Click on an image
Meet each speaker
Monika
Monika describes herself as an Afro German woman and has moved to the UK in 1984 to escape racism and taking advantage of better opportunities in building her career.
From the very beginning Monika experienced barriers to her professional ambitions. The perceptions and assumption by her colleagues and superiors were often contradictory to her expertise. They were often based on her appearance and what community she should belong to, aligned with low aspirations around class and her accent.
Monika over the last 30 years has worked across the voluntary, public and private sector and specialised in the creative industry in a senior managerial position. Her stories therefore span over a wide range of experiences.
Monika is also a published writer and poet and likes to ‘pepper’ her stories with performance poetry to highlight and question in a humorous and reflective way and stimulate conversation.