Black Create Connect Podcast

Ep 100 - Award Winning Chess Champion and Founder of N0bs ft. Sabrina Chevannes

Sabrina Chevannes is the founder of N0BS - a members’ club for highly ambitious entrepreneurs, which also has an in-house creative agency – the No Bullsh*t Agency. Sabrina is an award-winning creative, having led her agency for over a decade and having the privilege to work with high profile clients such as NATO, Sony and the NHS.  
She has been recognised by the British Interactive Media Association as one of the top 100 creatives to watch for 2 years in a row. 
Sabrina is also an International Chess Master and an international poker player. She played chess for England and competed in multiple Chess Olympiads, and has recently competed in two European Poker Tours in Cyprus and Prague. 
As well as all this, Sabrina runs TEDxShoreditch and is an international public speaker herself, gracing the stage in 12 different countries. She is also the self-development leader at Forbes, a bestselling author, a podcaster and an MBA lecturer. 
 
When she’s not working, she’s cuddling up to her Chow Chow, Bella.
 
Connect and Learn more about Sabrina here:
https://sabrinachevannes.com/
sabrina@sabrinachevannes.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinachevannes/?originalSubdomain=uk
 

Ep 99 - From overspending to investing ft Ola Majekodunmi, Founder of All Things Money

Ola, the founder of All Things Money, created the online platform to help adults navigate the financial challenges of adulthood. The platform was launched in 2020 during the first lockdown, following her journey of self-teaching how to invest in the stock market. Feeling overwhelmed by the process, she quickly realised how little is taught about investing and other crucial personal finance topics in schools and universities.
 
Motivated by this gap in education, Ola began sharing personal finance tips on social media to help young people manage their finances effectively. Since then, All Things Money has grown into a thriving online community of over 24,000 members, and even hosts a personal finance podcast.
 
In addition to the online content, Ola offers interactive personal finance workshops to colleges, universities, and organisations, aiming to address the financial literacy gap both in the UK and beyond. Passionate about making personal finance more engaging, she is on a mission to transform the way it is perceived.
 
In this episode, Alicia and Ola discuss:
"All Things Money": A personal finance platform for young adults, started during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Ola’s career shift and growing her platform due to the pandemic
The launch of "All Things Money" in April 2020
Investing Basics that Ola learned
The growth of All Things Money
Ola’s experience of overspending
The importance of personal interactions in financial education
Future Aspirations
Connect and Learn more about Ola here:
https://www.instagram.com/allthingsmoney_?igsh=MWs1NXA1amN6MW04NA==
 
https://linktr.ee/allthingsmoney_
 
 

Ep 98 - Winners Mindset - Meet the winner of Gordon Ramsay's TV Show ft Victoria Omobuwajo

Victoria Omobuwajo, a visionary entrepreneur, is the driving force behind Sunmo, a brand that redefines health-conscious living with its innovative product range. 
With a remarkable journey showcasing her tenacity, creativity, and business acumen, Victoria has made a significant impact on both the retail and direct-to-consumer industries. 
Victoria's dedication to sustainability and ethical sourcing sets Sunmo apart in the industry. By carefully selecting ingredients from local suppliers and implementing eco-friendly packaging practices, Sunmo has become a champion of environmental responsibility.
In an exciting development, renowned chef Gordon Ramsay recognised the immense potential of Sunmo and decided to join forces with Victoria as her business partner. His culinary expertise and strategic guidance have propelled Sunmo to new heights, solidifying its position as an industry frontrunner.
As Sunmo continues to captivate palates and revolutionise the food industry, Victoria Omobuwajo remains an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs, proving that determination, creativity, and a genuine love for what you do can truly shape the world.
 
In this Episode Alicia and Victoria discuss: 
Her health journey and the motivation behind starting Sunmo.
The factors that led her investors to choose and support her.
The natural ingredients that contributed to curing her eczema.
The process involved in launching Sunmo at Selfridges.
What made her brand stand out at their first exhibition.
The value and significance of both online and offline branding.
Her experience of winning £150K on the Gordon Ramsay show.
Connect and Learn more about Victoria and Sunmo here:
https://uk.sunmosnacks.com/ 
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/victoria-omobuwajo-092b1884

