Toya Talks Podcast

The Blueprint to Audacity

• Toya Washington • Season 2 • Episode 180

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Ready to name the fear behind a big career leap? We start with the uncomfortable truth: stepping into leadership is hard when you’ve rarely seen anyone who looks like you survive and thrive there. That honesty opens a wide-angle look at credibility, negotiation, and why “director” should be a strategic choice, not a trap. You’ll hear practical pay tactics, a clear-eyed read on gender politics, and a call to claim the audacity usually reserved for the loudest voices in the room while anchoring everything in real delivery.

We pivot into brand strategy with a surgical breakdown of Fenty Beauty, LVMH, and the “core asset test.” What happens when a revolutionary launch becomes industry standard and the parent company cares most about Sephora and Dior? The answer matters to every founder: positioning must live beyond a single hook, and product lines should pass the test of whether they strengthen your core. Still, Rihanna’s two-billion-dollar empire stands as a masterclass in ownership, reminding us that downside cycles don’t erase value when you build for longevity.

Authenticity in entrepreneurship gets a frank treatment access, capital, and networks change the starting line. We separate story from spin so creators can plan with clarity. Then we look outward: a UN spotlight on persecution in Nigeria, the Sahel’s power realignment, and why humanitarian language can mask resource strategy. Closer to home, we press on London’s EV congestion charge and how shifting justifications erode policy trust. Finally, we talk about the UK’s curriculum overhaul AI literacy, oracy, and media scepticism to prepare young people for a world where synthesis beats rote learning. And yes, we celebrate the launch of Sister Scribble, a premium stationery brand designed to bring back tactile creativity and intention.

If this conversation pushes you to ask better questions about your next move career, company, or community hit follow, share with a friend who needs the nudge, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Your audacity might be someone else’s blueprint.

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Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star

Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble



SPEAKER_01:

Hot off the press, Nicki Minaj addresses the United Nations on the Christian persecution of Nigeria. Savile Rose Oswald Boatang has effectively gone into liquidation. We get into that. And New York, one of my favourite cities in the world, is now celebrating their new mayor, Zoran Kwame Moudini. We're gonna be catching up. It's been a week. Welcome to the Toy Talks podcast.

SPEAKER_00:

Toy and talks out the space, but get nice to read the space from golden legs to WC. Building legacy for all systems. It's like just goodness of this go.

SPEAKER_01:

So before we get into all of that, I'm going to uh bring a conversation to the podcast as I always do. It's quite a personal one because it kind of relates to my current thinking, and I really want to get people's opinion, albeit in the comments section of wherever you listen to this podcast or send me a DM. Let's kind of keep the conversation going. So I remember recently I said to you all that um I went to Black Tech Fest and I wasn't expected to be in expecting to be inspired at all. And I walked out not only inspired but touched, and I made the decision that I think I'm ready for leadership, and also understanding that leadership doesn't mean people management, there's different types of leadership, but in some cases it there is a level of people management, or maybe it's just senior leadership management as part of your leadership role, right? So I was very intentional with the universe, and one thing I'm definitely gonna bring to my stationary company, we're definitely gonna be speaking about my stationary company, which launches on the 24th of November, sisterscribble.com get to know. Is I am very intentional about my career, and I'm very intentional as a person, right? So I took her to the universe and I was like, this is what I want to do, but I didn't really think everything through. It was almost like I had a eureka moment and I was like, I'm ready for this. I've been in my industry 15 years, and I don't think my age is a reflection of anything other than experience. And I was like, maybe I'm I'm ready, okay? And I thought, if certain things don't materialize, then I think it's the universe pointing me in another direction, and I was very clear about kind of leaving it up to the universe to decide, but this is kind of what I think I kind of want to do, is move into leadership. And I'm gonna be really honest with you, right? I'm actually uncomfortable with leadership as a black woman. Just hear me out a minute, right? This is why representation matters so much, right? It's not always about your proximity to be able to have conversations with black leaders because sometimes they're not close enough to you to for you to have access in that way, rightly or wrongly. Sometimes it's just about seeing it to know of the possibilities and almost being inspired by what the possibilities are for you, right? And in my career, I've only had the experience of one black leader, and it was during COVID when I was working on like this massive project, honestly, and my manager was not just black, but she was a black woman, and that to me was it meant the world to me that I could work under her and that she really trusted me. We got on really, really well, and I was able to kind of to a level or to a degree see how she navigated, but I never really got close to her, like and I did try to, but you know, sometimes you can you know when someone is just not that way, you know. And when I say get close to her, it's more about really understanding how she got to where she is, her motivations, her psyche, and really just understanding how the path was for her. Because as a black woman, there's a couple of things I can assume, and one of them is there was no straight path to her leadership, right? And there was no straight path in her career, but I wanted to have really honest, and maybe I can have them now, you know, because I we still chat now and again, but I've never kind of you know, I don't know, but you know, you can read the vibes, right? But I just she's always been really lovely to me, but she's a classic Libran just like me, so I understand, like, I get it, right? She's there's she's very boundaried in a way that it's it's she's like a fortress in a way. Anyway, I say all of this to say, I think that because I haven't experienced long periods of my career seeing black women in leadership around me, me being able to kind of have that experience and observe it and really understand kind of how they're navigating, I think it's placed me in a situation where leadership makes me feel uncomfortable. Because I feel like to an extent, is it like a like it feels like a setup? I know this sounds crazy, but I figured that if there is ever a place for me to have this conversation, it's on the podcast, right? And don't get me wrong, not everybody's aspiration is leadership, but I feel like it should be presented as a natural progression for us if we wanted to. We should still be presented with the options of where our careers could go, irrespective of what your career path is, what sector you work in, whether you're corporate or not, like just understanding what leadership looks like as a black person, especially a black woman, I think is really important. I think it's quite career, it's a career essential. And I've not had that, and I'm like, because I I don't understand why I'm very hesitant until I had to stop and ask myself a couple of questions, and I realized that it's more than walking in the wilderness, it's the complete unknown, and the reality is I'm gonna be walking unknown into leadership amongst people who do not look like me at all, and I'm not looking for allyship, I'm looking for examples of what the possibilities could be. And yes, to an extent, maybe I will I could become that for someone else, but I feel like as as where I am in my career, I need to see that more. I need to see black leaders more, especially black women. And I'm 41 years old, and I'm sitting here honestly telling you that I know that that is the next step, but I don't know if I can do it. I I really I just I don't know. And it's so weird that I say this to you because I am a go-getter, I'm all those things, but I've always felt very comfortable being senior commercial manager, commercial contract manager, or senior lead, right? But I've never considered the possibility of being a