Changing perspectives: Inspiring others like me into a future in STEM

By Bosede Ogunleye, Head of Student Community at Imperial College Business School (formerly Innovation & Entrepreneurship Manager at Imperial Enterprise Lab)

During the recent school half term (13-17 Feb), we welcomed around two dozen students of black heritage to Imperial’s White City Campus to discover the range of opportunities and careers in STEMM areas outside of research, and what a STEMM degree can lead to.

Among those careers is becoming an entrepreneur, which Bosede has been a key part of here at College. As the presenter of the Black & Found podcast series, and in her roles working with budding entrepreneurs across our community in the Enterprise Lab, she was keen to share her insights and the experiences of others.

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I am passionate about engaging underrepresented groups and feel a particular affinity to those involved in the STEMM Futures programme: young people of black heritage.?I love to encourage groups like these to counter stereotypes, strive for the best and take up space where they are underrepresented, helping everyone feel empowered to be a positive force for change!

But how do we achieve this in the world of entrepreneurship?

Sharing my insights from the Black & Found series, where I interviewed a number of leading founders of black heritage, the recipe for success was consistent but required hard work and empathy.

Firstly, entrepreneurs can only discover whether their idea has value by going to where these communities are and understanding their needs and nuances – and listening with open ears. This could be through engagement with schools, community groups, youth clubs, etc.

I think you need to immerse yourself within this demographic to understand how best to get alongside them. You want your customers to come with you as much as possible.

The founders featured in Black & Found are role models, and this is so helpful in connecting with a younger demographic. For these young people to see people like them in the STEM community helps them to envisage where they could be.

Educating and empowering the next generation of black STEMM-trepreneurs

Through the sessions that me and the other professionals, specialists and entrepreneurs on programmed delivered, the students all had a chance to get new perspectives and important insights that you can’t learn just from books, videos or peers alone.

From my side, I think the three things that are most important that the students took away would be to think and act more collaboratively and embrace the diversity of backgrounds and skill sets available, to improve their communication – especially active listening – and being more empathetic, which goes hand-in-hand with ensuring that ideas are designed and developed that are solving the problems identified in a way that is appropriate for the circumstances.

These students asked lots of great and insightful questions.

However, I was struck by their perception of what a black entrepreneur is and the challenges they may face. Though concerned about the barriers that can be faced, they were also optimistic about what could be achieved as a black entrepreneur.?I learned to be more optimistic and hopeful for the next generation because of listening to them!