Prepping for the Real World

🟣 A self-development guidebook about bravely taking the lead role in designing your extraordinary world.  A powerful tool for young readers who are enduring periods of self-doubt, stagnation or rejection.

Author of Prepping for the Real World : Student and Graduate Success Secrets 

Young, Brilliant & Ready Ltd

Director and Founder

Royal Holloway, University of London

Senior Visiting Lecturer

TED Conferences

🟣 You Have Everything It Takes To Be Your Best | Cel Amade | TEDxSIMSREE (August 2021)

🟣 How To Deal With Rejection And Get What You Want | Cel Amade | TEDxSurreyUniversity (May 2022)

TEDx Speaker

University of Warwick

Warwick Enterprise

TSAKA Limited

Fairplay Consulting

Management Consultant

41% of graduates don’t feel confident entering the workplace, speaking to seniors and are anxious around their ability to achieve their aspirations. I am passionate about changing this because I believe everyone should feel confident, inspired, and empowered to innovate and reach their full potential.

In the past 24 months, I’ve delivered keynotes and presentations in 7 countries. I’ve also published a best-selling book, rocked the TEDx stage (twice!) and grown my YouTube channel to over 14,000 subscribers. All of which I use to empower young people with the personal development tools they need to step into the world of work or business with confidence.
 
As a result of working with me students, graduates & young professionals:
✅ Feel more driven to take proactive steps towards their academic, career & business goals
✅ Have improved self-esteem to show up authentically & feel less isolated
✅ Develop more self-awareness to disempower limiting beliefs and doubts
✅ Create wellbeing habits for personal fulfilment and happiness
✅ Overcome their public speaking fears and use their voice to communicate with impact
✅ Feel more confident in their ability to create their future, regardless of their background, race and gender

I provide Confidence, Mindset & DEI :
🟣 Keynote Presentations
🟣 Group Workshops
🟣 Group Trainings

What My Clients Say:
🗣“The students visibly blossomed in Cel’s presence as she gently yet firmly encouraged them to ‘recognise their inner champions’ and offered them practical advice on ‘realising their potential and manifesting their goals”
 
🗣“Cel delivered the workshops with excellence. She also gave us what we didn’t even know we needed – a safe space to have uplifting and courageous conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion”
 
Bespoke packages are available on request, so please do send me a connection request and a DM.

And in case you’re curious, when I’m not empowering our future leaders, I can be found in the gym or walking in the park to compensate for my love of peri-peri chicken, and I’m often travelling or volunteering as the youngest Advisory Board member of the School of Business and Management at Royal Holloway University.
 
If you're not ready to work with me yet, don't worry! You can grab some of my tips & free resources:
🔗Free stuff: https://celamade.com/designing-your-own-world-guide/

And remember, if you ever wonder, am I welcome here? The answer is YES🙂

Cel Amade

Where are YOU reeeally from?

I speak my mother language like a foreigner. 

📚 I started learning Portuguese in 7th grade and rarely use it in professional contexts these days.

So when I visit my birth city (Maputo), I sound foreign.
My Portuguese accent is very, very far from perfect.

And when I'm in England, I don't sound local either.

💪🏾 What might sound like a disadvantage OR feel like not fitting in for some, is actually my unfair advantage.

🗣️ My foreign accent is a great conversation starter. 
People remember the 1 who sounded a little different...

🌍 Today is International Mother Language Day 

For anyone who grew up between languages, cultures, and places... There's no such thing as a perfect accent. 

Being able to communicate & connect is enough 🫶🏾

What's your mother language?


#InternationalMotherLanguageDay #Multilingual #Career #Communication

Cel Ileva

Speaker | Author | Interactive Workshop Facilitator | University Board Advisor | celamade.com

Have you ever found a job ad & felt like something was just a little…off?

In this video, I'll be sharing 5 things that a job advert might be hiding from you (and how to spot them).

According to a 2024 Robert Half Survey, 43% of managers feel pressure to hire quickly.

And that pressure can lead to “creative” job advertising.

