It’s My Story: What were the challenges you faced as you rose in your career and how did you overcome these?

Dr Nunoo: Initially when I started my career getting a job was a problem.  I was 27, had a degree, two masters and a PhD from top universities and I could not get a permanent job- can you imagine?! Towards the end of my PhD, because I was financially depleted, I was working four temp jobs so that I could make ends meet.  When I finally finished my PhD I had to move back to Manchester (to live with my mum) and I felt a complete failure.  I remember that time I would not tell anybody I was a Dr. because I felt so ashamed that I had not been able to secure a career job.  My self-esteem hit a low and I just felt so bad within myself.  I took up a temping job, where I was on the same level as a high school leaver.  It was a humbling experience.

I literally had to hang on to every promise God had made to me.  When I moved to Nottingham my church (the Christian Centre) encouraged us to keep a record of God’s personal promises over our lives and that time I was very meticulous in writing down God’s promises over my life (in fact, as I’m writing I’ve just picked up the 17 year old book, which is permanently by my bedside).  These promises were what I clinged to when I was in need.  They gave me hope even when I was in despair.  God kept to his word and I landed a job as a Teaching Fellow at The University of Nottingham (where I did my PhD).  I was overjoyed and, to add icing to the cake, I was put on the highest salary scale for the job, due to my excellent teaching scores when I was a PhD student.