The North of Scotland Meet and Greet event hosted by Black Professionals Scotland (BPS) on 29th April 2023 was a resounding success, with 46 members in attendance at the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel in Aberdeen. The event was aimed at promoting networking opportunities and empowering Black professionals and students in Scotland.

The keynote speaker for the event, Enoch Adeyemi; Founder and CEO of BPS, shared his inspiring story of overcoming hurdles as a Black professional in Scotland. He emphasized the importance of networking and highlighted BPS's mission to remove the blockers between Black professionals and organizations. Enoch encouraged the audience to explore non-traditional routes and rely on their network.

The interactive panel session that followed featured Enoch Adeyemi, Taofeek Giwa and Oye Owusu, with Oye Owusu acting as the moderator. The panelists answered questions from the audience on topics such as what BPS can do for students, opportunities available for students and other routes to professional success beyond getting a job. There were also discussions on how to enhance the visibility of Black people to organizations and how to bring jobs to places like Aberdeen, where job opportunities for Black professionals may be limited.

Taofeek Giwa; Director for Intiatives at BPS, emphasized the importance of having a positive mindset in making the most of experiences and highlighted the value of a well-crafted CV in setting oneself apart from other applicants.

Overall, the event was insightful. Attendees left feeling inspired and motivated to take giant leaps in accelerating their career success. One participant even commented that the community in Aberdeen needs more events like this. Black Professionals Scotland continues to provide a platform for Black professionals to connect and thrive in Scotland.