An Investment towards a Brighter Creative Future

The Unexpected Opportunity

A few weeks ago, an email landed in my inbox, one that stopped me in my tracks—an invitation from the Future London Academy, one of the world's most prestigious creative leadership schools. My immediate reaction? "There's no way I can afford £35k for this program." I nearly deleted the email on the spot.

But sometimes, life has different plans.

Days later, another message arrived mentioning a £20k grant opportunity. With nothing to lose, I submitted my application. In less than a week—despite being in the final batch of interviewees—I received the news: I was accepted with the GRANT. In a year filled with challenges, this moment of pure excitement felt like a breathe of fresh air.

I've been accepted into the Executive Program for Design Leaders at the Future London Academy... and I'm still pinching myself.

Why This Matters

This past year has been a rollercoaster. I lost two beloved family members and only completed my MBA in May. I'd promised myself a break from education, knowing my budget couldn't stretch any further. But this opportunity? It's not just another program—it's THE program.

For years, I've dreamed of formal design education, especially one perfectly aligned with my passion for inspiring, managing, and scaling design teams as much as helping others grow.

As an award-winning brand designer who's grown brands' market share from single to double digits and helped tech clients secure funding through brand strategy & design, I've achieved success through self-teaching and determination. But this program represents the missing piece in my professional development.

What once seemed financially out of reach—a pipe dream—is suddenly within grasp, and the timing feels destined.

My Journey in Design has been defined by impact:

* Creative Director and Global Head of Design for international companies

* Double MBA degree holder

* Worked with industry giants like Interswitch, Traction Apps, Terragon, and Make Music Lagos

* Created globally recognized designs that increased merchandise sales by 80%

* Helped my company secured 5-6 figure retainerships in dollars through strategic design

* Keynote speaker at Africa's largest design conferences.

* Ranked in the top 1% of global mentors in design and branding on ADPlist

* Brand Designer of the Year award; amongst many other great feats I'm proud of.

But beyond personal achievements, this isn't just my dream anymore—it's become a hope for every designer and creative who's felt held back by circumstances.

Throughout my career, I've dedicated myself to uplifting other designers through training, mentorship, and talks. I recently co-founded Lilac Africa, an ed-tech initiative enabling an environment of learning and community for women breaking into tech, partnering with companies like Octa, Lotus Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank.

This program at Future London Academy—which accepts only 30 participants worldwide every year—will exponentially amplify my ability to create more impact.

Where You Come In

I've secured over 75% of the program fees through the grant and personal savings. To complete this journey, I need you to invest in me for the remaining £8,000.

Your contribution isn't just funding a course—it's investing in a ripple effect that will reach hundreds of designers across Nigeria and Africa. Every pound donated will transform into knowledge, opportunities, and growth for our entire design community.

By supporting this campaign, you become part of a larger story: bringing world-class design leadership principles back to Nigeria's growing creative economy and helping develop the next generation of design leaders.

My Promise

When I return from this program, I commit to:

* Creating design leadership workshops based that can help other designers move from good to great.

* Developing resources to help Nigerian designers compete globally

* Documenting and sharing the entire journey

Thank you for considering this investment in our shared creative future.

Please make your donations today, via the link or directly to my bank account details 0059957511 - Access bank.

With gratitude,

Bolutife Awakan