A career is not built solely on titles, promotions, or polished résumés. It is shaped by the deeper materials each person brings to the table — values, motivations, appetite for risk, and the ability to be intentional. Our founder Beverly Vanterpool’s new book, Build Your Table, explores the importance of looking inward, understanding what drives you, and making choices aligned with that self-awareness. This principle was echoed by several podcast guests whose careers have been defined by clarity of purpose and the courage to act on it.
Karen Vanterpool, now a Senior Research Scientist, described navigating an academic world where there were few people who looked like her. Without established mentors, she and a small group of minority peers created their own support network, sharing resources and encouragement. For her, success has been about identifying passion and pursuing it, while remaining adaptable. “Figure out what you want… but don’t get so stuck on a particular vision that you can’t adapt,” she advised — a reminder that clarity should be flexible, not rigid.
Entrepreneur Vanessa Sanyauke, founder of The Hill App and Girls Talk, built her path through adaptability and a deep understanding of community. She acknowledged the structural barriers Black women face in accessing capital but focused on meticulous planning and surrounding herself with trusted advisors and friends who act as mentors. For Vanessa, tapping into communities is essential — not only for business growth, but for sustaining impact and staying connected to the people her work serves.
Pearl Oguchi, entrepreneur and community builder, knows the importance of resilience and reinvention. After experiencing redundancy, she turned inwards to identify her strengths and the work that energised her. This led to starting a Facebook group for Black female employees in tech, a move driven by connection rather than hierarchy. For Pearl, leadership is about inspiration, not just management: “If you are supposed to be leading and you’re not inspiring anything or anyone, then go back to the drawing board.”
Across their stories, the throughline is clear: building a career means choosing the materials with intention. Adaptability, strategic connection, and the courage to create community are just some of the elements that can form a strong foundation. The question for every professional is not just what they are building — but what they are building it from.
Listen to Stories By Career Sistas on your favourite platform.
Episode 2: Karen Vanterpool
Passion & a Sponsor: What it takes to follow your dreams
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Episode 5: Vanessa Sanyauke
Adaptability & Entrepreneurship: Overcoming professional hurdles
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Episode 8: Pearl Oguchi
Resilience & Reinvention: Overcoming Career Setbacks & the Power of Community
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