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The Fallacy of Finding Clarity, Bursting Your Bubble & Being a Young Leader with Titilope Adedokun
407 Plays1 year ago
In this episode, Bukola chats with Titilope Adedokun on her amazing exploits as a Young Leader and Founder of Sisterly HQ. Listen to them talk about all things clarity, getting out of your comfort zone, gender equity, food and more! Have fun and remember to leave a review.
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Transcript
Exploring Comfort Zones and Clarity
00:00:05
Speaker
There's a type of world domination that comes out of your comfort zone. There's something that I've always had, you know, growing up, I didn't even necessarily know or have a word for it. Sometimes what if clarity is stopping you from even understanding what you're supposed to be?
Introducing Titilokwe Ade Dukom
00:00:30
Speaker
Hi everyone, I hope you're doing very well today. It really is a huge pleasure to present to you our guest on the episode today, Titilokwe Ade Dukom. Titilokwe is someone that has been hugely inspiring to someone I've been in awe of.
00:00:50
Speaker
I, every time I hear about Titiloquia, especially when we were back in University of Lagos studying law, it's always in respect to something that has to do with excellence. And I can remember just having Titiloquia working with us
00:01:05
Speaker
on gradients when we had started in the early phase during the pandemic. And you will tell Titilope to do ABC. Titilope is that person that will do ABC and tell you, oh, I had a D and E because I think it's important as well to this specific thing that you're doing. So that's how much impact she has in spaces that she is in. And right now, Titilope is the founder of Sisterly HQ, which is a platform and a space that has been created
Founding Sisterly HQ
00:01:34
Speaker
for African young women to share their stories. I think it's absolutely inspiring what she's doing with that platform because you don't
00:01:43
Speaker
see every day is space where women actually share their stories. And I mentioned even during the podcast episode that for many years women's stories have been untold or told by the wrong people, especially Black women, they're actually not at the front and center stage of sharing the stories the way that they're living it. And so a platform that just does that is amazing, is mind-blowing to me and Tity Lockway is the founder of that platform.
00:02:13
Speaker
Titiloquia is also being recognized by many remarkable bodies on so many things in relation to young leadership.
Recognition and Impact on Gender Equity
00:02:21
Speaker
one of our renowned recognition is by LinkedIn has been a top voice in the gender equity space and I tell you this person is not 50 years old she's still pretty young and so she's middle of this remarkable mark in the world and in our space and she's still learning still figuring things out like she mentioned during the podcast episode and I think there's just a lot that you will take from this. I snap my fingers all through
00:02:50
Speaker
and I'm sure you'll do the same as well. So sit back and let's dive in. Alright! The Growth Podcast is a space where we share the real stories behind the stories. We take you behind the scenes of the success stories we read and see online. We lift the wheel and ask the questions that no one else is asking. To expand your mind and break the limits that society, and quite frankly yourself, have placed in it.
00:03:18
Speaker
and all these is to get you to realize
Personal Life and Culinary Adventures
00:03:21
Speaker
that. Your version of success is attainable for you too.
00:03:26
Speaker
Casually, like, how have you been? What have you been up to? I know I went on your WhatsApp status just about. Are you too many to go? I told you, it's not in my world. You're on Facebook in Africa, and I'm like, oh my goodness. So, you know, what have you been up to? Gosh, like, that's such a loaded question. But I'm happy that you asked that. I've been up to so much. As you said, I've been up to watching
00:03:55
Speaker
African reality TV but besides that actually I have been working on to study HQ taking a little bit of a break right now but I've also spent the last few weeks traveling and spending time with my family and just getting to some very exciting things as well. Yeah so that's what I have been off to and I've also been off to like cooking loads like if you're on topic of my status like I'm sure that you saw that I uploaded like some really cool fruits and I'm excited to like
00:04:23
Speaker
you know, really go to town with recipes and just very random things like that. So yeah, that's me. I sort of first, I think it was yesterday when you uploaded it and my mind was playing tricks on me when I saw that you had groups for the first time. And I'm like, how? How? I know, trust me, like, I feel like I have tried groups before, like when I was younger, both
00:04:51
Speaker
I don't think I liked it. And the kind of person I can be is if I tried something and I didn't like it, except if it's something that is very easily enriched, usually it will take me a longer time to like try it again. So I tried groups for the first time, like last month or two months ago while I was in my sister in the US. And I loved this, like I couldn't get enough. So when I had the chance to like buy groups growing here in just Nigeria, I was like, I'm going to buy it. And it is like, it tastes so great. Like the taste that we've been, oh my God.
00:05:22
Speaker
Yes. Grapes are so nice. I think I would love the taste of grapes to be maybe extrapolated to strawberries. So strawberry looks like what grapes should take like. So like when you look at grapes, you're like this thing may not taste nice. When you look at strawberry, it's like this is absolutely fantastic. I know. What it tastes like. I know, right?
Cooking and Food Experiments
00:05:47
Speaker
Again, I feel like strawberries are something I want to try again as an adult.
00:05:51
Speaker
But, you know, I've had so many issues about it, you know, being a, what do you call those things? Like pretend that like it doesn't even look the way that it tastes at all. Exactly. How that glitters is not gold. Yeah. So I'm speaking about cooking. So asides, fruits, what are the things have you been experimenting on? Oh my goodness. So one of the things that I really, really enjoyed making last few days, I really enjoyed making like creamy pasta.
00:06:20
Speaker
Um, so I don't have like, like actual, you know, this actual cream, cause cream in the internet is expensive. Just tell me why they're selling cream for like 10,000 Nara, just one cotton of cream. Why? So I had to, so I experimented in the last few like weeks with the first time I ever did. I need to pick milk and like grated cheese and it was fantastic. Other time I made these, I tried it with coconut milk and cheese. Fantastic as well. So.
00:06:43
Speaker
Basically, I try to find ways to substitute what the real recipes call for and try to use what I can find around me.
Sisterly HQ's Impact
00:06:51
Speaker
Then I make a very mean Jollofers, but considering the fact that I made Jollofers for the first time last year, like at the end of last year. And my assistant, when I cooked Jollofers a few days ago, I was like, just look, we're cooked. That was really nice.
00:07:08
Speaker
And of course, like my smoothies, I love making smoothies. I'm making mini Gucci soup. What? You know, yes. But to be a funny enough, like, honestly, after this podcast, I intend to make like pesto. So I want to make like pesto pasta. That's why I bought like fresh basil. And then I'm going to also make like a mocktail sort of thing, passion fruit and orange juice. Right. I'll try and mix everything together.
00:07:35
Speaker
And we'll have some things. To be honest, I love it. I can do love it. I love that you're in that experimentation.
00:07:47
Speaker
to be honest, like, I used to think I hated cooking, but I found that I actually like cooking on my own terms, right? When I want to experiment and I want to do it because I know that I'm actually doing it creatively, makes me happy. When I feel forced, like, oh, I have to cook for everybody in the family, I'm like, okay, I don't think so. Yes, yes, it's nice to see. And I've also been experimenting on smoothie as well.
00:08:15
Speaker
Um, right now I'm not like, okay, since I like doing things related to the rings, maybe I should start off experimenting on music and then go into cocktails and then even do like coffee and all of those things. So yeah, those are things that are really exciting.
