Meet Femi Bola MBE – one of Community Connect's brilliant lead facilitators
We’re pleased to share the first of a new series of spotlights shining a light on the facilitators, speakers and change-makers who make TPW Community Connect what it is, with real voices, real leadership, and real impact.
Meet Femi Bola MBE – one of Community Connect's brilliant lead facilitators
“People think they have to know everything. And I don’t think you can know everything; however, you can be curious.”
For more than 30 years, Femi Bola MBE has been creating opportunities for people who might otherwise be left behind. From young people not in education or work, to women returning to the workplace, to students stepping into competitive job markets, Femi has helped them build confidence, skills, and careers.
She’s worked across higher education, local government, and as an independent consultant, speaking nationally and internationally, running diversity workshops, coaching managers and graduates, and championing inclusion wherever she goes. Femi is particularly interested in growing, supporting and celebrating Black and racially marginalised leaders. Having been in leadership roles herself, she realises just how challenging this can be.
Femi started her career as a Biochemist and worked in biomedical research for eight years before starting at entry level in local government and re-training in Personal Development, testament to the fact that it is possible to have more than one career, take risks and follow one’s dreams and desires. In Femi’s opinion no learning is wasted, her scientific background means she always asks ‘why’ rather than ‘what’.
“Taking risks can be frowned upon in communities where careers like medicine, law, accountancy and dentistry are highly prized. In these settings, walking away from a scientific career without a clear plan is often seen not as courage, but as failure.”
Femi is the first to acknowledge that alongside taking a few risks, she’s also been fortunate to have advocates, mentors, encouragement — and a good dose of serendipity. In a class-bound society where connections matter, she believes it’s not just who you know, but who knows you that can make all the difference. Modesty just won’t do! In her view, it won’t open doors — visibility and voice will.
“There is power in what people say about you when you are not in the room. Advocacy is key and something along with encouragement we can bestow upon others”
Along the way, Femi has met some amazing learners, collected awards, including an MBE for her services to diversity, and became the first non-academic staff member at the University of East London to win a national teaching fellowship.
Despite all this, Femi remains grounded. “I believe in opening doors,” she says, “and supporting people to walk through them in their own way — just as others believed in me at times when I couldn’t quite believe in myself.”
Femi Bola MBE: Development Consultant, Coach, & Diversity Advocate