Ep 97 - And this is why we need a voice ft Jo Penny, Founder Amp up your voice

Johanne Penney is the Founder & CEO of Amp Up Your Voice, a progressive anti-racism
and diversity, equity, and inclusion consultancy that partners with modern and progressive
brands and businesses who are on their journey to authentically diversify their business and
who want to be true advocates. Working up to and mainly at C-Suite level Johanne helps
drive real change and elevates brands by ensuring Inclusion and belonging and to
authentically be part of the Racial Equity change movement. She does this through a range
of media: providing expert DEI consultancy services, devising long-term DEI strategies and delivering high energy, unique, educational
engagement sessions. She is also a public speaker and mentors’ organisations that
want to change and proactively champion DEI. Johanne also coaches individuals who need
support around DEI, to navigate and grow their careers and those who are affected by
systemic barriers to success. She prides herself on being a positive disruptor and is also a
culture writer and author of the eBook ‘The Road Map to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’ - a
guide on how to take positive action and drive inspirational change.
In this episode Jo and Alicia discuss:
The upbringing within the Jehovah's Witness community
Her journey discovering Caribbean culture
Overcoming discouragement from pursuing higher education
Experiencing extreme overt racial discrimination and its role in launching her business
The mission of Amp Up Your Voice in assisting organisations
www.ampupyourvoice.com or download the eBook: https://lnkd.in/e92iAYGB 
IG: @ampupyourvoice
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanne-penney-2114511a/

Ep 96 - Build a relationship with your accountant firm ft Crosby Enninful, Founder of Egbenn Accountancy Services

Crosby Enninful is the founder of Egbenn Accountancy Services and a Chartered Accountant.
He is 32 years old and has over 12 years experience in finance and accounting. He has been running is own firm for 5 years and works with small and medium size businesses dealing with all areas of accounting.
In this episode, Alicia and Crosby delve into:
The shift from managing contracts to managing a business
Overcoming and emerging from periods of depression
Exploring the significance of faith in Crosby's personal and professional journey
Strategies for optimising time management to achieve personal and professional goals
Prioritising relationships over professional pursuits
 
You can connect with him on:
Email: info@egbenn.co.uk
Instagram: @egbennaccountancy
LinkedIn: Crosby Enninful (FCCA)
Website: www.egbenn.co.uk

Ep 95 - The brains behind Black Recruiters Network ft Arsema Co-Founder of BRN

Arsema is an experienced specialist tech recruiter and founder of an independent recruitment agency, hire|py. As a champion to see a more inclusive tech scene, this passion also led to Arsema launching the Black Recruiters Network, a community network to champion Black excellence within Recruitment & Talent Acquisition. 
 
In this episode, Alicia and Arsema delve into a range of intriguing topics, including:
Arsema's transition from the field of Chemical Engineering to a successful career in recruitment
The profound influence her parents had on her entrepreneurial journey
The incredible opportunities that have opened up since Alicia started BRN
Expert tips for optimizing your LinkedIn profile and crafting an impressive CV
The fascinating story behind the inception of BRN and what exciting prospects lie ahead
The immense power and impact of building a strong and supportive team
Please see more about Arsema here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/arsema-fessehazion/ 
 
Book in a Linked In / CV service here - 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mylinkedincv/about/ 
 
See more about Black Recruiters network here - https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-recruiters-network/ 
 

Ep 94 - How Coding my own App in 4 weeks ft Bukola Akinfaderin Founder of glow up app

Bukola Akinfaderin, Engineering Manager at Carvana, has accumulated over 20 years experience working in Information Technology. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Wesleyan University, CT and a Master’s of Science in Information Systems from New Jersey Institute of Technology.  

Bukola has most notably been recognised for the creation of apps that focus on underrepresented groups. Her first project was Jandus Radio, a mobile application/social network that aggregated over 250 radio stations, a forum/peer to peer chat with a focus on African content. Jandus Radio accumulated over 500,000 registered users.  She also launched Afrocast, a podcast aggregator for underrepresented content providers, Khin, a white label social community platform, and MyComplex, a community app for apartment residents.  Her most recent project is glowup app, a goal setting app for women that allows you to achieve your self-care goals with the support of a community.

