LSME Entrepreneur Role Models Programme

My name is Cosmin, passionate about capturing the present, fixing the past and conquering the future through photos.

In 2000, I left my country to travel around the world, was a bit confused and never knew what I wanted. Travelling through Europe, I decided to stop in the UK to rediscover myself and find a route to my personal evolution.

In 2013, going through a major depression, I felt the passion for life through my veins shaking my soul and making me live in the present moment; enjoying everything that surrounds me and what life began to offer.

Finding a passion for photography and seeing the world differently through camera lenses gave me a deep desire to learn day and night everything about photography especially retouching and editing using various complex software applications such as Photoshop, Capture One, Lightroom and more.

Photography helped me to see in darkness and to appreciate the light by capturing the present, fixing the past and conquering the future and today it combines my passion and business.

I decided to study business management at LSME because I believe doing business is one of the basic aspects of human life. This course helps me to develop my business and communication skills, enabling me to effectively interact with people and most importantly giving me the techniques to grow my own business.

Very proud of my photo print and product based studio which focuses on creating beautiful arts and unforgettable memories for people, walls, portfolio, social media, etc.

CAKES, BAKES AND CHOCOLATES BY AN ARTIST IN ME
I started my business four years ago. But I was baking from my childhood. My business that I named as Creative Bites is my creations from the kitchen. Ilove to create recipes from ingredients rather than following a pre-written recipe. Cooking for me is baking. My inspiration is my mother who is an excellent baker. I have been brought up in a house where baking was a part of everyday cooking not only sweet but the savoury side as well. My creations still emerge from my kitchen.

So far, my journey has been full of challenges and I am sure it will continue butit’s not impossible rise above them. When I make a cake, I prefer to create my own designs. I love making sugar flowers – my most favourite element of cake decorating.

After completing my GCSEs, I was very stubborn yet motivated to follow my passion and love for makeup and chose not to go down the academic route, which raised a lot of eyebrows and doubts. The judgement of others did not discourage me. In fact, it motivated me even more to pursue my dreams. I went on to complete my Diploma in Beauty Therapy and then my Diploma in Media Makeup and Hair. After finishing my trainings, I started working full-time, and that moulded me into the more confident and independent woman that I am today. However, working in retail made me realise that it was not for me. I like being my own boss, creating art and expressing my feelings through makeup which is a beautiful form of art often looked down on and questioned by many. So, I started doing freelancing and controlling the looks I created. I learnt to organise my life and schedule it better. I set up a professional Instagram @faceby.fatima to start building my portfolio. I also started a YouTube channel (faceby.fatima) which was like therapy and helped me put my stress into art and create.
Being a young adult of the new generation is very challenging as we are always being compared, both career-wise and lifestyle, which I feel is very toxic and makes mental health awareness is so important. I went through a time where I had a mental/creative block. I was very lost and had no motivation to continue with anything. Waking up felt like a chore,and I felt as if my life was going in a never changing simple and boring cycle. This was when I realised that I needed a change and structure in my life to get my motivation and determination back. This was when a family friend told me about LSME. For a while, looking around and seeing people going to university made me think twice, although I do not regret going to university earlier. Joining LSME is one of the best decisions I have made and cannot wait to see all the opportunities it is going to bring my way. I have a lot of ideas which I would love to and will,one-day give life to with confidence because of the support and guidance that I receive from LSME.

How I became a fashion designer was merely accidental – the journey began in 2014.Around this time, things had fallen apart in my life and was experiencing a financially difficult situation. Then I decided to go to college to study fashion but with the only desire to design my own clothes. While growing up,fashion was part of my life and loved creating designed clothes to wear and I find people always admire them. In September 2014, I started a course in fashion design and textiles. I was a high achiever during my fashion studies and was awarded for my creation of African print and occasional wear. I started working from home,but that did not satisfy me as I wanted my own business. But I needed business insights and hence joined LSME in 2017 to study Business Management. Now I have a strong foothold in the business with great future prospects.

My name is Julie Adeyeye. I joined LSME in January 2015 to study HND in Health and Social Care. Prior to joining LSME, I was self-employed working as a registered childminder for about seven years. At the tail end of 2015, I had the opportunity to work as a social worker assistant in one of the Local Authorities. My job role includes assessing and reviewing clients’ needs. I was doing this as well as studying to achieve my HND in H&SC. Before the end of my course (HND in H&SC), I had the opportunity to start a Domiciliary Care Agency with some partners. This domiciliary care agency is called Topaz Care and Support (TCS). The opportunity came as a result of the knowledge and experience gained during my time at LSME. Topaz Care and support have developed beyond my imagination over the past two years with over twenty-five employees. This has made me enrol for BSc in Health and Social Care Management at LSME to gain the skills to manage my staff effectively.