The "Leading in a Mosaic World" podcast, hosted by Susan Popoola, explores the complexities of our modern, interconnected world with a rich diversity of guests. Today’s guest is Frederick Afrifa is an award-winning public speaking coach, TEDx speaker, and corporate communications specialist. From a shy immigrant growing up in Milan to a standout contender on The Apprentice UK, he now equips professionals with the tools to master persuasive communication and secure career-defining opportunities. His proven methodologies have delivered exceptional results - including one construction client winning £20 million in tenders within seven months of working with him. Combining expertise in executive presence with his unique journey of resilience, Frederick transforms nervous speakers into confident communicators who excel under pressure, whether presenting to boards, networking, or leading high-stakes meetings.

In this episode, Frederick Afrifa shares his journey from competitive athletics to becoming an award-winning public speaking coach and TEDx speaker. He discusses mastering high-stakes communication through his Apprentice UK experience, revealing how resilience and adaptability shape leadership. Frederick emphasizes crafting persuasive narratives that deliver results and introduces his "3 C’s" framework: curiosity, consistency, and courageousness. As a youth advocate, he explores empowering the next generation with communication skills in a complex world, advocating mentorship over restrictions. This conversation offers professionals actionable strategies for executive presence, entrepreneurs tools for impactful pitching, and all listeners a roadmap to transform self-doubt into unshakable presence.

You can connect with Frederick Afrifa via his LinkedIn and check out his website and Youtube where he shares practical tips on public speaking.

You can also connect with the host, Susan Popoola, the CEO of Mosaic Fusions, a specialist in human value optimisation, via LinkedIn. Learn more about her work on her Mosaic Fusions website. And publications on Mosaic Gold Ltd.

This series of the podcast is produced by Rafiat Akinwande.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Frederick Afrifa

02:40 Frederick's Early Life and Family Background

06:08 Growing Up in Italy: Cultural Experiences

11:02 Transition to London: A New Environment

12:30 Challenges of Adapting to Brixton

15:59 Athletics: Finding Focus and Discipline

18:31 The Journey in Competitive Sports

20:21 Navigating Career Changes and Public Speaking

24:09 The Apprentice Experience: Trials and Triumphs

30:58 Navigating Team Dynamics in Competition

33:09 Standout Moments and Lessons from The Apprentice

35:04 The Importance of Self-Care and Recharge

37:38 Evolution of Public Speaking Skills Post-Apprentice

41:38 The Art of Effective Communication

44:26 The Power of Storytelling in Presentations

45:36 Empowering Young People through the Free for Foundation

48:20 Inspiring the Next Generation: The Three C's

52:01 Understanding and Supporting Young People Today

56:33 Finding Hope in a Challenging World

01:00:33 Outro

Keywords - Public speaking, Presentation skills, Business pitches, The Apprentice, Immigrant success, Storytelling, Executive presence, Communication coach, Mosaic World, Human Value Optimisation