Octavia Goredema

Octavia Goredema is an author, career coach, and founder known for her work in career development and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is the author of "Prep, Push, Pivot: Essential Career Strategies for Underrepresented Women," a career guide recognized by Cosmopolitan and Refinery29. The book provides practical strategies for women of color navigating career transitions, promotions, job loss, and reentry into the workforce. Goredema has also produced two Audible Original series, "How to Change Careers" and "Brand Yourself for Success," focused on professional growth and personal branding.

As the founder of Twenty Ten Agency, Goredema has coached professionals across industries, supporting leaders at companies such as Google, Nike, American Airlines, General Motors, Tinder, and Dow Jones. Her coaching and workshops emphasize advancing opportunities for underrepresented professionals and promoting workplace diversity and inclusion. She is also the CEO of Fire Memos, a Techstars portfolio company that uses AI-powered coaching to help employees document and recognize their work accomplishments.

Goredema has contributed to the media landscape by co-hosting and producing "HBR Now," Harvard Business Review's weekly live show about leadership, and contributing a chapter to the "HBR Guide to Navigating the Toxic Workplace," published by Harvard Business Review Press. Her insights have appeared in Fast Company, CNBC, Forbes, Business Insider, Fortune, CNN, Newsweek, The Guardian, and Los Angeles Times. She has spoken at institutions including University of Oxford, University of Toronto Rotman School of Management, NYU Stern School of Business, and the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit.

Goredema was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, where she leads the Gender Equity Network in the United States, and serves as an Ambassador of the Pankhurst Centre. Goredema's career centers on career coaching, workplace equity, and professional development.