Episode 7: “It's In the Most Vulnerable Moment That You Can Actually Find Strength” Felix Gondwe

In this episode of Black Excellence Unfiltered, co-hosts Anya and Dr. Tiamo sit down with Felix, a Software Engineer at Bloomberg, marathon runner, and coffee and beer enthusiast originally from Malawi. Felix’s journey has taken him from Malawi the “warm heart of Africa” to the US where he contributed to genetics research for medicine discovery and later worked in California engineering electric vehicle platforms. He now lives in London, building reliable systems that keep global finance running. Beyond work, he is chasing the world’s six major marathons, with London already checked off, and diving deep into the science behind life’s simple pleasures, from a well-brewed cup of coffee to a perfectly poured draft beer. In this conversation, Felix opens up about cultural differences, racial anxiety, and the pressure of living up to the term Black Excellence. He reflects on caring for his aging father while navigating work demands and visa challenges, and highlights the importance of vulnerability, self-care, and strong social support systems. As he shares, “It’s in the most vulnerable moment that you can actually find strength,” a philosophy that has guided him through both personal and professional challenges. On Black Excellence, Felix sees it as both a celebration and a contradiction: a pride in truth and achievements, yet a reminder of the unfair weight of needing to be “twice as good” just to be seen. For him, it is a dialogue still unfolding, much like the yeast in beer, the intricacies of a coffee bean, or the races he runs: complex, personal, and worth every step. Follow us on social media @beupodcast, subscribe for new episodes, and reach out to us at [email protected], we’d love to hear from you!