00:08:37
Speaker
System HQ of which we're definitely going to talk about in a lot more details. Like first of all, like I need to give you your flowers because I think you're doing an amazing job. Thank you. System HQ, the idea behind it is not something that anyone really
00:08:54
Speaker
is doing. And they might have thought of you know, some one of those things that you you know, that should actually exist.
Role as a Connector
00:09:01
Speaker
But doing it like you are now done needs. And anytime I see like an update on sisterly HQ, where you guys post opportunities for women, or you're just sharing like just this unique stories that women go through. So there was this one that I read on the was it period? Yeah, period.
00:09:24
Speaker
And I was like, yeah, period diaries. And I was like, wow, this is beautiful. This is not something that people talk about on the mainstream.
00:09:32
Speaker
um, basis, like for girls, especially like growing up, the old conversation or even just being on your menses kind of seems very, it seems like something, a taboo topic seems like something that you shouldn't talk about in the open. Um, and especially like for me, I went to budding school and there's, there was this kind of, there was this shame attached to being on your period. And then God helps you that you're mythically the
00:10:02
Speaker
Everyone will make you feel bad. So the fact that you guys are...
00:10:06
Speaker
bringing that conversation front and center stage and making it something that is okay and comfortable to talk about. Yeah, you guys are just really doing an amazing job. Thank you so much. Yes, yes. I think what I would like to start is I went on your online profile and there was a way you described yourself, which I actually want to say word for word, just because I have a specific question in regards to that.
00:10:34
Speaker
So you say, I am many things, a founder, a lawyer, a community builder, a storyteller, a writer, a social impact nerd, a women's rights advocate, and a recognized content creator. But my favorite role is connector. So let's know and understand, why is that your favorite role?
00:11:00
Speaker
Um, that's a really good question. So I'd say, um, yeah, so as I said, like I'm many things. I'm someone who has always been multifaceted. I was having a conversation with my mentor like last year and she told me like, just look where I have never known you to be one thing. Even when you were a student, you were like doing other things.
00:11:17
Speaker
You know, for a while, I struggled with the idea of being so many people or not so many people, actually so many things at the same time. But I've learned that that therein lies my strength, the fact that I am a multifaceted person and I'm just not, there's not just one thing or one part to me. And these days I'm learning to embrace it as more, as much more as I can rather.
Embracing Multifaceted Interests
00:11:38
Speaker
So, but in terms of being a connector, I love, I've realized that even I personally, I love bringing things closer to people and connecting people, specifically to opportunities. It's something that I have seen throughout my life, even before I even knew that those things were called opportunities. Like even before I knew that, you know, we can create these opportunities all for women or for young people or whatever. I'd always been that good to person in my life where people would reach out to me like to
00:12:06
Speaker
know how to network or like know how to write essays for stuff or like I started writing internship applications for people in my life. Like before I was doing like in year three, like I was always that good term resourceful person. It was just something I did, something I just was. And I'm looking back at it through the course of my life. And even up till now, I realized that I gravitated to was just helping people to be the better version of themselves. And usually
00:12:31
Speaker
The way that I do that is by connecting them to either a passing, to a tip, to resource, to an opportunity, something basically just to make sure that they are not alone and something to guide them through that process of becoming a better vision of themselves. And just to reiterate, again, it's something that I've always had growing up. I didn't even necessarily know or have a word for it.
00:12:54
Speaker
Um, and now that I have, like, now that it's a study HQ with other experiences I've had throughout my life, I'm able to hone in on it so well and just be that bridge, that like that bridge that bridges the gap, excuse me, that bridge that bridges the gap between somebody and their goal and being that, that place and that safe space for people to be able to access opportunities again, tips, people, resources, and just be that bridge again.
Career Journey from Law to Social Impact
00:13:21
Speaker
Yeah.
00:13:21
Speaker
Yeah, and I'm glad that you mentioned that this is something that, in hindsight, you've just looked back and you said, I've actually always been this person. Yeah. I love to connect people, and I want to continue to do that. It could be, and at any scale, really, I'm doing whatever I'm doing. So now that I have sister EHQ, I want to connect people in this way. Even when I didn't have sister EHQ, I was also doing it. I'm like, whatever it is that I'm going to,
00:13:49
Speaker
continue to do probably in the future, I will still be that person who connects people. Oh, no, that actually makes sense. And, you know, it just reminds me of I think it was last week or two weeks ago, when you sent me the profile of somebody that did a course that is similar to a program that I'm currently taking. I was like, Oh, yeah, actually, this was about
00:14:11
Speaker
things are similar to mine and I would like to reach out to this person like it was so thoughtful of you and it was so thoughtful because like prior to then it's not like we speak every day yeah but that you actually just kept in your mind that color would need to see this person's profile that's just amazing and for me it goes a long way just someone putting me in mind and seeing that
00:14:36
Speaker
okay like what kind of might actually be interesting in connecting with this person which was something that you did so thank you. I'm not trying to like take over the podcast but the thing I want to say is like you always do that as well like I think that that's one thing I've learned from you as a person you always have people on top of mind so yeah I'm glad I was able to do that for you both. Hike you also do that for people around you and I think that that's super cool so yeah.
00:15:02
Speaker
Oh, that's so heartfelt. Thank you. And to be honest, especially when you do that for people, finding someone that would actually do that for you is hard. Because like everyone thinks, oh, yeah, she's good. It's like, because when it comes to this, you know, but sometimes you actually feel like people are also thinking about you in the same way. And you're also sharing opportunities with you that resonates and aligns with it with
00:15:26
Speaker
goals that you have for yourself. So it was good to see because I don't, I actually don't really get that. I don't like hardly find people actually just sending me things. I'm usually the one on the on the other end doing the same for other people. So it was it was beautiful to receive that. Perfect. So I think this brings me to the next question or at least like the next point to talk about. And I think that's really about
00:15:55
Speaker
how you've been shaping yourself up. I know you had mentioned that you're someone who isn't really fixated on just one thing, and you think your strength is in the fact that you get to do all of these multiple things and do them well.
00:16:11
Speaker
And of course, like looking at your path, you studied law in university and even whilst doing law, you were very involved in a lot of extracurricular activities to improve and expand your skills. And, you know, right now it seems like the perfect course of action to take is going to a law firm, right? Do this specific thing.
00:16:34
Speaker
And I know right now, of course, you are at that phase where you're still trying to make that decision on what makes sense to you. But I would like to know what are some of the thoughts around, OK, now this is the part that seems like it makes sense to me based on the experience that I have. But also, there's that side of you that is interested in social impact and making a global change in the world. How are you really thinking about this thing?
00:17:01
Speaker
very loaded like because I can't be perfect all the heavy eating questions and I love that actually but yeah so I would say like one thing that I'm trying to do with like my life and I think whether I like it or not it's like it's something again so many things I look at them hindsight and I realized that
Flexibility in Career Paths
00:17:21
Speaker
many things that I'm dealing with now, I have dealt with them before or the art or the symbolized or the signal of the things that I've dealt with before. So for example, people, many people do not know this, but even going into studying law, I was never like, when we're going to SS1, I didn't choose like arts class or social science as we choose an engineer if you want to study law. Like I was, I wanted to be a neurosurgeon. I wanted to be in class singing. That was what I was going to do with my life. And so I went to science class.
