“This Space Is Big Enough for All of Us”: Elfredah’s Mentoring Journey with the Network for Black Women Leaders

When Elfredah joined the NBWL mentoring programme, she was making a bold shift from a non-tech background into the male-dominated field of artificial intelligence. As an immigrant to the UK, with limited resources and a solo start-up to build, she knew the road ahead would be challenging. What she didn’t know was how transformative one mentoring relationship could be.

---

Connecting with Peers and Inspirational Women

“The Network gave me a sense of belonging,” Elfredah says. “It reminded me I’m not finished yet. There’s more I can do.”

Elfredah was matched with a mentor who helped her see possibilities she hadn’t yet imagined. During one mentoring conversation, her mentor suggested she turn her AI experience into an e-book. A new income stream Elfredah had never considered.

“I never had that idea before. But she didn’t just suggest it, she broke it down, gave me examples, showed me how it was possible.”

That one conversation planted a seed that is now growing into a tangible new project. But more than that, it opened up Elfredah’s mindset about what she could achieve.

She also formed a lasting connection with her mentor, who has continued to send opportunities her way even after the programme concluded. “It’s not about money,” Elfredah says. “It’s about someone seeing you and remembering you for opportunities.”

Navigating Challenges as a Black Woman in the Workplace

As a Black woman entering tech, Elfredah quickly encountered the double barriers of racial bias and professional exclusion.

“There are events and opportunities where you’ll look around and not see a single person who looks like you. Sometimes you start to feel like you don’t belong.”

She shared that she often hesitated to apply for roles or funding, assuming her background, or the colour of her skin, would be a strike against her. But her mentor offered a different lens: she encouraged Elfredah to apply anyway, sharing her own stories of overcoming discrimination.

Motivated by this support, Elfredah applied for and won a grant to host an AI-focused event in London, the first in-person, externally funded event for her organisation.

“I used to look at the application form and talk myself out of it. Now I look at it and say: ‘Let them decide. I’m still applying.’”

Impact on Confidence, Career Progression and Financial Resilience

Through the mentoring programme, Elfredah developed a deeper sense of resilience and confidence. She no longer waits for perfection before applying for funding, speaking opportunities or fellowships.

That shift in mindset paid off. She was selected from over 1,100 applicants to join the INSEAD AI Venture Lab and invited to speak at high-profile tech events, including Women in Tech Scotland, Coding Black Females, and the UK Open Tech Conference.

The programme also shaped how she manages finances and builds sustainability into her work. As a bootstrapping founder, Elfredah had been juggling operations, tech development, and cybersecurity with little support. Her mentor offered free resources, training links, and strategic advice that helped her develop new technical skills without additional cost.

Most importantly, Elfredah learned not to let fear or rejection slow her down.

“I tell myself now: if you’re tired, rest. Then stand up again. There’s always something better coming if you keep going.”

Learning Through Mentoring

Mentorship taught Elfredah not just how to apply for opportunities but how to lead with vision.

Her mentor modelled how to support others with care, even during times of personal and professional difficulty. That influence changed how Elfredah communicates with her team and collaborates with others in her sector.

“I used to assume people were fine if everything was going well. Now I check in. I ask. I try to understand. I’ve learned to lead with empathy.”

She’s also embraced visibility. From once being hesitant to attend tech events, Elfredah now frequently finds herself the only Black woman, or the only woman, in the room. Rather than retreating, she uses that visibility to advocate for others, speak up, and apply pressure where change is needed.

“I used to hide. Now I’m in the room, I’m on the panel, and I’m helping others find their way in too.”

Shaping Aspirations for Leadership

Since completing the mentoring programme, Elfredah has stepped into a more expansive vision of leadership. She’s now Chief Innovation Officer of her own AI platform, which helps communities access transcription, editing and data analysis tools. She has trained over 200 people—journalists, educators, and other women—and frequently speaks on AI accessibility and digital inclusion.

She now sees leadership not only as a role to hold, but a responsibility to model.

“I’m building solutions, but I’m also building courage in others. That’s what leadership means to me now.”

Advice to Other Black Women Considering NBWL

“The Network is worth it. It’s worth your time, your energy, your strength. But you have to be open-minded. You have to show up with a plan.”

Elfredah encourages other Black women to take full advantage of the network, not just by attending, but by connecting, sharing, and asking for help. She reminds prospective mentees that impact doesn’t always happen overnight.

“You may feel stuck at the start. But later, when the opportunities come, you’ll realise it was the learning from NBWL that made them possible.”

She now considers the network part of her broader resource ecosystem and her mentor a long-term collaborator. Her mentor has gone on to speak at Elfredah’s training events, offer introductions, and share resources. The support hasn’t stopped, and Elfredah is determined to pay that forward.

“I believe in the next two years, when you check back in with me, I’ll have even bigger opportunities to share.”