How I Crushed It

Join us for a no-nonsense chat with Amina Folarin, CEO of Oliver, as she discusses her unique path from HR to the boardroom. This episode is packed with insights about leadership, diversity, and defying the odds in a competitive industry.
The realities and challenges of moving from HR to the CEO role
Growing up in Wolverhampton, overcoming obstacles, and the impact of family
How Amina Folarin implemented 50/50 gender splits and drove diversity at Oliver
Navigating leadership, self-doubt, and learning to trust her own skills
 
Stay in touch:
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit

Julian Boaitey is the founder of Yendy Skin, a London-based skincare brand built around African superfood ingredients sourced from Ghana. 
If you enjoy the episode, subscribe to How I Crushed It for more conversations with founders, entrepreneurs and people building ambitious businesses. 
 
Stay in touch:
X: @howicrushedit
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on X & Instagram
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit 
 

Ayo Akinwolere has built an extraordinary broadcasting career — from becoming the first Black male presenter of Blue Peter to presenting some of the biggest sporting events in the world.
In this episode of How I Crushed It, Ayo tells the story of growing up in Nigeria, moving to Birmingham as a child and navigating racism, identity and the challenge of breaking into British television.
After initially dreaming of becoming a professional footballer, Ayo found his way into broadcasting, eventually taking a six-week opportunity at the BBC that would completely change his career.
He reveals how a chance conversation led to his Blue Peter audition, what it was like becoming a groundbreaking presenter on one of Britain's most famous TV programmes and how he went from learning to swim to setting a world record in just ten weeks.
Ayo also discusses the difficult period after leaving Blue Peter, reclaiming his Nigerian name and identity, moving into sports broadcasting and eventually working across the BBC, CBS Sports and The Athletic.
He also explains why success isn't simply about talent and how hard work can actually create the opportunities we often describe as luck.
 
Subscribe to How I Crushed It for more conversations with successful people about the decisions, setbacks and opportunities that shaped their careers.
Stay in touch:
X/Twitter: @howicrushedit
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast

BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning producer and director Jo Johnson sits down with Tunde to discuss her rise through the UK television industry. From growing up in Kensal Rise to smashing it on Netflix, she shares hard-won lessons and candid career insights.
Early life in West London and influences on Jo Johnson's work ethic
Breaking into the industry and overcoming setbacks as a Black woman in TV
Key career milestones: Brookside, The Real McCoy, EastEnders, and Coronation Street
Transition from directing to producing, including the story behind hit Netflix show Adolescence
The importance of representation, resilience, and advice for forging your own path in the arts
Stay in touch:
X/Twitter: @howicrushedit
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit

We revisit our chat with former Senior Director at LinkedIn, Tunji Akintokun. He has also had senior leadership positions at PwC and Cisco.
Since leaving LinkedIn Tunji now focuses his energy as a Non-Executive Director, Trustee, Patron and Angel Investor using technology, sport, and the arts as vehicles for change through his philanthropic efforts to help those with talent who lack the access to opportunity.
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Stay in touch:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howicrushedit/
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit

Dr Samantha Tross is one of the UK's most respected orthopaedic surgeons. In 2005 she made history when she became Britain’s first Black female orthopaedic consultant surgeon. She was the first woman in Europe to use robotic hip surgery in 2018, and she has been regularly recognised as one of Britain's most influential Black Britons in the annual Powerlist.
 
Listen back to interviews with:
Dr Dion Terrelonge: Psychologist and Fashion Stylist
 
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Stay in touch:
X/Twitter: @howicrushedit
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit
 

Mike Williams is co-founder of Flake Bake – the UK's most successful Jamaican patty business. In 2024 the business won Channel 4’s Aldi’s Next Big Thing and in the same year Mike won the Black British Business Awards, Rising Star of the year - Entrepreneur🏆.
 
Website
TV Advert
 
Listen back to interviews with:
Ire Hassan- Odukale - Co-Founder of the fine dining restaurant, Ikoyi
 
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Stay in touch:
X/Twitter: @howicrushedit
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit

Sola Akingbola is a musician, recording artist and band member of the Grammy award winning band, Jamiroquai. Across his career he has performed with the likes of David Bowie, Stevie Wonder and he is also an accomplished composer for the stage and screen.
 
Website
 
Listen back to interviews with:
Kojo Samuel - Music Director
 
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Stay in touch:
X/Twitter: @howicrushedit
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit

With the domestic football season coming to an end over the next week or so and the FIFA World Cup fast approaching in the summer, we revisit our chat with Skysports reporter, Kyle Walker.
 
Kyle Walker is a SJA British Sports Journalism nominated Sky Sports presenter and reporter who also regularly works for Manchester City TV, EA Sports and FIFA. On this episode he talks about growing up in Moss Side, how he got his big break in TV and what interviewing Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp is like. Kyle's Instagram
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Stay in touch:
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit
 

Leon Francis has been a leader and manager in three of the biggest consumer brands in the UK, Mcdonald's, Sainsbury's and Apple. He also has his own male grooming brand called Nuevo Noir which he started in 2021. In 2024 he won the Rising Star award at the Black British Business Awards in the Consumer and Luxury category.
 
Website: Nuevo Noir
 
Listen back to interviews with:
Dion Terrelonge - Pioneer of fashion psychology
 
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Stay in touch:
X/Twitter: @howicrushedit
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit