Access Is Not Enough: Preparing the Next Generation to Thrive

About this episode

Audrey Awasom discusses the importance of guidance and preparation for students beyond just access to opportunities.

Audrey Awasom, affectionately known as Audrey Awesome, is a program leader, social entrepreneur, founder, and advocate for women, students, and next-generation talent. I first connected with Audrey through her work as Senior Manager of Programs at WBENC, where she supports programming that helps women-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders access opportunity, build visibility, and grow. But as I prepared for this conversation, I learned that Audrey’s work around readiness and opportunity started long before her current role. Born in Cameroon and raised in Maryland, Audrey’s journey was shaped by family, service, and the power of guidance. As a student, she participated in ACES, a program that provides individualized coaching, scholarship opportunities, and career readiness support for students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education. That experience helped shape Audrey’s belief that getting access to college or opportunity is only one part of the journey. Students also need guidance, confidence, preparation, and support to thrive. While at Montgomery College, Audrey co-founded the One Heart Project, a career readiness initiative for women…

People in this episode

Host: Monique Russell

Guest: Audrey Awasom

Topics covered

• education
• women empowerment
• career readiness
• social entrepreneurship
• support for underrepresented students

Keywords

• career readiness
• women leaders
• social entrepreneur
• opportunity access
• student support

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: WBENC, ACES, One Heart Project, Noble Uprising, Luminary Branded Solutions

Places: Cameroon, Maryland, Montgomery College

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