My Superhero Origin Story #CareerHighlights

A talk by Edafe Onerhime for the GDS Career Series - Wed 8 September 2021

I was over the moon to present: My Superhero Origin Story to GDS. My interactive session covered my career, as well as the events and philosophies that shaped it. Thanks to Jen Allum for inviting me, Jess McEvoy for hosting me and Mags Fenwick for doing all the logistics.

You can watch a video of my slides and peruse the links I shared below.

Materials and more

I work at the intersection of conversation & imagination, where cooperation meets conformation. And I really like my cat, Fergus. As a committed cat mother, you’ll always find my void cropping up somewhere in my talks. And sometimes on my videos!

I'm interested in how data shapes and is shaped by our culture and beliefs. How does this affect the data products and technologies that we use every day? Can we decolonise data or is it simply holding up a mirror to our real selves?

My narrative structure

• The hero’s journey: I used the hero's journey template to tell my story. You can find the illustration and more on this storytelling technique that’s been used in stories we love like Star Wars, Black Panther and more.

Foundational skills to do what I do

• The essence of databases by FD Rolland - The book that helped me ‘get’ databases. I always have a copy handy on my bookshelf.
• A Business Intelligence system - HP Luhn - Get the right data to the right people at the right time, in a form they can use, so they can take action and deliver on the organisation’s goals.

Philosophies and neuroscience?

• Thinking fast and slow by Daniel Kahneman - Know thyself! Learn more about how your brain works and how you think.
• Inventive minds: creativity in technology by Weber, Robert J. (Robert John), 1936-; Perkins, David N - because innovation, creativity and inspiration are a spectrum not a singular.
• Pablo Picasso: Harnessing Willpower : “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” – Pablo Picasso (and sometimes resting Pablo!)
• Time Is A Colonial Construct — Here’s How I Learned To Reclaim Mine - Larissa Crawford - Rethink how you think about time, work, and energy.
• Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time :? The science of stamina has advanced to the point where individuals, teams, and whole organizations can, with some straightforward interventions, significantly increase their capacity to get things done by Tony Schwartz and Catherine McCarthy - Read quite critically to avoid burnout.
• 59 Seconds - Think a little, change a lot by Professor Richard Wiseman - little interventions for big changes. I learned the importance of reflection.
• Now try something weirder - How to keep having great ideas and survive in the creative business by Michael Johnson - Break free of stale thinking!
• Steal Like An Artist - A book by Austin Kleon - I love his quirky approach to creative pursuits.

Threshold guardians

• Mentor vs Sponsor : A mentor helps you recognise what you need to do; a sponsor helps you get recognised for what you’ve done. Both help you succeed. - Edafe Onerhime
• Building Successful Communities of Practice by Emily Webber - Make the time for development as well as delivery!

Career goodness

• Dare to Lead by Brene Brown - Lead bravely!
• David Allen’s Getting things done - Doesn’t really need an introduction.
• Designing your life by Bill Burnett and Dae Evans - Build your perfect career, find what drives you and what you really want to do with your time on earth.
• The first 90 days by Michael D Watkins - For when you want to hit the ground running.
• The manager’s path - A guide for tech leaders navigating growth and change by Camille Fournier - comes highly recommended, quite practical too.

Thanks for reading. What's your superhero origin story?