Black Create Connect Podcast

Ep 57 - Unlock your inner superpower & train the mind for success ft Solomon Bamidele Founder, Total Fiit

Solomon is an investment banker, speaker, and founder of TotalFiit, a data-driven on-demand wellness platform that helps companies retain their employees. He regularly speaks about Faith, Fitness, and Business and recently competed in his first Bodybuilding Natural Men's Physique competition. Some of the companies he has supported include Microsoft, Nike, Fresh Fitness Food and more.
In this episode Alicia and Solomon discuss 
The importance of training your mind to see past reality 
How faith has impacted his success 
Why we need to consume progressive content 
How to create an investable business 
How Wellbeing links to ROI 
Failing in business and starting again
Working through career barriers 
How to build up a successful subconcious mindset
Connect with Solomon here -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/solbamidele/
Or  email solomon@totalfiit.co.uk

Ep 56 - My VA Business Started in 3 Hours and I Had My First Client, Immediately ft Sarah Najjuma, Founder The Virtual Assistant Diary

Sarah Najjuma is the Founder of Virtual Assistant Diary, a Virtual Assistant and Project Management Consultancy based in London, with a global team based in London and East Africa, supporting clients in the UK, US and Africa.
Growing up in Tottenham, London - in a family of 8 children - Sarah was always determined to defy the odds and achieve something great. Her parents fled Uganda as asylum seekers, so she grew up with a strong sense of social responsibility. She always wanted to help others achieve their goals and dreams. 
Virtual Assistant Diary launched after Sarah saw the gap in the industry experienced virtual assistance. Her background as an Executive Assistant, operations manager and project manager gave her the confidence to know that she could be an asset to companies. 
In addition to running her own business, Sarah is also a facilitator for youth workshops. These workshops are focused on personal and professional development, and they aim to give young leaders the tools they need to thrive in their journeys.  Sarah has supported a variety of companies including Amazon Web services, Foundervine, Foxtons, Black Founders Hub and more.
In this Episode Alicia and Sarah discuss: 
Understanding the right time to start your business
Why Sarah decided to dpend time in a city that didn’t welcome black people
The importance of adult hobbies and having intentional fun 
The beauty of spending time with family and friends 
Building genuine business relationships
The Presenter Life, the highs & lows 
Moving away from the need to perform when networking 
Pushing through mental breakdowns
How Sarah started her VA business
Connect withn Sarah here- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahnajjuma/
Black Men for change - http://www.blackmen-4c.com/ 
Virtual Assiatnt Diary - https://virtualassistantdiary.com/

Ep 55 - The Near Death Experience That Inspired Me to Start Drink Fud ft. Philip Udeh, Founder Brain Fud

Philip Udeh was born and raised in London. He graduated from the London School of Economics with a degree in Economics and Business Management.He is the Director of The Ubele Initiative CIC (https://www.linkedin.com/company/20975761/), which is an African diaspora led, infrastructure plus organisation, working to empower Black &Racially Minoritised communities in the UK, to act as catalysts for social and economic change. Philip has also also sat on the board of The Sickle Cell Society (www.sicklecellsociety.org), an organization that empowers individuals with sickle cell disease to live healthy lives and advocates policy change to ensure their access to quality healthcare.Philip is a serial entrepreneur who has created Brain Füd – The Smarter Energy Drink (www.brainfud.co.uk), which is currently distributed in Marks and Spencer. He has also launched his newest CBD brand, where he seeks to naturally solve the problem of sickness and pain. Connect with Philip to follow the journey of this brand.
In this episode Alicia and Philip discuss:
How sicklecell affected his childhood 
How to survive and live normally whilst experience sicklecess 
His near death experienced that showed him his passion
How to live a full life living with sickleness 
Why he had to get a hip replacement in his 20s 
Striving through life in constant pain 
Why he paid 2.5K for a brainstorm session with a food technologist 
The reality of pitching on Dragons Dean 
See more about Brain Fud - https://drinkfud.com/ 
Connect with Philip here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-udeh/

