Pivot with Griselda Togobo

"Failure allowed me the opportunity to go on, experience other things and opened doors for me in different ways."

— Sophie Adelman

Sophie Adelman is the Cofounder & CEO of The Garden, a seed stage venture-backed startup building a Community for the Curious.  The Garden brings together people who love to learn for the joy of learning with passionate experts and with each other for Garden Talks & Conversation Circles. Garden Talks, covering topics that crosscut science, the arts and society.

She previously cofounded and led Multiverse (formerly known as WhiteHat), a UK & US scale up business, that is building an outstanding alternative to university through apprenticeships.  After stepping back from Multiverse in 2020, she spent time at Index Ventures as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence where she worked with existing portfolio companies, supported on new investments, and incubated The Garden.  Sophie is an active angel investor, mentor and champion of the UK Tech Community.

In this episode of the leadership podcast, Griselda engages Sophie Adelman on how shaking off societal expectations unlocked her full potential👏👏👏

Key topics discussed in this inspirational interview were:

· The journey to starting Multiverse

· How to handle the pressure of drifting and dabbling in low-paid jobs

· How to build back your confidence after a dip

"I was the only person in the room who was not taking no for an answer. I  said to myself, ‘He absolutely will get better' and he did.”— Dr  Ekaterina Malievskaia Dr Ekaterina Malievskaia leads innovation at COMPASS. 

Ekaterina received her medical degree from St Petersburg Medical Academy  in St Petersburg, Russia, and then moved to the US where she completed  her Internal Medicine residency training.  She worked in private practice, academic medicine and public health for  more than 15 years in the greater New York area. She was a Clinical  Instructor of Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, as well as a  Research Professor at City University of New York. 

After moving to London in 2011, Ekaterina worked in global health and  medical philanthropy, focusing on improving outcomes in maternal and  child health.  She founded COMPASS Pathways with her husband George Goldsmith in 2016,  having experienced at first hand the challenges in accessing  evidence-based and effective mental health care for a family member. In this episode of the leadership podcast, Griselda engaged Ekatarina  Malievskaia, Co-Founder of Compass Pathways, on starting a mental health  care company that is taking the world of mental health care by storm. 

Key topics discussed in this inspirational interview were:  

- The journey to starting a mental health care company·   

- Finding solutions to help tackle mental health·  

 - Securing funding to support compass pathways  

 Connect with Griselda Togobo on Linkedin via https://www.linkedin.com/in/griseldatogobo/  

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We are delighted for you to read and listen to this episode of Griselda Togobo in conversation with Rear Admiral Maria Lore Aguayo, P.E., the first female commander of NAVFAC Atlantic. Admiral Aguayo is making history and breaking new grounds in the USA navy.

“There are many times where there may be opportunities out there which may be challenging and may be difficult, but I guess the way I’ve seen it is – don’t take the easy path”.

These are the words of Rear Admiral Lore Aguayo when asked how she was able to break the glass ceiling to become the first female commander of NAVFAC Atlantic.

Here are some key topics discussed:

· How to succeed in challenging situations

· Having the right mindset needed to succeed

· How to have the right mentors to help you succeed

· How to train yourself to see opportunities

· The qualities that make one an exceptional leader.

Connect with Griselda Togobo on Linkedin via https://www.linkedin.com/in/griseldatogobo/

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Join us for an online leadership discussion with Mary Ann Sieghart, Author of 'The Authority Gap' Book.  

This thought-provoking discussion is hosted by Griselda Togobo - CEO of FL.   Key Topics The Authority Gap provides evidence of the unseen bias at work in our everyday lives.  It highlights the scale of the gap that persists between men and women and its impact on women’s perceived authority, competence and leadership ability.  

You will learn: 

What the authority gap is  

About Mary-Ann: Mary Ann Sieghart spent 20 years as a senior editor and columnist at The Times and won a large following for her columns on politics, economics, feminism, parenthood and life in general.  She has presented many programmes on BBC Radio 4, such as Start the Week, Fallout, Profile, Analysis, One to One and a clutch of one-off documentaries. Most recently she presented Fallout, a series of Radio 4 programmes on the possible outcomes of the Coronavirus.   