director. I haven't. And when I say I've never considered the possibility, it's as in actually walking into that role. Um it's always had I've always had conversations about the possibility, but they it seemed so far out of reach. And because I've never I'd never had enough examples of seeing it, it it didn't bother me that it fell out of reach until now. And part of me thinks, is it possible to be at a director level, have the work-life balance, still be a present mum and a present wife, still enjoy life and and still show up as a director? Like, is that possible? And I want to speak to black leaders to find out. But where do you even start having the where do you find these black leaders? Because there's not very many, especially my sector, anyway. It's not I I like I said in my 15-year career, I've only had one black female manager, and it was a global crisis that was happening at the time, and I was working on a massive project, and it I just happened to be in her team. You know, it's kind of crazy to think about, isn't it? Like that we know that representation matters, but if you take a step back, how often do you see that representation and how does it actually affect your career growth or career planning? What does career planning look like to you if you can't visually imagine yourself somewhere? And I'm I'm all for manifesting, but sometimes what is possible or the confirmation of the possibilities is what you can see. Does that make sense? And I'm hoping this makes sense. So I remain in my career crossroads. I'm not afraid, I'm not worried, I'm none of those things. I don't even feel stuck, I just feel like slightly career purgatory. It's is how it feels because I need to make a decision, and the I think the decision I need to make is continue with the status quo. And is continuing with the status quo coasting? I don't know, but I'm coasting in six figures, so I'm just like, mm-hmm is it? It's not bad coasting to be in, right? But and more than that, I think it's more about my development and kind of the example I set for my daughter and what continues to drive and motivate me. And on the other hand, I'm being fed from a motivational um perspective through like my stationary company, my toy talks podcast and platform. These things feed me because I feel like I'm giving back, I'm giving I'm giving back like to the universe, to my community, to women, and that fills me up. Yeah, do you know what I mean? But my career has always been really important to me because it saved my life, and I've said this so many times on here, but it really did. It gave me structure, it gave me purpose, it gave me stability, and it gave me a focus during times when I felt like I had nothing, I felt like nothing, and I had walked so many years in the wilderness before I even fell into my profession, and equally as well, I think I'd gotten to a point where I had so many, so much self-doubt about what I could be because everyone seemed to have it all together, but for many years I didn't. I didn't know what the fuck I was doing, honestly. I came out of university and I was like, what the fuck? Like you just become a lawyer, and I hated it. I hated working in law firms. Anyone who works in a law firm, I'm not um disparaging what you do. I have a lot of respect for qualified lawyers who work in law firms. I respect every profession anyway, but I'm just saying, my experience is when I was working in law firms, I I felt like I couldn't breathe. It felt very stiff, and I now know it's that rigid in a suit. Like this, it was so rigid. And then to think after all those years of studying, you still have to do like CBD points, CPD points, which I do in my career now. But the difference is like you it's almost like you have to keep proving to the law society that you you're still worthy of your license, and you have to do all these exams every is it well back then it was like every year. I wasn't prepared to do that. Not after law school almost took me out. My masters almost my my masters took me to the edge. So for me, after all of that, I and I qualify, I still have to do oh hell no. I was literally six months from qualifying, and I said to my dad, I'm done. I am done, and I'm just so grateful for the father I have had, and I say had because he's past, but I say have because he's still my dad. Um because he was like, You've got your education, you can do anything, and you don't just have education, you've got education experience and you're smart. Ah, my dad, the way my dad sp spoke life into me, and he he, you know, some fathers would be like, You've got six months, you've got to do it. He knew I I hated every part of the process of qualifying as a lawyer. I don't regret the qualification, the study, absolutely not, because it's the reason I am where I am today. But honestly, I just I feel like and let me just elaborate on the setup part of kind of what I feel in terms of black leadership, right? I feel like, and I and I remember like talking about this on an episode, um, and I was covering a particular lady who basically she had been given a role. No, they had two roles merged into one, and this lady, this black woman, took that role, and she was like the CFO and COO, or the C O E O and COO, and I just thought, fucking hell, that's mad. And then there was another lady where they you know they gave her this role, and it's almost like they set her up to fail because they didn't give her the support she needed. And for me, I I feel like in order to thrive in leadership, you have to have support, like you have to have sponsorship, and it's not just from other leaders because that's important too, but sponsorship from the organization, like they have to get behind your tenure. Do you get what I'm saying? And as a black woman, I'm gonna be really honest. If I wanted to be a fucking politician, I would have been. I'm no politician, I'm not polished like that. Like, hear me out, hear me out. Because I don't even think we'll be going into detail like this, but I'm gonna get this out. I'm not polished, you will never see me in a suit, ever, ever see me in a suit. And I'm not saying that makes, but I'm just saying in terms of whatever the conventional director is, I'm not her. Do you know what I mean? In the conventional sense, I'm never gonna wear a suit. I will use my voice, I will speak the things, and I don't I'm not looking for fans. I prefer respect. I don't deal in fear, my currency is respect. But how do you how do you navigate as a direct as a black woman director in a space when where people in on your level of leadership do not look like you? How do you go into an organization as a director? You know, it's not like you've been in an organization for a long time and you've kind of grown into that role. And for a very long time, I thought that that's kind of how it would happen for me. If it did, I'd be working in an organization and I'd be like the natural successor, or I'd I would be like a senior, whatever, and then I would be like an assistant director, and then possibly a director. I never actually considered the possibility of walking into an organization as a director, and I feel as black women, when you go in to an organization as a director, like you're going in not knowing the elements. Do you get what I'm saying? It's like going into a snowstorm, and you're like, right, I'm gonna take a jacket because I probably need that in a snowstorm, but the tools are probably in the organization, and I'm gonna have to look for all of the tools I'm gonna need for this snowstorm, and I'm gonna have to trust that number one, they're gonna let me in to find those tools. Number two, they're all gonna tell me the truth, and number three, that I'm gonna be given the ability to grow as a person to really embody this role, and I find that my and this is just on observation. I find that organizations are not always fair to black women in so many different ways, but in senior leadership, from what I have witnessed, we are fighting so many fights even before we've actually had an opportunity to deliver our role. Do you get what I mean? So, yeah, I say all this to say I've been having a lot of conversations, and what seems to be coming my way is director conversations. So it's not oh come into senior leadership and and kind of work your way up to assistant director, it's actually I'm having director conversations and in different fields, so not in my current field, which is when I say not in my current field, not in my current industry, and I've got to be honest, I'm just feeling a little bit uncomfortable for all the reasons I've shared here. I think it's important I say this here because growth looks different to different people. Growth doesn't always include senior leadership, first of all, for some, and