As the founder and CEO of Hope Hive, a mental health and autism charity, ZeZe Sohawon already had a reason to care about public health. Her charity work has earned her the title of Young Professional of the Year at the West Midlands Lieutenancy Young Active Citizen Awards. She wanted to understand more about the field behind her work, develop as a leader and explore a future in research.
Now studying the Master of Public Health at Birmingham City University, ZeZe is building her academic confidence alongside running her charity.
Finding a course that connects with her work
After graduating in Neuroscience at the University of Birmingham, ZeZe knew she wanted to continue studying. A PhD was her longer-term ambition, and a master’s felt like the next step. Public Health connected with the work she was already doing. Leading a mental health charity had given her practical experience she wanted to explore through further study.
“My day job as a founder of a mental health charity was a form of public mental health for me and I wanted to explore this.”
Her choice was also shaped by a clear professional goal: learning how to become a better leader for her team.
Exploring what it means to lead a team
Project management has been ZeZe’s favourite part of the course so far. It was something she specifically wanted to study in relation to her charity.
“I chose the course because I wanted to learn about this in context to my charity and how to be a better leader to my team.”
Studying alongside her role as CEO gives her a practical context for the ideas she encounters on the course. Questions about managing projects and leading people connect directly with her responsibilities at Hope Hive.
Bringing her experience into lectures
One of ZeZe’s proudest moments at BCU was presenting to her peers about founding a mental health and autism charity. It was an opportunity to bring her professional experience into an academic setting and share the story behind her work. Her course leaders also congratulated her after she received an award recognising her charity work. That encouragement sits alongside the sense of belonging she has found on the course.
Master of Public Health
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Building confidence in academia
For ZeZe, studying at BCU has changed how she sees her academic abilities. Taking on challenging concepts has helped her recognise her potential and feel more confident about continuing her education.
“Being at BCU has built my confidence in academia and has solidified a quiet but mighty bravery in knowing I can commit to intellectually challenging concepts.”
Her tutors and course leaders have provided mentoring and support as she explores the route towards a PhD. That support has helped strengthen her ambition to pursue academia after her master’s.
Looking ahead to graduation
With graduation planned for 2027, ZeZe wants to build connections in public mental health and gain a qualification that strengthens her credibility alongside her work as a charity founder.
Her experience so far has given her greater confidence in both parts of her future: leading Hope Hive and pursuing further study. A PhD remains her ambition, with her master’s helping her build the confidence to take that next step.
