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

AGRA

- Lead M&E support across AGRA business lines leads;  Seed Systems, Sustainable Farming, Inclusive Markets Trade, and Policy and State Capability and Continental and Regional Teams. 
- Serve as a thought partner to the teams in the planning, designing, and managing results measurement; responsible for tracking, consolidating, and reporting on AGRA’s continental and regional programs performance against set objectives.
- Support AGRA’s work with mandated continental and regional bodies such as grants, consultancies, and technical assistance to African Union Commission (AUC), East African Community (EAC), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC) Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) as well as other regional institutions.
-Lead M&E support to AGRA delivery platforms for continental pieces such as Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture (CALA), Generation Africa, Regional Food Trade,  Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF), Value4Her, Deal Room, Hub for Agricultural Policy Action (HAPA) and ensuring integrated and coherent programming towards delivery of AGRA's strategy. 
-Timely generation, collation, validation, and presentation of continental and regional programs data and information for accountability, reporting, and advocacy. 
-Lead external engagement and networking with regional and continental level bodies and partners as required. 
- M&E focal point for the Future of African Youth in Agriculture (FAYA) program within AGRA and consolidation of both country and regional results
-Oversee the implementation of Studies, Outcome measurements and Evaluations for Continental initiatives

Continental and Regional Programs Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (Africa)

Lead in providing M&E support for AGRA grantees in the East and Southern Africa Region covering the following countries: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Malawi,Mozambique, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia.
-Providing support in the development, 
Support in the monitoring and execution of AGRA’s new strategy and business plans in East and Southern Africa region. 
-Supporting program teams in the region in program implementation and M&E of program supported by various donors and partners such as USAID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Norwegian Foreign Ministry, International Development and Research Centre (IDRC), Global Environmental Fund.
-Reviewing of proposals submitted to AGRA for funding from grantees in East and Southern Africa Region.
-Leading in the design and implementation of baselines and special studies for AGRA strategy/business plans in the region. 
-Lead in conducting grant performance review of AGRA’s programs being implemented in the region.
Leading in capacity building of grantees by providing training in M&E and donor compliance.
-Working with the project implementing partners in designing data collection, reporting systems and structures to support the grantees to report on the progress of activities to ensure data quality.

Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Program Officer, East and Southern Africa

Strengthening Input and Output Markets in Africa program is working to Strengthen input and output markets in Africa (SAIOMA) is a Global Development Alliance between USAID, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and AGRA.

The program is being implemented in Kenya, Malawi and Zambia. As Program Officer for Monitoring and Evaluation, I oversee all M&E related  activities for the program across the 3 countries and oversee program implementation by the grantees. The program is working with 12 implementing partners across East and Southern Africa.

Main Responsibilities Include: 
- Oversee M&E and technical aspects of project activities by 12 organizations funded under the SAIOMA project in East and Southern Africa
-  To support the Team Leader of the USAID programs in the development and implementation of the programs M&E Plan and Performance Management Plans. 
- Contribute to the development of the overall M&E strategy and other M&E initiatives for other AGRA and USAID Programs. 
- Ensure that systems and structures are in place within the portfolios activities and the grantees agreement to provide relevant data and information for reporting on the progress of the programs to the M&E Director, AGRA Management Committee, Board of Directors, USAID Missions, and also USAID Washington. 
-  Provide statistical and analytical support to the USAID program team members in the establishment of Baselines and performance targets  in accordance with the M&E plan and PMP
- Propose and develop program evaluation designs and coordinate the implementation of surveys, special studies, and research as needed for the programs.  
- Designing data collection and reporting systems and structures to support the grantees to report on the progress of their activities
- Oversee the selection consultancies, implementation of Baseline, End line and special studies.

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for Strengthening  Arg Input and Output Markets in Africa Program

ADRA Mozambique

Main Responsibility included-:
 - Planning, organizing and coordinating monitoring and evaluation activities throughout all ADRA Mozambique’s projects funded by various donors  such as Private Donors EU AUSaid, USAID,  i.e. Title II, PEPFAR, PMI funding.
- Oversee activities of Business Development and proposal development process.
-  Development of proposals, planning and designing new projects and assist in developing budgets for programs.
-  Preparing and supervising, the implementation of program evaluations and surveys
-  Preparing and submitting ADRA reports to donors such as USAID, EU, AUSaid, Government and Private Donors.
- Ensured compliance with Donor regulations in projects.
-  Provided technical support in the implementations in, Food Security, Income generation, Health and Nutrition, Behavior change Education and Water and Sanitation projects.
-  Developed and updating ADRA’s National Emergency and Response Plan (This includes reproductive health, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention and care.)
-  Documented and publish stories of change and best practices.
-  Developed of M&E plans for projects, Resource Mobilization, Partnership Management and Knowledge Management


Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Director

Responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation for ADRA programs in Mozambique and Also Emergency response coordinator.
Main Responsibilities Included:
- Prepared and supervised, the implementation of program evaluations and surveys
- Prepared ADRA reports to donors such as USAID, EU, AUSaid, Mozambique Government and Private Donors.
- Ensured compliance with Donor regulations in project
- Developed data collection tools for programs 
- Trained M&E system to technicians and programs team
- Developed M&E Plans for Food security, Health and Water and Sanitation programs
- Develop program data bases
- Support Project managers in developing Detailed implementation plans
- Prepare success stories 
- Supervise M&E officers at project level and Perform data quality checks in all programs
- Manage Emergency response activities; implementation and monitoring and evaluation

National Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator

Dedicated and committed Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist with over 15+ years of working experience in project administration, management, monitoring & evaluation, research, develop and manage M&E systems and stakeholder engagement within government agencies and NGO sectors. Excels in designing project plans, conducting surveys, research designs, tracking project activities and producing quality reports with best practices and lessons learnt. Extensive experience with coordinating and engaging multi private and public sector players. Known for ensuring that project plans are interconnected and properly organized in compliance with the organization visions, goals, project principles, standards, and techniques. Strong background of presenting quality reports for different donors and stakeholders and proven track record of improving output rates by enforcing and monitoring practices, policy and procedure while developing the analytical and critical thinking skills necessary to thrive. Experience on programs working in food systems, regenerative agriculture, environment, climate resilience, market linkages, seed systems, policy and advocacy, humanitarian, education youth, gender, health and nutrition and water and sanitation across the African Continent.

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