Young Leaders Nexus

What can I say about Institute of Directors (IoD) Black History Month event on Monday evening in partnership with Aston University. This year's theme was 'Reclaiming Narratives'. One writer said "It is necessary, to truly reclaim narratives, to take stores back int the hands of those who lived through them and transform them into something that celebrates beauty of life and successful achievements rather than the ugliness of reality". I love this! We truly celebrated the beauty of life and successful achievements of scientists Ijeoma Uchegbu FMedSci Uchegbu who is using nano particles to carry medicines to parts of the body that are notoriously hard to read i.e. the back of the eye and brain. With clinical trials underway, her aim is to treat blindness with eyedrops, transform pain relief and address the opioid crisis and to target and treat certain cancers. She uses the art of comedy to teach her students on the application of nano particles that helps them to enjoy lectures and retain information. She is absolutely phenomenal! What can we say about Byron Dixon OBE, CEO of Micro-Fresh®. He developed the Micro-Fresh®-formula in 2006. An innovative technology that is now used globally by manufacturers and retailers to protect and preserve the freshness of their products. It also prevents mould, bacteria and viruses on various products. Micro-Fresh®is now available in sportswear, footwear, clothing and home textiles. It is also set to be used by the automotive industry in car interiors and seating to ensure freshness and hygiene. Byron you are a true inspiration to the next generation! Kameese D. blew the audience away. She is a trailblazing entrepreneur with a relentless commitment to revolutionise beauty standards and hair care through her company Nylah's - a vegan plant-based hair care product for black hair that was inspired by her own search for the right products for her daughter who suffered with childhood eczema. I use her products and they are amazing. Lois Moodie - wow, wow, wow! Lois is a gospel singer and BBC The Voice 202 semi-finalist. She is currently studying n LLM in music at Southwark College and conducts a few choirs. Her voice is outstanding and we thoroughly enjoyed her performances of 'You know my Name' and 'Shackles'. Thank you to Dr. Denise Maxwell whose beautiful photos captured the mood of the evening. There was lots of laughter and fun. Something clearly tickled Yetunde Dania. The room was full of warmth and energy. It was a privilege to be able to inspire so many young people, the next generation who were present with their mentors. Finally, thank you to Aston University for partnering with IoD West Midlands on this event. Thanks as always to Professor Aleks Subic, Zoe Radnor, Gomolemo Makolomako. It was good to see so many people present. I appreciate your support. I love the photo of Harun Rabbani with his trilby 🙂. Hopefully see you at next year's Black History Month UK event!

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Inspiring Stories of Triumph Over Adversity All heroes have an origin story. Imagine having to flee your beloved home to keep your three young children safe from conflict. You return to a country you left decades earlier, remembering how challenging it was to be Black in Britain during the 1960s and 70s. But your children’s safety matters far more than past traumas. Within months of arriving, you secure two jobs and begin a PhD research role. Though you barely make ends meet, in time, you become Chief Scientific Officer of a bioscience company and develop technology that delivers chemotherapy directly to tumour sites. Imagine how many lives you’re saving here in the UK and globally. This was just one story of resilience I had the privilege to hear last night at an inspiring Black History Month event hosted by the esteemed Dr. Inez Brown (Hon. Causa) , Chair of IoD Central. The story was that of Prof. Ijeoma Uchegbu FMedSci, aremarkable scientist and leader. The evening was filled with other powerful stories of resilience, innovation, and groundbreaking achievement. Byron Dixon OBE, another guest, grew up on a council estate with few prospects but found hope through a passion for chemistry. Today, he’s a rising titan in entrepreneurship—definitely someone to watch. Finally, I met Kameese D. a young entrepreneur driven by the need to develop natural hair products for Black women. Many don’t realise just how challenging it is for Black women to care for their hair. Kamees found a way to save them time and naturally support hair growth. These journeys were nothing short of extraordinary, and it was truly humbling to learn about the challenges they overcame to reach such heights. A special thanks to Lois Moodie for her beautiful musical performance. Also to Professor Aleks Subic for his welcome to Aston university. #BlackHistoryMonth #Inspiration #Leadership #Innovation #IoDCentral #DiversityAndInclusion

