As we honour International Women's Day, we are delighted to shine a light on Doris Ekos Okundaye, the inspiring founder of True Ambassadors. With a deep passion for social impact, healthcare advocacy, and community development, Doris shares her remarkable journey of empowering others and fostering meaningful change.
Tell us about yourself.
About Doris Ekos Okundaye and True Ambassadors I am a dedicated supporter of social impact, healthcare, and community development. Doris Ekos Okundaye is employed with the NHS, and I have a first degree in Business and Law at ARU 2023 Class.
Inspired to empower people and bring about positive change in the community, I started True Ambassadors, an independent charity with headquarters in Tower Hamlets and Newham, in 2018. Since its founding, True Ambassadors has changed many lives through several programs aimed at social activism, education, and health.
Based on our continuous initiatives:
We provide community support meetings at the Community Centre in Plaistow North every Tuesday, offering a forum for involvement, education, and empowerment. Every Tuesday, we plan exercise activities at Newham Leisure Centre, encouraging community health and well-being. Every Saturday, we also include a pre-recorded podcast chat program on YouTube and social media, where we welcome guest speakers to address important social concerns influencing the neighbourhood.
I am currently working on a Master's degree in International Project Management, which will help me even more oversee significant and environmentally friendly projects. My love of learning still motivates my will to produce significant change.
Originally from Edo State, Nigeria, I settled in the United Kingdom in August 2004. My experiences, both personally and professionally, have shaped my commitment to empowering others and creating stronger communities.
The Ideas behind True Ambassadors Founded with the goal of strengthening people and communities through education, health projects, and social activism, True Ambassadors aims to establish inclusive environments where anyone may access the tools they need to better their lives, learn, and exchange experiences.
Our main areas of attention are promoting physical and mental health through awareness campaigns, exercise activities, and access to healthcare services.
Community Involvement & Support: Giving forums for mutual support, education, and conversation. Young people should be empowered with mentoring, skill development, and chances for personal development. Working with local stakeholders, legislators, and businesses, one can address urgent societal concerns using advocacy.
Through True Ambassadors, I hope to inspire, enlighten, and empower communities so that everyone has the means and opportunities required for personal development.
What inspired you to set up True Ambassadors?
True Ambassadors inspired me because of my intense love of social impact, health campaigning, and community development. Working with the NHS showed me the difficulties many people have obtaining treatment and basic necessities. I became inspired to build a platform that may close these gaps in community support, health education, and social engagement.
People may learn, interact, and get assistance to help them better their well-being in a secure, inclusive, and robust environment, which I wanted. Established in 2018 to tackle critical social concerns, raise awareness of health issues, and empower local communities via diverse projects, including weekly sessions, exercise classes, and our talk show, True Ambassadors Is.
The aim has always been to provide people with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to flourish, generating positive, long-lasting change.
What challenges have you faced so far in building True Ambassadors?
Creating True Ambassadors has been both fulfilling and demanding. Among the main problems we have encountered are:
1. Financing & Financial Sustainability: Securing constant financing and financial assistance has been a significant difficulty for an independent nonprofit. Maintaining our services depends on grants and donations; nevertheless, resources are sometimes limited, and financing is highly sought.
2. Reaching and involving the appropriate audience can challenge community engagement and awareness. Many individuals who may gain from our projects are unaware of the accessible help. Hence, outreach and awareness campaigns are not always easy but rather vital.
3. Running several programs requires a devoted team, but recruiting committed volunteers and staff members who align with our mission may be challenging, particularly given the limited resources available to provide incentives or payback.
4. Operational Challenges and Logistics Running weekly seminars, creating neighbourhood events, and hosting our discussion show all require appropriate locations, resources, and preparation. Managing these logistics while guaranteeing seamless operations has taught us lessons.
5. Changing with the Times: We have had to be creative and adaptable in responding to changing social and financial issues. For instance, the COVID-19 epidemic compelled us to adjust through digital channels to continue interacting with society.
Notwithstanding these difficulties, our will to change things drives us on. Every challenge has given us insightful knowledge that will enable us to develop, be creative, and increase our social influence.
How can ARU London students benefit from using True Ambassadors?
True Ambassadors help ARU London students in many ways, especially with personal growth, community involvement, and practical experience. Here's the approach:
- Students wishing to gain practical experience in community service, healthcare advocacy, event planning, and social impact initiatives can volunteer with True Ambassadors. This can improve their resumes, offer real-world knowledge, and enable them to develop transferable abilities.
- Through our weekly community meetings, session presentations, and networking events, students can meet business executives, community leaders, and like-minded peers, broadening their professional network.
- Our exercise activities at Newham Leisure Centre and community involvement initiatives support emotional and physical well-being, which may help students maintain a healthy lifestyle and control academic stress.
- Students interested in public speaking, leadership positions, or community outreach can participate in our events, host debates, or even appear on our YouTube chat show, thereby developing their confidence and communication abilities.
- Working on our projects, supporting project coordination, fundraising, social media marketing, and community involvement techniques will provide those studying Business, Law, Healthcare, or Project Management with insightful, practical knowledge.
- True Ambassadors offers a forum for students driven by change to support significant causes, strengthen their life experiences, and benefit disadvantaged communities.
- True Ambassadors provides various opportunities for students to pursue their academic and professional development while positively impacting society, regardless of their desire for volunteer work, networking, wellness, or practical experience.
What advice would you give to students and/or other young women who are trying to become an entrepreneur or start their own businesses?
Starting your own company or charity is an interesting but challenging road; my advice to women and students aspiring to be entrepreneurs is:
1. Believe in yourself and your vision; confidence is essential. Don't let fear stop you if you have an idea or passion that would provide value or address an issue. Stay dedicated to your vision and rely on the process.
