22: Changing Careers, Public Speaking and STEM with Sonya Barlow

This week, we had our second virtual catch up with the wonderful, Sonya Barlow. It is too hard to summarise what Sonya does in a line, so we felt it was needed to pinch her LinkedIn title: an Award Winning Entrepreneur, TEDxSpeaker, Podcast Host & Diversity Consultant. It was an absolute pleasure having Sonya on the podcast and she is a huge inspiration to so many. As we talk in this episode about topics ranging from failure, diversity, studying abroad, STEM jobs and public speaking, we hope you resonate with something and that it helps you find your own way to Grad Life by the Horns. * Studying in London’s Cass Business School with a sandwich communications degree in Italy, Sonya knew she wanted to make a difference for women in business. Not only does her day-to-day work impact women in transformative ways, but her success and commitment to the cause lead her to becoming the Winner of the Most Influential Women in Tech UK 2020 & Women in Software Changemaker 2020. After years of working in tech consultancy, Sonya transitioned to running her own diversity & inclusion consultancy in May 2018. She has grown the LikeMindedFemales Network to 17K + followers internationally and has facilitated important conversations in hundreds of workshops, community projects and corporate coaching. She is the first South Asian Woman to have delivered 2 TED Talks within one year - we can not recommend enough that graduates watch these talks: their titled “Failure Comes Before Resilience” and “Please, Come Online” and they can be found on YouTube or the TED site. Sonya enables and empowers women and underrepresented groups into tech, business & entrepreneurship. Her online presence offers skills and advice in LinkedIn profiling and networking, public speaking and mindsets. And, just when you thought she couldn’t do any more, she joined the podcasting world in June with her channel “Strategically Winging It”, sharing stories from founders, side hustlers and leaders. * Grad Life by the Horns is a podcast covering every element of graduate life. From the existential dread that accompanies the last few months of university, to entering the post-education world jobless and £30,000 in debt, this fortnightly show is dedicated to helping and celebrating those navigating the 'graduate wasteland'. * Social Media: Co-host: Becki Hills @beckihills Co-host: Sophie Scully @sophsculz Instagram: @gradlifebythehorns Twitter: @gradlifebth Guest: Sonya Barlow @sonyabarlowuk Artwork: Livi Arnold @livcreatively_ Producer: Pulama Kaufman @pulam.a Music composer: Julian Schoming @brotherjuju Sonya Ted X Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok-WTMCSX7I&feature=youtu.be  * Want to get in touch? Email us here: [email protected]