Leaving a Legacy That Outlives You: An African Academic Making Room for Others

One of the things that was unique about this episode is the generosity of the person of my guest and the conversation we had. What do you do with your gains as a successful African academic and entrepreneur who has found his way within the system where people who look like you remain relatively few? You can do one of two things. Simply continue building your own career or in addition, you can become a light that makes the journey easier for those coming behind you. In this episode of The Only One in the Room, I had a fascinating talk with Dr Daniel Amona, a senior lecturer, academic entrepreneur and university senate member, about his journey into and within British higher education and the importance that mentoring, sponsorship and collaboration have come to play in his academic and professional career. He began by talking about the support he has received over the years from supervisors and others who believed in him, some from very different cultural backgrounds. In Daniel’s case, once he became settled, one of his main desires was finding how to give something back by supporting others. His experiences taught him that a mentor does not necessarily have to be someone who looks like you. Being mentored means being willing to approach people, build relationships and, sometimes, simply ask. He has, in turn, remained open to mentoring others, irrespective of their cultural origin. He told the story of one Nigerian student who approached him after one of his lectures and literarily said to him, “I want to be like you”. Daniel invited him into his office and, from then on, this student became his mentee. That student went on to achieve a first-class degree, a master's with distinction and, more recently, began a fully funded PhD. Beyond mentoring, we also spoke about what it means to advise someone and actually use your position, networks or influence to open a door for them because that is something he has often done. We touched on building pathways for others and whether a Black academic who has gained access to particular spaces necessarily should feel a sense or even a burden, of responsibility towards others trying to enter the academy. This led us into a slightly uncomfortable part of the conversation about whether Black academics have structures for supporting one another. My guest raised the possibility that sometimes being successful can create a temptation to want to remain “the only person in the room” rather than helping others to rise. We also talked about the other side of that relationship, which is that being supported does not mean expecting favouritism. Those seeking mentoring and opportunities also have the duty to pull their weight, show commitment and be willing to contribute. Collaboration was another important part of our conversation. Much of Dr Amona’s research have been carried out in collaboration with colleagues from different backgrounds and at different cadres including some of those he had previously mentored. He believes that relationships should not remain fixed. The person you support today may eventually become your collaborator or even surpass you, which he views as something to celebrate rather than fear. Indeed, he spoke rather delightfully about wanting eventually to encounter someone he had supported chairing a conference or giving a keynote, and perhaps then inviting that person to come and help him! As with previous guests, my conversation with Daniel left a comment that stayed with me. When I asked a hypothetical question about whether if he were to occupy a higher position of influence, with the ability to shape policy and create opportunities would he remember the person who was still “the only one in the room”? Without missing a beat, he responded that he would give opportunities to people with potential and described his mindset as one of “leaving a legacy that outlives you”. That left me thinking about the question I started with, and which runs through much of our conversation. If someone helped you into the room successfully, what do you do once you are there? If any part of this conversation resonates with you, I would be very interested to hear your thoughts. 🎙️ LISTEN & CONNECT WITH US: Join the conversation and never miss an episode. Follow, subscribe, and connect across our platforms: 🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0za2dghW2sGXbW11cwsDtd ▶️ YouTube:    / @theonlyoneintheroom-bisi   📘 Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61595167732496 🌐 Official Website: www.secondgenfaith.com 💬 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments!