my new role: LinkedIn Changemaker

I am so proud and excited to finally announce that I will be partnering with LinkedIn, yes THE LinkedIn, for a twelve-month campaign as a LinkedIn Changemaker on a mission to drive change within my community!!! They have asked me to be one of their seven Changemakers because of my inspiring work using social media to help fight for access to higher education for students from underrepresented and unsupported backgrounds. I will be partnering with LinkedIn to help support students with their transition from studying to entering the working world. I'm in it with LinkedIn to give EVERYONE a fighting chance in the world of work no matter their socio-economic background. I want to help empower and equip other young people with the skills of how to use LinkedIn as a resource and space to explore new opportunities and prepare for their futures. 

Anyone who knows me well knows just how much this collaboration means to me, LinkedIn has always been on my list of dream brands to work with, and it's crazy to see that dream coming true. I'm so excited to use this platform to make my mark as an agent of change and see the positive impact that this campaign will have for so many students like myself. 

During this 12 month partnership, I want to demonstrate to students that LinkedIn is a space where young people can build their professional networks, access helpful resources and have impactful conversations about any fears that they may have surrounding entering the workplace. I want to show fellow students how to use LinkedIn to its full potential. How to build their profiles by creating a positive online presence on a professional platform, one that they can use to their advantage to gather information and create meaningful relationships with mentors and peers. 

 I am also aware that students are apprehensive about their futures now more than ever. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, especially because of its effects on their education and the uncertainty of what comes next. Lots of people have lost their jobs, schools have been closed, and sadly a lot of lives have been lost. For many students, this global health crisis will change the shape of their lives forever and have significant impacts on their education. A lot of exams have been cancelled, moved, or had their formats altered. Therefore many of us are unsure of how we will now be graded and how this will affect our applications for further study, summer internships, or graduate jobs.

Although I do not have the answers, I'm hoping I can use my partnership with LinkedIn to reassure you guys by posting regular updates with varying opportunities for students concerning employment and advice on how to apply or simply by sharing some encouraging and reassuring articles that I find along the way. As a response to the academic effects of COVID-19 my friends, I set up a study based youtube channel called StudyTube to help keep students learning despite the school closures. I also hope to replicate something similar here on LinkedIn by making a group where I can help with tips and tricks on how to use and grow your LinkedIn profiles to access various opportunities for the future. 

 One of my objectives with this partnership is to encourage students to use LinkedIn as a space to explore their interests, showcase their talents and share their ideas with other young people and also their potential future employers. I want to empower people from backgrounds like mine to see that anything is possible with the right tools and that platforms like LinkedIn can help them discover new skills, people, and opportunities. I hope to see students gain a better understanding of the varying sectors and options when choosing their future lines of work. I aim to encourage young people to try new things and gain a better understanding of the options available to them after they complete their studies.

I am incredibly excited to embark on this journey with LinkedIn as one of their Changemakers and cannot wait to begin creating the change I want to see in the access to the world of work for students. I am one of the seven Changemakers, and I cannot wait to work alongside the other agents of change who are all advocating for such incredible causes and breaking down barriers. I will be helping to make LinkedIn a space to hold important conversations about our workplaces. 

 This article was written as part of the LinkedIn #Changemakers partnership – a 12-month campaign shining a spotlight on individuals who are using LinkedIn to drive genuine change in the world of work. To find out more about the partnership, read more here: https://blog.linkedin.com/2020/may/10/follow-the-changemakers-driving-change-in-the-world-of-work