2. Start small, but start now. Many people wait for the ideal opportunity but never find one. Start with what you already have, test your concept, gain momentum, and keep getting better.
3. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals and contact mentors who can help you, exchange experiences, and open doors to new opportunities. Networking is a very effective instrument for commercial success.
4. Accept Difficulties & Keep Resilient Every company has challenges, but resilience distinguishes effective businesspeople. From mistakes, grow, and move on ahead.
5. Invest in ongoing education; knowledge is power. To improve your business acumen, keep current, pick up fresh skills, and look for leadership, marketing, and financial courses.
6. Control your money through smart planning and financial discipline. Start lean, manage your finances wisely, and reinvest earnings into expanding your company. Try to avoid needless costs and, wherever possible, look for grants or financing.
7. Entrepreneurship may be isolating and hard, so create a strong support system—from family to friends to business communities—to support and motivate you.
8. Return and Remain Purpose-Driven. Companies that concentrate on tackling actual issues and generating impact usually do well. Whether you run a commercial company or a nonprofit like True Ambassadors, always centre your goals and values in all you do.
9. Use social media and technology; in the modern world, online presence is essential. Engage consumers, build your brand, and increase your reach with social media, websites, and digital technologies.
10. Running a business may be challenging, so prioritise self-care, mental health, and work-life balance. One cannot pour from an empty cup; a good entrepreneur is healthy.
Whether you are a woman shattering stereotypes, an aspirant entrepreneur, or a student, success results from diligence, tenacity, and a readiness to learn and improve, see yourself, start that first step, and never stop following your aspirations!
How can we encourage more women to pursue entrepreneurship within their careers?
Encouragement of more women into the business world calls for breaking down obstacles, offering possibilities, and building a conducive environment that enables them to take control of their careers. The following are the main approaches to reach this:
1. Offer Financial Support and Access to Funding. Getting money for their enterprises presents difficulties for women most of the time. Governments, banks, and investors should provide additional grants, low-interest loans, and funding possibilities with an eye towards women. Female entrepreneurs can get financial support from initiatives such as micro-financing, crowdsourcing sites, and women-led company incubators.
2. Celebrate Female Mentors and Role Models. Seeing successful women in business motivates others to do likewise. Aspiring female entrepreneurs should be matched with seasoned businesswomen through mentoring initiatives to inspire and counsel them.
3. Promote Training & Entrepreneurship Education Entrepreneurial skills should be taught in schools, colleges, institutions, and local initiatives. Providing women with hands-on experience, leadership development, and business seminars can help them succeed.
4. Establish a Community & Supportive Network Women flourish in supporting systems. Establishing female-oriented business groups where women may exchange ideas, locate partners, and cooperate encourages entrepreneurship. Online forums, industry-specific groups, and networking events help aspirant women entrepreneurs find the appropriate individuals.
5. Remove Cultural Barriers & Gender Stereotypes Women are sometimes deterred from seeking leadership or company ownership by society's expectations. Supporting gender equality in the workplace, challenging conventional wisdom, and redefining women in business may open more doors.
6. Boost Corporate and Government Support Businesses and legislators should design programs supporting small companies and women-owned enterprises. Women may get more easily involved in entrepreneurship via tax incentives, training subsidies, and business-friendly legislation.
7. Use Social Media & Digital Tools The digital sphere offers women a strong, reasonably priced platform to launch and expand companies. Encouraging women to use social media, e-commerce, and online marketing will enable them to start and grow their companies.
What is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers?
See Your Potential and Believe in Yourself Anything you set your mind to is something you can do. Let your goal not be limited by society's expectations, uncertainty, or fear. Dream large and take audacious actions toward your objectives.
- Your Career Path Is Yours to Define—Success is not one-size-fits-all. Your path is different whether your goals are entrepreneurial, leadership in your sector, or following several passions; accept it.
- Two very effective tools are education and lifelong learning. Learning opens doors. Keep interested, invest in your education, and pick up fresh talents. The more you study, the more your confidence will grow, helping you negotiate obstacles and grasp possibilities.
- Resilience Will Set You Apart: Development includes challenges and mistakes. Take calculated chances, grow from mistakes, and keep going ahead. Your diligence will define your success.
- Get surrounded by the appropriate people. Create a solid network of peers, mentors, and role models who uplift and encourage others. A strong support network might enable you to get beyond challenges and create fresh prospects.
- Never undervalue your abilities, talents, or contributions; know your value and speak out. Speak for yourself, bargain boldly, and occupy space wherever you enter.
- Give Back & Lift Others: As you develop, assist others in development too. Beyond your achievement, helping other women and serving your community will have long-lasting effects.
Your profession is about building a life that fits your passion, beliefs, and aspirations, not only about earning a livelihood. Pursue what thrills you, keep bold, and never stop believing in your capacity to change things.
Are there any female leaders you find inspirational?
Michelle Obama – Former First Lady of the U.S., advocate for education, health, and equality.
Marie Curie – Nobel Prize-winning physicist and chemist.
Oprah Winfrey – Media mogul, philanthropist, and cultural icon.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
Among the nicest bits of advice I have found is:
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."- Theodore Roosevelt
This advice is strong as it motivates action despite obstacles. It reminds us that beginning to change requires not having everything precisely aligned. Little, meaningful actions may have a long-lasting effect on community service, business, or personal development.
Discover True Ambassadors online and be sure to support a female business owner this International Women's Day!
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/true_ambassadors/
Website: https://www.trueambassadors.org.uk/