride  and Executive Director of Kaleidoscope Trust.  In this episode, Ro and Lady Phyll discuss transitioning from the Civil Service to establishing a LGBTQ+ safe space and charity and the importance of having an activism strategy.

You don’t want to miss:

• What motivated Lady Phyll to start UK Black Pride
• Why it’s OK to be emotional and not OK
• Why we all should be fighting for equality and equity
• Lady Phyll's views on true allyship 
• Advice on creating change by working with others as a collective

PLUS, Lady Phyll's top tips on how to keep mentally healthy during these times!

Life’s A Bag Podcast shares stories of women of colour who are getting their bag! Listen in to get some useful advice, hear about their journeys, challenges and stories of resilience. Unlike other podcasts in the space, #LifesABag keeps it relevant and relatable.

Links and resources:

• You can find Lady Phyll on Instagram @LadyPhyll / UK Black Pride on Instagram @UKBlackPride and online at www.ukblackpride.org.uk
• You can follow us on Instagram @LifesABagPodcast 

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any upcoming episodes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and a review? 

And, you can join the conversation online by using #LifesABag. We’d love to hear what you think!

Meet Yvonne Bajela, Founding Member and Principal at Impact X Capital. In this episode, Ro and Yvonne discuss making Forbes’ 30 under 30, the different types of funding available, and the importance of having an empathetic management style.

You don’t want to miss:

• What inspired Yvonne to enter the world of banking and finance
• The importance of mentoring and sponsorship for getting ahead
• How to assert authority when you know little about a role
• Why there’s a need for a diverse pipeline of investors to tackle the gap in funding for underrepresented founders
• Yvonne’s predictions on funding in a post-COVID world
• Advice on how to break into the VC world

PLUS, Yvonne's top tips on how to nail future pitches and secure Venture capitalist funding. 

Life’s A Bag Podcast shares stories of women of colour who are getting their bag! Listen in to get some useful advice, hear about their journeys, challenges and stories of resilience. Unlike other podcasts in the space, #LifesABag keeps it relevant and relatable.

Links and resources:

• You can find Yvonne on Instagram @YvonneBajela, on Twitter @YvonneBajela and online at www.impactxcapital.com
• You can follow us on Instagram @LifesABagPodcast 

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any upcoming episodes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and a review? 

And, you can join the conversation online by using #LifesABag. We’d love to hear what you think!

Meet Michele Scott-Lynch, Founder of Boucleme. In this episode, Ro and Michele discuss business growth secrets, green beauty and juggling motherhood with entrepreneurship.

You don’t want to miss:

• What inspired Michele to start a clean curl care brand 
• The pros of self funding your business over investment 
• Why timing is everything
• Michele’s take on why curl-labelling can hinder hair growth and health
• The importance of developing brand values and a brand narrative
• Michele's biggest achievements - yes, including hitting £2 million in revenue

PLUS, Michelle's top tips on how to thrive as a business owner in a post COVID-world!

Life’s A Bag Podcast shares stories of women of colour who are getting their bag! Listen in to get some useful advice, hear about their journeys, challenges and stories of resilience. Unlike other podcasts in the space, #LifesABag keeps it relevant and relatable.

Links and resources:

• You can find Boucleme on Instagram @Boucleme and online at www.boucleme.co.uk
• You can follow us on Instagram @LifesABagPodcast 

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any upcoming episodes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and a review? 

And, you can join the conversation online by using #LifesABag. We’d love to hear what you think!

Meet Adwoa Owusu-Darko AKA Mini, Founder of Mini's World and The MW LAB. In this episode, Ro and Mini discuss entrepreneurship, Mini's motivations in Depop's fashion space  and community.

You don’t want to miss:

• What inspired Mini to start a sustainable, fashion business that places inclusivity and diversity at the forefront
• Why it’s important to pave the way for others
• Advice on letting immigrant parents know you’ve decided on a non-traditional career path
• How to win in the Depop wild west

PLUS, Mini's top tips on how to shop for those stand-out vintage finds!

