Hosanna Hali, an accomplished Azure Specialist at Microsoft and the founder of The Tech Cornr joins the conversation with Alicia Richardson today. From her humble beginnings as a Computing and IT Management graduate to becoming a Azure Specialist at Microsoft, Hosanna’s journey is nothing short of remarkable.

Since starting her career in technology over two years ago, Hosanna has been using her experience to help guide, mentor and inspire the next generation of Women In Tech. Hosanna has participated in a number of Women In Tech Initiatives and in 2020 was highlighted as one of the ten influential Black British women who code and break down barriers by People of Color In Tech.

Using her platform, The Tech Cornr, Hosanna aims to inform, inspire and empower her audience by sharing her story, tech resources and career advice across a number of social media platforms. Hosanna’s goal in life is to help open the tech doors to more women and girls.

In this Episode Alicia and Hosanna dive into

• Hosanna’s Growth Journey: her inspiring path from Congo to the UK, excelling in business, computing, and a thriving career at Microsoft.
• Climbing the corporate ladder from Technology Strategist to Azure Specialist
• Why seeking out sponsorship from senior leaders who can actively advocate for you can help with rapid career progression
• Hosanna highlights the power of networking, mentorship, and self-belief in overcoming corporate hurdles and imposter syndrome.
• Balancing Passions: She candidly discusses juggling her career with content creation and her vision to expand The Tech Corner through webinars and impactful events.

Connect with Hosanna here

LinkedIn: (99+) Hosanna Hali | LinkedIn

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thetechcornr/

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

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_

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

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/

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

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/

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/