Sector: AI Governance & Data Governance | Location: Greater Hastings Area, England | Experience: Founder, Audit Adventures
A career built on curiosity, urgency, and creativity
Maphi Bayolo is not someone who followed a straight line to get where she is. Her career began in retail, where she developed the foundations that would carry her through every role that followed: people skills, communication, and resilience. From there she moved into an IT Service Desk position, and it was here that something shifted.
"That exposure sparked my curiosity about how systems, organisations, and technology actually work behind the scenes,"
She explains that curiosity led her into project work, supporting large programmes and learning how businesses operate at scale. Contracting came next, pushing her to become more independent, adaptable, and accountable. Today, Maphi is exploring the path of founder, building products in the AI governance and compliance space.
Looking back, she credits three things with driving her forward: curiosity, urgency, and creativity. Curiosity keeps her learning. Urgency moves her from idea to action. Creativity lets her approach problems differently, especially in fields like technology and governance that can feel rigid and overly complex.
On the women who shaped her
When asked which female figure inspires her most, Maphi's answer is layered. Her aunt has always been a touchstone, someone who showed her what it looks like to move through life with strength and dignity regardless of circumstance. A teacher, Miss Ghillings, left a lasting mark by encouraging curiosity and critical thinking at a time when those qualities are not always celebrated in young people.
Beyond her personal life, Maphi draws inspiration from Jessica Pearson of Suits for her confidence, intelligence, and strategic leadership, and from Condoleezza Rice, whose navigation of complex political environments with composure and authority demonstrates the power of intellect, discipline, and preparation.
"Each of these women represents a different form of strength," she reflects. "Together they remind me that leadership and success can take several shapes."
Her advice to women making their mark
Maphi returns to one quote whenever she needs grounding:
"Well-behaved women rarely make history."
For her, it captures something real about the cost of building something meaningful. There will be moments of being misunderstood, challenged, or disliked. That is part of stepping outside the expectations society places on women. Her advice is to get comfortable with that discomfort.
"You don't need universal approval to succeed. What matters most is maintaining your own standards, integrity, and self-respect. As long as you can look at your decisions and know you didn't let yourself down, you are on the right path."
Progress, she says, takes courage and a willingness to be seen differently.
Maphi Bayolo is a member of The LSM Club.