00:17:47
Speaker
But somewhere along the line, I decided that, you know what, this isn't for me. I am much more suited towards the arts. And I immediately switched. And it was very tricky because it was like my final year of secondary school. And I really had to catch up. And thankfully, I was able to do that and get into University of Lagos to study law. So even now that as like at this point in my life where I have gone, I've studied the law, I've become a lawyer. But at the end of the day, what I want to do with my life right now, emphasis on right now is
00:18:12
Speaker
you know, do social impact, particularly in the corporate space and, you know, get into the thick of CSR, ASG and help, you know, organizations, particularly like corporate businesses, tech companies to put social impact at the forefront of their work. You know, it's not, well, it's not the same decision I was faced with earlier. It's very similar, almost at a parallel to when I was 15 years old and had to make that decision to like stop studying sciences and move into like studying something towards law.
00:18:41
Speaker
So one thing I would say is, I think it's okay not to know. We're so, we are, we're so obsessed with clarity. And I used to be super obsessed with clarity as well. Until the day that I learned that sometimes what if clarity is stopping you from even understanding what you're supposed to be. Because you're so obsessed with clarity and you want to have like all the answers, but what if life is not supposed to have all the answers and you're supposed to just enjoy the process and there's something going to be very beautiful at the end of the process.
00:19:10
Speaker
So sometimes like clarity is just you like not enjoying the process, trying to always set like clarity is a good thing. Don't get me wrong. But sometimes you waste so much time trying to find clarity when you can just enjoy the process and like clarity would eventually come. And so I have learned that, you know, clarity is good, but I shouldn't waste time on like finding and seeking clarity, but instead I should enjoy the process. And I think that that's what I'm trying to do.
00:19:37
Speaker
so hard with sisterly hit you right now even where I'm right now. I always tell people and say like I'm in the waiting season but I think I'm a perfect example of showing that you can still be fruitful, you can still make do of your waiting season, you can still enjoy your waiting season and so that's where I'm at right now, that's what I'm trying to do at this time, just enjoying the waiting season, learning so much about myself and yeah.
Desire for Social Impact in Corporate Spaces
00:20:01
Speaker
So just to go back to the question right,
00:20:06
Speaker
Personally, at this time, at this point I am in, I would love to not work in a law firm. Personally, I think since 2019, I feel like I already kind of knew that I wouldn't work in a law firm necessarily, maybe sometime in the future. But right now, no, I would typically love to work with companies and help them to work on their CSR and ESG, and helping them to work on that social impact aspect of their business. And then also, like, Cecilia here as well,
00:20:34
Speaker
That is a huge part of my story. That will always be part of my story. So I don't have everything we got figured out, but I'm embracing the not knowing while trying to know, basically. And I'm also enjoying the time because when I talk to people and I talk to people like my mentor.
00:20:51
Speaker
And I'm complaining and saying, oh, I don't have this. Or this isn't happening for me. Or I'm putting this kind of rejection. Or I feel like, I don't know what I'm doing with my life. And they always remind me that, first of all, nobody knows what they're doing. Nobody knows what they're doing. Even if you're 40 years old or you're 50 years old, many of these guys that we look up to don't know what they're doing. And so they remind me to take it one step at a time. And also to enjoy this time that I have, this time of not knowing and not even having
00:21:20
Speaker
things figured out, they always remind me that it's a gift, honestly, to be able to even be in this phase of my life. And I know, and for someone like me, who is high achieving, who likes to like, know everything that is happening, I'm like, I'm so organized. And I think Bukola, you can also release like, I want to have everything planned to see, but they always remind me that I should not take this time I have, where I kind of don't have everything figured out for granted, because I will soon have everything
Balancing Law and Social Impact
00:21:46
Speaker
figured out. And maybe I will not even have this kind of flexibility again in my life.
00:21:49
Speaker
But I hope I do share with you. Yes, that's it. Yeah. And honestly, whilst you were speaking, I just jotted in a lot of things. I wanted to see a few things, but a lot of things. When you talked about your like when you were in secondary school that actually law wasn't the theme, you were
00:22:11
Speaker
studying something entirely different in science class and I was like oh my god there's a lot of similarities between you and me and I think we've had this conversation before but just hearing it again it's like wow like I actually was in science class as well and then at the end I was like okay you know what I need to go to art class and then I studied law so yeah pretty much similar um but one thing that struck was when you mentioned that sometimes trying to find clarity might be the thing stopping you from doing
00:22:41
Speaker
And it is true, it is true, especially like, and I think there was a face where I was just seated and saying, okay, what exactly is it that I should be doing? What should I do?
00:22:55
Speaker
And sometimes that can bring a lot of anxiety. And it can also like block you from even seeing things that you should clearly see from going through the paths that you should actually be taking because you're seeking clarity. And clarity is usually when you sit down in this space and you're seeking clarity first of all, you're just boxing yourself into the things that are right in front of you. But sometimes the thing that you should be doing might be on another
00:23:24
Speaker
corner entirely. So it is in whatever you're doing, this is how I see life. And for me, this is how I see myself as achieving purpose. It's in whatever I'm doing, I want to excellently do it. I want to exude excellence in everything that I find myself doing. And with that thing, it would always create paths for me to do something better. I have
00:23:49
Speaker
told myself and I think I've already gotten to an understanding that unlike many people who, you know, they wake up today and they make a decision that, oh, I want to be a lawyer and they stick to that path for the rest of their lives for 50 years or how many years they're going to be in the workforce.
Journey into Social Impact
00:24:06
Speaker
I just don't think that's me. I think I'm one person who is constantly unraveling myself every single day.
00:24:14
Speaker
Like, they are just things that I do. And I'm like, oh, my God, I never knew that I actually had that quality. And isn't that ability to just being
00:24:23
Speaker
the open and adaptive one wanting to learn and keep learning yourself every day understanding that you've actually not figured everything out. It exposes you to a whole world of possibility that you never think existed. So for me, that's really how I'm taking life just being very open and adaptable. For instance, like right now, I'm currently in the organizational psychology space, helping with
00:24:47
Speaker
companies, helping them to structure their people strategy, and all of those things that HR has got to do. But then there's also that side of me that is like, I actually want to learn how to be very analytical. And I've taken up Excel, I took it up and right now, like things that I can do with Excel is mind-blowing. And now I'm like, oh, I actually need to learn Tableau as well. And I don't know what that journey would
00:25:12
Speaker
take me to. And I can see how even just getting that skill is amplifying what I'm currently doing. So it's like just been always ever ready to learn. I'm seeing every day as a school day. I'm not just boxing myself. I think that's what makes life beautiful for me. And I think that's basically the same thing that you've also talked about now, which is very enjoyable. And I think I'd also like you to kind of buttress a little bit more on
00:25:39
Speaker
When you mentioned social impact is something that you right now are tilting towards looking at helping companies with your ESG governance issues. I'd like to know, like, where did that love come from? Social impact is not something that, you know, was conventionally introduced to us.
