Episode 96: On all things motivation

Featuring the four finalists of the 2025 Being Edinburgh Alumni Award 

The Being Edinburgh Alumni Award is given every year to an exceptional alum, who’s work has created undeniable, transformative change in their local or global communities. This season, Nilufer was beyond thrilled to be able to talk to the four finalists of the 2025 award; Jimmy Paul, Giselle Gonzales, Hana Mahmood and Hammed Kayode Alabi. These amazing alumni compose our special episode, sharing their advice, insights and stories on all things motivation.

Jimmy Paul, MA Geography 2012 | MSc Integrated Service Improvement: Health and Social Care 2015

Jimmy’s life and career has been driven by one mission - to affect real, lasting change for people whose voices are too often unheard. Growing up around violence, and spending much of his childhood in the ‘care system’, his passion is rooted in his own journey, which is why he works to ensure others experience love and care in their early years. In 2023, aged 33, Jimmy became the youngest ever Head of Scotland’s critically acclaimed Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), drawing on his wide range of professional and personal experiences to oversee prevention programmes and to break cycles of harm. 

Giselle Gonzales, MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation 2019

Giselle Gonzales is the Founder and CEO of EqualReach, an award-winning social enterprise connecting vetted teams of displaced tech talent with dignified digital work. Having worked for some of the most well-known companies in the world - including Amazon.com, AWS, the Walt Disney Company, and National Geographic - Giselle leverages technology, storytelling and impact sourcing to empower displaced communities and form bridges between the public and private sector.

Hana Mahmood, PhD Global Health 2022

Hana is a public health expert and researcher specialising in health informatics and mHealth (mobile health) technologies. One of her most ground-breaking contributions was leading fieldwork for Pakistan’s first national psychiatric morbidity survey, which involved months in the field, hundreds of team members, and late-night data checks. The survey gave voice to more than 11,000 households and forced mental health into the spotlight of national policy. Hana has led over 35 large-scale studies, but more importantly, she has turned research findings into national health policies that impact millions of children.

Hammed Kayode Alabi, MSc Africa and International Development 2021 

Hammed Kayode Alabi is an EdTech (education technology) leader and social entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and author, dedicated to advocating for education, youth empowerment, and sustainable development. Originally from Nigeria, he overcame a challenging upbringing marked by personal loss and financial struggles, which inspired him to empower young leaders in his community through education.  In 2023, Hammed founded Skill2Rural.Org, an EdTech start-up, which reached over 415 users in just eight months and educators signed up on the platform are currently reaching 128,000+ young people across Africa. And his work doesn't end there.

About Multi Story Edinburgh

Multi Story Edinburgh is a student-produced podcast that brings you the stories, experiences and wisdom of University of Edinburgh alumni. We hope they will inspire you, reassure you and remind you that you are part of the global University community that is here to support you as you make your own way in life.

The podcast is run by the Alumni Relations team at the University of Edinburgh. All opinions expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Edinburgh.
 
Music
Detective Begining Adventures by KonovalovMusic. Sourced from Tribe of Noise.

Transcript

[Theme music] 

Jimmy 00:00 
Hi. My name is Jimmy Paul.  

Gisselle 00:07 
My name is Giselle Gonzales. 

Hana 00:09 
My name is Hana Mahmood.  

Hammed 00:11 
My name is Hamed Kayode Alabi, and this is Multi Story Edinburgh. 

Nilufer 00:18 
The Being Edinburgh Alumni Award is one that celebrates exceptional graduates—of which we have no shortage—who have made a transformative impact in their fields and communities. The award acknowledges those committed to creating change on a local or global scale. 

I was lucky enough to talk with the four finalists of the 2025 Edinburgh Award: Jimmy Paul, Giselle Gonzales, Hana Mahmood, and Hamed Kayode Alabi. 

Jimmy completed his undergrad and master’s with us before going on to work with the NHS, then becoming the youngest ever head of Scotland’s Violence Reduction Unit. Drawing on his wide range of professional and personal experiences, Giselle knew she wanted to create change through business and forged her own path. Now, Equal Reach—her social enterprise—connects displaced talent with dignified work offered by major companies. Her work offers pride, security, and experience to displaced people through a fantastic business model. Hana earned her PhD with us after leaving work as a paediatric doctor to create change at a more institutional level. Now she turns research findings into national health policies, changing millions of children’s lives. Finally, Hamed worked tirelessly to improve education in his community in Nigeria before scaling up his work through education technology, benefiting countless young people across Africa. More globally, he’s created Wafiki AI, a generative-AI career advisor that spans 44 countries—and his story doesn’t end there. 

