The Amos Bursary

👉🏽 Entrepreneurs like Anterior (formerly Co:Helm) founder Abdel Mahmoud, MD face a lot of challenges: fundraising, scaling, and — sometimes — managing very expectant parents. So when Abdel decided to start his own company after earning an M.D., nothing was for certain. “I think the bravest thing about starting Anterior is telling your mother that you're no longer going to practice medicine. If you know Arab mothers, that was a brave decision, Abdel,” says NEA partner Mohamad Makhzoumi. So far, it’s safe to say his decision paid off. Anterior just celebrated a $20M series A round, dedicated to transforming an industry for the better. Watch the full conversation between Mohamad and Abdel from our Founder Forward series. https://lnkd.in/gttThK7M #healthcare #ai #llm

Hey Network, Part 1 Reflecting on an Incredible International Experience at Collision Conference in Canada✨ I recently had the amazing opportunity to attend the Collision Conference in Canada, and it was truly an inspiring and transformative experience! 🇨🇦✨After being selected as one of seven individuals to attend the prestigious Tech Collision 2024 in Toronto, Through The Amos Bursary. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has significantly shaped my academic and career trajectory. Envision +40,000 talented individuals from more than 130 countries gathering to collaborate, learn, and innovate! Last week was amazing, from the atmosphere and vibe of Toronto to the vast information available to grab at Collision. From insightful sessions to groundbreaking innovations, the event was a hub of knowledge, creativity, and networking. Here are some of my highlights: Learned from industry leaders who shared their visions and expertise on the future of technology and AI and its impact. Weighing the pros and cons of future development and evolution. Had a one-to-one conversation with the Founder of MOBABU - an Agritech company in Rwanda with smart hydroponic solutions. Who aims to boost food security, cut carbon footprints, and pioneer sustainable farming. Revolutionising global food production for a greener future! Explored cutting-edge technologies and met with startups that are set to revolutionise various industries with the aid of AI. I was able to hear multiple pitches from startups through the Black Innovation Zone. It was very refreshing seeing a community of Black people in STEM pathing a way for new innovations and open ideas for markets we didn't even know we needed/problems we needed answers to. Connected with brilliant minds from around the globe, forging new relationships and potential collaborations. To find fellow Scholars throughout the conference and to network with them gave me encouragement as most of us are still in university and pathing our way into the World of Technology. Investors and employers just showering their wisdom and words of encouragement to better my pursuit in the working world. Hearing a great talk on centre stage by Trevor Martin about the Top-notch work on CRISPR gene editing/genetics engineering and the potential to resolve issues in healthcare, especially in sickle cell Q and A with Loren Gray, where she spoke about her evolution In Media and how she kept her authenticity throughout her career. She most definitely emphasised that ‘Consistency is key’ In whatever you endeavour. Q and A with Eric Struk, where he spoke on engagement and retention curves. He told us about his journey and how not everyone's journey is linear and it takes time to find your niche that well works with consumer engagement. #CollisionConf #TechInnovation #Networking #Canada #Grateful #Inspired #BlackWomenInTech #STEM #Collision2024 #Travel #WebSummit

As some of you know, I was in Toronto for a week attending one of the world’s biggest Tech conferences, exposing me to the opportunity to meet Founders, CEOs, Speakers, VCs, and some amazing and insightful individuals. (I also got into the Speaker’s Lounge👀) How was the Collision Conf for me? It was incredible, slightly disappointing, insightful, and challenging. While "disappointing" might be a strong term, it was observable that many conference attendees had ZERO intention to engage with students. If your badge didn't present you as an Investor, a Founder, or a big company representative, you aren't as likely to attract attention. There were even instances where conversations abruptly ended due to apparent disinterest. Regardless, I had to remain unfazed, reminding myself that this was more about their perspective than my value. Engaging with people who willingly invested their time in me,especially in the Speaker’s Lounge, served as a reminder that in such spaces, there ARE people who want to pour all that they wish they knew as a graduate. The conference transformed into an incredible event when I recognised that my experience at Collision wasn't merely due to its commendable reputation or the prestige of being a Scholar in the room. Instead, it hinged entirely on my proactive approach to shaping my experience. Here's how I did it: I selectively attended the talks that GENUINELY sparked my interest, and I networked, networked, and networked some more, but with intention. Some of the best advice I could give to anyone when it comes to networking is… Approach humans like they are humans! I'm glad I didn't do intense research on attendees beforehand. This allowed me to approach Speakers and CEOs with genuine curiosity rather than focusing on titles. Conversations were valuable and led to genuine connections, letting me learn firsthand from their experiences and insights. AI is more than a buzzword - it's a transformative force that's reshaping our world. This conference reinforced that there's an ocean of knowledge out there waiting to be explored in this field. Here's a valuable insight I gained: Seize the opportunity to build an understanding of the significance of AI in your industry. Learn how to harness its power to overcome challenges and achieve your goals. Instead of getting lost in the complexities of model building, focus on leveraging AI as a tool for success. So this experience taught me… ✅ How to embrace challenging interactions ✅ How to network in unfamiliar environments ✅ The value of conversing on a human level ✅ That such experiences are as incredible as you make them! Collison was AMAZING, Toronto is AMAZING, and it was a pleasure to meet so many of you amazing individuals. (If I could tag everyone I would😅) A special thanks to The Amos Bursary Katie Bolger, and to all of you who donated to this experience to make this opportunity the best it could've been! #Technology #CollisionConf