00:26:01
Speaker
when we were growing up, like this can actually be a career, right?
Significance of Social Impact Work
00:26:05
Speaker
It was usually Dr. Lawyer. So I wanted to know how did you find that area? How has that been the thing that is now front and center stage in terms of your career? Absolutely. So that's a really good question because I definitely can relate to the fact that social impact wasn't something that we're talking about growing up. Like, as you said, it was not Lawyer, Dr.
00:26:30
Speaker
Econo missed out on like what I was talking about and even me myself like
00:26:36
Speaker
I know those times we would have to have people dressed up like lawyers and doctors. I know right. And like, I can heavily relate on that. And I even remember like growing up, even though like one fact, I was really involved in social impact in secondary school, but then I never would say it as a career. I just thought I just saw it as something that myself and my mates were doing then that was meant to help our community and all of that. But at the end of the day,
00:27:03
Speaker
The things that you're exposed to, whether you like it or not, were still in a, in some aspect or in some way, really, really, um, they would not define how you turn out, but they would definitely influence things that you like or do not like. So, um, just to go back to what I said earlier, my first social impact thing that I ever did was when I was in SS2 or SS3. And so my school has this international day of the African child, I think June 16 or June 14.
00:27:31
Speaker
And for some reason myself and fellow prefect in secondary school then we just thought about that, you know, what's for this? First of all, we're even the ones that introduced the day like to my school, the celebration of the day, the day the day that is recognized in Africa. But like my school never used to celebrate it. So we decided to tell like our principal and say, oh, we want to celebrate the state. We want to come dress now like African attires. And then we also want to have the social impact charity aspect to it. So we basically came together, we raised money from school and
00:28:00
Speaker
from within amongst ourselves. And we came together and did care packages for some care communities or some care homes rather in our communities. And so I remember that we went to, I think, two or three particular places. And we got to spend time with the beneficiaries. We got to give them stuff. And that was my first ever
00:28:21
Speaker
thing that had to do with social impact. But then when I was even doing it, I was just thinking, oh, let's, you know, come together and help our community. But it wasn't like, I'm going to do this as a carrier. Fast forward to like three or four years after, again, I found myself doing social impact work as well. But this time was with like my sister and we got to like work together on like doing some outreaches in our community. The first thing that we did was we were able to give out like a thousand pairs of socks and stationary and first aid kits and sanitary tools to like four.
00:28:50
Speaker
schools in a low-income community very close to my house actually in Nevada or your state and the next year we did something else for like women and pregnant teen moms and that was really cool and then again I was just doing it because I just felt like you know
00:29:05
Speaker
there's so much love to give and you know as Nigerians we have some Nigerians I feel like we are such a beautiful people because we don't have a lot but at the same time we have a lot and I just felt like we had we had a lot of love to give we had so much that we had that we needed to give but then I wasn't even really thinking about it as you know a career path until I would say like until like the pandemic hits like 2019 and you know the first thing I would say is
Community and Networking Importance
00:29:32
Speaker
knowledge is super important the more you know about something the more the possibilities you see with this thing so for me my experience of social impact was actually getting into the field like getting dirty and doing the work but even then i didn't know much about it as a field or as an industry right i had to actually like go out there do the work by doing like watching videos rather watching videos online speaking to people gosh i spoke to so many people
00:30:01
Speaker
from C-suite to entry-level folk to people who are five, 10 years down the line, I was speaking, there was a particular time, I was just speaking to people every two weeks or something. And that really, really helped me to understand social impact as an industry. That really helped me to understand social impact as a sector to actually go into it. And then I would say the other thing that helped me in narrowing down social impact as a particular chiropractic is also community as well.
00:30:30
Speaker
I made sure to put myself in community of people who were doing social impact, particularly as a carrier and with LinkedIn as well. So I was really surrounding myself with people who were doing social impact. And from then I started to see the possibilities of social impact and seeing it as a carrier. So just to kind of round up, I would say for me social impact was something I always did.
00:30:55
Speaker
And you see, this is a common theory pretty much every single thing I have said since the beginning of this episode. Many of the things that I do now or that I like now, there are things that I've started since when I was little or since when I was 18. Social impact was also the same. My first encounter, as I said, was when I was in secondary school.
00:31:13
Speaker
Even while I was studying law, I still found time to do social impact work, even with gradients during the pandemic, with Law Ladies Day, with so many of all these other projects while I was in school, social impact was always the constant for me. But then it's one thing to have something, to like something, but then there's also a place
00:31:35
Speaker
and a path of getting into the field, learning as much as you can, surrounding yourself with the right community to help you understand why you want to be in this field and why it makes sense for you as a carrier. I don't, I wouldn't say like I have figured everything out when it comes to social impact, I have not, but I'm still learning like step by step, like one leg, one leg after the other, I'm still learning, taking it, you know, at my pace.
00:32:03
Speaker
But I'm glad that, you know, I was able to discover the world of social impact to me that I did, and I'm excited to learn more. So yeah. Lovely. And like you said, to be honest, like no one knows everything. Even when you get to work in the space as like a Korean, but you get into the corporate space and you're doing it, you find that there's still so many
Advocacy for Gender Equity
00:32:24
Speaker
things to learn. And even the person that has been there for 10, 15, 20, whatever it is, you're still learning.
00:32:29
Speaker
So, but yeah, I'm glad to hear that that was how you got into the space and that's how you fell in love with it. And now you're building your career needs. And I think one thing that struck from what you were saying is sometimes like just do things, right?
00:32:47
Speaker
do things and then when you do it you can cross it out of your list and say okay i didn't like it or you can say oh well this is actually nice i think i want to do more of it i think even like from what you've said personally as well many of the things that i do now it was because i actually gave it a try i actually tried it i wasn't boxing myself and saying
00:33:09
Speaker
Oh, well, this is the only thing that I should be doing. Am I focusing on social impact when I'm in school? Am I not supposed to just be studying my books? But you'll find out that you're missing out of so many things if you're not exploring the things that you think are calling out to you. And when you try it, if you don't like it, then one less thing to do. But yeah, perfect. Thank you so much for sharing that. I'm still on the topic of social impact.
00:33:36
Speaker
And how much you have been a voice in the gender equity space to the point that LinkedIn has recognized you in this space. Very inspiring, first of all, like you hardly find people are actually vocal about courses that they care about, but you have been
00:33:55
Speaker
very vocal about gender equity. And of course, I even think it's a weird question to even ask, oh, why are you interested in gender equity? Because of course I am. I am a woman and I am a human. I see the world and
00:34:11
Speaker
I know that the world is not structured in a way that is fair to women. So I have to use my voice in this space. But I want to know what has been that thing that has continued to make you very passionate about this field and just lending, not even lending your voice, actually using your voice and to a point where you've actually now been recognized by a recognized body to be a leading voice in this space.
