Luli Adeyemo
Founder, Best Case Scenario
I’m freshly energised from a whirlwind two weeks! from mentoring at SXSW Sydney last week to MCing the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards in Melbourne last night!
But for now, I’d like to share with you the burst of endorphins from my mentoring at SXSW Sydney — let me take you on a little tour of my experiences and the incredible people I met, I’ll cover the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards next week.
The experience at SXSW reminded me of how much I really love mentoring!
Mentoring at SXSW was not just an opportunity to give back but also a profound reminder of the power of tech to transform lives. From prisoners turning a new leaf to young scientists shaping the future of healthcare, the stories I encountered are testaments to the transformative power of technology and the human spirit.
First one in was Christine Yen, a dynamic young pharmacist specialising in Chinese medicine.
She’s disillusioned with the standard healthcare approach and is eager to integrate her deep knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine with modern medical practices to foster holistic care. As we chatted, Christine’s passion for enhancing patient-centred care and her ambition to reshape the clinical environment were palpable.
In my conversation with Christine, we explored several fascinating topics:
- The role of marketing beyond just external engagement—it can also foster internal communication between different disciplines within an organisation.
- Tips for reaching target groups, with a special emphasis on the role that professional associations can play in opening up networks and opportunities.
- The importance of mapping the target market thoroughly before developing a buyer profile. This ensures you’re connecting with the right people in a meaningful way.
Then, I had the pleasure of meeting Lizette Lee from Take2. This program is genuinely groundbreaking—teaching coding and life skills to inmates to aid their reintegration post-release. Take2 has shown remarkable success in New Zealand, and now they’re navigating the complex waters of Australian government policies to replicate that success here. Lizette’s dedication to changing lives and her struggles against systemic barriers were both inspiring and a sharp reminder of the broader impacts of tech.
During our discussions, we also touched on the upcoming Queensland government elections, focusing on the heated debates around youth crime and incarceration—topical and ripe for advocacy and policy intervention. Lizette’s insight into the often-overlooked nuances of the justice system added depth to our conversation about the potential of tech-based rehabilitation programs.
As someone who’s carved a niche in the tech world by connecting people and ideas, I advised Lizette on leveraging government contacts to amplify Take2’s impact. And of course, I couldn’t resist urging her to nominate Take2 for the TechDiversity Awards under the Education category. It’s initiatives like hers that inspire and deserve recognition.
For a truly inspiring example of how tech can change lives, check out Saia’s journey from prisoner to programmer at RUSH, a tech studio with a mission to design technology to better serve humankind. Watch his heartwarming story here: Saia’s Story.
I was also thrilled to bump into Melissa Witheriff, a trailblazer in innovation and diversity at Avanade, and Errol Flanagan, a brand strategist who I had the pleasure of working with on the TechDiversity rebrand.
Catching up with them was a reminder of the vibrant network that technology and diversity work fosters.