Ep 54 - Stop working the hours you are not paid for ft. Madeline McQueen

Madeline McQueen is a person who believes that everyone has the potential to be amazing. She bases everything she does on Clarity, Confidence and Empowerment. Madeline is invested in helping leaders and teams to be their best both professionally and personally.  She has a background in sales and customer service, managing a team that brought in over £14 million annually in sales. Madeline has a proven track record of helping clients achieve success through my coaching, consulting, hosting and public speaking. She has worked with individuals and organisations to help them define their purpose, unlock their personal power to take their professional and personal development from strength to strength.
Alicia and Madeline discuss:
The impact of having people who look like you growing up 
Building a pricing package that makes sense
Understanding your value and how to communicate it 
Why Confidence is the key to your career success
The reason why Black women go through more challaneges than an avergae woman 
Why you should always put yourself over everything 
The value of just asking
See more about Madeline here - https://www.madelinemcqueen.com/

Ep 53 - Secrets to my success including 3 TED X talks, speaking at the House of Lords & working with Richard Branson ft David McQueen

David McQueen is an international speaker, executive coach, and board advisor. His experience spans over 30 of speaking to corporate, public, and third-sector audiences. David has worked with the likes of Sir Richard Branson, Shell Livewire, Startups Awards, SFEDI, Social Enterprise and Unltd
He has also served as a pitch coach for companies across Europe to raise over £100 million in funding, currently sits on the board for Forbes Family and he is the Founder of Black Founders Hub, a tech incubator for Black Founders. His vision is for his company to be part of a wider narrative empowering Black techies to take their futures into their own hands.
David also hosts two podcasts: BRAVE Leadership on his own and Working Progress with his wife. He was also the Presenter on Virgin Media Pioneers and Channel 4’s Vocation Vocation Vocation.
In this Episode Alicia and David Discuss: 
The impact growing up in church had on his confidence & character 
The secret to delivering memorable & compelling talks 
Manifesting meeting Richard Branson and then working with him !
The value of learning from others 
What relationships can do if they’re used correctly 
 Knowing what you’re good at and recognising the right time 
See more about David here - https://davidmcqueen.co.uk/about 

Ep 52 - How to set trends & not conform ft. Adrian Daniels, Founder & Host Sound of Accra Podcast & A-Z podcasting

Adrian Daniels is a digital consultant, podcast coach and mentor who has over the past decade has built a versatile skill set and a reputation in the UK Tech and Digital industry; including running startups, agencies and online academies, whilst being the forefront of commercial success at various companies.
Within this time, he’s spoken at and hosted various workshops and events in the UK, picked up notable plaudits and has privately consulted high-net worth individuals and even influencers affiliated with the Royal Family, on their personal digital strategy.
 
In this episode Alicia & Adrian discuss:
Schooling in Ghana 
How to be a Life hustler
The process of Creating content 
The importance of extra circular activities 
The reality of starting your own business
How networking led to the Sound of Accra Podcast 
Quitting your job and moving on
Connect with Adrian here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielsadrian/
Listen to Sound of Accra Podcast - https://linktr.ee/thesoundofaccrapod 

Ep 51 - The power of building online communities and turning that into profit ft James Gayle, Founder Shogun Social

James is an award-winning social media expert and founder of Shogun Social, a company that helps companies create and post content like content creators. He specializes in helping companies create engaging content for their social media platforms.
Born in Southampton, England to a Caribbean family, James has worked with clients ranging from Barclays and Southampton City Council to Hubfit and more.
 
In this episode James and Alicia discuss:
How he fell into a career in advertising 
How to nail every interview and be a stand out candidate
Why companies marketing strategy should focus on being social first 
Why people perform best under pressure 
What triggered James to starting his business and growing it in a short period of time
Why brands can start to build communities vs relying on influencers
See more about Shogun social here - https://shogundigital.co.uk/whysocialmedia/ 
Connect with James Gayle here - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/james-gayle-the-social-shogun 

Ep 50 - Recognising and Connecting Bosses within the Music Industry - Ft Jusnah Gadi Founder Young Music Boss