With such impressive people to talk to, you can understand that I wanted to know not just why they did it, but how. Join me as we talk all things motivation and dedication on this episode of Multi Story Edinburgh. I want to know, first of all, what motivated each of you to come to Edinburgh. 

Jimmy 02:02 
Lots of different reasons. First, it’s known as the birthplace of geography, and I studied human geography. I loved the subject—the impact of extreme weather on people. My interest grew when I looked at Hurricane Katrina; it wasn’t the most severe hurricane, but the lack of human response resulted in many more deaths and hardship than needed. Human geography became a passion, and Edinburgh was one of the best places to study it. 

Second—and this is deeper for me—as someone who grew up in the care system in East London and didn’t have the best childhood, it was also an escape. Edinburgh was far enough away from London to get away from the life I had lived, but close enough that people still spoke the same language. 

Third, back then Facebook was the main social media platform, and the reviews said Edinburgh had brilliant nightlife, sports, and social life. That mattered to me too. 

So: love of the subject and the prestige of the university; distance from a difficult early life; and the social experience.  

Gisselle 03:43 
My motivation began because, before going back to school, I’d been working for a few years. After undergrad I went into the travel industry and spent six to eight months of my year travelling the world. I worked at Disney and National Geographic—an absolute dream job in your early twenties. 

But I started reaching out to entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders I admired—people doing interesting work. I’d say, “Do you need help? I can do comms or branding.” I ended up working with people building solutions with technology or traditional nonprofit models. 

Living between those two worlds—luxury trips and grassroots founders—I found myself more drawn to creating impact. I was interested in how business could be a conduit for change.  

One summer I was working with Disney in Italy and realised I’d be overstaying my visa by a few days. I thought, “I could go to Scotland.” I visited and fell in love. The city is vibrant and full of heart. That’s when I thought, if I want to build something that matters, I need to be equipped—and this seemed like a great place to live. I loved the people I met at the business school. That’s how I got to the University of Edinburgh.  

Hana 05:42 
I stumbled into the opportunity of coming to Edinburgh, and I’m very proud of that. My PhD was part of a research network called RESPIRE under the University of Edinburgh’s Usher Institute. The network offered 11 PhD studentships across different countries. I was fortunate to receive one. 

Initially, when I joined RESPIRE, I didn’t envision doing a PhD. But once I learned about the opportunity from such a prestigious institution—and coming from Pakistan—I didn’t want to miss it. I applied for funding, was shortlisted, and was awarded the scholarship. That’s how I came to Edinburgh. 

Hammed 06:53 
I’d been doing change-making work and reached a point where I needed a scholarship to advance it. I wanted to do a master’s to learn how to scale my work. I received the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Edinburgh to study African International Development.  

I wanted to ground myself in regional development and African research, and I wanted a new experience. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program offered strong personal development and pastoral support, along with the prestige of the university. I wanted to use that opportunity to inspire young people who look like me. 

I grew up in one of the largest floating slums in Africa—Makoko, Nigeria. I lost my mum when I was seven, and my dad became unemployed almost at the same time. My brother and I were out of school for almost a year. Looking at where I came from, what are the odds that someone like me would study at the University of Edinburgh?  

It’s not just a privilege—it’s a responsibility to use the opportunity for the good of others. 

[Theme music] 

Jimmy 08:51 
There was also an element of survival for me, which I don’t think is typical for most students. I knew I needed to achieve. I needed the degree to set myself up for life. So there was enjoyment, but also pressure, and I work well with pressure. 

I worked alongside my studies and volunteered a bit, but I had a friend who spent countless evenings and weekends volunteering—hospital radio, mentoring, tutoring, sports coaching. Seeing how that set him up for an incredible career inspired me.  

After graduating, many people walk into opportunities they’ve created, or go home for a while. That wasn’t an option for me. I had a place on a law conversion degree, but as an English student in Scotland—even with care experience—there was no funding for a second undergraduate-type degree, even though it was accelerated. 