it doesn't always include director or assistant director for others. I get all I get that. I'm I'm speaking, even though I'm speaking from a position of oh, senior leadership director, yeah, this whole growth and representation is agnostic of that. Do you understand? Like I'm I'm talking about growth, um, whereby as black women we've all like I've always been raised to just be grateful to have a job, you get your bills paid, you know, you're able to like look after your family, you know, you work hard, and you just keep your head down. That's how I was raised, and clearly I've not adhered to any of those typical rules. I feel like I am a cycle breaker. Like if my dad was alive, and I could imagine what he would have said when I decided to go contracting, he would have thought I was bonkers, but he would have supported me because as far as he's concerned, you've got the foundation, so you could do what you know. But I think he would have been weary and worried about my ability then to find the next opportunity. So I definitely think I've come leaps and bounds in terms of the risks I've taken in my career that have basically all paid off. Um, but now it's this crossroads between do I leave what is familiar and what is comfortable and what is the status quo, or do I really go for it? And the worst that can happen is it doesn't work out, but I can't afford for it not to because my current situation is very a-okay. Um, but then I have to ask my question, myself a question. Why am I why is it that I'm always looking for like the next thing? Is it a lack of contentment? Is it fear? What what is that? You know, and I know that part of it is because I stagnation to me is one of the worst things that can happen in a career because to get restarted is tough. It's tough for me. Stagnation means a lack of growth, and a lack of growth means that you're not building on what you have worked so hard for. Stagnation to me is adjacent to kind of waiting in the line for redundancy. I've got to be honest, and I definitely recognize that 41 I'm in my prime in terms of my career, and yet I say prime, but I know I never heard of directors becoming directors at 35, you know. So am I kind of late to the game with directorship? I don't know, I don't know, but what I do know is I I went to Black Tech Fest and I was moved into a thought process that I never thought I would be in, and that I'm constantly now having conversations about with myself about what the next steps are, what what does the next three to five years look like? And it's only because somebody said to me, Where do you see yourself in two to two to five two to five years? And I couldn't answer the question, you know, because I never even thought I'd be where I am now. Do you understand what I'm saying? I never really like I manifested things and I worked hard towards it and I was intentional, but these are things that I wanted to happen and they're here now almost quicker than I thought they would be. So I've never really like thought where do you understand? But then at the same time, it's like, you know, what is a conventional career now in terms of how long, how long are you supposed to stay at an organization now? Like what is what are the new rules? Well, they're not rules, but do you know what I mean? Like, what what are they? Because the the world of work has changed tremendously. It continues to grow, it continues to evolve, it continues to change. So leadership doesn't look the same as it did in our parents' time when they were coming back telling us about their workspaces. Actually, we're having more open dialogue and we're challenging those quote-unquote rules and the status quo of what things are. We are treating interviews like exchange of conversation and energy, and we we are sometimes walking away from opportunities that our spirit doesn't feel comfortable with. So, that being said and that being known, work as we know it has fundamentally changed. I used to hide and have extended lunches to have an initial telephone interview. Then I would have to either call in sick or I don't know, take a half day and go to an interview that I hope wouldn't be more than one process because how could I then take another day off for another sick day for my second interview? Like those times have passed now. We're bolder. We're taking a day off if we want to without no explanation. Well, a lot of us are not feeling guilty for handing in our I don't, I never feel guilty for resigning, especially, especially when you've tried to keep me trapped with no growth. So for me, I understand how the world of work has changed. And one of the reasons I'm sharing this is because I want you to know, in as much as I've been intentional with my career, I'm focused, you know, I've been able to manifest, I've really been able to manage my career as the true architect I am, right? But there are still, you know, bumps in the roads that happen. There are still things that, you know, I have to ask myself and have conversations about. And this is why I bring it here, because listen, nothing is perfect at the end of the day. And when we're talking about the world of work and we're we're we're talking about our ambitions, we're speaking knowing that the system has been fixed, rigged, constructed for not for our betterment. Like it has a the world of work, the way it's structured, is not for the benefit and the advancement of black women at all. Let me give you an example. We talk about the gender pay gap all the time, okay? And you've got organizations that proudly kind of publish their you know their stats into in in terms of like hiring and stuff like that, like proving that they're equal opportunities, but no one talks about the racial pay gap. Like no one, no one actually talks about that. And I I remember, is it Diane Butler? I think it's Diane Butler. I'd love to get on my podcast. Someone help with that, please. Someone help me come out of my comfort zone. But yeah, I I believe it was Diane, I think it was Diane Butler, MP for Brennan East, and she I think it was her where she was talking about kind of making it an obligation for organizations to to kind of publish their the racial pay gap. And I when I read that, I was like, oh my god, I've been speaking about this for ages, but sorry, I say all this to say about the system being rigged against us is in that gender pay gap, I promise you, I'm almost certain that black women are ranked the lowest. I'm almost certain. But when it comes to qualifications, and actually, when I say qualifications, being qualified to do the job, black women over excel because we know that mediocrity doesn't operate in us for us at all. Like we have to be five times better, ten times better to even get an opportunity to have a conversation. And this is before we've been able to walk, walk in the door, sit down and have a formal conversation. Do you get what I'm saying? So I definitely feel as though when we talk about the world of work and you know the structures around work not being in our favour, the racial pay gap is huge. And it's a conversation that no one wants to have. No one's taken up that mantle. Apart from Diane Butler, I don't think I've heard any other MP advocate and lobby. And I would love to like, can you imagine me like having discussions about that or being like working with a member of parliament to kind of get that mandatory into law that organizations have a legal obligation to publish their racial pay gap? That'd be amazing. For me, that would be transformative because I think what that does is it places organizations in centre stage of accountability, it puts them on blast for potential racial racial um can't even speak, it puts them on blast for um uh an account, it puts them on blast and holds them accountable to explain like racial pay gaps and the disparities that that that would you know be highlighted as a result of a publication, and it would allow us as as a community, as women, because there is a gender pay gap 100%. I think it's slightly closed, but it will never be as wide as the racial pay gap at black women and in in comparison to others, right? But can you imagine the type of conversations that we could have um at an interview level if there was a legal obligation to publish the the racial racial pay gaps? Like, can you imagine? It would empower you to have even more open dialogue about money. It would place us in a situation where we wouldn't feel like we have to keep it a secret. You wouldn't. Why would you if you know they had to publish? It would cause a conversation that would make organizations uncomfortable to ever be spotlighted as possibly being um economically pay racist. It would. It would, and this is why I say sometimes you like you have to be like not like this