No one opened the door, so I knocked again

In this latest episode of the Race in STEM podcast, host Steven Fuller sits down with Bamidele (Bami) Farinre, a biomedical scientist, public health professional, mentor, and community builder, to explore the realities of building a STEM career as a woman of colour in the UK.

Bami’s story is one of determination, not ease. Her journey didn’t start with access, privilege, or clear pathways. Instead, it began with rejection, resilience, and a refusal to give up.

From Nigeria to the UK: a journey marked by identity and adjustment

Growing up in Nigeria, Bami lived in a close-knit community where responsibility, leadership, and interdependence were part of daily life. As the eldest daughter, she took on roles that shaped her confidence early on.

But arriving in the UK as a teenager brought an abrupt shift. She found herself navigating culture shock, racism, bullying, and questions about identity and belonging. The transition was difficult, and for a time, it made her withdraw. These experiences later became the foundation of her resilience — the quiet strength she would draw on again and again throughout her career.

“Your grades don’t define you” — learning to start again

Bami speaks candidly about failing her first year of college in the UK. A lecturer once told her she wasn’t cut out for science. She started applying for entry-level science roles and was rejected repeatedly, for almost two years. This is where the title of the episode comes alive.

“No one opened the door for me, so I kept knocking.”

Her breakthrough didn’t come from luck. It came from persistence. Eventually, she secured an entry-level role as a medical laboratory assistant, a turning point that finally allowed her to build the STEM career she had fought so hard for.

Representation, visibility, and why access still isn’t equal

Bami’s experiences reflect a wider truth across the STEM sector: talent is everywhere, opportunity isn’t.

She talks openly about being underestimated, being overlooked for roles she was qualified for, a lack of role models who looked like her, navigating microaggressions, and being “the only one” in rooms across her early career.

These systemic issues continue to shape the experiences of women of colour entering STEM. For Bami, representation isn’t a buzzword, it’s a necessity. It changes belonging, confidence, and career outcomes.

Mentorship, community, and giving back

Raised in a culture where community is everything, Bami carried that value into adulthood.

Today, she mentors students and early-career scientists, volunteers as a CPD officer, advocates for representation in the NHS, supports women of colour entering healthcare science, and champions community-led progress across STEM.

She believes mentorship should not be a privilege, it should be a standard. “Your story becomes the blueprint for someone else’s path.”

Her message to those fighting for their place in STEM

The heart of this episode lies in the advice Bami shares with listeners who are still trying to get into STEM, still hearing “no,” still doubting themselves:

• Ask for help. Don’t be shy to say you’re struggling.
• If the door doesn’t open, knock again, louder if you must.
• Take up space. You deserve to be in the room.
• You are not supposed to walk this journey alone. Find your people.
• Value yourself even when others don’t yet see it.

This episode is raw, real and deeply reflective of the hidden labour behind STEM careers for many people of colour.

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