About Your Host Griselda Togobo: Griselda Togobo MPhil, ACA, is an international corporate consultant and trainer. She is also a multi-faceted entrepreneur, engineer and chartered accountant. At her core, she is a commercially focused business consultant, but it is her experience as a black woman in the corporate world that drives her.

Join us for an online leadership discussion with  Gill Fielding, Self-Made Millionaire & Wealth Expert   

This thought-provoking discussion is hosted by Griselda Togobo - CEO of FL.  

Key Topics 

This uplifting thought-provoking discussion is hosted by Griselda Togobo - CEO of FL.   

About Gill Fielding: Gill Fielding is a self-made millionaire with a no-nonsense, positive approach to finance and a personal mission to educate the nation in managing and improving their own financial position. She strongly believes that financial education should be taught in schools to safeguard people’s financial future. Gill is a qualified Chartered Accountant, runs several businesses and has held several high-profile roles in the city. Gill is well-known for her appearance on Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire where she gave away nearly £250,000 to good causes. She has also been a Celebrity Egghead (BBC2); a guest at Hotel GB (Channel 4) and a business expert on The Apprentice – You’re Fired show (BBC2). Gill is currently a financial expert for a monthly phone-in show on BBC Radio and has also contributed to ITN and Channel 4’s election coverage. She makes regular appearances as a financial commentator for the BBC. ITV and CNBC channels as well as appearing in many other tv shows. In 2009 Gill co-founded, and now owns, Fielding Financial which she set up in order to help anyone and everyone achieve what she describes as ‘financial freedom’. She has also written a number of books that are practical hands-on guides to wealth creation, and a DVD entitled Riches, where she shares her Seven Secrets of Wealth and aims to help people transform their lives.

Ann Cairns role as Executive Vice Chair, involves her representing Mastercard around the world, focusing on inclusion, diversity and innovation. She plays the important role of senior ambassador and executive leader and sits as part of the company’s global management committee.

Prior to her current appointment, Ann was President of International Markets responsible for the management of all Mastercard customer-related activities in over 200 countries. Ann brings more than 20 years’ experience working in senior management positions across Europe and the U.S. Prior to joining Mastercard in 2011, Ann was head of the Financial Services Group with Alvarez & Marsal, CEO of Transaction Banking at ABNAMRO and held senior positions at Citigroup.

Ann is currently chair of ICE Clear Europe, owned by the Fortune 500 company Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). She is also global chair of the 30% Club and the chair of the Financial Alliance for Women. In addition, Ann is the lead non-executive board member for the UK government’s department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and is a member of the UK government’s AI Council.

She has a Pure Mathematics degree and honorary doctorate from Sheffield University and a M.Sc. with research into medical statistics and honorary doctorate from Newcastle University.

Charlotte Carroll is an English actress, producer, screenwriter and director. Best known for her work in the films, Red Crayon (2017) and A Youth (2020) and as notably, her theatrical portrayal of the Princess in We Must Throw The Cows Down The Ravine (2020).

Charlotte made her directorial debut with Red Crayon (2017), a powerful short film depicting the effects of war on young children. Since its world premiere, Red Crayon has won 11 awards on the international film festival circuit, including ‘Best Original Screenplay’, ‘Best Foreign Film and ‘One to Watch’. In addition, the film was chosen to be featured in the United Nation’s global showcase at the Cannes Film Festival and appeared on ITV’s News segment about Female Film Makers. In 2017, Charlotte was the first female director to open the shorts segment at the El-Gouna Film Festival.

Subsequently, Charlotte went on to produce A Youth (2020) alongside BAFTA-winning Afolabi Kuti. Having competed at top tier film festivals including HotDocs 2020 and The Huesca International Film Festival, A Youth won the ‘Best Documentary’ award at Aspen ShortFest 2020 and Woodstock Film Festival 2020. ‘A Youth’ is currently in the running for the BAFTAs 2021 and Oscars 2021.

Further to her film-making duties, Charlotte began her screen career in the film Burnt (2015) alongside Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller. In 2019, Charlotte also received critical acclaim for her lead role in ‘We Must Throw The Cows Down The Ravine’, garnering a four-star review on The Evening Standard for her poignant theatrical performance. Charlotte was set to perform the lead role in Mehmet Bozkurt’s A Room For Rent at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe which has now been postponed.