is why I always say sometimes I feel like the way society has has built a kind of shame around money and having the conversation is all part of this work structure to keep us like keep conversations secret or non existent so that organizations can continue to use, abuse, and force us to accept. Frums. That's what I think. And this is why when I have conversations and you say to me, This is how much they're paying, I'm like, I am bold. I am very bold. I yeah, this doesn't fit in within my pay scale. Can you tell us your pay scale? Because there is flex with the pay. But you didn't say that in the advert, did you? When you come to me with this job, you didn't say there was flex in the pay, you just gave me a uh a pay band between there's always flex. Let me tell you something. When you go into an interview, they give you a pay scale, but they fall in love with you. That scale is out the fucking window. Because they attach that job to you. If you've done really well in your interview, you become a safe pair of hands. They will pay you what you ask for. I'm telling you, because it's happened to me so many times. I never ever as a rule, I never accept the salary advertised. It's a rule. It's a rule. Because I've worked in and amongst these organizations as they're setting, you know, and HRS setting these pay bracket things. And sometimes, yes, you know, they'll say, oh, they're benchmarked, but some of it is actually based on what they think they can get away with. Because you've been conditioned in your mind to advertise to apply for a role, and and and you almost come desperate because you want this role that you will just accept without negotiating. If you are still accepting roles and not negotiating the pay, then you don't actually value yourself because if you valued yourself enough, you would negotiate. Sometimes it's not always negotiating pay. Sometimes you can negotiate um more um annual leave, your bonus structure, your how often you're in the office, all those things. But pay is important in an economy and a sus in an economy that is mad, but in a society that is very expensive, you can't just accept their opening offer. You can't you you just you can't because everything is expensive. They're asking you to come into the office, and then they're advertising a role for 50k, and they want you in the office five days a week, three days a week, and you're accepting 50k. You need to work out how much you spend on travel in a year, make that a starting point for your what you personally want, yeah, and then do your market research, then compare that to what you want, and then add at least 20%. That's how I move, you know. I listen, you can't see where I've worked and the place I've worked and come to me with a dumb offer. I've watched white men be audacious in a negotiation, a negotiation conversation about salary. I have watched somebody who has no who has who is not even from my industry, not qualified, just happened to apply because he's done a similar role. Expect me, the organization expecting me, Toya, to train them while they're earning big bucks. And they know they are not qualified to do the job, but they'll still negotiate their pay. Do you know how bold you have to be to be incompetent, lack experience, and still negotiate your pay when they give you an offer? That is how audacious white men are, and I admire it. I do, I admire it because they have provided me with the blueprint of audacity. Oh, maybe I'll call this episode the blueprint of audacity because I'm telling you, white men have given me the blueprint to audacity, and I will use audacity as and when I need to choose to, and is required. You have to gain credibility, and I'm telling you, the reason as black women, or just as women, right? Race aside for a moment, the reason as women we need to have the credibility is because gender politics, irrespective of your race, will always be at the forefront of how we exist and show up in the workplace. Gender politics. And if you don't understand gender politics and how it actually works, that means you actually haven't started your career. I'm sorry, but it's true. Gender politics is a weapon, and gender politics can be dangerous, gender politics can be uncomfortable, but what gender politics is is very real. So if you have not experienced gender politics, you haven't started your career. But if you have and you understand the psychology of the world of work, you understand credibility trumps everything. Because as women, we need to be able to actually deliver it. We cannot use masculinity as a guise or as a rouge for any ruse for anything. Like we understand, right? We get it now. As the additional layer of being a black woman, we understand how we have to show up because our non-black counterparts can come with mediocrity and that could give them access. For us, it doesn't even allow us to operate in any capacity, so we know we need to do even more. So I have listen, I've worked with people who are doing the same job as me, and they will tell you, I worked my way up. Yeah, I did my GCSTs, but I did so shit at that, and I just fell in, I fell in like they just got dropped out of the sky. These times you and I are holding three, four jobs down to get ourselves through education, still studying at the age of 50, 60 years old, still fucking studying, because we know that our value is also held in our credibility. Can you imagine? This started off with me kind of talking from a space of this is the next level, not sure, still processing, however, I'm willing to be vulnerable enough to share my thought process so far, right? But I'm also gonna say don't allow these people to suck you dry of your ambitions, if you're even if your ambitions extend past work, like you know, you wanna start a business outside of work, but you use work as your seed money. Do you know what I mean? Like don't allow your ambitions to be crushed by a system that was never built to support and enable us. And that's not to say that there aren't fellow women or fellow black women being supported in their careers and their careers and their industries, but I've said this before, not every opportunity is an opportunity as it may be presented to you. Sometimes opportunities are shape-shifting and are really is really containment. I did a TikTok about that actually. About understanding the difference between um opportunities and containment. Because sometimes they will sell you opportunity, but it's actually containment to keep you contained in your role because it serves them. And what you may think is an opportunity is just additional labour for no money, and they will wrap it up in the bow of experience. But really and truly, are you gaining from this from an experience perspective that will position you for your next opportunity? Or are you gaining the experience to remain contained? Ah, I'm gonna actually post that TikTok because I actually edited it. So yeah, I wanted to come and share that with you guys as an opener, more so because I just thought to myself, you know, I need you guys to see like at least a glimpse to the thought process that happens in my mind. Because I feel like some people think you just fall into this career and like the doors start like swinging open, and it's not especially as as a as a woman, them doors don't swing open for us as black women. Then is there even a door? You have you have to switch all the lights on to check as a black woman that these are doors that you number one, they're doors, and number two, you want to walk through them. So, so yeah, I hope anyway. I always say, and I I always pray that somebody resonates with what I'm saying, you know, someone's able to kind of really understand, or if if the message is for them, um, or maybe this is just food for thought for the future. I don't know, but what whatever. I just hope that you know in me sharing it provides an opportunity of clarity. So I want to talk about Rihanna, and first of all, I want to get into kind of why LVMH is seemingly cutting Fenty loose, right? Fenty Beauty. So what's that actually happened in 2025? LVMH, who own um Fenty Beauty, they also own a plethora of businesses, but from a beauty perspective, I want to just give some perspective that they also own dual beauty. I just want to make that clear. LVMH is selling its 50% stake in Fenty Beauty. So the reason for this is the sales are down and they're down in the double digits in North America. Um, and they've lost like prime merchandising space in Sephora, and the revenue actually peaked many years ago, and I think it peaked when it was exclusive to Harvey Nicks. Those of us who remember when Fenty Beauty launched, you could only get it in Harvey Nyx. It had the exclusivity which gives appeal, and also it was