From a young age, I wanted to be my own boss and help people
From the age of five, I was sure of two things. Firstly, I would someday become my own boss (taking orders has never really been my thing to be honest) and secondly, I really wanted to help people. I also knew that I was going to achieve both things. Don’t ask me how I knew, I just did. I enjoyed problem-solving (I remember negotiating with my kindergarten teacher to get our class a variety of snacks for break time rather than just dried raisins because some of the other children didn’t like them - I succeeded) and being in charge - the reasons for this will become clear.
I was born in the seventies to parents of African and Caribbean origin. My mother came to England as a child from Barbados, as part of the Windrush generation and my father came here from Cameroon as a student. In coming to this country, they put in place the foundations that would enable my sister and I to have the opportunities that we have today.
At the age of one, I left England with my parents and travelled/lived in countries all over the world. We spent a period of almost a decade travelling and, in this time, I was privileged enough to experience many different cultures and people. I got to see first-hand how people all over the world lived and the challenges that they faced on a daily basis. For example, during our time in Africa, I would see people walking for miles just to be able to get access to clean water. From a very young age, I became acutely aware of the inequalities that so many people faced as well as the challenges of having to live and deal with prejudice.
My interest in leadership started when my father would take me to some of his meetings to ensure that I understood that whilst I would face challenges as a person of colour and as a result of my gender, I could still achieve anything that I wanted to in life, which was also heavily reinforced and championed by my mother. I was also raised to understand that the skills I would develop in life, were not just for me to further my own progression, but to help others. Seeing a person of colour in several leadership roles and the impact that they were able to have despite the challenges, gave me an appetite for becoming a leader myself and helping others who are not always able to help themselves. See, I told you it would become clear…
“I believe that we all have a duty to create a society where regardless of the level that you are at, you can thrive and live the fullest representation of who you are”
Over the years, I have seen the continuous lack of equity for people from marginalised communities and the many barriers that they must overcome to simply exist in this world. I believe that we all have a duty to create a society where regardless of the level that you are at, you can thrive and live the fullest representation of who you are. Life is meant to be lived in glorious technicolor. How can we do that, if some in society are persecuted for who they are and limited in terms of access to the basics such as food and shelter? The suffering of one of us is the suffering of us all and we should never just sit back and accept it.
Anyway, back to my story. After coming back to England and settling in Manchester, I was once again, faced with the inequalities that those living in certain areas of the city had to endure. Whilst one could argue that it is the responsibility of individuals to improve their own circumstances, this is very difficult to achieve when you don’t have the means or the know-how to do so. Once again, my desire to get into a position of influence, where I could be of service, came alive. Giving people the opportunity to thrive through the creation of a level playing field was what I had my sights set on.
I was introduced to the world of work at 16. Fast forward to the present day, I have almost 30 years of experience across various industries. I have worked in the pharmaceutical industry, the fashion industry, marketing and communications, education and training, the luxury retail sector, and the media. However, in 2020, I joined with eight other brilliant black business leaders, to create The Black United Representation Network CIC (BURN) - an organisation that is focused on the economic and social empowerment of the black community in the north of England. I had finally found my purpose and what’s even better, is that this has led me on a path of not just working to tackle the inequalities faced by the black community but other communities. My wealth of skills and experience is really aiding me in working towards my ultimate goal of philanthropic ventures.
If you haven’t already guessed, I have a genuine passion for equality, diversity, and inclusion. I am committed to the creation of systems and structures that enable all people to live joyously and thrive in all areas of their lives. My passion for people and ensuring the creation of spaces where people can exist equally, without judgment or fear of not being seen, heard, and respected, gets stronger every single day. I think that if five-year-old Lisa was to meet 45-year-old Lisa today, she would be extremely proud and happy that she grew into the person she always wanted to be. The best part is that I haven’t even got started. There’s so much more to come.
Website:
www.lisamaynardatem.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/lisamaynardatem
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/stylisa
Twitter: www.twitter.com/stylisa