Jusnah Gadi is a music business educator and founder of Young Music Boss which is a resource hub and network building tool for young music entrepreneurs and creatives. YMB aims to prepare the next generation of music industry professionals as well as build an alliance among young music creatives, entrepreneurs and relevant music associations. At the heart of YMB is the desire to empower young professionals through our online content, events, educational tools and consultancy services.
Jusnah is also the Co-founder of Hot N Juicy Shrimp LDN, which brings authentic Southern American flavours to the UK. 
Jusnah is fast becoming a formidable and much needed force in the music industry. Jusnah is also passionate about developing the ecosystem of the Tanzanian music industry and consults various artist teams guiding them on how to maximize income and building a solid infrastructure around their artist. 
In this episode Alicia and Jusnah discuss:
Building credibility by gaining expertise 
Her career journey in Law and why Music Law interested her 
How to handle a No and building long term relationships
Navigating her way throughout the music industry and why she startedYoung Music Boss
The successes and failures of running a fast food business - Facing your failures
Why Young Music Boss awards is Needed and one of the fastest growing award events
Connect with Jusnah Gadi - 
https://www.instagram.com/diamondlanelondon/?hl=en
Young Music Boss - https://www.instagram.com/youngmusicboss/?hl=en  - https://www.youngmusicboss.com/
TES - https://www.instagram.com/tesentspace/?hl=en 
YMG Awards - https://www.instagram.com/ymbawards/?hl=en 
Hot n Juicy Shrimp - https://www.hotnjuicyshrimpldn.co.uk/
 

Ep 49 -Having a serving spirit, and dedicate time making others exhale ft Lesha Graham, Program Director, Black Create Connect

Lesha is the Black Create Connects Program Director, and she has extensive experience in the project management industry. She has a passion for software technology, so she decided to dive into that world and gain various professional qualifications. She knows how to build relationships on all levels by interacting with business clients, personal clients, and the public. Through her love of speaking with people she went on to study business management and become a business consultant who educates others about business tools and opportunities available to them.
She's also a self-published author who has written three goal-setting planners (with her latest planner featured in the Black Pound shop in London), as well as workshops on goal setting, social media training, and business management classes for teenagers and adults alike.
In this episode Lesha and Alicia Discuss:
Why Lesha decided to work with BCC and where her passion comes from
Her desire to elevate others and be a cheerleader
Why it’s important to build side projects and new skills 
The importance of having the right people around you to build you 
Understanding your position - not everyone can be the main character 
Knowing when and how to ask for help 
Why she started her planners and what that process was for her
Connect with Lesha- https://www.amazon.co.uk/2022-Journal-Lesha-Graham/dp/1914442091
Buy a planner - https://www.leshagraham.com/ 
Amazon- https://www.amazon.co.uk/2022-Journal-Lesha-Graham/dp/1914442091

Ep 48 - We can do more together ft. Vanessa Sanyauke Founder Girls Talk London

Vanessa is an award-winning ESG (Environmental, social & governance) tech entrepreneur, Podcaster and Writer based in London. She is the Founder & CEO of award-winning global organisation, Girls Talk London that develops products and services to connect businesses with female talent in 37+ countries through digital products and content, bespoke programmes & events. Their aim is to democratise access to opportunities and jobs in male dominated sectors and to empower women to develop the skills and confidence to progress in their careers.
Through this agency, Vanessa has worked with companies such as Apple, Amazon, Beats by Dre, Meta, HSBC UK, Goldman Sachs, Snap Inc, Virgin Media O2, Zalando, BT and Vodafone + many more to connect them with diverse talent across all levels within their businesses.
Vanessa is a Podcaster and Host of The After Work Drinks Club debuting at Number 4 on the Apple Business Charts and her online talk show, Girls Talk, being viewed by nearly 1 million people worldwide interviewing influential global leaders such as Tsitsi Masiyiwa & Munroe Bergdorf. 
Vanessa has held several Senior roles in the financial services, Law and Public Sector for over 16 years and has worked for companies such as Standard Chartered Bank, HFW, HSBC, Barclays, JP Morgan and UK Parliament.
In this episode Alicia and Vanessa discuss:
Her experience attending an all black university 
The reality of working in investment banking as a black woman 
The true art of networking and advancing in the corporate workplaces 
How she initially started Girls Talk London and grew into a career intro DEI
Why collaboration is key to success 
The reasons why the US invest more in personal development 
Connect with Vanessa:
https://www.vanessasanyauke.com/
Check out  Vanessa’s Podcast 
https://www.instagram.com/afterworkdrinksclub/?hl=en