00:34:41
Speaker
thank you so much for that question and like yes absolutely like i like you know what you were saying earlier about why you even asked me the question because obviously like yeah i'm a woman i know the struggle and it reminds me of a quote or like something that i saw on social media like a few years ago about like
00:34:59
Speaker
why would I not be like a woman's rights advocate? Why would I not be a feminist? I would be a fool to not be on my own side, really. And that's definitely a big part of it, just knowing that without a note, I like it. As of this moment, I identify as a woman. I am a woman. And I deal with all the joys of being a woman, the strengths of being a woman. But then I also deal with the not so great sides of being discriminated against,
00:35:28
Speaker
experience harassment and every other thing that have all experienced as women but like beyond that I would say like another thing that you know makes me so passionate about women's rights and women's equity and equity equity and equality rather is I always say this I am because of the ones that went ahead of me the women who stood ahead of me and so I must be for the women that are coming after me so I like I like I'm going to sound like it's a whole nerd right now and bring out all the stats but like
00:35:58
Speaker
I mean, all this stuff has said is like, it's going to take hundreds, like literally hundred, like more than hundred years. Last time I checked, I think it's 132 or something to achieve gender equality. And, you know, it seems like as every day is like, as we turn a new chapter, as we turn a new day, it seems like it's even getting worse and worse and worse. Maybe by next week, now it's going to come to a hundred years. I hope not.
00:36:22
Speaker
But with all of that in view, right, it just makes sense that I'm able to, like, I try my best to use my voice. I try to use the platform I have to just make sure to cut that number, even if it's just by one step, when at least I've done my job. So for me, I always like, for me, championing gender equity, you know, championing gender equality, feminism, women's rights is two things, right? I do it because, again, because of the women who have gone ahead of me, I always say this like,
00:36:50
Speaker
The only reason I'm able to even have a voice in the first place is because women that I don't even know, like the women I don't even know them today, they actually decided to use their voice. If not, I will still be somewhere, shot in one house, where they'll tell me that I cannot answer, and TikTok is not supposed to be seen. How do they agree to say then? They say, oh, don't be seen and don't be heard or something like that. I mean, not that I wouldn't be able to go to school or even be able to have access to internet or like, just like the things that we don't see as basics.
00:37:19
Speaker
If those women did not say no, I will not take that. You cannot tell me that because I'm a woman, I can't do this or that. So I really, really acknowledge and deeply appreciate the effort of the women who have gone ahead of me, Nigerian, non Nigerian, African, non African.
Aspirations for Global Impact
00:37:34
Speaker
And I try my best to be that woman for the other women that are coming behind me because again,
00:37:40
Speaker
As much as I acknowledge that even in the sixties or seventies times way hard, like again, you know, just to say, like, just to retreat to what I said before, like things like education, it's still a problem today, but then I would say like, then it was even worse. But even with, with, you know, Nigerians will say, or Europeans will say, Ola Judy, like that's civilization or, um, yeah, civilization, but even with Ola Joe, like, civilization, there are now more complex problems that have, like, when it comes to discrimination and gender equality. And so,
00:38:09
Speaker
people like me who use their voices or women even beyond me, right? They have to be other women that will not come and use their voices and use their platforms so that they can also address these complex problems or complex barriers that have not arisen to achieving gender equality and equity for women. And yeah, that's pretty much it. I'm very big on being that person that you wish you had.
00:38:35
Speaker
for people who are not necessarily you. Just be that person for other people that you wish you had and be that safe space, be that voice for people. And another thing is the only one thing to, because I feel like when it comes to being a voice and creating a platform to advocate for people whom you are included in, I feel like that's important. But one thing I'm also, and that's why, and I would just say back to Cecilia, she writes, there's one thing to be telling people stories for them and saying,
00:39:03
Speaker
oh this is a story of Nigerian women because obviously I'm a Nigerian woman I can relate but it's another thing and I think that you know that's one thing I really look forward to seeing more women do but it's another thing to bring other women to the table and let them have that space to tell their own stories for themselves so yeah that's pretty much it
00:39:24
Speaker
Yeah, to be honest, and I liked when you just mentioned that creating that space, giving them the platform to tell their stories, and not just seeing their stories, because like for a very long time, women's stories have been either unpalled
00:39:40
Speaker
or told by the wrong people. And especially for black women as well, like your stories have been told by people that don't even experience and don't have your lived experiences. So taking that power back and saying, you know what, I would own my narrative.
00:39:55
Speaker
I will share my story and I'll say my experience is the way that I'm actually living it every day. It matters and that you are providing that through sisterly HQ. I'm very, I'm very happy. I'm very proud and I need to give you your flowers. Well, don't sit here and I can only just imagine how much more impact I can make through sisterly HQ. I can only imagine the amount of impact
00:40:22
Speaker
that you're going to continue to make in the lives of young women.
Travel Experiences and Growth
00:40:26
Speaker
Perfect, so I think this brings me to your throwing the road and making a new track.
00:40:38
Speaker
So we're like, every time I'm like, oh my God, Tizi has traveled to somewhere else today. And your travels have not even just been 18 of now, even from university. I can remember there was a time they had this musical one thing and you got selected. I think at the time you happen to have a visa to go to the US. So it was definitely you were going to speak.
00:41:04
Speaker
Yeah just so many things and even lately you went for you were for our delegates and you represented with sisterly HQ they are amazing and I know right now you did a personal like family tour but you also had the opportunity to be at LinkedIn office which is just mind-blowing. I want to know like how do you feel about all of these experiences with these things that you taught that?
00:41:26
Speaker
okay this is actually going to happen and I know like right now you are at that space where you you you already you know when things start at first there can be that okay can I really do this but you're at that space where you've you you're you've gone international
00:41:44
Speaker
you've had conversations with people on this pedestal and you can also see the impact that you are making and you're like I'm actually making a huge impact on the world so I just want to get your thoughts around like all of the global young leadership things that you're doing oh thank you so thank you so much I just finished off laughing because you were just like it is the agela but yeah um oh you know I think it's a very immense privilege to be able to travel
00:42:13
Speaker
And I do not take it for granted at all, at all, at all, because I know that for a lot of people, it's not something, especially a lot of Nigerians, it's not something that is afforded to them, not even because of financial resources, but there's obviously the whole, I've forgotten, there's actually a corporate way that they call it shop, but the fact that, you know, the human, oh my God, yes, the human mobility issue when it comes to presenting yourself with the green passports and embassies,
00:42:39
Speaker
I most first of all acknowledge that struggle and acknowledge the privilege, you know, that takes to travel as a regular everyday Nigerian that has a Nigerian passport. But one thing I'll say is I'm very blessed to have been able to see the world. And again, I do not take for granted as at all. And, you know, as you said, like I remember like I had to my mom had always been one thing I'm very grateful again for like my mom. And I think that's something I should have mentioned when I was talking about like being like my gender equity journey.
