Brit Pack Interviews
OCTAVIA GOREDEMA
Name: Octavia Goredema
Profession: Writer/Entreprenuer/Marketer
Current Residence: Rodondo Beach, LA
Previous Residence: Islington, North London
Left UK in: 2011
It’s funny how life can turn out. In 2005 Octavia Goredema found herself on a plane to Los Angeles from London, expecting her new adventure to last a year at the most. Seven years later she is now a permanent resident in America, along with her British partner and is facing the exciting prospect of raising two young daughters in the Californian state of Los Angeles.
Her first trip to LA sparked more than just a desire to return some day. Inspired by the immediate examples of successful female entreprenuers she returned to the UK in 2009 hoping to highlight black British women and the following year, the Twenty Ten Club was born.
The website and networking group showcases women doing interesting and successful things in business. Since its creation the site has gone on to win several awards and most recently has been included in the 2012 Queen’s birthday honour’s list.
But what Octavia is most proud of is the work she does with young people through a programme enabling school children to interview business role models.
After securing her green card, Octavia returned to LA earlier this year to join her husband who had already made the move. As if she hasn’t got enough on her plate as a busy mum, she is currently rolling out the Twenty Ten Club in LA along with developing her other project - Crash Course City.
Born out of her own relocation experience, the site is a useful resource for those seeking to move to New York, London or LA featuring tips, expert advice and interviews. It’s also part of a British government enterprise programme called ‘Business and You’, focused on celebrating start-up culture.
BATP recently caught up with Octavia in her Redondo Beach home, located just 20 mins from the ocean:
Profession: Writer/Entreprenuer/Marketer
Current Residence: Rodondo Beach, LA
Previous Residence: Islington, North London
Left UK in: 2011
It’s funny how life can turn out. In 2005 Octavia Goredema found herself on a plane to Los Angeles from London, expecting her new adventure to last a year at the most. Seven years later she is now a permanent resident in America, along with her British partner and is facing the exciting prospect of raising two young daughters in the Californian state of Los Angeles.
Her first trip to LA sparked more than just a desire to return some day. Inspired by the immediate examples of successful female entreprenuers she returned to the UK in 2009 hoping to highlight black British women and the following year, the Twenty Ten Club was born.
The website and networking group showcases women doing interesting and successful things in business. Since its creation the site has gone on to win several awards and most recently has been included in the 2012 Queen’s birthday honour’s list.
But what Octavia is most proud of is the work she does with young people through a programme enabling school children to interview business role models.
After securing her green card, Octavia returned to LA earlier this year to join her husband who had already made the move. As if she hasn’t got enough on her plate as a busy mum, she is currently rolling out the Twenty Ten Club in LA along with developing her other project - Crash Course City.
Born out of her own relocation experience, the site is a useful resource for those seeking to move to New York, London or LA featuring tips, expert advice and interviews. It’s also part of a British government enterprise programme called ‘Business and You’, focused on celebrating start-up culture.
BATP recently caught up with Octavia in her Redondo Beach home, located just 20 mins from the ocean:
Why did you decide to move to the US?
I always wanted to work in America, even before I’d ever visited the country. There was something about the US that seemed exciting to me and I can’t really explain why. The first visit I made was to New York and I was convinced that was where I’d end up. On that visit I was already trying to meet people and explore how I would be able to work out there. My partner was in LA and we’d been long distance for a while and finally he said I should try it.
What was the relocation process like?
It was pretty seamless because I transferred with my company and they did all my paperwork and my partner was already here. I thought the hardest part would be the getting out there which wasn’t the case. Even though I was excited to be in a new place, I’d underestimated the cultural differences and at first it was very difficult to adjust to that, but once I started to find my way around the city and get settled into my new home and job I realized I was starting to have the most amazing experience.
Where did you get the idea for Crash Course City?
Even though I had a visa and job lined up and a place to stay, which are the three big things, there were still so many things that were still tricky, whether it’s what to do with your mail or the requirements for getting your driver’s license or setting up a cell phone. I found my way but apart from my partner I didn’t really know anyone who’d done the exact same move as me. People were always asking me things like how did you get your visa?, what’s it like working there? so I realized if I’d had a resource I could draw on some things could have been a little easier. I came up with the idea when I first went back to the UK and soft launched the site just before my daughter was born at the end of last year. I’ll be adding more and more content over the next few months.
What was the hardest thing for you when you first moved here?
There were so many things that I didn’t really get and you almost felt silly for asking because it’s like ‘I should know that’. The biggest shock was I had to do my driving license all over again, I wasn’t prepared for that. And getting used to having to drive the whole time. In London you can do things more spontaneously and meet people and engage because you’re walking or using public transport so you’re all thrust together whereas in the car if you want to see somebody you have to make a plan and it changes the dynamic of how you do things. A lot of people couldn’t understand me because I use to speak really fast. Also, I had to learn the different holidays and I found grocery shopping very different too. The second time around I haven’t come across any big hurdles apart from navigating what I need for my children.
