I have been lucky in not facing too many issues with racism in my career. However, I had an early unpleasant brush with officialdom. I was told that a job in retail was ‘not for people like you’ and that I should get a job as a cleaner or care worker. That was a lesson to me that to some people an advanced education meant less than the colour of my skin. Working with refugees, both as a translator and teaching IT skills, also gave me an insight into the difficulties that the disadvantaged must navigate. On a more positive note, I have been lucky enough to have great managers and a fantastic mentor in HMRC. Experiencing such support and seeing the effect it has had on my development has taught me so much. I have realised that nobody achieves success on their own and knowing that has enabled me to coach others to take help from wherever they can find it. Always reaching back to help others as we climb the career ladder has become something of a mantra for me.

I was born in Tanzania and came to Wales aged 18. After finishing my education, I worked with refugees and asylum seekers before joining HMRC in 2005 as an Administrative Assistant (AA) . I worked in several roles before specialising in Customs work. Until recently, I also led on Customs issues for HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service and visited several countries to advise on Customs compliance. I am passionate about diversity and inclusion and has played a leading role in HMRC’s race equality work. Also until recently, I was HMRC’s Race Lead for Wales and oversaw a significant increase in representation at more senior roles for Black and Asian colleagues. My mini-blogs on anti-racism and Black history have reached thousands of people in HMRC. I have also presented on these subjects across government, including at Civil Service Live. I was proud to receive an MBE for my services to diversity in 2022.

The work I have done around Equality, Diversity and Inclusion has led me to meet many colleagues who have a similar desire to develop and progress but who face barriers that are difficult to overcome. One of my principal motivations at this stage of my career is both to help those colleagues through coaching and mentoring and to raise awareness of issues faced by disadvantaged groups. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given my background, I have been most active in the area of race equality, but I am equally committed to being an ally for people from other minorities.

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for support. No one succeeds alone. Join support networks, find a coach, mentor or sponsor. Get as much help as you can! 2. Step outside your comfort zone and take on new challenges, even if they are a bit scary! Growth doesn’t happen in familiar spaces. Take on challenges that stretch you, that make you uncomfortable and ultimately lead to new skills and greater confidence. 3. Make things happen – look for sideways moves to develop your skills, not just promotions. Think about development programmes. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you, seek them out, take the initiative and be ready to step up when the moment comes. If you don’t make it happen, nobody will! 4. Resilience is essential. There’ll be lots of disappointments on your journey and times when you wonder whether it’s worth it. I can tell you without a doubt, it is. Keep trying, keep pushing. Remember, every obstacle is an opportunity to rise. Each setback is a chance to grow stronger and to learn something new, and every step you take brings you closer to the top of the ladder. 5. When you succeed in life or in your career, celebrate but also acknowledge that you didn’t do it alone. Nobody does! Above all, don’t pull the ladder up after you! Reach out and help others climb.

I was the Race Lead for our Wales region at the time of the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. Leading our response to those events and the feelings that they triggered for colleagues, and later to the Race Disparity Audit, was incredibly challenging but also rewarding. I built awareness of the issues through regular Yammer (now Viva Engage) posts and through presentations, listening events and bringing together internal and external speakers. Although there is much still to be done, it was fantastic to see real progress in our region. I was also able to influence events across HMRC and the wider Civil Service. I was incredibly proud and humbled when my work in this field led to me being nominated by colleagues for an MBE. Receiving that award was a very proud moment for my family, but by far the best thing for me is seeing the success of colleagues whom I have worked with.