Passionately involved in humanitarian and philanthropic initiatives, Charlotte works closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and sits on the Next Gen Board of the Humans Right Watch and UNICEF Committee. She is also a proud ambassador for the Elephant Family.

Recently, Charlotte released a short film she wrote, produced and stars in, titled, The Topic which was featured on The Evening Standard, Glamour and Wonderland. The film captures a raw and unfiltered account of the emotional turmoil caused by an ectopic pregnancy, a miscarriage and endometriosis.

Renee will discuss the key attributes of effective digital leadership to achieve large-scale digital transformation, drawing on the vital importance of having a diverse range of leaders.   

You will also find out what does it take to survive, thrive and lead in these tough times.   This uplifting thought-provoking discussion is hosted by Griselda Togobo - CEO of FL.   

About Renee Hunt: Renee Hunt is the Director of Group Digital Platforms for Sky. The senior leader for Sky in Leeds, directly responsible for 200 digital engineers based at Sky Leeds Dock, building and supporting mobile, web and other digital products for all of Sky’s territories in Europe and beyond.   Renee has over 30 years of experience in technology, starting her career in the US Army Signal Corp, then moving into the private sector after getting her MBA from the University of Texas, with a specialism in IT.   

She has delivered technology programmes all over the world in a variety of industries, including: Media, Telecoms, Finance, Defence and the Public Sector. She is mad for: Fashion, Boston Terriers, ballet, cinema, code-breaking & WWII, memorising song lyrics and world travel.   

She is very active in Sky’s Women in Tech initiative and is committed to helping to bring more women ‘back into tech’ and making the industry to more inclusive overall. An active developer of people, prides herself having led and/or mentored some of the finest people in the business.

Carmen will discuss the key attributes of effective digital leadership to achieve large-scale digital transformation, drawing on the vital importance of having a diverse range of leaders.   You will also find out what does it take to survive, thrive and lead in these tough times.   

This uplifting thought-provoking discussion is hosted by Griselda Togobo - CEO of FL.  

About Your Host Carmen Guzman:  Carmen has been a noteworthy leader in the HR space. Having initially studied Law in Spain and then pursuing a successful career in the USA and across Europe working for multi-conglomerates in all forms of industries, Carmen has held a number of managerial positions at both the local and international level. Prior to joining HSBC, Carmen worked for Barclays in Europe, Lloyds Bank in the UK and since 2019, has been leading as the HR Head of Commerce Banking with HSBC Ring-Fence bank in the UK. Carmen’s entrepreneurial mindset and ambition has driven her to also start her own business in the Education sector in China by creating a programme for European graduates to work for 12 months to develop leadership skills. Carmen is married, with three beautiful children and currently resides in Wimbledon.

"If we are to thrive in our digital future, all our voices must be heard when designing technology. If not, we risk creating a world for the few and not for the many."  

Jacqueline de Rojas CBE is a President, techUK; President, digileaders; Co-Chair, Institute of Coding  Non-Exec: Rightmove plc | Costain Group plc | FDM Group plc | Business Advisor & Mentor at Merryck  Jacqueline is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in all its forms. Passionate about redressing the gender balance via advisory positions at @TheYouthGroupHQ, @accelerate-Her and the @girlguiding association.  In 2016 she entered the @Computerweekly Hall of Fame after being voted Computer Weekly's Most Influential Woman in IT 2015; she was listed on Debretts 2016 500 People of Influence and named in Europe’s Inspiring Fifty most inspiring female role models for 2017. Presented the 2017 Catherine Variety Award for Science & Technology.  2018 Women in Tech Award for Advocate of the Year acknowledging her contribution to diversity and #IB100 – Most influential BAME leaders in tech. Awarded the Digital & Technology Award at the Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2019. Included in World’s 100 most influential people in digital government 2019. Woman of the Year awarded by Women in IT Excellence 2019: 2020 Asian Tech Pioneer. Jacqueline was honoured as CBE for Services to International Trade in Technology in the Queen's New Year Honours list 2018.