What are your main concerns about raising kids in LA?
When we were moving out here the key thing I wanted to make sure I got right was education. My husband and I were both educated in the UK so we don’t have any direct experience of the American education system at all so we’re learning as we go. We want to make sure we get that right. My husband has a very long commute but we felt that was a sacrifice worth making so we could live in a neighbourhood that has good schools. I feel very fortunate that we have the paperwork and the opportunity to bring our girls here and make a life here.
How do you stay connected to the UK?
We will be going back a couple of times a year so my kids can maintain connections with family. Facetime and Skype are wonderful. The hard thing is the time difference between London and LA and the flight time is 11 hours. But nothing is impossible. My eldest talks about England pretty much every day, but my youngest daughter has no conception that she ever lived there! It’s very important for me to nurture that and go back often.
Do you ever have any regrets about moving to LA?
Fundamentally it’s such an exciting opportunity and I’m so glad I did what I did and I didn’t think about it too long and hard, just made the decision and went for it. It was the best thing I could have ever done. I like sharing and enabling others so if I can be of assistance to someone to help them achieve their goal or make the process easier for them I’ll be happy.
Follow Octavia on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TwentyTenClub
On Twitter: @TwentyTenClub
Or check out her websites: www.twentytenclub.com and www.crashcoursecity.com
I always wanted to work in America, even before I’d ever visited the country. There was something about the US that seemed exciting to me and I can’t really explain why. The first visit I made was to New York and I was convinced that was where I’d end up. On that visit I was already trying to meet people and explore how I would be able to work out there. My partner was in LA and we’d been long distance for a while and finally he said I should try it.
What was the relocation process like?
It was pretty seamless because I transferred with my company and they did all my paperwork and my partner was already here. I thought the hardest part would be the getting out there which wasn’t the case. Even though I was excited to be in a new place, I’d underestimated the cultural differences and at first it was very difficult to adjust to that, but once I started to find my way around the city and get settled into my new home and job I realized I was starting to have the most amazing experience.
Where did you get the idea for Crash Course City?
Even though I had a visa and job lined up and a place to stay, which are the three big things, there were still so many things that were still tricky, whether it’s what to do with your mail or the requirements for getting your driver’s license or setting up a cell phone. I found my way but apart from my partner I didn’t really know anyone who’d done the exact same move as me. People were always asking me things like how did you get your visa?, what’s it like working there? so I realized if I’d had a resource I could draw on some things could have been a little easier. I came up with the idea when I first went back to the UK and soft launched the site just before my daughter was born at the end of last year. I’ll be adding more and more content over the next few months.
What was the hardest thing for you when you first moved here?
There were so many things that I didn’t really get and you almost felt silly for asking because it’s like ‘I should know that’. The biggest shock was I had to do my driving license all over again, I wasn’t prepared for that. And getting used to having to drive the whole time. In London you can do things more spontaneously and meet people and engage because you’re walking or using public transport so you’re all thrust together whereas in the car if you want to see somebody you have to make a plan and it changes the dynamic of how you do things. A lot of people couldn’t understand me because I use to speak really fast. Also, I had to learn the different holidays and I found grocery shopping very different too. The second time around I haven’t come across any big hurdles apart from navigating what I need for my children.
What are your main concerns about raising kids in LA?
When we were moving out here the key thing I wanted to make sure I got right was education. My husband and I were both educated in the UK so we don’t have any direct experience of the American education system at all so we’re learning as we go. We want to make sure we get that right. My husband has a very long commute but we felt that was a sacrifice worth making so we could live in a neighbourhood that has good schools. I feel very fortunate that we have the paperwork and the opportunity to bring our girls here and make a life here.
How do you stay connected to the UK?
We will be going back a couple of times a year so my kids can maintain connections with family. Facetime and Skype are wonderful. The hard thing is the time difference between London and LA and the flight time is 11 hours. But nothing is impossible. My eldest talks about England pretty much every day, but my youngest daughter has no conception that she ever lived there! It’s very important for me to nurture that and go back often.
Do you ever have any regrets about moving to LA?
Fundamentally it’s such an exciting opportunity and I’m so glad I did what I did and I didn’t think about it too long and hard, just made the decision and went for it. It was the best thing I could have ever done. I like sharing and enabling others so if I can be of assistance to someone to help them achieve their goal or make the process easier for them I’ll be happy.
Follow Octavia on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TwentyTenClub
On Twitter: @TwentyTenClub
Or check out her websites: www.twentytenclub.com and www.crashcoursecity.com
