Coffee with Kofi

Coffee with Kofi

From major global corporations to migrant leadership mentoring with Elham Fardad.

1 h 3 min · 14. maj 2026
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episode From major global corporations to migrant leadership mentoring with Elham Fardad. cover

Beskrivelse

Today I am buzzing to share a coffee with a woman whose story is as captivating as it is inspirational! Elham, the Founder & CEO of Migrant Leaders, arrived in Birmingham at 13 years old as a war migrant from Iran. Navigating a new language, new schools, and a new life was no easy feat. Armed with belief and an extraordinary drive to succeed, Elham went on to build a 25-year career at the very top of global organisations including GE, News Corp and EY. Realising something was missing, Elham did something remarkable and made a “pivot on purpose”. In 2017 she walked away from the corporate world and founded Migrant Leaders, a charity that has since supported nearly 5,000 young people, with over 2,200 senior mentors from across the UK's leading firms. Elham's story is laden with gems of resourcefulness and resilience. Key Takeaways: Origin Story: Elham overcame early obstacles, including securing "home student" status for university via a 3-day protest at Birmingham City Council. Career Pivot: After a 25-year corporate career in finance (GE, News Corp, EY), Elham pivoted to launch Migrant Leaders in 2017. The catalyst was the Parker Review, which revealed only 1.3% of FTSE 100 directors were migrants, all from private schools. Migrant Leaders: A charity supporting c.5,000 young migrants with 2,200+ senior mentors operates with a core philosophy: success is a responsibility to family and community, not just a personal achievement. Elham's Philosophy: Success requires aligning the "heart and mind." The "how" is solvable; the "what" and "why" (the problem statement) are the critical starting points. Episode resources: Elham Fardad: www.linkedin.com/in/elhamfardad Migrant Leaders: www.migrantleaders.org.uk Chay Executive Coaching: www.chayexecutivecoaching.com "Women In Leadership, Migrant Leaders, Growth Mindset, Inspirational"

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episode When you lean into your values and your path reveals itself with Sharniya Ferdinand. cover

When you lean into your values and your path reveals itself with Sharniya Ferdinand.

Today, I am deeply delighted to share a coffee with someone whose journey is purposeful and inspiring. Sharniya Ferdinand is the Strategic Partnership Inclusion Lead for the NatWest Accelerator. Multi-talented, Sharniya not only leads on Strategic Partnerships, but is a conference facilitator, public speaker, Rising Star award winner, and passionate advocate for global majority aka ethnic minority business owners and diverse professionals! Sharniya is living, breathing proof that when you lean into your values, the path has a way of revealing itself. So grab your coffee, get comfortable… and let's sip into that inspiration! Key takeaways: Pivoted during further education: Sharniya switched degrees after finding the research-heavy BSc didn't align with her passion for bringing people together. Advocated for a New Role: Created her current position by advocating for support for the "global majority" (ethnic minorities), inspired by existing programs for female founders. Honesty Secured a Dream Job: Disclosed a pre-booked 2-month trip during an interview, which led the hiring manager to wait for her. Manages Multiple Passions with "Balance Over Time": Sharniya rejects "daily balance" as a fallacy, instead focusing intensely on different priorities (work, family, hobbies) over longer periods like a year. Episode resources: Sharniya Ferdinand: www.linkedin.com/in/sharniyaferdinandInstagram: @sharniyassingsta NatWest Accelerator: www.natwest.com/business/business-services/entrepreneur-accelerator.html Chay Executive Coaching: www.chayexecutivecoaching.com "Women in Leadership, Inspirational, Growth Mindset"

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