revolutionizing, revolutionizing the the beauty industry in the variety and options in colour shades. Fenty beauty colour shades literally put the beauty industry to shame by not actually recognizing the spending power of black women and therefore being inclusive in its shade ranges in foundation, Fenty Beauty overhauled the extent of shades and it reminded the beauty industry of how impactful black women are and why black women spend in beauty. Um yeah. Um, so an insider for LVMH says Fenty's not a core asset, so they decided not to buy the other half. So in translation, what they're really saying is Fenty um doesn't strengthen LVMH's beauty business, so it's basically cutting Fenty Beauty loose, even with the Rihanna attached, even while it's still making money. So um there is something called the core asset test, and it's the questions that big businesses ask themselves, and and in this case, LVMH's question is does um does this strengthen our core business? So that's the question. Does Fenty Beauty strengthen LVMH's core business? LVMH has two beauty priorities Sephora, which is its most important beauty retailer, which it owns or part owns, and Dior, one of the biggest beauty brands in the world. Everything else is evaluated on one question. Does this strengthen our position in Sephora or Dior? So Fenty's answer is Sephora carries competitors regardless of Fenty. Dior doesn't need Fenty to dominate beauty. Um the strategic value to LVMH's core assets equals zero. So the result is no core asset, so it gets sold. Um the core asset test in a nutshell is effectively is how much of an asset is Fenty Beauty to LVMH's overall beauty portfolio? And it's basically saying zero. So it then goes on to um say that um the core asset test is like a core question that every founder should ask. So whether you are um in the beauty industry, whether you are in whatever industry, if you are an entrepreneur, you've got a small business, you need to ask these like the core asset test question. So if you have a line in a in like you've got a brand and there's a line you've come out with, you've got to ask yourself like is it core to my business? What does it bring? You know, you have to look at the financial as well as all the other potential um benefits, or if they are benefits, how much of an assay is it to your core business? So LVMH um launched Ken Kendo to incubate beauty brands. So it once owned Marc Jacobs Beauty and it shut it down. It then owned Byte Beauty, shut it down. Cat Von D, L VMH sold it off, and Fenty Beauty is being sold. None strengthened Sephora or Dior, which is owned wholly by LVMH. So they all got cut. So their core asset test is based on what as a brand Fenty bought to Sephora and if it bought anything additional to Dior, which it didn't. If LVMH won't keep a brand like Rihanna attached with sorry, if LVMH won't keep a brand with Rihanna attached because it's not a core asset, what are you holding on to that doesn't pass this test? Is the question that founders, entrepreneurs should ask themselves. So it it then goes on. There's an article on Major Think 101. I don't know where they got this from, but it says, Why celebrity brands fail the test, the core asset test, the shelf life problem? Celebrity brands are built on borrowed equity, not core business strength. Between 2017 to 2019, Rihanna checked in, actively promoting Fenty Beauty, engaging with customers, personally driving the brand, and Fenty worked because Rihanna was the core asset. Between 2020 and 2025, Rihanna checked out allegedly. So what this article says, which pisses me off, is that part of her checking out is that she had two children. Unfortunately, as women, we understand how society pitches us when we become mothers, if we choose to become mothers. The negative connotations, hence, why when I was pregnant, I never shared it with any anyone, any organization, any recruit, no one. And I held down two jobs. Yeah, at the time I was pregnant. I held down two jobs right up until like I think it was like a few weeks before my due date. Um, they say that Rihanna checked out because she returned to music. So obviously she did a super bob performance, but that wasn't a return to music. But they're basically saying she didn't prioritize Fenty Beauty and make it her whole her whole identity, and then Savage um Savage Um Fenty. No, it's not called Savage Fenty, it's called Savage, which is the launderie line, and Fenty is also focusing on massive discounts. So Savage is definitely focusing on massive discounts as part of its brand's appeal, and Fenty um one project among many. So within Fenty, it houses so many other projects. So basically, Fenty is not Fenty Beauty is not core to the Fenty brand. So Fenty declined because it never became a core asset independent of Rihanna's attention and lost the attention that she once gave it. When the celebrity moves on and they always do what's left. So why Fenty couldn't evolve into a core asset? Um, in 2017, it's positioning. Rihanna made makeup 40 shades inclusivity. This worked for launch, it couldn't sustain long term. In 2025, the reality is every brand now has expanded shade ranges, which is true. Inclusivity became table stakes, and Rihanna's attention moved elsewhere. What's Fenty's positioning now? Rihanna's makeup brands, but Rihanna's not really here anymore. That's not a core asset, that's a declining product with no reason to exist beyond the origin, um, the origin story. Core assets have positioning independent of their um launch hook. So I've I do have to like say, irrespective of LVMH kind of selling its 50% stake, Rihanna has still become the first black woman to build two billion dollar empires. So we have to give her her flowers. Um, so yeah, Rihanna has recently just um secured a chapter in history becoming the first black woman to build two billion dollar brands, Fenty Beauty and Savage Fenty, now sit at three billion dollars combined, which is a true definition of vision, ownership, and power. Um, and that was uh written by Caramel Magazine USA. And I think what is really sad is the headlines always focus on LVMH share selling its share, which I think as an entrepreneur, as a founder, as anyone in business, I think it's important that we pay attention and understand the lessons that are being taught out loud. But we still have to give Rihanna as a black woman in the beauty industry, whether you know she's hired a team or not, her brand is worth three billion dollars, honey. Um, and that's with all the discounts in the world, whether she's the face or not. That's it. And she I think she started off strong as being the face. And I I I kind of beg to differ. I think the sales have probably declined, but Rihanna still very much remains the face of Fenty beauty and savage fancy. Like she she embodies her brand, but yeah, you know, she has other focuses, and I don't see why. I mean, I would I I'd love to like know what her thoughts are on LVMH selling their steak and actually how it's being reported versus how she sees it. But Rihanna isn't that babe, like she for anyway. Why would you be that babe at three billion dollar estimated value of your brand? Honey, you're laughing all the way to the bank. So I really want to know what your opinion is on Emma Greedy. What is your opinion? So she has a podcast called Aspire, and she's a co-founder of Skims. Uh what is it? American. Good American. So Skims um is a Kim Kardashian brand. Good American is Chloe Kardashian. And Emma Greedy, I'm gonna be honest, yeah. I find I I don't I I just I could I can't connect with her. She troubles me because on the face of it, you've got an ambitious entrepreneur, multi-millionaire, and she is will tell you a million and one times. She's reading from South London, Croydon Rags to Riches story, but something is not making sense. De connector is not connecting to the connected. I said, girl, stop this shit and come with a level of authenticity that I can connect with. You married a man that is rich. So when we are talking about the story or your story, you've got to also like be honest with your positioning. If you have access to money in the way that Emma Greedy had, why can't you be successful in your own right? If my my if my husband is a multimillionaire, surely I will become a multimillionaire from marriage and then add my own multi-multi-millionaire. But I feel like with her, she's trying to sell this story, and I can't the Kool-Aid is testing too sugary. You understand? Um, and I don't think she's being as authentic. Like you're you're I'm talking as somebody who is an entrepreneur myself, right? Got side hustles. Everyone who has a side hustle is an entrepreneur. Stop allowing them to demean your title by calling it a side hustle. Like you just roll out of your bed in