00:43:09
Speaker
My mom has always been that woman that, you know, has been everything to me. Gosh, it doesn't mean that, you know, we don't have early Cisco booth here and there, but she has always been like a huge role model to me. And I remember like growing up when I was like in primary school, like my mom would be going to Kenya for conferences, my mom would be going to Uganda, Abuja, like should be, my mom was already going for conferences like when I was really young. And so in a way, I kind of grew up in that setting where my mom was going to international conferences representing Nigeria, representing papers,
00:43:38
Speaker
Um, you know, especially on like gender equity, local government studies and politics. And in a way I kind of just saw it, like I know that it wasn't, I know that not everybody was doing that, but I definitely saw it as a tenable because it was something that my mom was doing growing up. Um, and, but then I remember like my first time until like, I was privileged to like also travel with my mom when I was growing up. And fun fact, like that was like, I think that was my first and only time I actually traveled with my mom to Ghana when I was like,
00:44:07
Speaker
10 or 11 years old and it was an amazing experience. But I must credit my mom for just being that person for me that I could look up to in terms of traveling abroad and being able to harness global opportunities.
Benefits of Global Exposure
00:44:20
Speaker
But one thing I would say is exposure is so important. I do not take, anytime I talk about opportunities, there are different types of opportunities. There's local opportunities, continental opportunities within Africa, international and global opportunities.
00:44:36
Speaker
And I always say that, you know, opportunities have any skill, but particularly like international opportunities are so important. The kind of ideas, the kind of people, culture, the kind of work you get exposed to is phenomenal. And I'll tell you, like, that's been my greatest takeaway with all my travels, the fact that I'm able to meet people in person. I mean, there's LinkedIn now, so you can literally, as you said, you can literally like message somebody at the other side of the world and have conversations with them.
00:45:05
Speaker
but you can never replace impressing interaction and speaking to people, you know, seeing their facial expression, sharing a laugh, sharing a coffee, whatever. See for me anyway. But yeah, so I would say like the exposure that, you know, going international, being able to be in those international spaces affords to you is phenomenal and fantastic. Also, you know, I want, sometimes I always say this that traveling, like, you know, exploring abroad, having adventures in those spaces, those very big cities,
00:45:35
Speaker
for me is also like it's doing away with the notion that it's only certain people. I don't want to like, like, I'm not going to call, you know, certain, I'm not going to like, see those people. But then, you know, there's a notion in the world that is only people who look like only certain people with a certain passport or people who are from a certain parts of the world that should have certain type of opportunities
00:45:56
Speaker
Those are the ones that can live in places like New York or go to places like Toronto or even go to like all those places that, you know, seem very out of reach for regular everyday Nigerians and Africans. And I hope that, you know, with sharing my travels, with doing all these amazing things that I'm doing, I'm able to break that notion that it is only a type of question that should be in those spaces because I am not here for that. And, you know, and yeah, so that's also something that I'm really passionate about when it comes to international travels and global exploration.
00:46:27
Speaker
And then whether we like it or not, honestly, I think with, if you look at, you know, not just me, but like some of your face, like on social media and social impact finance, whatever, there's a type of world domination that comes out of your comfort zone. And whether I like it or not, Nigeria is my comfort zone. Being in Lagos, you know, is my comfort zone. And so when I'm in those spaces, whether it's in New York or Toronto, or I haven't, I've never been, but let me even say London, right? And
00:46:55
Speaker
I'm kind of being in an environment where I've never been before, and I'm being pushed out of my comfort zone to create, to meet new people, to shoot for the stars, really. Because whether I would like it or not, in terms of like dominating the world, being the best you can be, there's an aspect that comes, there's a global aspect to it that would mean that you would have to like travel to like go to places that you've probably never been to continents, that you've never been to countries that you've never been to meet people that you've never met before.
00:47:24
Speaker
that that's also part I would say that that's also a huge part of growth when it comes to like being excellent at what you do and being well known for what you do basically so yeah but again I'll just say like I know that it's an immense like I know that it's a huge privilege to be able to travel but I'm very grateful for the opportunities that I get to travel I'm grateful for the exposure it has brought me so many people I have met
00:47:50
Speaker
Like for in fact, there are people that I met at the concert we were talking about, like one African music fest in 2019 that was still so tight today, literally. And this was not anything that has to do with corporate or social invites. It was just like, so 5G, it was a concert. And there are still people that I'm very tight with up to today. So even the exposure that has given me for my brand,
00:48:15
Speaker
the people that I have been exposed to, the ideas that I've learned. I always say that for our global network, for our global domain, throughout that last year was one of the best experiences of my entire life. And I will not trade that experience ever in life. I got to be in the same space, rather, with 28 different amazing young leaders from all over the world. We had people from Australia. We had people from Cameroon. We had people from everywhere you can think, India, Afghanistan. And these girls are my sisters.
00:48:45
Speaker
kind of express like I can't even put it put into words the experiences I experienced in Canada and I'm so glad that I was able to be in that space and I do not take for granted at all so yeah.
Seeking International Opportunities
00:48:57
Speaker
What you said on you know Nigeria is my comfort zone I need to explore the world I need to make that impact on a global skill I think that's very profound and I always say like
00:49:10
Speaker
all you know is your bubble. So when people say, oh, I'm comfortable with this, I'm okay with this, I don't want to do anything. I'm like, this is your bubble. You need to bust this. Like life actually starts outside of that bubble. So you're limiting yourself by just saying, oh, here is comfort table. It wouldn't get you to the place that you're looking to get to. And especially, I mean,
00:49:31
Speaker
Not everyone is a higher achiever. Not everyone really dreams about having that kind of big life. But if you do, then you need to understand that life starts outside of your comfort zone. So go outside and get to meet with people. And I think even
00:49:47
Speaker
Just not even limiting it to, say, international travels, right? Like, in your vicinity where you are, are you just limited to people that are like you? Are you UNG investing now? Are you just talking to the people in your course and in your class?
00:50:05
Speaker
So just law students in 300 levels are the only people that you know. You need to expand your circle. Speak to more people, get to know people because the more expansive your circle is. And I don't mean that you make friends with everyone. Your circle, your professional circle does not have to be your friendship circle, right? But the more you begin to meet with people,
00:50:28
Speaker
It expands your mind. It helps you to even get to know more things that you ordinarily wouldn't have known if you're just stuck to those things that you know. So it's super important and thanks for mentioning that. One thing that I would like to ask
00:50:44
Speaker
based on what you said, and I think would be very useful to the people listening is, now, how then do you start making that kind of wave? So if say, for instance, you're interested in international opportunities, what do you do? What can you do now as a student or a young person to be able to get this kind of opportunities? Yeah, that's a really good question. So I'll say like, one thing I would first say before I even go into like the much more technical things,
00:51:14
Speaker
Focus on your craft, focus on your work. And it seems like people will roll their eyes and say something new. But the truth is, the Bible says, stay at a man's diligence in his way. We'll stand before kings and not be a man. So if you're good at what you do, if you're truly excellent, if you're actually doing things for the right reasons, super like, how am I in on that right reasons, then trust me. Amazing opportunities will come your way.
00:51:43
Speaker
That's the first thing I would say. So there's a very, there's a huge importance that must be attached to honing your craft, being good at what you do, being authentic with what you do. And generally the good opportunities, the good opportunities will follow. That's the first, I would say like that's the baseline. But then the second aspect, I don't think the much more technical aspects, first of all, thing I would say is put yourself out there in lots. There are a lot of fantastic and amazing young students, young professionals that are doing things. They're doing amazing things as well.
