Mentee of the Year Folashade Oginni on returning to Birkbeck to shape a new future

After attending Birkbeck's Foundation Day Dinner in 2023 to commemorate the university's 200th anniversary, alumna Folashade was inspired to return to education thanks to her conversations with fellow graduates and Birkbeck’s commitment to lifelong learning.

"I started thinking, 'What would I do? What would I enjoy doing?'" she recalled. "The Vice-Chancellor was talking about lifelong learning and that really stayed with me."

More than 20 years after completing her BSc in Economics and Social Policy in 2003, she decided to return to Birkbeck to study for an MSc Human Resource Management (Development and Consultancy). Today, after being involved in the Mentoring Pathways programme to support her future career, she has been named Birkbeck's 2026 Mentee of the Year.

Folashade first studied at Birkbeck in the late 1990s while balancing work and family life alongside her studies. Sponsored by her employer to study at Birkbeck, she completed her degree while working in the Civil Service and would go on to spend more than three decades serving across several government departments.

Reflecting on what she wanted the next chapter of her life to look like, Birkbeck’s alumni tuition fee discount also helped make returning to study an attractive option, but it was the university’s reputation for helping people develop professionally that ultimately convinced her. "Birkbeck is somewhere where you're able to network, develop the skills you need and prepare for the next phase of your career," she said.

Returning to education after more than two decades brought fresh challenges, including discovering that she is dyslexic. With support from Birkbeck and reasonable adjustments to her learning materials, Folashade adapted her approach to studying. Returning to study while navigating major life changes reinforced her belief that learning, with the right support, can open doors at any stage of life.

As she prepared to transition into HR consultancy, Folashade joined Birkbeck's Mentoring Pathways programme, hoping to find someone who could help her navigate a career change. "I wanted someone that I could brainstorm with," she said. "Someone that's got experience in the field I'm moving into. I needed fresh eyes to strengthen my thoughts. I needed someone to help me see things through a different lens."

She was matched with Francesca Webster, talent management partner at Aldermore Bank, whose guidance proved invaluable throughout the programme. "We had a really good relationship," Folashade said. "She got to know my preferences and she unblocked things for me. She checked my CV, introduced me to people and there was nothing she wouldn't do to help. I really can't emphasise how valuable the relationship has been."

Receiving the Mentee of the Year award after Francesca’s nomination came as a complete surprise. "I was really, really shocked," she said. "I'm ever so grateful that Francesca took the time to nominate me. To receive that recognition and to be part of the programme has been the beauty of it."

In her nomination, Francesca said: “Throughout our mentoring partnership, Folashade has demonstrated exceptional commitment and enthusiasm. As a mature student bringing a wealth of experience from government roles, she approached every mentoring conversation with curiosity, openness and a genuine willingness to learn.”

Alongside her studies, Folashade completed a live consultancy project through the PA Consulting (Birkbeck Community Challenge), helping St Giles Trust consider the future of its learning and development approach. The project gave her the opportunity to apply her learning to a real organisational challenge and present evidence-based recommendations to senior stakeholders. The experience strengthened her ambition to move into HR and organisational development consultancy, combining her extensive public sector experience with her passion for supporting people, leadership teams and organisations through change.

That commitment to supporting others has been a constant throughout Folashade's career. While working in government, she established and chaired a Carers Network after struggling to find support while caring for her own mother. The initiative grew to support colleagues across the Department for Transport and contributed to wider conversations across Whitehall about creating more compassionate workplaces for unpaid carers. Her voluntary work was recognised with a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to carers in the Department for Transport in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2020.

Looking ahead, Folashade hopes to continue championing unpaid carers, particularly young carers who are balancing education, work and caring responsibilities. She believes organisations have much to gain by recognising the contribution unpaid carers make and creating workplaces where they feel able to ask for support.

"I want to help people carry on with life, even when life gets difficult," she said. "Life happens and sometimes all it takes is a little bit of adjustment. If you make that adjustment, people can bounce back, continue to add value and achieve their potential."

Looking back on her experience, Folashade hopes more Birkbeck alumni will consider volunteering as mentors and sharing their experience with the next generation of students.

"If you're looking for an opportunity to help someone, mentoring is where you'll get that," she said. "It's a programme that helps students to build confidence and get the support they need for the journey. Everyone needs a mentor.”