📌 If you spot any of these 5 red flags make sure you:

1️⃣ Seek clarification in a non-confrontational manner. 

2️⃣ Frame your question as a request for more info. 

What other red flags would you add to this list?


#JobSearch #CareerStarters #LinkedInNewsUK #JobSearch #Hiring

I didn’t study tech. I studied people in crisis.

And it taught me 1 skill I’d tell any grad to master for long-term career success: adaptability.

Not go with the flow adaptability.

I mean the ability to read context and adjust how you respond, without losing your judgment.

🔎 Social work trained me to adapt by:
- Asking and assessing before reacting
- Reading the person in their environment
- Meeting people where they are (not where I am)

👣 Adaptability helped me:
- Communicate across cultures & generations
- Lead people with different working styles
- And navigate unwritten workplace rules

Nobody knows what jobs will look like in 10 years.
And the AI tools used today may be outdated in a year. 

So, don't stress about mastering one specific tool. 

📌 Stay relevant long-term by building adaptability:
- Experiment more (before it's required)
- Practice being a learner (on purpose)
- Read the room (before trying to prove a point)

If you had to pick one human skill for career starters in today’s workforce, what would it be, and why?


#EarlyCareers #SkillsOnTheRise #LinkedInNewsUK #FutureOfWork

Dick Dastardly had the fastest car.
Yet he never won a single race.

He was too busy setting traps for everyone else.

When I started writing my book in 2021, I shared early drafts with people who discouraged me from writing.

I believed in my work. So I asked published authors in my accountability group for help instead.

They read my drafts, gave me feedback & launch tips.
They weren't threatened by my progress. 
They were too busy running their own race.

→ In less than a year, I too became a published author.

If you're a career starter, you'll meet people who spend more energy watching your lane than running in theirs.

That's their race to lose.
Yours is to keep moving 🏎️

Have you ever worked with a Dick Dastardly? 


#EarlyCareers #CareerAdvice #FutureOfWork

School taught me 1 of my most valuable career lessons.

Back in primary school, I broke the school record for my age group and qualified for the inter school competition in 1999.

That year taught me 1 career lesson that equipped my younger self to navigate 150 job rejections & secure my 1st full-time job without an interview.

To this day, I still hold tightly to that lesson 🫶🏾

Knowing what you know now, what career lesson would you share with your 21-year old self?


#CareerAdvice #CareerStarter #LinkedInNewsUK #Mindset

David Plumb

Since inception Warwick has always been a pioneering University. Consistently high in league tables for research and teaching, Warwick creates outstanding innovation. My role is to lead the development, expansion, application and sharing of the incredible ideas we generate. 

If you are a business looking to reimagine your business, develop an incubator, partner with amazing academics or start up/spin out a new idea please get in touch.

Chief Innovation Officer

The Strategic Risk Advisory Board scans the horizon for future risks that may affect the University. Monitoring, reviewing and managing strategic risks as appropriate. The board also governs the Risk Assurance Programme.

Chair, Strategic Risk Advisory Board

University of Warwick Science Park

UWSP provides commercial properties to tech-based companies with a well maintained, secure and modern space in a supportive environment. We offer flexible and short-term leases on our office space in Coventry, Warwick and Solihull. Each location perfectly accommodates a company looking to facilitate their expansion with a range of value-added services and support.

Non Executive Director

MERCIA FUND 1 GENERAL PARTNER LIMITED

Mercia PLC is a leading specialist asset manager focused on supporting regional businesses to achieve their growth aspirations.

ALCESTER ACADEMY

Director and Governor of Alcester Academy.

Non Executive Director and Governor

bp Launchpad

A 1 year part time contract to join the Launchpad advisory board to support the development of the strategy, people and transformation to a high performing Corporate VC.

giffgaff

O2 (Telefónica UK)

Leading the Digital, Wholesale MVNO and new business units, including P&L accountability as a main Board Director. Responsible for Wayra and innovation on behalf of Telefonica Digital. During this time I led new business development worth over £2bn.

