Leadership Spotlight – Ndidi Okezie, CEO, UK Youth

Welcome to our leadership spotlight series, where we ask each leader 10 quick-fire questions so that we can give a little insight into the person behind a leadership role.

Ndidi is an influential public advocate, delivering transformational change in a variety of contexts. Prior to being appointed CEO of UK Youth, Ndidi was Vice President of the Secondary School Portfolio for Pearson PLC. Ndidi has also been a teacher and then School Leader for 10 years. She then spent six years on the executive board for Teach First where she oversaw Youth Access Programmes, Community Action and Alumni Development.Ndidi is deeply committed to youth work, life skills development, and youth equality. In 2013 she was a member of the Department for Education’s Youth Work in Education Committee and currently sits on the Department for Education’s Character Education Advisory Group. Ndidi is also a board member for youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint UK, the National Citizen Service and The Mulberry Schools Trust.

What was your first job?

Sales Executive at a Commercial Publishing House.

What is the best piece of leadership advice you’ve been given?

Stop wasting time doubting yourself and don’t allow others to make you feel less than either. Every leader you admire is also a human being, who is just trying to ‘figure things out’ one day at a time.

What or who is your most admired purpose-led organisation or person?

Barack Obama. Now more than ever, I miss the quality and depth of character he displays and the potency of his leadership voice!

What do you do to help ensure good mental health?

Spend quality time with friends, family and my puppy!

What is the most impactful leadership decision you’ve made?

Becoming a CEO. Regardless of ALL the research & prep I felt I had done, nothing prepares you for the “weight” and loneliness of the role (particularly if you have been given a mandate of change). Almost every decision you make is impactful, because you’re the person ultimately accountable for delivering on the promise of a strategy and the professional experiences of so many people.

If you needed some sound advice, who would you call?

My best friend, sister or one of my professional mentors.

What is your dream job? (Apart from your current one!)

Not so much “dream job” but more “dream location” – I would love to be able to work with the ocean as my view. (Sunny weather wouldn’t go amiss either!)

Favourite place to eat?

My mum’s kitchen 🙂

Why are you in the purpose-led sector?

I believe in the notion of paying it forward. The life I get to live today, is because of the sacrifice and determination of those that came before me. It’s now my portion of the race and I will not drop the baton of pushing social justice and equity forward.