the morning on one side of your bed, and then you've got your laptop open and you're just typing. You, if you have a side hustle, you are an entrepreneur. It's really that simple, right? Emma Greedy acts as though she grew to this. Honey, you fell and landed on a millionaire. What is growing? Eh? What is growing, my love? So yeah, I can't really connect to her. Now, and don't get me wrong, I admire her confidence. I do, but I don't think she's it she's admitting she I don't feel like she admits her privilege in a way that people get a balanced view of her. So I find her podcast chronically boring. Now, there are some good interviews. So um Tracy Ellis Ross, Diana Ross's daughter, um, did a podcast episode that I'm told is amazing. So that's on my list to listen to. The founder of Amy Cole, I spoke about her, um, Daria. I hope I'm pronouncing her name correctly. And if I'm not, please excuse me. Her interview was amazing with and but it wasn't amazing because of Emma Greedy, it was amazing because it the platform and the podcast provided the opportunity for these people to really share their authentic story. So the irony is someone who I believe is inauthentic is actually having people who are authentically sharing their story. And I wish Emma Greedy would stop interrupting them. We know you are a co-founder, you know, we know you are a founder, we know you are podcast hosts, we we know all of this. But if you're gonna invite these people to come on, let them talk, let them get guided conversations, but your interruptions are irritating. It's giving main character energy when you're not the main character. If you're having these guests come in to share their wealth of experience, is probably my feedback. So maybe I'll share share the links, but I don't, I'm yet to be, I don't know, maybe it's because I just have expectations, and if they're not met, I'm just not you can't sell me water and tell me it was once wine. Like, I'm not one of those people. I'm not um, I'm really not gullible, and I can sniff out inauthenticity a mile away. Do you understand? Like, I just feel like some people they don't wanna like don't get me wrong, she probably did have some hardships, but you married rich. Ah, I keep telling everybody, marriage is a business transaction as well, as for some people it's just that. But unless you understand and accept marriage is a business transaction, marrying a millionaire is a long term investment. Hello, she married a millionaire. So you were wealthy in the contact list and the access to circles that your husband's wealth would naturally provide. Listen, if Kay was a multimillionaire, I would be accessing everyone in his black book and roller decks. But I just feel like she doesn't she's she she would she would take pictures outside her childhood home in Croydon, rag to riches story. But I feel like everyone's so desperate to be from the hood anyway. But sorry, sorry, sorry, I'm sorry. But it's true, maybe it's because I'm from the hood, so for me, it's like I really know what it's like waiting in line um to get your job seekers allowance, which I I know it's not called that anymore, but that's what it was then. I know what it's like to be unemployed and you make a decision is it chicken wings, six wings, sanitary pads, or five pounds back on the emergency? Like I know what that feels like. Do you know what I mean? Or going without food so that you can eat the next day because your money none stretch. Emma Greedy, that's not your story, and whatever your story is, I respect it. But I'm just trying to what I'm trying to say to you is yeah, you probably did have a rag to riches story, but it's the riches that we're talking about here because that was your seed money. You're not like some of us who are working hard so that our careers are paying for our entrepreneurial endeavors. You probably got your seed from your husband. My assumption, I apologize, but I failed to see how, and it's not just about money, but rich contacts is riches as well. Do you understand? You had access to environments that some people don't. I don't. I'm going on good good old Google to find my manufacturers. I don't have any help, and I'm using my own money to fund my endeavors. I'm not working with brands, I'm not. Do you understand? I don't have that Rolodex to say, hey, I'm looking for an international manufacturer for my sister scribble brand. Is there anyone you can put me in contact with and then scale in? Oh, I want to come out with this line. I have to pay for it, I have to budget my own money to be able to come out with certain lines from do you understand? And I get that, like some people become rich off that, but emigre de seed money. Partly, she can't, she has to be honest. Did it come from your multimillionaire? And if it did, there's nothing wrong with that. That's still part of your story. But be honest enough to tell us that your story, you can still sell us the rag to riches, but you might you as the way you talk about the rags, you must talk about the riches because me too. I want to live in a fantasy world with seal, please. Oswald Boatang. So if I say Oswald Boatang, you all should know he is or had created basically a tailoring empire of men's suits. That's what he's known for. Um, the suits is not just tailoring, it's like top-tier savour row tailoring to perfection every inch, every thread, and really became a well-known, you know, manufacturer, sorry, a well-known brand um for bespoke tailoring. Now they have gone into liquidation, um, they um entered a formal wind-up of insolvency. Um, and yeah, they're basically going into liquidation. And I just want to, you know, say a couple of things. They they basically sorry, you can hear my baby monitor. My daughter talks in her sleep, I think it's so cute. Anyway, um Oswald Boitang is based in Savile Row, and bearing in mind they had amassed some cultural capital in kind of what tailoring was at the time, how it was marketed, being in Savile Row in and amongst um other um tailoring, you know, big giants and big hitters, but it it was a black brand, you know, and coming from our community that it was massive what it stood for. But the problem is, and I I'm assuming these problems, Savile Road, can you imagine like the lease, the rent, how Much it costs, and as the years have gone by, the with inflation, how expensive that's gotten. Bear in mind Oswald Boatang as a brand hadn't actually evolved, there's no innovation. Um, so for example, I wasn't seeing them at award ceremonies, like you know, the Guap Awards or the Mobos doing like I don't know, like think of like marketing ways that they could have really evolved from Savile Role to make themselves more accessible. But I feel like it gained its cultural capital and then became inaccessible. Um, so we're not really seeing how they evolved and how innovation has really stepped up the brand. So going into liquidation doesn't surprise me whatsoever. You know, how did they evolve past Savile Row? Why did they have to make that their bread and butter, knowing that their overheads were so expensive? Um, so I feel like they're especially black brands, they do this where you gain this cultural capital, you're doing really well, you're growing, expanding, you know, you're you are luxury and standing with the big hitters, but then you cut become inaccessible from the community in which you gained your cultural capital from because you think now that you don't need the culture anymore. Oh no, what that is, but it's now sad, it's become a really sad story that they've gone into liquidation, and yeah, we're losing yet another brand as a community and as a as a culture. Yeah, that's quite that's it's a bit of a shock to me, and bearing in mind that there's small volumes, let's be real, um, of bespoke tailoring, and then you've got the rent, the staff, all the overheads in order for for such a brand to function. Yeah, one could say it's quite inevitable. I don't know. However, I want to move on quickly and I want to talk about this because I think it's really, really important. Because I opened by saying that Nicki Minaj today, literally a couple of hours ago, addressed the United Nations um on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, uh, specifically in the north. And to us Nigerians, this is not a new story, this is a polarized story, and it becomes very depressing, upsetting to really talk about Nigeria and where it what it's become, and the kid that there was a recent kidnapping in a school in the north of Nigeria, you know, that didn't make it into the headlines, but Nigeria is going through a lot as a country. Um, the politicians continue to operate, not all of them, but the ones that are that could make a difference and to change Nigeria operating in in in