Philip Olagunju is a Director in the corporate finance division of Cambridge based accountancy practice PEM, whilst also studying for an MBA at Bradford University School of Management and sitting on the advisory board for Lendoe, a tech-enabled platform that facilitates access to capital for underrepresented black and minority ethnic entrepreneurs. In addition, Philip takes a very active role in his local church and enjoys spending time with his wife and young family.
“I have really fond memories of my time at Emanuel. I particularly remember the tuckshop scramble! After assembly, we could get cookies from the tuckshop and everyone rushed over as there was limited stock. The more entrepreneurial of us would dash to the front of the queue, buy cookies and sell them for a marked up price. My interest was purely in the cookies.
I came to Emanuel for the quality of the education and I received fee-assistance through an academic scholarship. I remember taking the 11 plus entrance exams and meeting Mr Thompson. There was a real affinity between him and my family which influenced the decision to come to Emanuel. My Dad emigrated from Nigeria to the UK and was a great advocate for education; he was of the opinion that if there was an opportunity out there, I should go for it.
I came to school from Islington in North London. At the beginning of my time in Emanuel in Hill form, I caught the bus from King’s Cross to Brixton and then from Brixton to Battersea Rise before I realised it was easier to catch the train, which shaved an hour from my commute! My Dad took me to school three times and then left me to it. I have small children myself now and I cannot imagine letting them travel across London alone at 10 years old. Whilst my commute was long at such a young age, it shaped and moulded me and gave me an inherent internal confidence that you might not get if you are dropped at the school gates. I had to grow up pretty quickly and I’m proud of that.
I have fond memories of Mr Joslin, Mr Driver and Miss Shiell but two in particular stand out – Mr Labinjo (Biology) and Mrs Rigby (Maths). They were part of a Christian club called Just Looking that met on a Tuesday lunchtime. Back then, I had no scruples about sharing my faith and Mr Labinjo encouraged me to come along on a Tuesday. I fell away after my first few attendances but I was really impressed to see both of those teachers wearing their faith on their sleeve. They were a true expression of that faith in terms of acceptance and care too. I regret that I allowed social influences to pull me away whereas it would have been beneficial for me to attend the club during my formative years.
I was really active at school and I’m grateful for all the opportunities to dive in. I was in the Chess Club, the Choir (and have fond memories of Mr Gregory), football 2nd XI, rugby 2nd XV, a Librarian and a Prefect. I rowed for a year at Barnes on a Wednesday, which was good fun. I was proud to be a member of Drake and got really involved in inter-house competitions too. I remember always having activities to do. This helped me socially as most boys were getting transport home in different directions so a way to plug into friendship groups was through clubs and activities.
Emanuel was a cultural melting pot of people from different socio-economic and ethnic groups all coming together and we were just mates. Every so often, there would be banter and a focus on our differences but it was innocent and taken in good heart. When we came back together in 2019 for a Class of 1999 20-year reunion, that positive feeling remained and is underpinned by the diversity, inclusion and representation that we all experienced in our school days. My passion comes from the fact that I’ve experienced racial integration and harmony first-hand at Emanuel.
As a result of the reunion in 2019, an OE WhatsApp group for our year was set up and every so often we banter on it. The reunion really enabled me to reconnect with so many people from my year. I’d seen what Milad Shadrooh, the Singing Dentist, was doing from afar on TV and social media, for instance, but it was through the reunion that we reconnected.
I’m really proud of the lifelong friends I made at Emanuel; two of my closest friends from school, Sam Okine and Nikki Kpatakpa, were groomsmen at my wedding in 2012. Sam is due to get married this year and we were all part of Nikki’s wedding party too. Times have changed but that bond is still very strong.
I took Maths, English and Economics A levels at Brampton College in Hendon when I left Emanuel. It was much closer to home! I then went on to do Accounting and Financial Management at Loughborough University, graduating in 2004.
I now have coming up to 16 years’ experience in corporate finance advisory services. I currently work for PEM, famous for being the largest and longest-standing accountancy practice in Cambridge. I’m a Director in the Corporate Finance division, helping entrepreneurs and business owners to sell their companies, buy companies and raise finance.
I also sit on the advisory board for Lendoe, a tech-enabled platform that facilitates access to capital for underrepresented black and minority ethnic entrepreneurs. Studies shows that minority ethnic entrepreneurs struggle to gain access to growth capital for all sorts of social and structural reasons. Accelerated by the events around the death of George Floyd in America, I felt passionate about contributing to enterprises such as this. I was initially part of a steering committee and then became a part of the advisory board consulting on strategy, market penetration, growth, accessing new clients and broadening the audience so that more people hear about the fantastic work that Lendoe are doing.
Studying for an MBA with a young family during the pandemic has been tough! It would have been impossible without my incredibly supportive wife and helpful work colleagues as there have been times when I’ve had to lock myself away to study. Saturdays have been my typical study days to get my head down for hours at a time while my wife focuses on the kids. Studying for an MBA has stretched me mentally but it’s also enhanced my knowledge and skills, broadened my thinking and made me aware of other ways of approaching work situations. The experience has been both challenging and very rewarding. Part of my rationale for doing an MBA is that I went down a corporate finance rather than a traditional accountancy route and so it now gives me another credential and a different perspective on approaching business conundrums.
What would I say to my former self if I came across myself in the playground? That’s a really interesting and challenging question. I’d say everything you go through, good and bad, goes into an experience bank. Embrace it and try not to resist the tough times. These things give you resilience, an appetite for hard work and a determination to keep going. If I could grab my 11-year-old self by the ears, I’d say ‘crack on, keep going – because all of this will benefit you in the future and build resilience.’
My spare time is spent with my wife and two kids. Zachariah turns five at the end of the month and Asher turns two in April.
Religion is still hugely important to me in terms of community outreach, social action and charitable activity. My Christian faith underpins everything in my life and it was shaped during my time at Emanuel. I’m part of the worship team and I play the bass at my church, Jubilee Church London with sites in Enfield, Wood Green and Ilford. I play a lead role in both the men’s and young adults’ ministries. It’s fun putting on social events and activities to facilitate community.
When I have absolutely nothing else to do, I enjoy a good film!”