A powerful cycle of giving
How Victoria Ayodeji is championing the network that changed her life
Victoria Ayodeji’s (Queens’ 2018) experience with social mobility organisations began before she became a student at Cambridge. Resilience and the support of others enabled her to overcome hurdles at school. Then, as a Cambridge geography student, Victoria spoke to hundreds of students, mentored many and spoke on podcasts to share her story.
Now, as an alumna, Victoria has made a career out of Social Impact in this same space and continues to inspire students across the country through her outreach work. She encourages other alumni to get involved and is a member of Queens’ Alumni Advisory Group. It’s safe to say this remarkable young alumna is using her own lived experience to pay it forward and make a big impact in a very meaningful way.
Initial encounters with social mobility
Victoria was only the second person from her London school to get into Cambridge. “I went to a school where university was on the cards, but not necessarily Oxbridge.”
But she didn’t let this or anything else stop her from realising her potential.
“Even though I was shy, I got involved with the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge, one of the largest public speaking competitions for young people in the world.” In this challenge, Victoria performed a speech about Barbie, and her presentation of this rather unusual topic took her all the way to the Regional Finals.
A year later, she was invited by the Jack Petchey Foundation to deliver a speech at their anniversary event, speaking in front of 2,000 people.
This perseverance in the face of challenges and the encouragement from her teachers, family and mentors inspired her to apply to Cambridge, especially after a special and unexpected experience: “One day, I stumbled across a free University of Cambridge summer school organised by The Sutton Trust. I applied and, to my surprise, was accepted!”
The Sutton Trust summer schools give state-school students the chance to experience university life at the UK’s top universities.
“The programme was also a great opportunity to meet other like-minded and ambitious students from across the UK.
“Back then, I couldn’t see my own potential, but thankfully, people around me could see it, and had confidence in me.”
Victoria applied for a mentor through Into University and Target Oxbridge, and was paired with an Oxbridge geography graduate who provided her with invaluable support.
This support, alongside her involvement with the Jack Petchey Foundation, and the opportunity to connect with other Cambridge geography graduates through the Career Ready work‑experience programme, gave Victoria the confidence to successfully apply for a place at Cambridge.
Jack Petchey Foundation Celebration event
Jack Petchey Foundation Celebration event
From a summer school at Cambridge to graduation day
From a summer school at Cambridge to graduation day
Victoria working as a CAMbassador for The Sutton Trust Summer School 2019 (first row, centre)
Victoria working as a CAMbassador for The Sutton Trust Summer School 2019 (first row, centre)
Speaking as Chair of Career Ready's Youth Advisory Board
Speaking as Chair of Career Ready's Youth Advisory Board
Speaking at the Economics Innovation at Work Conference
Speaking at the Economics Innovation at Work Conference
At 10 Downing Street with Patchwork Foundation
At 10 Downing Street with Patchwork Foundation
A vocation for helping others
Since graduating, Victoria has continued to inspire students and represent young people, to give students who
“I spent the summer as a Student Ambassador for the same Geography Summer School I did 5 years before, helping other school students by demystifying Oxbridge applications.
“When I graduated, I shared a post on my LinkedIn, which gained a lot of traction. Many students reached out to me. One mentioned that he was on the fence about applying to Cambridge, having come from a state school that does not send a lot of people to Oxbridge, but my post encouraged him to go for it.
"After he reached out, I began mentoring him, and we spoke about his application. I was working for the Geography department over the summer, so I took him and his mum around Queens’. Later, I supported him with his personal statement and interview. This Summer, he graduated as an alumnus of Queens' with a degree in Geography!
"During his time at Cambridge, he invited me back to speak to current students because he's passionate about access and outreach and has mentored other young people as well.”
Victoria continues to engage young people in her more recent voluntary work. “I've been on the youth advisory boards for The Sutton Trust Alumni Community and Career Ready, a social mobility charity which helps to provide work opportunities to young people through mentoring and internships.
"I had the opportunity to speak at conferences and on panels alongside the CEO of Career Ready, as well as CEOs of other FTSE 250 companies.
“I'm still working within the social mobility space. I’m very passionate about storytelling and public speaking.”
Motivated by her mentoring activities as a Cambridge student, she remains deeply committed to the power of Social Impact and using the power of storytelling to empower Gen‑Z to be connected to opportunity. Through her volunteer work, Victora has spoken to more than 10,000 young people across the UK, showing them what is possible when they dare to dream big, helping to inspire others about their own pathways.
Engaging with alumni of all ages
As the youngest member of the Queens’ Alumni Advisory Group, Victoria continues to celebrate diverse experiences and viewpoints.
“There are alumni from a variety of degree subjects and a range of years. It’s always nice to know how impactful Cambridge and Queens’ have been for the members of the Group.”
In fact, she sees the Group as crucial for reconnecting with alumni: “There is still a hunger from alumni to connect irrespective of whether they graduated one or thirty years ago.”
Victoria urges other young alumni to get involved with voluntary work at the University:
“You don’t have to be retired and have your career behind you. I was mentored by someone who was 21, and I began mentoring others at age 19. You never know how valuable your life experience is and how it can help someone on their own journey.”
Speaking to students at her old school
Speaking to students at her old school
A network for change
Victoria’s joy in education and her Cambridge experience is infectious. Her journey of academic and personal success is equally inspiring.
But this is not just her story: she wants all young people to share in her endeavours to help others. Victoria’s experience demonstrates how individual actions can forge a network for future change.