The latest episode of Life…On Our Terms sees host Gemma Cairney discussing entrepreneurship with Jamal Edwards, founder of online music channel SBTV, and first year OU student Isabelle Lowe.
Isabelle, aged 24 from Bolton in Greater Manchester, is studying for a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Creative Writing.
She is combining her studies with a job as a beauty consultant in a department store, but has ambitions to become a fashion journalist and says the course is giving her the confidence she needs to reach out for her dreams:
“Through studying I’ve got back the motivation to do something and have a career in something that I’m interested in. I feel like I’ve got this ambition to do what I’ve set out to do, which I’m excited about”
Isabelle tells Gemma that a number of her friends went on to university after school and A levels and it is something she’s always felt a little envious of. But with huge encouragement from her mum and her fiancé, she decided to do something about it and apply to The Open University.
She says the subject matter of the course aligns perfectly with her career goals:
“I’m studying English and Creative Writing and I’m loving everything about it. Getting back into studying is something that I’ve been wanting to do for ages and I’m just having the best time.”
The flexible nature of the course is equally important to her:
“The OU has given me the flexibility to continue studies and work because it’s on your own time. You can pick the hours that you have to work, like when we do assessments we know in advance of when they need to be due in so you can plan out easily how much you need to do, and when you need to do it. It makes it easy for me, because then I can schedule studying around my rota at work.”
With the topic of this week’s podcast being entrepreneurship, host Gemma asks Isabelle if she thinks achieving this degree will help with her future ambitions, to which Isabelle gives an empathic yes!
Studying with the OU gives Isabelle focus
She’s already an avid beauty blogger and has her own You Tube channel, but Isabelle confesses to Gemma that in the past she’s often lacked focus and consistency, but since starting studies that has changed, and she is much more disciplined in her outlook.
Isabelle says she toyed with the idea of enrolling at the OU for quite a while before finally taking the plunge, and offers encouragement for anyone who’s thinking of doing the same:
“Joining the OU is one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made. It was something that I was going back and forth with for a little bit before I actually applied, so I would definitely say if you are thinking about it just do it, because it is the best decision that you’ll make and I prefer it, to be honest, to any learning that I’ve done before.”
Jamal Edwards
This podcast also features a chat with entrepreneur, film maker and music executive Jamal Edwards MBE. Former Radio One DJ and host Gemma, talks to Jamal about his role setting up SBTV and how he was able to grow the online music channel into a YouTube heavyweight with over a million subscribers.
Together, Gemma and Jamal discuss building success from scratch, the importance of mentorship and why being open and receptive to new ideas is a key part of learning.
To hear Gemma talking with Isabelle and Jamal listen to the podcast here: https://play.acast.com/s/life-on-our-terms/entrepreneurship…onourtermsft.jamaledwards
