Vanessa

The benefits of volunteering

Posted on by Vanessa

To mark National Volunteers Week which takes place from the 1st-12th June, we will be writing a few pieces on how volunteering can help kick start or propel your career to a new level.

I personally cannot stress enough how amazing volunteering is not only for your skill development but also for you on a personal level-it is so fulfilling to know that your efforts are helping to benefit a good cause or organisation.

I started volunteering at an early age as young as 15 and during my summer holidays I would volunteer for a week at a summer camp for autistic children in Essex. Then when I was 16 I volunteered in my local nursing home playing board games and talking to elderly patients keeping them company. As I grew older I became engaged with national youth charity vInspired where I was able to sit on their board of Directors as a Trustee on a voluntary basis. We were responsible for the governance of a charity that had a £100 million funding pot!

These voluntary roles gave me exposure, confidence and a strong professional network which has served me well to this day.

For me, the top 5 benefits of volunteering are:

wolfpack

Make new friends and contacts

I met one of my best friends from volunteering as a Trustee and was able to sit on a board with some of the most influential people in the voluntary and third sector. Having a strong network has come in handy many times when I have needed an introduction to someone or advice.

Develop and gain new skills

Volunteering is a great way to develop skills that will make you stand out to a future employer or when it is time for your annual review you can demonstrate to your current employer that you have taken the initiative to hone in on your skillset. A promotion could be coming your way very soon!

CV builder

If you are a recent graduate, you may be frustrated with the millions of job roles that expect you to have 100 years of work experience at 21! However, rather than sitting at home frustrated, actively go out there and do your best to gain the experience employers are looking for. This could even be abroad with an international charity or in the UK. There are lots of voluntary roles where you can really get stuck into roles such as management, administration, fundraising and marketing. All areas of experience that would attract top employers.

jane-dance

Good Karma

When you do good, good things happen to you. There is a magical energy that surrounds people who give back to others and who doesn’t love good vibrations coming their way?!

Part of something bigger than yourself

Having a purpose in life can change your mindset and the direction of your life. Having the chance to be part of something bigger than yourself can really change your life, put things into perspective and help you become more centered and focused.

Vanessa Sanyauke

CEO & Founder, Girls Talk London

@vanessasanyauke

 

RIP Muhammed Ali: The Power of Affirmations

Posted on by Vanessa

I am the greatest!

This statement is so poignant, spoken by one of the greatest sporting legends of all time- Muhammad Ali. As the world reflects on his life and contribution to the world, I have been thinking about the powerful words he used to describe himself. 

Muhammed Ali demonstrates how powerful positive affirmations can change your life. For those who don’t know what affirmations are they empowering statements that you say to yourself. 

I have been raised to know there is power in the words that we speak, and it has been proven that the way you think about your life and yourself determines what kind of experiences you’ll have. 

The more positive thoughts you have about yourself and your life, the more this will become a reality. Scientifically, it has been proven that positive affirmations lead to longer term benefits such as improved self image, higher self esteem, high energy, better relationships and better long term career prospects. 

As you begin speaking words of empowerment and excellence over yourself, you will start to focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t do, or what you are not. Again science has shown that this enters your subconscious mind, affecting your behaviour and actions.

I love positive affirmations. It’s so important to say nice things about yourself rather than waiting for others to say it to you!  I have shared some of my favourites below:

I love myself and treat myself with love, respect and kindness

I am surrounded with inspiring and positive people

I will make an impact

Beautiful days lie ahead

I work with excellence and enthusiasm 

It may feel awkward in the beginning as you start affirming yourself. However the more you say it, the more you will believe it!

I encourage you to think about writing some affirmations for yourself and put it in your purse. Read it as a pick me up when you don’t feel so good or stick it on your bathroom mirror to remember how great you are as you get ready in the morning. 

Photo Credit (http://www.boxinginsider.com/)

Amaka Uche

Girls Talk London Ambassador

Follow Amaka on Twitter @epicawesomelife

4 reasons why networking is important

Posted on by Vanessa

I recently attended a networking brunch in conjunction with L.I.F.E Talks and Kaiya Milan in honour of American social media entrepreneur, Karen Civil.

The brunch reminded me just how important networking is for your career. These days, getting your foot in the door is not only by what you know, but ever increasingly through who you know.

I thought I would share why I think networking is crucial in taking our careers to the next level:

1. Meeting new people

You never know who can give you your next big break. The more people you connect with, the more likely you can share ideas and best practise. These ideas could then turn into profitable solutions just by meeting and knowing the right people.

2. Raising your profile

The more you network with people, the more they will know about you, your ideas and your business. This is a free way to raise your profile and get yourself and your services out there! I was able to help raise the profile of Girls Talk London while I was at the networking brunch by talking about the brand and what we do- which led to a few more business cards being exchanged!