It was a dark time. I went from the high of graduating to having no funding, no home to go back to, and no clear next step. Many care-experienced people feel similarly after graduation.  

There were other hard moments—money was tight. But whatever your challenges are, they’re valid. Lean on friends. Ask for help. I had incredible friends who saw me through. My dissertation supervisor was a huge support—never made me feel like a burden and helped with references and applications. 

Life can go in two directions: give up or stay on track. Persistence matters. Sometimes you just need good people around you. I was lucky. 

Gisselle 13:12 
I loved my time at the university. It wasn’t long enough—the master’s was only a year. Our cohort was tight-knit: around 40 people from about 35 countries. It felt like studying with the United Nations and expanded my worldview.  

UK master’s degrees are concentrated—you cover in one year what the US might do in two. To stay motivated, I focused on why I was there and what I wanted to do after. 

I had a strong sense of why. I’d seen people use business to drive significant change. I wanted the tools to do the same. Every case study, article, and interview for my dissertation was a step closer to understanding how to build something meaningful. 

The people kept me going too. I remember sitting in a tiny library room with one window because it was quiet—especially during the Fringe—writing for six hours when the sun was shining. What pulled me back was the research and the glimpses of what I could do post-degree. 

The biggest motivator was speaking to individuals who had experienced forced displacement and were discovering opportunities through the digital economy. If my research could make someone feel their story mattered, I had a responsibility not to let it sit on a shelf. I needed to build something real.  

Hana 16:14 
It was everything—from being in a PhD to having to complete it. My supervisors were excellent. We met regularly; I gave updates; they gave meaningful feedback. They supported my research and my personal challenges.  

Toward the end, I was very concerned about writing up my thesis. My daughter had just been born. My family—especially my husband—stood by me: “Leave everything. Sit and write. We’ll be there for you.” My mother-in-law, my husband, my kids—they all understood. 

Another motivation was the impact I could create after the PhD. Coming from Pakistan, earning a PhD from Edinburgh adds tremendous value. People recognise you as a credible technical advisor. 

At the beginning, the process felt overwhelming—enrolment, meetings, the inception stage—but it became clearer over time. The harder challenges were personal: giving birth, caring for a newborn, managing research and writing. The experience built responsibility and focus in me. Before that, I was scattered. 

Hammed 19:01 
I came during the COVID years—2020—so the experience was different. I isolated for two weeks before even seeing the city. I thrive in in-person classrooms, so it was challenging. But the Mastercard Scholars community supported me. We lived in university accommodation together, isolated together, and bonded deeply. We’re still close—one of them nominated me for this award. 

Despite COVID, I learned a lot. I wrote my dissertation as a story, grounded in criticality. I learned to question things. My self-awareness grew.  

We often focus on outcomes and forget the process. But the wins are often in the process. During my master’s I focused less on grades and more on learning. I asked, “Have I given my best?” Being present became my principle. The opportunities of the future exist in the present—the people who will write your recommendations are here now. Being present creates the pathway. 

[Theme music] 

Nilufer 21:53 
Reflecting on your careers since graduation and the unique paths you’ve taken together, I have to ask: what happened next? What kept you going and reaching for your goals? 

Jimmy 22:06 
I graduated in 2012. I didn’t get onto the law conversion degree I was hoping to do because of funding. I had the place but couldn’t afford it. I worked jobs I didn’t enjoy for a year—banks, Amazon, sports coaching—where you didn’t feel invested in. Every minute of your break was monitored. You felt like a robot.  

I applied for lots of graduate schemes. I didn’t get many, but one I did get was the NHS Management Training Scheme—to lead, and to lead well. It was brilliant. I then moved to the looked-after children’s sector, to the Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland. During my four years there, I was one of the co-chairs of the Independent Care Review. If listeners haven’t looked at its findings—The Promise—have a look. We listened to children, young people, and adults with care experience across Scotland. We listened to professionals and built recommendations and a vision for change that is now fully funded. We’re five years into a ten-year delivery plan for whole-system change. It’s one of the most amazing things I’ve been part of. 

