The quiet question: "Do I really belong here?"
When Ayodeji first joined Urban Synergy at 16, he wasn’t short of ambition — but he wasn’t sure how to get his foot in the door of a corporate office.
He remembers walking into the Talent Accelerator with a friend, excited but completely unprepared. It was his first time inside a corporate environment in London, and while the industry-grade hot chocolate machines stood out, so did a quiet question in his mind: Do I really belong here?
Although naturally outgoing, Ayodeji struggled with imposter syndrome. He knew he wanted a future in tech, but access to professionals, real work experience, and insider knowledge about navigating corporate spaces felt out of reach.
Turning professional insight into practical confidence
Through mentoring, speed networking sessions, workplace visits, and tailored CV and interview preparation, Ayodeji began gaining skills and belief.
“I had that feeling that I might not belong in those environments. However, I didn’t let that stop me. I went in with the mindset that I should take every opportunity available to me.”
One early turning point came during a mock interview at the LSEG Talent Accelerator. It was the first time he received formal feedback on his strengths and weaknesses. One piece of advice stayed with him:
“The interview process begins the moment you step into the company and continues until you leave.”
That practical insight shifted his mindset. He began to see interviews not as intimidating hurdles, but as opportunities to show up with confidence and preparation.
From imposter syndrome to leading the room
Another defining moment came during the EY programme, when Ayodeji co-hosted a celebration event in front of more than 30 people. Just a year earlier, he couldn’t imagine speaking confidently in front of his own classmates.
“It made me realise that I can lead and speak in public — something the younger version of me couldn’t have imagined.”
Through Urban Synergy’s mentoring and internships, Ayodeji gained work experience and internships at organisations including LSEG, EY, UK Power Networks, L&G and CIS Security. He built a professional network of managers and executives he still stays in contact with today. He even helped represent Urban Synergy at the Microsoft x Google Cloud Cup, contributing to raising over £5,000.
A personal transformation: redefining what is possible
Today, at 18, Ayodeji is a first-year Computer Science undergraduate — with more internship experience than many of his university peers.
But the biggest transformation hasn’t just been professional — it’s personal.
“The biggest change is how I handle the imposter syndrome I used to feel. I don’t feel out of place in corporate offices anymore. Even when I face setbacks, I don’t get discouraged. I’ve learned to keep moving forward.”
Urban Synergy didn’t just provide opportunities; it shifted his mindset from ‘How do I get in?’ to ‘I can actually do this.’
“This experience has completely changed what I think is possible for my future. It’s given me independence and self-belief. Knowing that no one’s background should ever hold them back has become a big part of how I see myself now.”
Paying it forward: The next generation of mentorship
Inspired by the support he received, Ayodeji hopes to become a mentor himself in the future — helping other young people navigate the same journey.
“I’d say you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t join. The impact Urban Synergy has had on my life is something I couldn’t have done by myself.”
Through mentorship, real-world exposure, and a powerful professional network, Ayodeji transformed uncertainty into clarity — and imposter syndrome into confidence. Today, he steps into corporate spaces not wondering if he belongs, but knowing he does.
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