Chief Digital Officer

Accountable for the £600m Enterprise business and P&L at Telefonica O2.

General Manager, Enterprise

Responsibility for direct sales, channel partners, retention centres and sales to SME's via retail & online.

Head of SME Sales

Head of Indirect Partners & Business Mobilisation

Tesco Mobile

Non Executive Director on the board of the largest MVNO in the UK

Weve

Non Executive Director on the board of a joint venture between Vodafone, EE and Telefonica O2. This came to an end when I completed the acquisition of Weve on behalf of Telefonica O2.

Round Table Great Britain and Ireland

One year rotating role as Chair in this community charity, where we raise funds for local groups such as a Girl Guides, First Responders and local schools. Over my 20 years in the organisation I’ve helped to raise over £200k and made many great friends.

Chairman of Alcester & Stratford District Round Table

David is someone who generates disruptive ideas, and translates them into transformation, strategic change, business development and growth. With a passion for open and inclusive eco systems. 

In his previous role he was Chief Digital Officer at O2, where he led a business unit which delivered over £2bn of new business whilst being part of the Telefonica O2 Executive board.

David is also an experienced Non Executive Director who has served on the board of major consumer businesses such as Tesco Mobile, and innovative digital businesses such as giffgaff and Weve. He is an accomplished innovation leader, with a track record of regeneration of traditional business models who has also consulted for companies like BP and Verizon. 

Today David is Chief Innovation Officer for the University of Warwick, an investor in scale ups, provides consulting, works as a Non Executive Director/Advisor for VCs and the West Midlands Combined Authority Innovation Board. 

Ambitious midlands businesses: The Warwick Innovation Sprints (WISpr) programme is officially open, and we’re looking for ambitious companies to partner with the University of Warwick to unlock UK funding. Warwick Innovation District

Staying ahead in AI, data science, and computational modelling is a real advantage, and we recognise the challenge of building a bridge between a great idea and a funded reality.

That’s where WISpr works for you: 
The amazing Tom Montenegro-Johnson and Oliver Walmsley can combine the world-class expertise of CAMaCS and the Warwick Business Partnerships team to help tackle challenges in:

📊 Statistics & Data Science 
🤖 AI & Machine Learning 
💻 Computer Science & Optimisation 
🔢 Complex Mathematical Modelling

The Process is simple: 
1️⃣ Identify a strategic challenge facing your organisation. 
2️⃣ Match it to one of the live UK funding calls we’ve already identified. 
3️⃣ Submit your expression of interest.

What’s in it for your business? If selected, you’ll work alongside leading Warwick academics and research development professionals to co-create a competitive grant application. You’ll also gain access to Innovation Research Associate (InRA) support to help bring the project to life.

Our mission is to bridge the gap between industry challenges, academic excellence and funding, ensuring innovation is adopted and driving growth. 

More information is here https://lnkd.in/eRzmwNrP

#Innovation #UKBusiness #DataScience #AI #ResearchAndDevelopment #WarwickUniversity #TechInnovation #FundingOpportunities #WISpr

Chief Innovation Officer, Russell Group University | NED 15+ years (Tesco, BP & giffgaff) | Current NED: VC fund, Institute of Innovation Management & Science park | Inspiring fresh thinking and new possibilities.

Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor (Research), U Warwick | Professor of Applied Mathematics | Director of Engagement, CAMaCS, U. Warwick | Applied Maths for Real-World Impact

Turn your business challenge into a funded Innovation with Warwick Innovation Sprints (WISpr)!

Do you have a business challenge that could benefit from a collaboration with academics at the University of Warwick? CAMaCS and Warwick Business Partnerships have teamed up to bring you WISpr - a new way to get support in applying for Innovate UK and related funding. Click the link below to find out more and apply:

https://lnkd.in/eRzmwNrP

Oliver Walmsley, Penny Triantafillou, Hajnal Farkas, David Plumb, Rachel Davis, James Dayus, Tim Hart

Open article: Warwick Innovation Sprints by warwick.ac.uk

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