After that, I headed up a charity for nearly three years—the Wellbeing Economy Alliance—focused on orienting our economy to make things better for people and planet, not just profit. Now I head the Violence Reduction Unit. People look at my career and say, “You’ve jumped about.” But the thread is consistent: make the world fairer, listen to those with lived experience, and put people at the centre of care and policy. 

Gisselle 24:22 
Post-graduation, I moved back to Seattle and started working at AWS Startups, leading operations for a niche part of the business where we received startup applications from around the world. I saw countless support networks and startups—thousands of applications weekly. I then moved to the retail side of Amazon to work on sustainability, partnering with certification bodies and major brands to build the business case for investing in more sustainable products. It taught me how to speak to the motivations of people in power. 

All the while, I was piloting ways to connect displaced talent to digital work. We created up to six figures’ worth of income opportunities for refugees in two of the world’s largest camps. The stories from the ground and the business case convinced me there was something real here. I looked for an organisation to be the matchmaker I needed—and couldn’t find it. Sitting inside a major business, I also saw strong demand for trustworthy, high-quality talent. 

It felt like two sides of the same coin. If I could see the need and had a growing idea for how to solve it, and didn’t try, I’d regret it forever. I took the risk and quit to build Equal Reach full-time—a freelancing marketplace connecting teams of displaced talent with dignified digital work.

Hana 27:16 
When I was doing my medical degree, my aim was to become a paediatrician. After graduation, I practised for a couple of years. Along the way, I realised something was missing. Children were dying of preventable illnesses—issues that could be addressed by simple practices like hygiene, handwashing, breastfeeding, immunisation. I felt I should prevent illness, not only treat it. 

I did a master’s in Health Informatics and began working full-time in public health, focusing on maternal and child health. I joined multi-country research networks and conducted in-country research to inform strategies and policies in Pakistan, working regularly with the Ministry of Health. The motivation grew: I was impacting millions, not just thousands. 

I became part of the RESPIRE Research Network and got the opportunity to do this PhD. After returning, my portfolio expanded. I engaged more with the ministry and major stakeholders on disease prevention and evidence generation to inform decision-making. The journey took me from clinical practice to policy impact. 

Hammed 29:38 
My work covers many things. I started a nonprofit at 23—the Grit and Language Initiative—to help children in underserved and displaced communities develop life and soft skills. In 2024 I launched an edtech platform, skitura.org, which has onboarded over 300 educators and reached almost 120,000 young people across underserved communities in Africa. I also built RafikiAI, Africa’s first generative-AI career advisor and counsellor for underserved youth. 

Alongside running nonprofits and startups, I worked with Refugee Education UK in London as Senior Mentoring Coordinator, connecting refugees and asylum seekers with educational support. I then led the Refugee and Befriender Programme at the British Red Cross. I now work as the Transitions Coordinator for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh, supporting scholars into meaningful, dignified jobs after their master’s. 

I’m also working on converting abandoned buildings into net-zero innovation centres in Nigeria, where kids in rural, hard-to-reach areas can develop AI and digital skills.  

[Theme music] 

Jimmy 31:59 
My mindset has always been: how can I deliver the most change? How can I use the insights and skills I’ve built to affect the most good? Ten years ago I’d say to chief execs, “One day I’d love to be in your shoes.” People thought I meant I wanted the title. What I meant was: the more influence I have—grounded in values and conviction—the more positive impact we can create. 

Stories keep me motivated. Stories from people with care experience. The responsibility to make things better. I’m tired of hearing from bereaved parents who’ve lost children to violence, and of the impact on families and communities. 

I’ve also met inspiring leaders who model how to support people and lead organisations. When we launched The Promise recommendations, I watched a parliamentary discussion where parties competed to be more ambitious for implementation—asking how to fund more, move faster. That belief in the work keeps you going. 

There’s also a tightrope to walk: between patience and impatience; responsibility and overwhelm; participation and elevating others’ voices. I try to use my platform to bring others with me. Recently I attended an event at the palace about knife crime and youth opportunities. I brought a young person from a charity partner; it was her first time on a plane, first time in London, first time meeting the King and Idris Elba. Use your access to elevate others.  

Gisselle 37:26 
For me, it’s the people at the heart of the model—the talent who’ve become friends and colleagues. Equal Reach is being built with that talent at its core. If at any point what we’re building diminishes or exploits them, I’ll shut it down. It wouldn’t be worth it.  