00:52:13
Speaker
Well, nobody knows because they're not talking about it. And for some people it works. There's some people in this life that they don't have to do anything. They don't have to lift their finger. They will just think and the thing will come to them. But majority of us were not like that. We have to talk about what we're doing. Particularly if you want to get attention on an international skill. So there's a, and I think that, you know, Nigeria was so obsessed with humility and obsessed with appearing humble that we are then plain small.
00:52:41
Speaker
There's such a huge difference between being humble and being plain small. You can't talk about your achievements. You can't talk about the amazing work that you're doing without even being proud. Just status as it is. So I just think that it's one thing to do something, but then it's another thing to actually let the world know that you're doing it for, again, for the right reasons. So that's the first thing I'll take. So whatever you're doing, get it out there. Whether it's through LinkedIn, whether it's through
00:53:04
Speaker
having a website, like you can literally like buy your domain, you can go and buy your www.yonimyersonium.com, like you will spend like depend, like me, I'm super scrappy. So like, you'll be surprised to know that I was able to build my websites with less than $20. Like, yeah, so those are things that you can do literally. So put yourself out there, make sure that you are talking about what you're doing. One other thing I would say is be intentional about searching for opportunities. For me, I always like,
00:53:33
Speaker
First of all, the amazing websites that, you know, talk about opportunities. There's opportunity desks. There's opportunities for Africans. There's sisterly HQ. There's, you know, I know gradient sometimes also posts about opportunities. There are so many platforms, communities, websites, and groups that they are centered around opportunities depending on what you like and social impact you like. I'm pretty sure if you sit down on Google, you will find a particular group or platform that is finding opportunities down social impact if it's
00:54:01
Speaker
environment, if it's gender equity, if it's sport, if it's acting, like the kind of opportunities that I've seen in this life from me, like I've seen opportunities for things I'm like, I didn't even know that somebody was doing this thing once opportunity exists, man. So the sky is the limit, honestly. And whatever you're interested in, depending on how intentional you are with your search, you will find an opportunity.
00:54:23
Speaker
And I think I would say is, and I think this is just, this goes to the second point I made about like speaking about what you're doing. Tell people about what you're doing. Like Pearl, I mean, immature friend of ours, Pearl is always saying that, you know, a closed mouth is a closed destiny. Like closed mouth, don't get fed. You have to talk about what you like. Like if you don't tell your friends and say, Oh, I'm interested in this, I'm looking for this type of opportunities. You don't tell your network. Nobody's going to just like, most times people are so engrossed in their own lives and their own problems that except the,
00:54:53
Speaker
super intentional about you they love you so much or as or they're just like people like me and Bukola that's what we do they will typically not send stuff your way so you have to you have to really tell people around you what you like that you can't like for example like do your best friends know that you are interested in this and looking for these type of opportunities do your family members know do your cousins know do your coursemate know because this guys you really I feel like people really underestimate the power of
00:55:19
Speaker
their immediate community and the people that they have around them they think oh what can this person know trust me like what like you don't know what they know honestly until they open them out and they tell you so that's one thing i would say um again just to reiterate so many amazing resources on finding opportunities not only online um i think when i was even in uni like people didn't know that you could literally go to the student affairs division at the department and you'll see opportunities there like
Career Strategy and International Experiences
00:55:45
Speaker
I remember one of the first, one of the, one of the scholarships I received, one of the academic excellence scholarships I received at Unilag was, I know that somebody told me about it and it was in the GSA's office. I literally walked in, filled out a form and yeah, I got the scholarship. I had to write exams, but like they are also like scholarship opportunities, amazing international opportunities and local opportunities in your students' affairs.
00:56:07
Speaker
office. Sometimes people don't know that UNILAG has a website and there's a place for opportunities on the website, even on their social media. I remember the day I saw something about UNILAG posted something and they were like, oh, they're looking for people who want to do a free course or something. I was like, eh? At the time, I didn't really left UNILAG and I was like, wow, this is amazing. So people don't even know that following your school on social media, checking their websites would also give you access to opportunities, especially if you're going to a school like UNILAG.
00:56:36
Speaker
You lack a lot of opportunities. Sometimes it's very easy to think, oh, your school is not Stanford or Harvard or like, you know, it's not Oxford to like wipe all that, but like never underrate your school. Trust me, there are many opportunities for you. Then the last thing I would say is joining communities is super important beyond like just finding like
00:56:58
Speaker
a website to check, try to find a community that you can join, that you can grow together, that you can contribute to because it's not just about you stocking up all the opportunities, but are you also finding a way to give back and pay for it as well? So try to form a community or join a community or like-minded people. You'll be surprised how many opportunities will even come in without you actively searching for them just by you being yourself and being helpful, being thoughtful, contributing to the community as well.
00:57:25
Speaker
that would be very helpful. Yeah, so I don't really want to go too much into the mental gymnastics or applying for opportunities, but I think that that's a very good start. Once you can't tick all those boxes, I think that you do well, basically, in terms of finding opportunities. Wow, that's a lot. Thank you so much. I think I like who you started with.
00:57:48
Speaker
let's get the baseline right, you know, focus on your craft. I think whilst you were saying it, I just jutted viewed and you will be viewed. So you have to start from somewhere that why it's like there's nothing. I'm snapping my fingers. I mean, it came inspired by you.
Passion and Impact
00:58:07
Speaker
Well, that's that's actually very good. And I think I just want to take you from
00:58:12
Speaker
the very serious conversations that we've been having to a lot more lighter ones. So, yeah, it's just a question really, and truly. I know you've been to, you've been to how many, how many countries? Now you've been to Canada and you've been to the States. Have you been to London? I know you came to London. I have been to, I've not, well, I passed through London. I passed through Heathrow, does it count though?
00:58:42
Speaker
I remember when I was in Hitler, I was just smiling. Why? Because of the accent. Oh my god. I was just smiling. Because, you know, I had to take like, obviously, because it was Hitler's, everybody around me had British accent. I was just, I could not stop smiling. I was like, ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
00:59:05
Speaker
For us here in the UK right now, I think the only thing we can boast of is is acts. Oh my god, other than that, no, like, so the UK is nice. I mean, for opportunities, right? For life, the security, security. Well, they stole my phone.
00:59:28
Speaker
in London. Are you serious? I'm telling you, like I was having a bus stop trying to get in with me. And so I turned on Google map and I was just trying to locate which bus is coming next. Yeah. So I could buy and boom onto my phone. And yes, I'm not just me, you know, Pearl has just come to the UK as well. She told me two days ago that they stole our phone.
00:59:53
Speaker
What is going on in this thin child's syndrome, you know? Things are wild and our weather is just... I can't imagine. I think one thing I always miss about Nigeria, like every time I travel is Nigerian weather, like I love Nigerian weather, like just to have that sun. This is too hot shower, but I would pick that over snow and winter.
01:00:20
Speaker
Yes, yes, I agree with you to be honest, I do, I do. Okay, so I think just they keep changing it, of course, right? I'd like to know, and this is just a random question, if you had the power to change anything in the world, what would that be? Well, that's the, I feel like, hey, that's a very loaded question or the kind of loaded questions you'll be asking me today, hmm.
