Your Story Is What You Make It

Future Faces has been addressing social mobility – the movement of individuals, families or groups through a system of social hierarchy- as well as Black History Month.

Future Faces member Gabriel Imevbore shares a personal story of pushing through challenges to forge a successful career

Your story is what you make it…as a young man growing up without a father figure and a mother who suffered from severe depression, that statement helped me push through a host of challenges, writes Gabriel...

I was born in Birmingham UK and grew up in Erdington and surrounding areas. Without a dad around and my mom suffering from depression, it wasn’t easy for her to raise two boys. I commend her - despite the odds, my brother and I have never had criminal convictions. Something she prides herself on, being a black single mom.

It wasn’t always an easy road. We moved around quite a bit and in 2017 I had a breakdown in communication with my mom, which resulted in me being homeless. I look back as this being one of the defining moments in my life. I spent time in emergency and supported accommodation during which my resolve was tested.

There were days and nights where I’d have no electricity, I was doing cash-in-hand jobs like house removals and cleaning. That was character building, but it wasn’t fun. Although there were hardships at the YMCA, there were also opportunities. 

The first was becoming a resident rep. That helped me to join a housing sub-committee meeting and become the youngest trustee in 180 years for YMCA Heart of England. I also won the Young Leader of the Year Award in 2017.

Another opportunity that helped me to get out of the YMCA and back on my feet was an with National Grid named “Grid for Good”, a programme centered around social mobility. This helped me get a paid internship at National Grid in the global brand and communications team. I then worked at National Grid for two years.

I became sales director and partner for Z Digital UK, a tech company specialiseing in web, app and software development and tech consultancy. I also won the Future Faces Third Sector award in 2023.

So - your story is what you make it. Be bold enough to believe you are more than your current circumstances, have faith and believe that your steps will be guided with grace.

Be authentic and hold onto your integrity. I wish you well and all that success can bring. I am not where I want to be yet, but my story is what I make it.

To what the future holds, Gabe