The Underrated Skill That Changed My Career - and Led to This Virgin Media O2 Keynote
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I Just Spoke at Virgin Media O2 - And Here’s What Stayed With Me
Last Tuesday, I had the privilege of delivering a keynote at Virgin Media O2, for their Enrich Network during Islamophobia Awareness Month.
The session was titled “Navigating Identity, Inclusion & Career Ownership”, and while the theme centred on this important month, the conversation reached far beyond faith.
Let’s dive into what made this event so powerful, and how it sparked a conversation we all need to keep having.
What’s in store:
The one-word theme that defined the keynote: Permission
Why your non-linear path is an advantage, not a setback
The most common (and silent) blockers underrepresented professionals face
How visibility transforms your career — and others’
Why you are the CEO of your career, not your manager
Inclusion beyond awareness months: how to build safer, more supportive workplaces.
The session became a space to talk honestly about what it means to build a career when you’re:
part of the Global Majority,
from an underrepresented background,
the “only one” in the room,
or simply someone who’s been underestimated, overlooked, or misunderstood in professional spaces.
Today, I want to share a few reflections, not just about the event, but about the bigger message behind it.
The message at the heart of this keynote
If I could summarise the session in one word, it would be:
Permission.
✨ Permission to define success on your own terms
✨ Permission to take up space
✨ Permission to own your voice and your story
✨ Permission to lead, even when your path is non-linear
Too often, people from underrepresented backgrounds are taught (directly or indirectly) to stay grateful, stay quiet, or stay in line.
This keynote was an invitation to break that pattern.
My story, and the truth behind non-linear paths
I shared a part of my own journey, not because it’s extraordinary, but because it’s common, yet rarely spoken about.
I didn’t arrive in the UK with perfect English or a ready-made career.
I restarted from scratch - teaching assistant, unqualified teacher, retraining, juggling motherhood, navigating systems where I didn’t always “fit the mould.”
But that’s exactly why I speak on these topics today.
Because success isn’t linear.
Because many of us build our careers through pivots, pauses, reinventions and resilience.
Because so many talented people underestimate their capabilities simply because they don’t see themselves represented where they aspire to be.
Your background, accent, name, age, culture…etc.
These aren’t limitations.
They’re context.
And context can become strength when you understand its value.
The blockers we all recognised
When I asked attendees to share the biggest blockers they’ve faced in their careers, the responses came quickly:
imposter syndrome
lack of confidence
being underestimated
bias
fear of judgment
limited visibility
“not fitting in”
These aren’t individual issues.
They’re systemic patterns many of us quietly navigate.
And yet, naming them is powerful.
It allows us to challenge them.
It allows us to realise: We’re not alone, and we’re not imagining it.
Mindset + visibility = the turning point
This is something I’ve seen over and over again in my own journey and in the women I coach:
You can be incredible at what you do, but if you’re invisible, opportunities won’t find you.
When I started showing up on LinkedIn consistently, everything changed:
clients began reaching out,
collaborations formed,
unexpected opportunities appeared,
and even this keynote came about because I was visible on Linkedin. The organiser found me at a time when I wasn’t even expecting anything.
Visibility is not bragging.
Visibility is leadership.
Visibility is career ownership.
Visibility creates opportunity not just for you, but for others who see themselves in you.
But there’s another layer to visibility that often gets overlooked:
Historically, people from underrepresented backgrounds haven’t always been given the platform to be seen or heard.
When you don’t see people like you in certain roles or industries, you doubt if you belong there.
That’s why showing up matters.
Because when you are visible, whether in meetings, on LinkedIn, or in your industry, you’re not only advancing your own career.
You’re also helping to normalise diversity in professional spaces, and you might become an example (intentionally or not) for someone who has been waiting to see a path that looks like theirs.
This is the true power of visibility.
Career ownership: your future needs your voice
One message that resonated strongly with the audience was this:
You are the CEO of your career.
Not your manager.
Not your organisation.
Not the people who overlook you.
Not the ones who underestimate you.
You.
Owning your progression means:
putting yourself forward for opportunities even when you don’t tick every box,
making your ambitions known,
showcasing your wins,
seeking mentors and allies,
and taking strategic steps that support your growth.
People cannot champion what they cannot see.
Inclusion is everyone’s business
While the event was hosted during Islamophobia Awareness Month, the conversation widened into something bigger:
How do we create workplaces where people feel safe, seen, and supported, regardless of their background?
We spoke about:
inclusive team events,
flexible cultural and personal celebrations,
psychological safety,
creating space for difference rather than expecting sameness,
and the importance of allyship - across all identities.
Inclusion is not a policy; it’s a culture.
And culture shifts when individuals decide they want something better.
A small challenge for you this week
After the keynote, I asked attendees to take one step toward owning their presence.
And I’d love to offer the same invitation to you:
💛 Update one section of your LinkedIn profile
💛 Share a win you’re proud of
💛 Speak up once in a meeting
💛 Reach out to someone you admire
💛 Or take a moment to acknowledge your own progress
Tiny steps compound.
And visibility builds long before we feel “ready.”
Final thought
One of my favourite quotes says:
“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
That’s the impact of visibility.
That’s the impact of representation.
That’s the impact of owning your story, even when it feels uncomfortable at first.
I’m grateful to the Enrich Network at Virgin Media O2 for creating space for this conversation, and to every person who showed up so openly.
And if your organisation is exploring themes like inclusion, confidence, visibility, leadership or career ownership, I’m always happy to speak, facilitate, or train on these topics.
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Until next time,
Veronique Barrot
Founder, Linked And Lift
Coaching leaders to grow inside out.
Follow me on LinkedIn where I share self-leadership and growth insights Monday to Friday.
P.S. If you’re wondering what I do beyond writing newsletters: I support ambitious women leaders in two ways: through strategic personal branding for founders, and helping their teens go from “I’m not a language person” to earning A–A* in IGCSE, O Level & A-Level French exams. Both are about the same thing: rebuilding foundations that were never quite solid. If that’s relevant to your world, I’m here.