in a level of corruption that can is shocking. But I I want to really make it clear that Trump threatening to invade Nigeria under the guise of the persecution of Christians, as far as I'm concerned, he doesn't care about Nigeria and what is positioned as something well-intentioned is not, I don't believe, is the truth. I think uh Trump is on bullshit. I think that this is a um this uh threat is on behalf of France. I'm gonna find the episode where I spoke about Cap his Excellency Captain Tore of Burkina Faso and I spoke about ECOAS. Uh I also um spoke about the Sahel Alliance. I went into detail. Okay, so I'm not gonna repeat repeat everything, I'm gonna put the link and I'm gonna encourage you to go listen to really understand what's happening in West Africa. Now, just to create a a bit of a refresher, is the Sahel Alliance is Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, where they have reclaimed sovereignty over their natural resources, and those natural resources include gold. Okay, and um bear in mind as well that um as part of reclaiming sovereignty, um a lot of these countries in West Africa have removed the CFA franc, and um you have to understand that the CFA franc is backed by the French, backed by the Euro. And the reason I'm saying it like this is I need you to catch it and tell me you've caught it. Yeah, I want you to really understand that when the CFA franc was fully flourishing in West Africa, a lot of these countries I am mentioning had to pay half of the foreign their foreign exchange into the reserve. Um in uh the foreign exchange sorry, half of these countries had to um pay for um from their foreign exchange reserve into the French. So the fact that a lot of these countries have regained their sovereignty and basically removed French troops from their countries, cut off access to French France's full mobility in claiming what doesn't belong to them and paying peanuts has put France in a very precurious situation because if they're cut off from West Africa and some of these key countries I've mentioned, France will they can't cope. They have been riding the coattails and everything they could ride off the back of West Africa, and you've got countries like Burkina Faso, like Nigeria and Mali that have basically said no, it can't run. France has no power without West Africa, and that's the gospel truth. Unfortunately, Nigeria Nigeria continues to walk the tightrope of America. So this threatening to invade Trump thre threatening to um invade Nigeria, you have to remember who's on the border of Nigeria. Burkina Fasa Mali. They're all on the border of Nigeria, so they're so in order to invade Nigeria, you have to basically go through these countries. So you go figure and really think about what this this threat of an invasion into Nigeria really means. What they're really trying to get at, or where they're really trying to get to. It's not Nigeria. They don't care about the Christians in Nigeria. I don't believe that for a second. It's a rouge, it is uh Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction that were never found. They think we're stupid and we're not. We're very switched on. And uh His Excellency Captain Troy of Burkina Faso has really shone a light on what's been happening in West Africa and how to reclaim the riches and the independence and the sovereignty of Africa and how to and how he's basically given Burkina Faso what they haven't had and what they came close to having. And don't get me wrong, I think the rebuilding is not like it's not something that we've done in a year, but the foundation is being laid, and America can't stand it. Uh, Russia, who fully supports Burkina Faso, I've spoken about this before, has basically said they're gonna keep an eye on what's happening and what Trump is threatening to do to Nigeria because Russia knows very well this is not about Nigeria and the Christians in Nigeria's gonna have to do it. It's about the countries that are on the border of Nigeria. That's what this is about. So Nicki Minaj being used as a puppet and un before the barbs start. Nicki Minaj just go to the stage and sing. Like do what you were ordained to do and stare out of politics that you don't understand. And whilst I I fully appreciate that what is happening in the north is just diabolical and that there are god rest their souls, Christians who are fighting for their lives in the north. If this was about that, then I would say it's but it's not. Because what does America think they're gonna do? Liberate the Christians in the north, a whole Nigeria? Do they know? Yeah, I'm just like, I think it's because to f if you fully understand the history of some of these countries and where they were and where some of them are now, the formation of the Sahel Alliance and what it's supposed to do, if you really understand kind of um Gaddafi and what Gaddafi was trying to do for Africa, to ever believe that Trump is really trying to advocate for the Christians in the north is not the truth. However, does the north of Nigeria have problems? Massive. So if it sheds a light on what's happening in the north, then 100%. But a possible invasion into Nigeria is not an invasion into Nigeria, by the way. Bearing in mind that uh the president of Nigeria and Trump are like five and six. To be honest, I liken Trump's threat to the disrespect that he showed to the president of Ukraine. There's no difference. But Nigeria continues to receive humiliation because Nigeria doesn't know how rich it is in resources and how in need Nigeria is. It continues to be the puppet of the West and it's embarrassing. It's embarrassing. Nigeria has a lot of problems, there's a lot of bloodshed that is happening in Nigeria, and I just want to shed light on that. And if if if the conversation sheds light on what's happening in the north, 100%. But an invasion in Nigeria, if it happens, it's I'm just being I'm just gonna say very clearly that it isn't that, and Russia knows it's not that, hence why they say they're paying close attention because uh Russia is a very close ally of Burkina Faso, and y'all know Trump don't play, um, y'all know Putin does not play about Burkina Faso, and also obviously they're benefiting from the natural resources from Burkina Faso, but they are providing also the cover from the West that Burkina Faso is going to need troops on the ground to support Burkina Faso's uh liberation from oppression, because that's effectively what it is, and a lot of the other countries. It's just a shame that Nigeria can't wake up and do the same and claim sovereignty over our natural resources rather than be pimped out to the West for a penny and not a pound. Let's turn our attention to New York. New York has a new mayor, he is the first Muslim man for South Asian, African-born democratic um socialist and the youngest mayor in a hundred years. He is the 11th, um, sorry, the 111th mayor of New York, and his name is Zaran Zahan Kwame Mudani. And I think his story and how he became mayor needs to be studied, and I'm sure somebody is making it into a movie. He had 26 billionaires who collectively spent 22 million dollars to stop him becoming mayor, and he became mayor anyway. And I think this is a classic tale of what the people want. It's a classic reminder of what voting with your feet and the significance of the vote could do to change the trajectory and the direction of a city. It shows for me Zahan shows bold courage to go against the status quo, who understands the issues and is not afraid to address them, who doesn't take an average approach or a yes man approach to dealing with things that are affecting New Yorkers. He tells you what the problem is, tells you what the solution is, and tells you what he's going to do. And his campaign was fluid, it was honest, it was without fluff, and his background and his upbringing lends itself to the everyday New Yorker. He's not a billionaire trying to advance his political aspirations by running. This is somebody who, for example, um, how expensive it is to live in New York. It's something that he addressed in his manifesto and he spoke about the things, but it was more about his authenticity, his ability to just stand very clearly in and humanized a lot of the problems that New Yorkers are facing. He is the public's favorite. He stood for something and he followed through. He, you know, when they, you know, they have that question time where they can, you know, the contenders or candidates can throw questions. He was like, Listen, you call me what you are, you what you want, but I've never um faced child abuse um claims. You know, he he that's how raw he got. It's that level of honesty that strips back the nakedness of politics and humanises politics to reflect the society in which you are hoping to