Life’s A Bag Podcast shares stories of women of colour who are getting their bag! Listen in to get some useful advice, hear about their journeys, challenges and stories of resilience. Unlike other podcasts in the space, #LifesABag keeps it relevant and relatable.

Links and resources:

• You can find Mini on Instagram @Minis_W0rld and online at www.minisworld.com
• You can follow us on Instagram @LifesABagPodcast 

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any upcoming episodes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and a review? 

And, you can join the conversation online by using #LifesABag. We’d love to hear what you think!

Meet Chloe Elliott, Founder of Odyssey Box UK and Blogger via Curly Gal Chlo. In this episode, Ro and Chloe discuss entrepreneurship, Chloe's motivations in the natural hair industry and how best to win customers. 

You don’t want to miss:

• What inspired Chloe to start a luxury hair care subscription box that showcases strictly Black-owned brands
• Why it’s important to build relationships and regularly connect with (potential) customers
• How WOC can make the most of the current climate to amplify their businesses
• Advice on bookkeeping and staying on top of never-ending to-do lists
• How to crack the instagram algorithm - vanity metrics aside
• Need to knows of starting your own brand or business

PLUS, Chloe's top tips on how to achieve that perfect wash n go!

Life’s A Bag Podcast shares stories of women of colour who are getting their bag! Listen in to get some useful advice, hear about their journeys, challenges and stories of resilience. Unlike other podcasts in the space, #LifesABag keeps it relevant and relatable.

Links and resources:

• You can find Chloe on Instagram @OdysseyBoxUK and online at www.odysseyboxuk.com / www.curlygalchlo.com
• You can follow us on Instagram @LifesABagPodcast 

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any upcoming episodes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and a review? 

And, you can join the conversation online by using #LifesABag. We’d love to hear what you think!

P.S. Last, but not least - Happy Black History Month UK folks!

Meet Viv Yau, Founder of Bee Influence and Host of But Where Are You From? podcast. In this episode, Ro and Viv discuss the realities of being an Asian female entrepreneur, her ambitions in influencer marketing and the fight for equality to reduce the influencer pay gap and tackle racial bias. 

You don’t want to miss:

• What inspired Viv to enter the influencer marketing industry and start Manchester's first influencer marketing agency, Bee Influence
• Why it’s important to build relationships and regularly connect with past networks
• Advice on handling difficult conversations with employees and letting staff go in an amicable manner 
• How the model minority myth for Asians has affected ways of thinking

PLUS, Viv’s top tips on how to stand out as a content creator on Instagram!

Life’s A Bag Podcast shares stories of women of colour who are getting their bag! Listen in to get some useful advice, hear about their journeys, challenges and stories of resilience. Unlike other podcasts in the space, #LifesABag keeps it relevant and relatable.

Links and resources:

• You can find Viv on Instagram @ItsVivYau or @BeeInfluenceUK and online at www.beeinfluence.co.uk 
• Viv’s petition to Stop depicting East & South East Asians in Coronavirus related media
• You can follow us on Instagram @LifesABagPodcast 

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any upcoming episodes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and a review? 

And, you can join the conversation online by using #LifesABag. We’d love to hear what you think!

Meet Stephanie Pak, Managing Editor of Arcadia Magazine and Founder of Lunar Chi. In this episode, Ro and Steph discuss the importance of diversity in the fashion industry and what more agencies and magazine owners should be doing to improve representation.

You don’t want to miss:

• The story behind the makings of The Arcadia Magazine
• Advice on how to work with family
• Why it’s important to practice self care in these times
• An explainer of what Reiki is and how it helped spark Steph’s entrepreneurial journey with Lunar Chi
• The real deal on what really goes on at press trips

PLUS, Steph’s top tips on how to maintain business relationships and get noticed by brands.

Life’s A Bag Podcast shares stories of women of colour who are getting their bag! Listen in to get some useful advice, hear about their journeys, challenges and stories of resilience. Unlike other podcasts in the space, #LifesABag keeps it relevant and relatable.