Representatives from RCM recently attended a gala dinner to celebrate The Amos Bursary's 15-year anniversary. The team were delighted to be joined on their table by two Amos students, Racheal and Peter, who explained how the bursary supported them as they now navigate their university careers. The evening was an opportunity to celebrate the student achievement enabled by The Amos Bursary, an organisation which RCM is proud to support.

At Unilever it has been so exciting to produce work that ripples through local communities. Last year I volunteered with the Germ Buster Day in partnership with Domestos✨. Most recently alongside the brilliant Maxine D. I hosted, and facilitated a careers panel session for the The Amos Bursary with Charmaine Odusina. I had the opportunity to lead the team for the event this meant I was able to: ▪️Have creative oversight into how it should be run. ▪️Exercise project management skills in order to ensure all the involved parties were aligned on the project goals. ▪️Further utilise my communication and stakeholder management skills. This event wouldn't be possible without our Development Team lead Tasnim Ahmed and our fantastic panellists and volunteers;Jennifer Brown, Hanna P., Sophie Hughes, Callum R., Keerat Tatla, Christopher Shorter Joyee Bashir, Amaan Hussain, and Adanna Okocha🌟

🗣️ Be MALLEABLE and FLEXIBLE ‼️ Yesterday, I attended the second part of a personal development workshop through The Amos Bursary. Led by Tambo Silavwe, the workshop focused on enhancing communication and body language. The focus was on being both malleable and flexible: malleable to change your behaviors to suit the situation, and flexible to adapt quickly to new circumstances. We first heard from Colleen Amos OBE, Schaun, and Max, who collectively emphasised that your personality is your authenticity, and your unique identity makes you stand out. They highlighted the importance of embracing and showcasing your individuality. We began the workshop by exploring various forms of communication, including body language, tone, and words. Our group presentations provided opportunities to practice and refine these essential skills. A key takeaway was the importance of active listening for clear communication, involving true listening, asking for clarification, and summarising before responding. The workshop concluded with a discussion on the significance of tone and the substance of your words. I would like to thank Tambo for hosting two incredible workshops, and The Amos Bursary, Charmaine Odusina and Desirée-Blessing Ankrah, for organising both of the development days. I believe I have learnt a lot over these two days. It was great to attend this event with Adediron, Christal M, Jamoi, Jaynai, Kyle, Kieron, Emmanuel, Shyanna, Roman, Esmond, John, Taiwo, Taku and many others.

I CYCLED FOR 8 HOURS! 🚴🏾♂️🚴🏾♂️ Last Sunday was a day to remember, as I cycled for 8 hours through UK's sunshine and rain to complete Ford’s RideLondon-Essex 100miles! I joined No Limit Cycling Club in January with a mission, and they made it possible for me to complete this challenge! The club provided weeks of skills sessions, including bike handling and hill repeats alongside group rides, which helped me and 7 others to complete our challenges. I'm grateful to The Amos Bursary for the opportunity and @Black Unity Bike Ride for the initiative. I'd like to extend a big shout-out to KALAS Sportswear, SANTORINI and Stolen Goat for providing us with Kits, CYCPLUS for the equipment and Peddle My Wheels/OurBike for the bikes! None of this could've been done without you guys and my mentor who trained me! Congratulations to everyone who completed their RideLondon challenge! The cycling community is too awesome. I'm looking forward to getting a road bike soon and joining the community full throttle! Let me know if you’re joining next year 💪🏾 #Cycling #RideLondonEssex

A day for the soul! Loved volunteering with PwC UK’s ColourBrave teams and helping to run a social media video session. Kudos to Idil Omar and Shweta Chavan for the prep and huge thanks to Tom Pickering Corrina Johnson Leila Thomas FRSA Eden L. Xavier Hamilton The Amos Bursary and Charlie Cole for throwing yourselves into it and bringing the passion 🙌 Takeaways: 🤳with apps like CapCut, you can easily turn iPhone videos into high-level content 📸 taking the time to storyboard and work with your talent makes all the difference 😳experiencing the other side of the camera makes you a better producer ✅ know your metrics - get your benchmarks, set your targets, measure and improve What tips would you add?

Good news! I am excited to announce that I have secured my place on a Summer Internship at Russell Investments working alongside the Fixed Income Portfolio Management team. I would like to thank The Amos Bursary for the fantastic opportunity and the recruitment team for a smooth process. I am looking forward to what I expect will be an exceptional experience. Thank you!!