After Essex: In Conversation with Olu Odubajo

After Essex celebrates the journeys and accomplishments of our diverse and inspiring alumni around the globe.

Olu Odubajo (BSc Financial Economics, 2013) is an intrapreneur, creating and leading change within one of the world’s largest accounting organisations.

A Customer and Digital Manager at KPMG, Olu’s first project saw the launch of the organisation’s reverse mentoring programme where senior leaders are mentored by more junior team members, Olu himself mentoring the organisation’s Global Chief Operating Officer on inclusion and diversity. In just two years, he has grown the programme from 1 to 160 colleagues across the UK and attracted endorsement from Virgin tycoon, Sir Richard Branson.

But it doesn’t stop there, Olu founded KPMG's first Black Entrepreneurs Award in 2018, providing opportunities for black entrepreneurs to grow their business through KPMG’s financial support, resources and expertise and later this year will enrol at the University of Cambridge to study Social Innovation.

Outside of KPMG, Olu is the creator and host of Not Your Everyday Podcast (NYEP), where he chats to influential leaders about their true moments of growth, encouraging listeners to understand how we hold ourselves back and what we can do to fulfil our potential.

It’s clear that Olu is a driver for change and a believer in everyone’s ability to take control of their own growth and development, regardless of the stage of life. We cannot wait to hear more about how Essex influenced his future.