01:00:49
Speaker
okay if
Creative Inspirations from Baking Shows
01:00:50
Speaker
i had the power to change anything in the world honestly and this might seem like such a sentimental answer but i stand by super like so fully i think if i had the chance to change anything in the world i will change like discrimination that women suffer like i will definitely like if i had the power to do that i will take it all away like the suffering and the pain that women suffer just because they're women um it's horrific you know from things like femicide where like women are being killed in
01:01:19
Speaker
I know this question is not supposed to be serious. Now that I don't think about it, I have 20 to 30 serious questions, but you love me like that. But yeah, but like, honestly, like from a family side that women, you know, you know, they deal with in certain parts of the world and things like child marriage, women even being able to go to school to like, to like, child, like to like, first teen pregnancy to so many things, like to, as I said, like to pure up poverty, like, like we talked about, you know, sisterly history a few months back, and it's just so modern, sometimes you just,
01:01:49
Speaker
Sometimes it's so easy to just get exhausted. And I say this as women's rights advocates. Sometimes it's super easy to just get exhausted, but you cannot get exhausted. So if I had the power to take it all away and make women actually have lives and be able to breathe and have access to equal opportunities and resources and have equal access to education and be able to make choices as to who they want to be partnered with or whether they're ready to give birth and things like that, I would do that in a heartbeat, honestly.
01:02:20
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. And I like to ask that question because it kind of like makes me sort of psychoanalyze the person I'm speaking with. Like it makes me understand like this actually something that you're very passionate about because if I had a part to do something, I would do something about something that I'm passionate about. So yeah, perfect. Okay, I think to round everything off,
01:02:43
Speaker
I'd like to know what is your favorite African... Well, it doesn't have to be African. What's your favorite reality TV on Netflix? Wow. That's a good one. You love reality TV and I do. I don't know. I live for it. I live for the chaos. The chaos.
01:03:06
Speaker
I'm like, yes, if you guys want to talk about anything in reality TV, I'm the person. I love watching the mess. Like for me, it just makes me look like I'm living inside someone else's life. Because of course, like you see people do things and normally it's really not your business, but people are now making it my business and I love it. So I would say like, I also like reality shoes, but I would say like my favorite type of reality shoes aren't actually like
01:03:36
Speaker
just regular reality TV show. I personally, like, I love baking shows, like, oh my God, I am obsessed. Like, I don't think there's any, the only baking show I refuse to watch on Netflix is, it was a, it was a baking show. No pizza, be the one about cakes that do not do cakes, that doesn't do fine. I do not want that. That's the only one. That's the only one I do not watch. Like, every, like, I can't, I don't even know why I can't remember. There's from Sugar Rush to, um,
01:04:02
Speaker
I have watched it, trust me. I have watched pretty much almost, I would say I have probably completed 85% of all the baking shoes on Netflix. I am that obsessed. Mine is not snailed, it's because I don't know what that one is. But yeah, I love baking shoes. Funny enough, I used to be into baking shoes before I even started cooking and really getting into recipes and all of that.
01:04:27
Speaker
And I guess, first of all, it was fun to watch somebody do something at the time that I didn't particularly enjoy doing. For me, it was just nice to just watch someone else do the work that I personally did not like to do. But I think I also liked baking because, particularly competitive baking shows, because it always starts unpredictable. I'm not a baker. So most times when I see stuff or when they give them ingredients or they have to come up with something, I don't know how it's going to go.
01:04:53
Speaker
So I'm just, I'm just discovering the whole thing as they are doing it. And I am like, my heart is on my chest. I know that, oh my God, is it going to fall down? Is it going to break? Is it going to shut? Are they going to get the recreation? Is it just going to like, it's like, I, the suspense does everything for me. And, and then I would just say like, and I think it also appeals to my creative side as well. Like what I like to know is I, I have a lot of creativity in me.
01:05:19
Speaker
And, you know, when I was younger, it's like, I used to be into like fine arts. I did fine arts onto SS3 stuff, actually. So like, just be able to even see things like, you know, them being able to like, you know, the way they sketch just their cakes and see it come to life. And how is so if there are like, sometimes those cakes are just, I'm like, nobody should be too misty because it's too much. So yeah, just be able to see that creativity come to life.
01:05:43
Speaker
It's fantastic. And, and I just really, again, I just really like, I just like the whole vibe of the King's shoes. Like they are comfortable. Like they're not too bad and they're not scary. One thing about me, I don't like scary things. So in fact, that is, I always like, I believe that, and this is very unpopular, but I believe that movies are meant to be enjoyed.
01:06:01
Speaker
to be laughing, to be joyful, to just be enjoying yourself. All those ones that people would not be scared or they would say something that is ghastly and no, no, no, I can't do that. May I believe that by the time I'm shaking or I'm closing my eyes, I'm not enjoying myself, so I'm not saying horror-pressing at all. And I love the fact that vacation shows is just completely opposite of everything that was horror or thriller. I don't really like to be that way. They are shooting when I don't even like it. Like, I know, but that's just me. So I like that. It just combines the best of all the things that
Final Reflections and Gratitude
01:06:30
Speaker
I love.
01:06:30
Speaker
creativity, skill, competitiveness, everything. I know now when we see and we have to watch a show on Netflix, I know what to expect. I know how to do something scary. I know, I can't watch anything scary.
01:06:52
Speaker
Well, it's, I mean, this conversation has been lovely. I'm glad that we actually spoke. It's been a while we've sat down for this long. I think it's just been, oh, how are you? I hope you're fine and all of that. But yeah, congrats to SITZ with you and just have this conversation and to have it on the podcast for people to learn about your journey and story. I'm sure there are a lot of young people are just like, oh my God, there is this SITZ La Fue de Duet. And now they get to know a little more of
01:07:21
Speaker
a lot more actually, not even a little more, a lot more about you that you're not, you've not even completely shown on LinkedIn and, you know, all of the things that you're doing. Well done. Well done, Adrian. And I know like the sky is just the starting point for you. Thank you so much, Bukola. And like, I have to say like,
01:07:41
Speaker
I'm so glad that you had me on the show. I've had such a great time. You had very, had insane, very, you know, heavy questions, but I was capable. But yeah, it has been so much fun, you know, just even learning about your own experiences as well. I don't say this enough. I am so proud of yourself and Veronika for just
01:08:02
Speaker
Having the group's podcast, so many people I know that I've referred to podcasts that listen, I have listened in myself and you guys do such amazing work. And you know, one thing I always say, like with my life, I'm a product of the women around me. Like I'm this women, so I kind of talk about my head like football, like as always. And I always say that, you know, I am because of the women who have gone ahead of me. And every time I talk about opportunities and even accessing resources, I
01:08:27
Speaker
and not what's mentioned your name because you're actually one of the first women who actually like, you know, told me about like stuff that had to do with opportunities by involving the ingredients. Like you were pretty much showing me a world of possibilities and opportunities and resources and all these amazing things that are part of things that I do now. So thank you so much for giving me that access and being that woman for me, for paying it forward to me actually as well. So I am really, really proud of you and I'm glad that we got to, you know, have this conversation.
01:08:57
Speaker
Holy shit, 50 years old! Oh my god! Alright, enjoy!