From the course: Success Stories with Dave Crenshaw

How Octavia Goredema gained self-confidence

From the course: Success Stories with Dave Crenshaw

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How Octavia Goredema gained self-confidence

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(gentle music) - [Dave] Octavia Goredema is the founder of 2010 Agency where she coaches leaders at renowned companies such as Google, American Airlines, General Motors, and more. She's also the author of "Prep, Push, Pivot", a career guide for underrepresented women in the workplace. Originally from England, Octavia is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and in recognition of her work, was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen, one of the UK's highest civic honors. I'm Dave Crenshaw, and this is Octavia Goredema's success story. Octavia's early dreams of becoming an author and journalist were derailed due to a lack of confidence in her abilities. Still, She chose to attend university and her experience helped her build her determination. - [Octavia] So when I was little, I wanted to write the books that I love to read. I wanted to be an author. And as I became older, that translated more into potentially journalism. I was just captivated by storytelling first and foremost when I was little. And then as I was looking around me and I was growing up in England and watching the BBC and the news, and I just thought, "Oh my goodness! How cool is that?" You know, you see the news reporters that are in all these far away locations reporting on what's happening. And I just thought writing, being an author, journalism, I just thought that was phenomenal. - [Dave] Where did you study? - [Octavia] I was in secondary school, which is the equivalent of high school. And then I went to university. And when I was in secondary school, that's where I gave up on those dreams. - [Dave] Oh, okay. (both laughs genuinely) - [Octavia] I assumed I wasn't good enough and started to really question everything about what I might do in the future. I almost didn't go to university, and I did go, and I'm so thankful I did, and I studied politics and history, which were two subjects that I loved while I was doing what I called your A Levels in England. Those are the exams that you have to take in order to continue to university. But I had a real crisis of confidence and I just assumed what I loved was not an option for me. - [Dave] I'm guessing that that moment influences a lot of the work that you do now, right? Because you're trying to help people gain more confidence that they can succeed. So it seems like, you know, your book is "Prep, Push, Pivot." That seems like that was a pivot moment for you, maybe not the right pivot, right? - [Octavia] Absolutely. I think when I look back now, I can see it so clearly in the moment I couldn't. Now in my '40s, have learned a lot about what it takes for individuals to really trust their instincts and to believe in themselves before perhaps everything falls into place. - [Dave] Where did you go after that moment of crisis? What were your next steps? - [Octavia] It took me a long time. I'm so glad that I went to university, which I originally didn't even apply for because I put my own ceiling on myself and when I decided to break through that ceiling and take the leap and apply, which seemed like a huge leap, looking back, oh my goodness, it was, it's an obvious step, but at the time, it seemed like such a huge leap to do. I loved my time at university. I actually, before studying was about fear and am I going to pass? Am I going to get the A grade? Am I going to fulfill my potential? Whereas at university, it just felt intuitive. I chosen to be there and I loved it. - [Dave] What did you choose to study? - [Octavia] Politics and history, joint honors. - [Dave] Okay. All right. - [Octavia] Joint honors. And so, I loved everything about it. I loved the environment, I loved my course. I just thrived and I think my confidence had grown as well so much at that point. And then of course, as you know, that journey only lasts for a short time, and then you have to start making some big decisions.

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