A Little Book, A Big Night – Celebrating Steph Edusei

I normally glide through events with quiet grace. Yesterday, I arrived like a walking whirlwind or in this case, the clumsy guest who managed to smash a perfectly innocent cup and saucer before the evening properly began. All thanks to my shoulder handbag, which clearly decided that Steph’s book launch needed a bit of chaos.

But a little mishap couldn’t overshadow what turned out to be one of the most beautiful gatherings I’ve been part of in a long while. Last night was all about celebrating A Little Book of Leadership Lessons, the new book offering from Steph Edusei, a woman whose wisdom and authenticity have inspired so many of us across the North East and beyond.

Held at The Space by St Oswald’s Hospice, the venue felt instantly warm and welcoming, echoing what Steph brings to every room she enters. From the moment I walked in, I felt wrapped up in a sense of community and shared pride. Friends, colleagues, family, well-wishers – so many people turned out to stand with her, and it genuinely felt like a room buzzing with love and possibility.

I was especially grateful to spend the evening surrounded by my close circle Claire, Faty, Chanttelle, the ones who make every gathering feel like home. And of course, lovely people like Ngozi, Nitin, Cathy, Kuda and Siebatu added to the feeling that this was more than just a book launch, it was a celebration of collective spirit, stories and support.

One of the standout parts of the evening were the audience Q&As. It’s always one thing to hear an author speak about their own work, but it’s something else entirely to see them field honest, curious questions from a room full of people genuinely interested in the why behind every page. Steph handled each question with grace, humility and humour, giving us all an even deeper glimpse into her journey, her challenges, and the lessons she’s packaged so thoughtfully into this little book.

As a Black woman myself, it was especially moving to witness Steph take up space and to see her book make its way into the world. Representation like this matters. It reminds us that leadership doesn’t look one way, sound one way, or belong to just one kind of person. And knowing that copies of Steph’s book will be joining the shelves at Tales Without Borders this week makes my heart happy. Through this Teakisi initiative, we’re trying to change the fact that books by diverse voices, especially those from the Global Majority, are still so hard to find in our local libraries and bookshops. Every book added brings us closer to shelves that truly reflect the communities we live in.

When I looked around the room, I saw laughter, nodding heads, a few tears (the good kind!), and a collective pride in seeing one of our own shine. That’s what these moments are about. They remind us of the power in our stories, the lessons we carry, and the beauty of coming together to celebrate each other’s milestones.

I left the event with a renewed sense that the stories we tell, the books we write, and the spaces we create for each other really do matter. So here’s to Steph Edusei: thank you for your words, your lessons, and your fearless leadership. May this book travel far and wide, and may it inspire many more to share their own stories boldly.

A Little Book of Leadership Lessons is now available on Amazon, and I truly hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed celebrating its arrival.