Bukola was named as Developer of the Month by Microsoft Africa in 2013. She has been featured on several tech publications including TechCabal, Otekbits, TechMoran, PulseTV Nigeria, Voice of America: Beyond the Unicorns of Silicon Valley, World Bank for their Female Tech Entrepreneurs initiative (infodev). She also won 2nd place in the Microsoft 9ja Apps, a competition which focused on rewarding innovative mobile apps focused on the Nigerian market.
In this Episode, Alicia & Bukola discuss:
Creating the first app to introduce Afrobeats to the US.
Exploring the real process involved in app building.
Discussing how trialing entrepreneurship can positively impact career trajectory.
Understanding different code platforms and their purposes
Emphasising the importance of being confident in one's idea.
Examining the challenges faced by Black women in accessing investment opportunities.
The true benefits of using the glow up app
See more about Bukola here:
http://www.techcabal.com/girls-who-code-bukola-akinfaderin/
https://projects.voanews.com/beyond-the-unicorn/

Ep 93 - The power of documenting your story ft Coodie Simmons

Coodie Simmons is an American film director, screenwriter, cinematographer, and producer. Coodie started directing from his music video fo Kanye West, entitled "Through the Wire", which was nominated for a MTV Viewers Choice Award, and won a Source Award for Best Music Video of the Year. Coodie has continued his music video success directing "Two Words" and the third version of "Jesus Walks" off Kanye West's The College Dropout album, Pitbull's "Culo" video, Mos Def's "Ghetto Rock" video, Erykah Badu's controversial video "Window Seat" and most recently Lupe Fiasco's "Old School Love" video. 
Coodie received acclaim for their ESPN 30-for-30 film, Benji (2012), a film about a high school basketball player who was tragically killed. In 2013 they directed Good Morning, a short film for American Family Insurance. Good Morning debuted at the 2013 American Black Film Festival. In 2022 Coodie released the documentary series jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, Act 1 of which premiered on Netflix on February 16, 2022.
In this episode, Alicia and Coodie delve into a variety of fascinating topics, including:
Their experiences as tourists in Ghana and the cultural insights gained from the trip
The artistry, story, and profound impact of Ernie Barnes
Reflecting on their upbringing in Chicago and the harsh realities they faced
The motivation behind Coodie's meticulous documentation of life moments
The journey of losing everything and finding the strength to start anew
The deep passion and purpose driving their Jeen-yuhs documentary project.
Connect with Coodie here - https://www.instagram.com/coodierock/?hl=en
 

Ep 92 - Why World AFRO Day exists ft Michelle De Leon

Michelle De Leon is the founder and CEO of World Afro Day®, 15th September. A global day of celebration and liberation of Afro Hair and Identity, with an estimated reach of 1.5 billion. Michelle successfully combines her broadcasting career of 20+ years at ITV Good Morning Britain with leading World Afro Day CIC. She has overcome her own struggles with Afro hair and was inspired by her 8 year old daughter to set up the day of celebration. Since 2017, her work has influenced the UN, UK government, global brands, international media and major celebrities. Key highlights are the Workplace Hair Acceptance report 2023; contributing to the EHRC guidelines to prevent hair discrimination in schools 2022 and a speech at the United Nations in Geneva 2018.
In this episode Alicia and Michelle discuss:
The significance of recognising and healing from past traumas
The inspiration behind Michelle's establishment of World Afro Day
The journey involved in creating and growing the movement
The importance of black women embracing their natural hair and the empowerment it brings
Predictions and aspirations for the future of World Afro Day and its impact on society.
Learn more about World Afro Hair - https://www.worldafroday.com/
Connect with Michelle here 
 

Ep 91 - How to be a successful & well paid black female designer ft Sandra Adu Founder, Black Girls In Design

Sandra Adu is a design director, multidisciplinary design educator and cultural policy researcher, who has harnessed her myriad design talents over the sprawling decade of her illustrious design career. She has always associated herself with branding and design initiatives that have effectively fostered positive organisational growth and behavioural changes.
She is the founder of Black Girls in Design and has over the years played a crucial role in helping agencies to deliver exceptional creative projects for a diverse and exciting client base across multiple platforms. Her journey as a designer began with a mission to help small businesses to fight their corner. Her notable clients have been Hsbc, Net-A-Porter, REN, L'Artisan Parfumeur, META, JP Morgan, and Puma.
 
In this episode Alicia and Sandra Discuss:
The challenge raising a daughter as a single mum and attending uni
The importance of stripping back culture habits to succeed 
Why Leaders need to be coached 
The value in design and career opportunities 
How black girls in design will work with the education curriculum 
Connect with Sandra here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-a-3a845237/