Dr Farzaneh Yazdani
Project Leader
Dr. Yazdani was honoured with the Enterprise Champion Award from Oxford Brookes University in 2023 for her dedication to the entrepreneurial diversity project. She strongly believes in the power of narratives as an effective way of learning about people's lived experiences. Her aim is to give a voice to those whose stories may not be celebrated in today's world where only newsworthy success is highlighted. Through storytelling, she seeks to shed light on the experiences of those whose voices may not be echoed in mainstream media. By sharing these narratives, she hopes to create a more inclusive and empathetic society where everyone's story is valued and heard.
Farzaneh is an experienced academic and researcher in the field of health and wellbeing, focusing on life balance. She has developed a model called the "model of occupational wholeness" to help individuals and groups who are unsatisfied with themselves or their lives to gain self-awareness, reflect, and make positive changes to improve their situations based on what has positive meaning to them. According to Farzaneh's model of occupational wholeness, people feel at peace with themselves when their thoughts, feelings, and actions positively meet their needs for being, belonging, and becoming. This model aims to help individuals achieve a sense of wholeness and fulfillment in their lives.
Academic and Researcher, BSc Occupational Therapy, MSc Psychiatric Occupational Therapy, MA Psychological and Educational Counselling, PhD, Higher Education Senior Fellow
Niayesh Fekri
Filming lead and instructor
Niayesh Fekri is a multidisciplinary artist and educator, she graduated from the Slade School of Fine Art (UCL). Her art practice ranges from moving image, performance and writing. As an educator and facilitator, Niayesh works with art institutions to design and deliver workshops for young people and adults in community groups and educational settings.
Kaylee Winchc
Student contributor, camerawoman
Kaylee, a fine art student at Falmouth University, has experience of working on a project centered around women's safety and street harassment. Her work is heavily influenced by her interest in historical perspectives and their relevance to today's society. To deepen her understanding, she delves into archives, reads numerous books and articles, and engages in meaningful conversations with people. By doing so, Kaylee is able to gain a broader insight into the experiences of women in the modern world.
"I’m very thankful to have been a part of the Enterprise Project and to have worked with a lovely, supportive group of people from different walks of life. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to hear the inspirational stories shared by each interviewee and how they have used their experiences to build their enterprise - despite the many challenges they have faced along the way. Not only has this project inspired me to diversify my own film work as I finish my degree, but more importantly it has reminded me of the beauty of conversing with strangers, and how impactful those passing conversations can be."
Anna Chim
Student contributor, camerawoman
Anna is a second-year BSc Occupational Therapy (OT) student from Hong Kong. Before pursuing OT, she worked as a primary school STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) teacher. Anna is particularly interested in learning from individuals who, as immigrants, have pursued their ideas and found the courage to turn them into reality against all odds. She views the journey to becoming an entrepreneur as a process of realizing one's dreams through action, which she relates to the concept of "occupations" in Occupational Therapy.
"As a student assistant, this experience has given me a valuable chance to learn and practice essential filmmaking skills. Nia guided us through using different angles to enhance our story telling, employing practical editing techniques to streamline the process, and using dual cameras to capture footage and create more captivating edited videos. Being an international student, the entrepreneurs stories have been a great source of encouragement for me. Throughout my two years in the UK, there have been instances when I've felt isolated and not completely integrated into society. I often reflect on how I can establish connections and contribute to the community, especially as my graduation is just a year away. The journeys of these entrepreneurs have filled me with abundant inspiration. Witnessing how immigrants and second-generation individuals from diverse cultures have achieved success in the UK is undeniably motivating. In the films, they shared how their backgrounds influenced them, how they embraced challenges within their environments, and how they found strength in their support systems. These stories are truly empowering and resonate deeply with me."
Vinay Masih-Jones
Student contributor, cameraman
Vinay is student studying for A-Levels. He became interested in this project because he wanted to hear the stories of people getting the opportunity to work their ideal jobs, and to be part of a team that would experience the filming and interviewing process.
"I enjoyed travelling to connect with people by talking about their lives and how they got to where they were today."