Links and resources:

• You can find Stephanie Pak on Instagram @Miss_S_Pak 
• The Arcadia Magazine’s website and Instagram 
• Lunar Chi’s website and Instagram 
• You can follow us on Instagram @LifesABagPodcast 

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any upcoming episodes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and a review? 

And, you can join the conversation online by using #LifesABag. We’d love to hear what you think!

Meet Yasmin Taylor AKA Taila Sky, DevOps Goddess, a software specialist with a background in delivering major IT projects. In this episode, Ro and Yasmin discuss the realities of being a senior Black woman in technology and why it’s important to concentrate on one key area of growth to leverage your negotiating power. Know your worth and it will strengthen that power. 

You don’t want to miss:

• The story behind why Yasmin was trending on Twitter as ‘130k bae’
• Advice and resources on how to break into technology
• The pros on cons of being permanent versus contracting in a role
• Why it’s important to have corporate etiquette to get ahead in the game
• What the future of artificial intelligence could look like 

PLUS, Yasmin’s top tips on how to negotiate your salary and ensure you’re responsibly managing your finances! 

Life’s A Bag Podcast shares stories of women of colour who are getting their bag! Listen in to get some useful advice, hear about their journeys, challenges and stories of resilience. Unlike other podcasts in the space, #LifesABag keeps it relevant and relatable.

Links and resources:

• You can find Yasmin Taylor on Instagram @Taila_Sky and on LinkedIn.
• Read Yasmin’s guide on ‘Becoming an Dev Ops Goddess’
• You can follow us on Instagram @LifesABagPodcast 

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any upcoming episodes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and a review? 

And, you can join the conversation online by using #LifesABag. We’d love to hear what you think!

Meet Jennifer Ogunyemi, founder of Sisters in Business, mentor, speaker, mother, wife and author. In this episode, Ro and Jennifer discuss how Jennifer juggles her business with family life, why it’s important for female entrepreneurs to have business networks and why she got involved in the self publishing game. 

You don’t want to miss:

• What motivated Jennifer to start a community for muslim women in business
• How to juggle entrepreneurship with motherhood and being a wife
• What it means to leave a lasting legacy 
• Why it’s important to use business failure as an opportunity for growth

PLUS, Jennifer’s top tips on how to produce engaging content for your target market!

Life’s A Bag Podcast shares stories of women of colour who are getting their bag! Listen in to get some useful advice, hear about their journeys, challenges and stories of resilience. Unlike other podcasts in the space, #LifesABag keeps it relevant and relatable.

Links and resources:

• You can find Jennifer on Instagram @Sisters.In.Business and online at www.sistersinbusiness.co.uk 
• Jennifer’s book - A Muslimah's Guide to Healthy Hijab Hair
• You can follow us on Instagram @LifesABagPodcast 

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any upcoming episodes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and a review? 

And, you can join the conversation online by using #LifesABag. We’d love to hear what you think!

Meet Abadesi Osunsade, Founder of Hustle Crew, Co-Host of Techish podcast and author. In this episode, Ro and Abadesi discuss how to break into tech, the importance of regaining your learning power and how to navigate the world of work by embracing your difference and owning your value.  

You don’t want to miss:

• What inspired Abadesi to start Hustle Crew and write a careers advice book
• What it means to have the power to be the Will Smith of your life
• Why it’s the greatest time ever for content from underrepresented voices
• How racism and structural oppression has been reinforced in society and many of our ways of thinking
• What it means to truly belong when navigating white-dominated environments 

PLUS, Abadesi’s top tips on how to pitch!

Life’s A Bag Podcast shares stories of women of colour who are getting their bag! Listen in to get some useful advice, hear about their journeys, challenges and stories of resilience. Unlike other podcasts in the space, #LifesABag keeps it relevant and relatable.

Links and resources:

• You can find Abadesi on Instagram @Abadesi and online at www.hustlecrew.co or www.techishpod.com
• Abadesi’s book Dream Big. Hustle Hard: The Millennial Woman’s Guide to Success in Tech
• You can follow us on Instagram @LifesABagPodcast 

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any upcoming episodes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and a review? 

And, you can join the conversation online by using #LifesABag. We’d love to hear what you think!