Stories of Success - Cynthia Ajayi (Senior PR & Comms Officer at EHU)
Thursday 22-10-2026 - 14:46
From the Democratic Republic of Congo to London, Liverpool and a career in communications at Edge Hill University, Cynthia Ajayi’s journey is a reminder that success doesn’t always follow a straight line.
Through unexpected opportunities, challenges with confidence and the support of women who believed in her, Cynthia has learned that success is not just about how far you go, but how you feel along the way.
What does success really look like? Is it a prestigious job title, a well-known employer or the ability to say you have made it? For Cynthia Ajayi, Senior PR and Communications Officer at Edge Hill University, the answer has changed over time. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cynthia grew up in London before moving to Liverpool for university. What began as a journey into media eventually led her into marketing and communications, a career she discovered almost by accident. Her story is one of embracing the unexpected, learning to trust herself and understanding that sometimes the opportunities that shape us most are the ones we never planned for.
Finding A Path She Never Expected
Cynthia’s career began with a love of drama and English. After studying these subjects, she gained work experience at a production company before securing a role as a production coordinator at the BBC, spending around four years working in media. When her contract came to an end, she found herself at a crossroad. Although she had gained experience in marketing and communications through various projects, she had never seriously considered pursuing it as a long-term career.
An opportunity to train as a business adviser for a year introduced her to a different direction. While the role itself did not work out as she had hoped, it opened another door: a position on the organisation’s marketing team, where she could bring her existing media skills into a new environment. Looking back, Cynthia began to recognise a common thread running through her experiences.
“I think whenever I look back at all the roles I’ve done, there’s some element of communication in there and working in a team.”
What initially felt like an unexpected change became the foundation of her career in marketing and communications. Her journey is a powerful reminder that our careers do not always need to follow a carefully mapped-out plan. Skills gained in one environment can open doors in another, and an experience that feels like a setback can sometimes lead us somewhere we had never considered.
The People Who Help Us Believe In Ourselves
Behind Cynthia’s willingness to take opportunities is the influence of people who encouraged her to keep learning and growing. One of her biggest inspirations has always been her mum. Growing up with a mother who had experienced the realities of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cynthia learned the importance of making the most of opportunities and never taking education for granted. For her mum, education was about more than formal qualifications. It was about continually developing yourself, whether through studying, teaching yourself new skills or remaining open to new experiences.
This outlook has stayed with Cynthia throughout her career.
She also credits the female managers she has worked with, describing them as people who recognised her potential, encouraged her and allowed her to remain true to herself. Having people who see something in us before we fully recognise it ourselves can make a lasting difference. Sometimes, the encouragement we receive from others helps us take the steps we are not yet confident enough to take alone. For Cynthia, these relationships have reinforced the importance of staying open to growth while remaining authentic.
When Confidence Becomes The Biggest Barrier
Although Cynthia’s career has brought many opportunities, it has not always been an easy journey. Losing her contract at the BBC made returning to the media industry difficult, and the experience affected how she viewed her own abilities. She began questioning whether she was good enough and whether she could succeed in the roles she wanted.
Looking back, she recognises that a lack of confidence sometimes stopped her from pursuing opportunities she might otherwise have taken. It is an experience that many students and graduates may recognise; having the skills or potential to do something but questioning yourself before you have even given yourself the chance.
For Cynthia, learning to separate her own worth from other people’s opinions has been important. Her approach is to continue treating people with kindness and not allow other people’s perceptions to dictate her direction. If she has acted with kindness and integrity, she does not believe she needs to carry the burden of someone else’s assumptions. It is a lesson in protecting your confidence, understanding what is within your control and continuing to move forward even when you cannot control how others see you.
Redefining What Success Means
Working at the BBC was once a significant marker of success for Cynthia. Like many people beginning their careers, she associated success with a high-paying job, working for a recognisable organisation and reaching a position that would make her feel she had made it. However, her experience taught her that an impressive job title does not automatically mean you are happy. Although working at the BBC was a valuable experience, she describes it as one of the hardest working environments she had experienced. Over time, her definition of success began to change.
“For me, success now looks like peace.”
For Cynthia, success means working somewhere she enjoys, being surrounded by people she values and feeling that her work contributes to something meaningful. It also means having a fulfilling life outside work, maintaining relationships, looking after her health and finding balance.