3. Generation of referrals and more business

The great thing about networking events is that people usually have to speak to each other! As you get talking, someone may like you and/or your business. They may even refer you to someone else who needs what you have to offer.

4. Increased confidence

Do you hate the idea of talking to new people? Don’t worry, you are not alone! I see attending networking events as a great way to get out of your comfort zone and to build on your confidence. The more you connect and interact with different kinds of people, the more comfortable and relaxed you will be in talking about your yourself, brand and business!

Amaka Uche 

Ambassador, Girls Talk London

Follow Amake on Twitter @epicawesomelife

Review: Race-The Movie

Posted on by Vanessa

On Monday 30th May I had the pleasure of attending the pre-screening of the movie, Race, at the Soho Hotel-the night was hosted by Melanie Eusebe.

Before attending the pre-screening I did a bit of research about the film and learned that it is based on the real life story of an American and Olympian hero- Jesse Owens. At the time that’s all I knew and I had no idea that this film was about hardship, determination, love and the power of our human race.

It was refreshing to see such an inspiring message come through a film that didn’t portray black people in a negative light. Jesse Owens was played by Stephan James who did a great job in conveying just how great of a sportsman Jesse Owens was and how much he had to deal with at the time- not only as an athlete, but as a black man, father and a son, trying to be great in his field during a time of hardship and segregation. It was 1933 when I believe Jesse first enrolled at Ohio State University and was spotted by his Coach and soon to be Friend Lawrence Snyder.

Throughout the film you witnessed moments of heartbreak, as you did moments of joy. There were specific times in the film when I was on the edge of my seat because you could really feel the tension each time Owens went to take a long jump or every time you heard ‘ya’ll coloured folk gotta use the other door!’.

The top two lessons I took home with me were:

1. You cannot drive out hate with hate only love can do that.

2. We are not built on our exterior or by the things we own- it is our talent and courage that can build the best version of ourselves

The film made me realise that just like Jesse believed he could achieve his dreams- we can do whatever we put our mind to- just like him.

Race hits cinema’s on Friday 3rd June. 

To find out where to watch the movie check their official twitter 

@racemovieuk

Shannie Mears 

Ambassador, Girls Talk London

Follow Shannie on Twitter @shannieloves

Eat fat get thin?

Posted on by Vanessa

Eat fat get thin?

This week a study was published by The National Obesity Forum and the Public Health Collaboration claiming that in order to get thin, we need to eat more fat. Sounds crazy, right?

There is so much conflicting advice surrounding dieting and eating healthy that it’s no wonder the majority of us don’t really know what we’re doing. So how exactly do we navigate the confusion surrounding dietary advice? And is fat really good for us?

Eat fat get thin? Not exactly…

As much as I’d love it if that was the case, I’m afraid we have not just been given a license to have a fry up for breakfast, a burger and fries with a milkshake for lunch then a pizza for dinner, topped off with an ice cream sundae for dessert.

Rather, the report is encouraging people to go back to eating whole foods, such as meat and full-fat dairy, instead of their low-fat replacements. Think butter instead of margarine, full-fat milk instead of skimmed, and snacking on healthy fat-rich foods such as eggs and avocado.

The reason for this is that when fat is removed from food the item must then be pumped full with sugar to make up for this. This will then trigger a sugar crash after a couple of hours, sending you searching for your next sugar fix. Eating fat from whole sources will not only keep you fuller for longer, it’s also vital in ensuring your hair, skin and nails look and stay healthy.

If that’s not enough motivation to get you to pick up a steak and avocado I don’t know what is!
eat-it

However moderation is key here!

Fat in moderation is good. Eating a full block of cheddar for lunch, not so much. And while fat is not the devil, neither are carbs, nor even sugar for that matter. It’s only when we eat too much of any one of these things that they become a problem.

With the recent craze in ‘Clean Eating’, we have seen whole food groups demonised, with emotive language such as “evil” and “toxic” used to describe food. And as food cannot be evil (unless they have been imbued with morals without me realising) the real implication is that anyone not “eating clean” is therefore ‘unclean’ and  bad.

It’s important to remember that eating one slice of cake is not going to make you fat, just as one green smoothie will not make you thin. Choosing a burger does not make you a bad person, just as opting for the salad does not make you a good person.

Ultimately, a healthy diet is one that is balanced and where a person eats from all food groups. Whole foods will better nourish and feed your body than processed, ready meals. Healthy fat will sustain you longer than your sugar fix. Protein is needed to maintain and restore muscles. And carbohydrates (some of which come from sugars) are vital for energy.

So the simple answer is no, eating fat will not make you thin, but as long as you’re not eating too much of it, it won’t make you fat, either.

Reference article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/22/eat-fat-to-get-thin-30-years-of-flawed-dietary-advice-is-disastr/

Photo Credit: http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/eat-it.gif

Victoria Clark 

Follow her on Twitter @apinchofcake