Student blog: Reflections on the power of the learning on Stephen Lawrence Day

Stephen Appiah Kubi is a second-year law student at Mansfield College, the Sponsorship and Careers Officer for Oxford African and Caribbean Society, and was awarded a place on the Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship Scheme*.

To mark Stephen Lawrence Day on 22 April, Stephen has written about the impact learning can have on driving positive change, both in business and society.

“As a Scholar, one of the ways I take advantage of the power of learning is that I am encouraged to develop a commercially aware outlook that follows current socioeconomic, political, legal, and technological issues. In analysing how these issues affect businesses, we develop a more entrepreneurial mindset.

The power of learning extends far beyond tackling business challenges. It equips us with the knowledge and understanding needed to address inequality and drive positive change for a more inclusive society. Embracing an attitude of learning forces us to let go of lazy assumptions and ignorant generalisations, ones that divide our society."

The entrepreneurial mindset of Oxford

EnSpire Oxford exists to work to fix the entrepreneurial ecosystem by collecting and analysing data, creating lasting connections in our underestimated communities, and creating a network of entrepreneurship supporters who can build a more connected and inclusive ecosystem for all. EnSpire Oxford creates opportunities to learn, grow, and develop both mindsets and ideas for our members to impact the future they want to see.

*Launched by global law firm Freshfields in 2013 working with participating universities UK-wide, the Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship scheme aims to address the disproportionate under-representation of Black and Black mixed-race men from less socially mobile backgrounds in large commercial law firms and other careers in the City of London. 