Do you trust the people in your network? In today’s world, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to networking. But here’s the thing—quality always trumps quantity. That’s why I’m very selective about who I spend time with. I focus on nurturing relationships with people I consider my trusted advisors. Yesterday, I had the privilege of presenting at a fantastic business networking event in Birmingham, hosted by Glenn Cameron and Julie Cameron. It’s my go-to event for building and deepening my trusted network. I shared insights on how entrepreneurs and professionals can do the same—creating their own powerful, high-value networks. A big thank you to everyone who showed up and played full out! YOU ARE AMAZING! Looking forward to taking this concept even deeper in next month’s session, where we’ll explore how to elevate those trusted connections to drive even greater results. #TrustedAdvisor #Networking #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #BirminghamEvents

💎 The Power of Mentorship: A Personal Story 💎 Have you ever wondered about the impact a mentor can have on your career? I certainly did. My first professional mentor, Peter Roper, completely shattered my preconceived notions about mentors. I used to think they were these aloof, know-it-all figures. But Peter was none of those things. He was approachable, humble, and genuinely caring. I met Peter when I was starting out in professional speaking and training whilst living in Solihull. He was the regional President of the Professional Speakers Association at the time, and I was seeking guidance from someone at the top of their game. Peter's mentorship was instrumental in my career development. He taught me invaluable lessons about public speaking, business strategy, and building relationships. But more than that, he showed me the power of kindness and compassion in mentoring. Today, I'm proud to be a big advocate for mentoring young leaders. I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to have a mentor who can guide them, support them, and help them reach their full potential. When it comes to becoming a mentor, start young. If you're interested in becoming a mentor or finding a mentor, DM me. Let's connect and discuss how we can make a difference together. #Mentorship #CareerDevelopment #Leadership  

🌐 The Future of Networking: Building Deeper Connections 🌐 In today’s fast-evolving business landscape, networking is about more than just exchanging business cards – it's about forming meaningful, purpose-driven relationships that support long-term growth. As I’ve experienced through events like Glenn Cameron’s Business Buzz - Local Business Networking in Daventry today and the Northamptonshire Business Exhibition yesterday, the future of business communities is shifting towards tribe-like connections where we grow together. Here’s what I see: 
- Hybrid events are here to stay, mixing local and global opportunities.
- Networking is becoming more niche and value-driven, connecting like-minded individuals.
- Technology and AI are making it easier to find the right people while maintaining human authenticity.
- Building a network is like building a tribe – it's about trust, support, and shared growth. My thoughts: Network widely, but nurture your connections deeply. Treat your network like a family and focus on creating authentic relationships that last. 💡 What are your thoughts? How are you approaching networking in 2024? And 2025? #BusinessNetworking #GrowthMindset #TribeBuilding #MeaningfulConnections #HybridNetworking

For months I’d been hearing about the Northamptonshire Business Exhibition. I thought what’s the big deal? It’s just and expo. Yesterday, I realised why the hype. The great and the good of entrepreneurs from all over the county turned up. Brilliant community spirit lit up by the likes of Sunny Singh and Simon Cox and their teams. Over coffee, I met some wonderful leaders doing so much for their respective communities including my friend Ian Taylor 🔥 Empowering Your Success 📈 - a humble bus driver turned director of the former Cable and Wireless and so much more. Also, Stuart Thomas who with Trilogy Fitness have been making leisure accessible for many vulnerable people. Last, but not least, our entrepreneurial change makers, Olivia Krawczyk and Denisa Nasc. Can’t believe their level of passion to lead businesses that have social impact in the heart of their mission. #socialimpact #socialvalues #northamptonshire #networking #youngleaders #youngentrepreneurs