She challenges the idea that success requires constantly overworking or giving every part of yourself to your career. Instead, she believes that being able to enjoy your work while still having peace and fulfilment at home is just as important as professional achievements. Her perspective offers an important reminder to students who may feel pressure to have their entire futures figured out. Success does not have to look the same for everyone, and it is allowed to change as you grow.
Creating Opportunities Instead Of Waiting For Them
When asked what advice she would give students beginning to think about their futures, Cynthia’s message was clear: take opportunities, create your own and do not be afraid to ask questions.
During her time at university, Cynthia became president of the Afro-Caribbean Society for two years. It was not necessarily a role she had planned for herself, but when nobody else wanted to take it on, she decided to step forward. What followed was an experience filled with opportunities to build community and do things she had never imagined herself doing. By saying yes, she created experiences that helped shape her personal and professional development.
Cynthia believes students today have more ways than ever to turn their interests into something tangible. Whether it is starting a podcast, developing a creative project or building experience in a field they want to explore, students do not always need to wait for someone else to give them permission. Sometimes, the first step is simply being willing to try.
Her advice is equally relevant when it comes to asking for opportunities, seeking guidance or putting yourself forward for something new.
“If you don’t ask, it’s always a no.”
A question might lead to rejection, but it might also open a door you never knew existed. Either way, asking gives you the opportunity to find out.
Being Confident In Who You Are
For Cynthia, one of the biggest changes she would like to see for the next generation is greater confidence in who they are. Growing up in a world increasingly shaped by social media, young people can find themselves comparing their lives with carefully selected snapshots of other people’s experiences.
Cynthia believes it is important to remember that what we see online rarely tells the whole story. Constant comparison can undermine confidence and affect mental health, making it harder to recognise our own achievements and individual journeys. Her message is to focus less on measuring yourself against others and more on understanding your own identity, using your voice and creating opportunities that reflect your interests and ambitions.
This also means being proud of your cultural background, even when other people do not fully understand it. Cynthia acknowledges that people may sometimes lack cultural awareness or understanding. When this happens, she encourages students not to feel that their identity, traditions or experiences are somehow less valid.
“Be proud of who you are, be proud of your culture, be proud of your background, stand tall.”
She also recognises that there can be value in educating others. Sometimes people need the opportunity to learn about experiences different from their own. What they choose to do with that knowledge afterwards, however, is up to them. The important thing is to not allow somebody else’s lack of understanding to diminish your sense of self. For students navigating university, work and their own personal journeys, this message is especially important: belonging should not require you to hide or change the parts of yourself that make you who you are.
The Achievement That Means The Most
When asked which achievement she was most proud of, Cynthia did not immediately point to a job title or professional milestone. Instead, she reflected on a particularly challenging period in her life.
While studying part-time for her master’s degree in journalism and working part-time, she was also supporting her family while her mother-in-law stayed with them and underwent cancer treatment. Balancing work, study and family responsibilities was demanding, and it was only after coming through that period that Cynthia fully appreciated how difficult it had been. Despite the pressures, she completed her degree with a strong result, and her mother-in-law recovered and is now healthy.
Looking back, Cynthia feels proud of how she navigated that season of her life, particularly because she had support around her.
Her experience highlights an important truth: some of our most meaningful achievements happen away from public recognition. They are found in the difficult periods we navigate, the responsibilities we carry and the moments when we discover what we can overcome with the right support. Success is not always about reaching the next milestone. Sometimes, it is about making it through a challenging chapter and recognising the strength it took to get there.
A Message For The Next Generation
Cynthia’s journey has not been a straight line from university to a clearly defined career. It has involved unexpected changes, moments of self-doubt, influential mentors and opportunities that emerged when she was willing to take a chance. From her mother’s encouragement to the women who helped her recognise her potential, the people around her have played an important role in shaping her outlook. Yet her story also demonstrates the importance of giving yourself permission to grow, explore and change direction.
Her message to students is simple: take opportunities, ask questions, be open to learning and never feel that you have to become someone else to succeed. Most importantly, be proud of your identity and your background.
You may not know exactly where your next opportunity will lead, and you do not need to have every step planned. What matters is being willing to take that first step, trusting yourself enough to try and remembering that your definition of success belongs to you. As Cynthia’s story shows, the path may be unexpected, but that does not make it any less meaningful.
Thank you to Cynthia Ajayi for sharing her experiences, insights and advice with us.
