Creating inclusive spaces for black engineers influences the future

We recently met Dr. Nike Folayan, who is doing incredible work to build inclusive spaces for black and minority engineers. She tells us how her personal experiences inform this work and why engineering belongs to everyone.

SCCMC: What inspired you to start the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE)?

Nike: I co-founded AFBE alongside Dr. Ollie Folayan (also my brother) because of the environment in which we both found ourselves. In 2007, gang culture in London was a news headline topic and at the time, the engineering industry was reporting on the lack of representation of people of minority ethnic backgrounds. Additionally, Ollie and I found ourselves working in engineering environments that were far from welcoming to people like us. We had initially assumed we could speak to other people of similar ethnic backgrounds who had successfully navigated any barriers we were experiencing, but there were very few - and certainly none - within the organizations we worked in. We became determined that we could do something to change the narrative for others who came after us and the stereotype of what an engineer looks like while also supporting young people to consider STEM professions. These were and are our inspirations for AFBE.

Dr. Nike Folayan

SCCMC: Could you tell us about some of the standout moments and achievements AFBE has experienced since its inception? What are you most proud of accomplishing with the organization?

Nike: There have been many standout moments, but I will share three.

The first for me is meeting young people that we had supported years prior and finding out they are engineering professionals. One of these young people is an engineer named Noah who joined the industry after participating in our secondary school program, Making Engineering Hot, and then later on in our university program, Transition.

The next would be our programs expanding across the UK. For example, our Transition program, which helps university students transition into the world of work, started in Aberdeen as part of AFBE Scotland established by Ollie. That program has reached more than 7,000 young people and our survey in 2017 demonstrated that 70 percent of attendees secured engineering jobs within 12 months post graduation. This is unique as only 9 percent of engineering professionals are from minoritized groups.

The third would be our national conference, AFBELive, which we launched in 2022 and the testimonials of attendees from employment to promotion that we have received. The 2024 AFBELive conference is themed, “The Future of Engineering: Human Centric Solutions for Today's Challenges.”

SCCMC: What role do you see AFBE and other organizations playing in advancing diversity and inclusion in the engineering profession as a whole?

Nike: When AFBE launched, I believe the percentage of minority engineers in the industry was 4 percent, and no one within our space was really talking about diversity and inclusion. Our role has always been to ensure that everyone, regardless of background, finds their place and has a sense of belonging. The role of organizations like ours is to be honest about the profession and the real-life experiences of people from underrepresented groups in engineering. This includes ensuring that organizations say what they do and do what they say.

“Our role has always been to ensure that everyone, regardless of background, finds their place and has a sense of belonging.”

SCCMC: In addition to AFBE, what other projects or initiatives are you involved in, and how do they align with your mission to promote diversity and inclusion in engineering?

Nike: I wear many hats. I am a fellow of the IET and serve as a council member. I am a trustee at EngineeringUK and serve on the advisory board of the Code. I’m also a trustee at Stemettefutures and serve on a number of university advisory boards. All of these support my goals to make our engineering world a more inclusive space.

SCCMC: Can you share any personal experiences or anecdotes that have shaped your perspective on these topics?

Nike: I have always been aware of being the only woman, and mostly the only Black woman, in industry meetings. As such, I have had interesting experiences working in my sector. I have had very positive experiences with allies who have stood up to support and promote my growth and nurture my sense of belonging, but I have also had some interesting experiences. For example, when I worked onsite and found there were no female bathrooms, or when people assumed I was at a meeting to make the coffee when in fact I was chairing the meetings. It has been quite a journey, and I have had remarkably interesting conversations with many types of people with diverse views and experiences. These have all helped me balance my views. I am also very aware of my own personal biases, and I check these from time to time to ensure I am still working on them.

SCCMC: As a leader in the engineering community, what advice would you give to young minority ethnic engineers?

Nike: My advice would be that engineering belongs to them, too. Engineering can shape a generation and with the advancement of technology, they will need to get involved in order to create the future we would all like to see.

SCCMC: We host a popular Book Club and we’re always looking for recommendations. What are you currently reading?

Nike: I just picked up Ain’t I a Woman by Bell Hooks. I have been thinking of reading this for a while.

{We love Bell Hooks!}