Early Career - I Learned to Shrink From Early

I never fit in. Born to immigrant parents in a working-class Nottinghamshire town, I was told from an early age to “Put your head down and work hard.” This well-meaning advice didn’t serve me well. Thinking my work would speak for itself, I didn’t speak up or promote my work early in my career.

2010 - Quarter Life Crisis in Rio

Feeling like my life was stuck on autopilot and needing a big change, I quit my 9-to-5 and booked a solo trip to Rio, Brazil. Six weeks of self-discovery were bliss. For the first time ever, I stepped far outside of my comfort zone in a major way and never looked back!  

2012 - My American Dream

Two years after Brazil, I had itchy feet. I fell in love with the pace and energy of New York City. I had to live there! Friends thought I was mad. In a few short months, I was flown on an all-expenses-paid trip to relocate to New York from London. I didn’t know anyone there, but I was excited! I thought I’d be the black Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. My American dream - a high-powered corporate job in midtown Manhattan had come true! Or so I thought. I felt deeply isolated and unfilled. I was meant for so much more than the busy, fast-paced corporate life I was living.

2015 - Self Discovery

While working in my 9-to-5, I invested $300 in my first career coach. She helped me uncover my core values and motivations. I discovered something I’d been suppressing: I'm an entrepreneur. A fire was lit inside of me. I plotted my exit by taking every course and speaking class available to me, building my brand the way I had for the CEOs and senior leaders I’d worked with. Yale University and New York University invited me to speak; and opportunities began to come my way.   

2016 - Lost My Job, Found Myself.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Being laid off was a huge blessing. I was free to take time out and dig deep into my life’s purpose. The low points finally began to make sense; they were preparing me for the work I do today. I decided to turn my mess into a message to help other women.   

2017-2020 - Launched Women Who Influence

I wrote The Personal Brand Bible For Ambitious Women, which opened up many exciting new opportunities. I created the Women Who Influence brand, following the coaching model many others advised me to create. Lead magnets, endless webinars, a membership programme - you name it, I tried it! But it still didn’t feel quite aligned. Then in a matter of minutes, at the end of 2020, I lost everything when my website with five years of work was deleted. Looking back, it was clearing the way for something bigger.

2021 - Alignment

I invested in an incredible coach to dig deep into my childhood traumas, limiting stories and experiences that had been keeping me safe and small. Having the courage to do the deep inner work is the biggest gift I could give myself. I had to make space in order to thrive fully.

2022  - Become a LinkedIn Learning Instructor 

Almost by magic, I attracted a huge partnership deal with Linkedin Learning to create a course for millions of people globally, which launched in January 2022. 

2023 - Became a LinkedIn Top Voice

In recognition of my career development work, I was interviewed for LinkedIn's Get Hired podcast at the Empire State Building in NYC and was made a LinkedIn Top Voice 2023. 

2024 - Launched my YouTube channel

As a way to share my knowledge in long-form. I launched my YouTube channel focused on personal branding, self-leadership and wellbeing.