Hearing from someone that a job gave them dignity after their homeland and life were stripped away—that matters. Recently, in Kenya and Uganda, two team members told UNHCR they never imagined working with an international client; now people in their community ask them for coaching. Those stories keep me motivated. 

On the flip side, the news can be overwhelming. Years ago I heard: anger can either melt you into a puddle or act like a magnifying glass. If you can funnel anger into productive action that brings beauty rather than hate, it’s powerful. My dad told me: “Pursue what makes you mad and what makes you cry. That’s what you give your life to.” 

Hana 41:14 
I worked on a project improving nutrition awareness in rural Pakistan. We shared information with caregivers on how to improve practices using foods they already had. Mothers told me, “No one ever explained this. We were eating this daily but not in the right way.” They saw their children healthier and happier. That feedback motivates me. 

When I practised clinically, parents’ gratitude after a child survived a critical illness was moving. Now I work across the spectrum—from policy to community. For example, we did a situation analysis on under-five pneumonia. I met policymakers, programme managers, healthcare workers, and communities. That holistic perspective—policy, clinical, and community—helps design interventions that are more results-oriented. 

Hammed 44:04 
My story is my fuel. I found purpose through grief. Losing my mum at seven, with no time to grieve, I had to walk through it. I turned that feeling of loss and rejection into purpose for the good of others. Find your why. The pursuit itself is fulfilling. 

I use the analogy of “burning in” vs. “burning out.” Burning out is chasing external validation and big money as the main purpose. Burning in is being driven by purpose—you feel a fire. Even when tired, there’s fulfilment. You keep going. Figure out what lets you burn in. 

[Theme music] 

Nilufer 46:36 
Finally, I asked these impressive people about advice for aspiring changemakers. How exactly do you make change happen? 

Jimmy 46:48
A few things. Find your why. Why are you studying what you’re studying? Why do you want to do what you do? My why is rooted in personal experience and service to others. Keep at it. Don’t give up. Stay positive and persistent. Break big goals into achievable steps and take action. 

Make yourself known. Get in front of key organisations. Offer something unique—an article, a thought piece, voluntary time on a project. Remember: even if your motivation is personal, it can’t be about you forever. Be in service of others. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve your dreams. You’ll fail along the way—rise every time. 

Gisselle 50:05 
When people hear my story, I don’t want them to think I always knew my why. I didn’t. I discovered it by testing many things. On paper, my career doesn’t make obvious sense, but those experiments wove together. I showed up in places where people I admired worked; I asked to shadow them; I learned. 

If you’re unsure, take one step at a time. Follow your curiosity. Build a “personal board of advisors.” I had mentors for go-to-market strategy and more. Sometimes we’d book hours and map everything on whiteboards. You don’t have to figure it out alone. Reach out—LinkedIn can start a conversation that turns into a long-term mentorship. Build your team. 

Hana 53:43 
Go one step at a time. Don’t fixate on the end goal—it can overwhelm you. Whether it’s a thesis or an exam, focus on the next step. Go a bit slower—this isn’t procrastination; it’s thoughtful decision-making. Sleep on decisions. We’re losing patience to instant gratification, but patience matters. Write down your options and outcomes; consider what happens if you take or don’t take a step. 

In my field, think beyond yourself. Put yourself in communities’ shoes. You won’t get that from an office—you have to go out, move beyond your comfort zone, and blend in with the community to understand their problems. 

Hammed 56:51 
Do something for others—especially when you feel stuck. It’s not just about money; offer your skills. Solve a small problem. Volunteer an hour. Giving shifts your psychology and moves you forward. 

Look for “proximal impact.” What’s within your reach—your company, school, neighbourhood? Maybe it’s tutoring a student for an hour a week, writing about an issue you care about, or supporting a refugee locally. Change is change, no matter how small. Start with the little buckets within your community.  

[Theme music] 

Nilufer 59:56 
Thank you so much for listening to this special episode of Multi Story Edinburgh. I was lucky to discuss with these four fantastic Being Edinburgh finalists all things motivation, dedication, and more. To hear more about these alumni, see this episode’s description for information about these inspiring changemakers. To find out more about the Being Edinburgh Alumni Award, head to alumni.ed.ac.uk/BeingEdinburghAward. Thanks for listening.