In this powerful episode, we hear from Toni, a keynote speaker and social mobility advocate who grew up on a council estate in Basingstoke. Her early life was shaped by grief, limited opportunity, and the pressure to contribute financially instead of pursuing her creative dreams.
Starting in a fruit and veg shop, Toni thought that was as far as she could go, until a job at Reed Recruitment transformed her path. That role taught her life skills, built her confidence, and ultimately set her on a journey that led to working at Microsoft, all without a degree.
Toni now speaks at corporate events, bringing raw honesty and lived experience to the topic of social mobility. She’s one of the few working-class women on the keynote circuit and uses her platform to challenge assumptions around class, access, and merit.
In this episode we cover:
- Breaking into corporate without a degree
- Class, creativity & the limits placed on working-class talent
- What’s really happening with DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) in the workplace
- The power of networks, both good and bad
- Why location still locks people out of opportunity
- How Toni built The Common Good Network to support upward mobility
Toni reminds us that moving on doesn’t mean forgetting your roots and that tenacity, curiosity, and directness can get you through doors that seem shut.
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- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonijkent/
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_tonikent_/
- Website - https://thecommongood.network/
Thanks for listening!
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