My Career Bucket List - Romeo Effs

In light of international anti-racism day which took place on 21st March, we interview serial entrepreneur, author and black business enthusiast and mentor Romeo Effs. We take a look into his professional journey and he provides some raw tips and advice for those in the Black community on how to navigate the various challenges in the workplace.  

What is your background in D&I and how did you end up in this space

I have 15 years of experience working in corporate with various companies. I became aware of D&I when I was told that I was experiencing racism after coming into the UK from Jamaica. I had to be taught about racism and discrimination as I grew up in a predominately Black country so I hadn’t experienced racism before nor knew what it looked like. I was working at one of the Big 5 consulting companies in the UK and I got involved in other networks within the organisation. It was then that I began to take up the role of the token black person since I was the most senior person of colour. So, I started to educate myself more about D&I after one situation that propelled me and opened my eyes to what racism was.  

How has your journey been since and how has it led to where you are now?  

I became a senior executive at the age of 25 and haven’t worked below the C-suite level since. I noticed I was usually the only person of colour in senior positions. I started a mentoring circle to find people of colour and help achieve higher in the workplace and get promotions which then became a passion. 

In 2014, I left corporate and started a private boutique equity company. I was coaching people of colour in how they could navigate the workplace and attain the roles and positions they desired.  

I also wrote and published my first book; Enthusiasm Unchained: Unshackling Personal and Professional Success. a Black Perspective in 2015 and released training programs and seminars aimed at ethnic minorities' successes in the workplace and obtaining their career and objectives. that helped me realise it could become a business. 

What advice would you give to ethnic minorities in the UK? 

1. To recognise or accept whether or not the success you want to build is within the realm of the corporate environment. Racism does exist and it will happen, it will affect you but it’s not your issue. Once you accept it, you don’t need to take it on as a personal burden and therefore won’t be a barrier to your success.  

2. Recognise that in the corporate world, it is a game and you need to learn how to play the game to succeed. You need to become an SME: subject matter expert, know your stuff, and know it well. When I was at Accenture, I set an objective to become an EMEA Lead for Transport Supply Chain so I read everything on the subject I could possibly find, attended seminars, the works. Within 6-8 months, I was promoted.  

3. Building relationships - particularly for people of colour (POC) - is a critical component for progression. I’m not talking about mentorship, I think ethnic minorities are over mentored, we need a sponsor so that when bonuses are coming, promotions, etc. there will be someone in the room vouching for us and fighting for our cause; which is progression. 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? 

It was from a headhunter who has since become a mentor and friend. When I completed my Masters, I started my job search, looking for roles here in the UK. I got many first-stage interview offers (after sending out 200 plus applications), but I never got past the first stage.  

My mentor told me to go to Primark and buy a grey suit, white shirt, and a plain tie, no rings or jewellery other than a watch. She also told me to get reading glasses from boots. I wore that very outfit and I landed the job at Accenture. I was as told I needed to disarm myself and by wearing that outfit, I did exactly that.  

The learning for me was, that you’re intimidating to a white panel as a tall, black man. This is still applicable now; we still need to tone it down. There are still stereotypes that we’re labelled with. I’ve worked in offices with dress-down Fridays and my dress-down was no tie. A Black man in a hoodie has negative connotations and we can’t afford to have such connotations attached to us in the office. 

You can find out more or connect with our interviewee, Romeo here.