represent. It it galvanized support and it encouraged and forced people to really look at politics in a new modern way, where you have um a democratic socialist who is standing true in what he truly believes in, and that led his manifesto, and that led his campaign, and ultimately his win. Donald Trump is like a petulant child who hates every part of this win, which tells me it's a win that needed to happen, and I'm really excited to see what um Zahan does and how he fares and how public opinion um is influenced by what he delivers, because ultimately you're only as good as far as I'm concerned, you're only as good as what you can deliver, especially as a mayor. But I think this is the start of a very promising political career. If he Zahan manages this very well and delivers um and is able to stay true to his manifesto promise um promises as the new mayor of New York, I think his career political career could take him to the White House. That's that's my prediction. Now let's turn our attention to domestic shores. Sadiq Khan is our mayor here of London, and he's I think he's an awful mayor. So this is why I agree with Trump. You can't compare Zahan to Sadiq Khan. It's just but it what it does is it just highlights how out of touch Sadiq Khan is with the real issues facing Londoners. He lacks the ability to really be the people's mayor because we don't want him anymore. We don't want him any what have you done for us lately? Phone snatchers, crime rates are rising. What have you done for us lately? The cost of transport is rising. Hmm, it is winter time, we know what's gonna happen. Strain train strikes, trains stuck, lack of adequate infrastructure, but April will come your rise again. Rise the trains. This man pisses me off. Anyway, let me talk about what he's been up to. So the congestion charge in London will now charge electric vehicles£13.50 a day. This only goes to prove that that electric vehicles was never about air pollution and was always about making money. Loads of you that ran to get EVs because it's free to to to hit congestion zones, look at it now. But I was reading a comment um on shut underscore up underscore you underscore clown and one of the comments made me die. Let me read the comments here. Let me find a comment. How the fuck can you possibly charge congestion charge to stop pollution on supposedly non-polluting cars? Can you sub um can a supposed expert please explain? Because the whole idea of electric vehicles is to lower pollution, but now you're charging them congestion to I'm actually done. I'm done. I'm done. Sidi, I feel like the whole electric vehicle was a trap, it was a money-making scheme. Those of you who ran, ditched your cars, you ditched your petrol cars, had no choice but to ditch the diesel for an electric vehicle. It turns out to be more expensive, you've got to get the charging pool, you've got to do all of that shit. And I was I was one of those people who're gonna get a Tesla, but I will not be brand stamped by Elon Musk, and I will not get an electric vehicle, I'll tell you that, for free. But yeah, um, that's that's basically what I wanted to share with y'all. Um, but before we close, I do want to share something. So there's been a complete overhaul of the national curriculum here in the UK, which is brilliant because it means that it's finally being accepted, acknowledged, that the education system needs to move with the times, and that this is the time of innovation and AI. So, what do those changes look like? So it will come into effect from September 2028, spotting fake news and fundamentals of money to be taught at primary school level, computing GCSE to be revamped, all schools to offer triple science GCSE, a new reading test in year eight, and strengthening the year nine writing test, a new ORIC um framework to help pupils become more confident speakers, so like or to be an Oracle basically, um, just teaching confidence through like public speaking and things like that. So reducing the overall volume of exams that students take at 16 by 10%. Um, and I know there's other changes that will kind of place AI at the very forefront of education. Um anyway, uh I that I took that list from Simple Politics on Instagram, which I love. So make sure you subscribe to Simple Politics because I love them. They really know how to condense certain things into bite-sized, digestible pieces of information. It's brilliant. Um, but the point is here, I think it's amazing because I think social media shows you how uneducated our society is. I'm sorry, in terms of education, but more importantly, it's about acknowledging how education has changed, and the whole idea of education and what it stood for before and what it means now is completely different. So things like public speaking, confidence, um, to really place innovation at the heart of the curriculum is important for the survival of education that and whatever jobs are going to look like um when AI is fully embedded into society. So you can you have to teach what these students who will be adults will experience in the world. It the current education system doesn't prepare students for the world. Like you've seen the the rates of unemployment with new graduates, um, and how AI has is really becoming quite a disruptor. You've got organizations ditching um to their staff because they think AI is going to replace them, which right now that's not the case, but it could potentially be the case. So understanding AI, teaching it, um also knowing the boundaries and perimeters of AI is something that needs to be introduced into the curriculum. So 2028, all of those changes within the national curriculum should be rolled out. So I think it'll be interesting to see what the new curriculum looks like and how it will be delivered. So, yeah, listen, before we wrap up this podcast episode, you heard me mention my stationary company called Sister Scribble. It actually launches on the 24th of November and it basically revolutionizes how we see stationary. I want to inject the genesis of what stationary is, but more about what it also looks like and how it makes you feel and what it should encourage in terms of creativity and accessibility and trusting your ability to create. And it's it's for everyone. I center women because I am a woman, but I also centre creativity and the ability for us to enjoy stationery again. So a lot of the images are bold, big 90s influence silhouettes. There's gonna be journals, more notebooks, we're talking about stickers, greeting cards, to-do lists, um, different sizes, and I'm working on so many things. So I'm really, really excited to be rolling out my new brand, Sister Scribble. If you haven't already, go on to the website, which is not up by the way, but you're able to subscribe to the website and it's sisterscribble.com, and that's where you'll be notified of the launch product um product releases, new launches and drops. Everything is limited edition, um, it's a premium stationary brand. And if you know anything about me, I I like nice things, so everything that comes from me is gonna be amazing, and I can't believe it's actually come from an idea. Now in life, I am a stationary own, like a stationary brand founder and creator, it's just a blessing, and I'm so excited for you all to go on the journey of Sister Scribble. Um, so yeah, www.sisterscribble s-i-s-t-a-h s-r-i-b-l-e dot com. Um so I'm gonna leave it there. If you have a work-related dilemma, your anonymity will be protected. Email me. Work or life dilemma. Hello at toytalks.com. My website is up and running. I'm receiving all my emails again. I've changed platforms, it's it was quite a seamless process. I really am grateful for my um uh developer who helped kind of change platforms for me so I can have all my brands on one hosting platform, which is amazing. Um, if you don't know, if you're new here to the podcast, I am the creator and founder of the Toyota Talks podcast and platform, and also new stationary brands called Sister Scribble. Um, yeah, so I'm really excited, but I want to make clear they're both very independent brands. So Toya Talks and Sister Scribble are independent brands of each other. Um, there may be some synergies, but they are separate brands. Um, yeah. So if you want to follow me on social media, Toya underscore Washington or Toya underscore talks. I'm active on Instagram, I'm also active on TikTok, Toya Washington, or one word or Toya Talks, you can find me there. But yeah, I want to thank you all for joining me. Thank you for your support. Um have the conversation in your group chats. Let's share the podcast, share the episodes, and I'll see you all again next week. Thank you so much for listening. My name is Toy Washington, and you have been listening to the Toyota podcast.