In this Behind the Smiles episode, Kelvin shares different chapters of his journey. Some tough, some hopeful. From unexpected redundancy to the power of identity in non-diverse teams, he reminds us that setbacks can build clarity, and accepting your identity can open doors.

Here are three powerful moments from his story:

1. When Redundancy Becomes a Redirection

Fresh out of university, Kelvin finally landed a tech job after months of applying. Three months later, he was made redundant with two other junior engineers, not because the company wasn’t profitable, but because they didn’t meet an internal target.

Still, Kelvin found a silver lining. That brief experience gave him enough confidence and skills to land a better-paying role at Sky just weeks later. “That three months put me ahead of my peers,” he said.

2. Your Identity is your Strength

Working in a non-diverse team, Kelvin stood out and didn’t try to blend in. “My Blackness was a superpower,” he says. Where others might have felt pressure to assimilate, Kelvin found power in staying true to his identity and his values.

Despite occasional microaggressions and insensitive jokes, he remained unmoved. He was respected, not despite his differences, but because of them.

3. Silver Linings and Self-Belief

Being let go wasn’t easy. Kelvin went back to job-hunting full time and was even rejected from unemployment benefits. But that rejection kept him focused. Within a month, he found a better role, earned a £5k salary increase, and landed in the exact job he’d dreamed of (working in Java), just like he’d studied at university.

His story is a reminder that doors don’t always close for good. They sometimes move to better rooms. Watch Kelvin’s story now on our socials.