Samantha is an actress, broadcaster, writer, disability rights campaigner, diversity and inclusion consultant and keynote speaker. And her story starts when she is born with a rare genetic condition Osteogenesis Imperfecta - commonly known as Brittle Bones condition.

Having started her career as a teacher Samantha is now a regular face on our TV screens and skilfully uses her own lived experience of disability to drive systemic change in the places that matter. She is also an Ambassador for Scope.

During lockdown, Samantha wrote her first book ‘You Are The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread’, published by Ebury Spotlight in 2022 and one of many lines that chimed with me was ‘we must be unapologetically imperfect’.

She uses, what I call, her ‘obstinacity’ (a mash up of obstinance and tenacity) during moments where she doubts her ability to succeed.

In our conversation, you'll hear how Samantha initially rejected the idea of networking with other disabled people, before later discovering the wonderful benefits of being able to learn from the experiences of others.

She talks about ‘putting in the graft’ to find career stability and the journey of developing her inner confidence. She has found ways to be consistent in asking for what she needs in terms of workplace adjustments or accommodations while building a brand that truly supports others to be who they are, and ask for what they need.

I am sure you will enjoy her fun, her resolve, her unapologetic way of being her authentic self.

These interviews are brought to you with thanks to remarkable people choosing to share their learning about developing inner confidence so that others can learn faster.

Once you have listened, we ask one thing from you: send the link to the film to five others who you think might be able to pass on the messages to five others.

We are on a mission at PurpleSpace to cascade a universal definition of inner confidence, a strong expectation of a positive outcome, and to share the practical things we can do to navigate our working worlds while managing disability.

Enjoy this film.

For PurpleSpace members wanting further information about how to build inner confidence of their ERG/Network members, visit our resource hub.

For more information about Sam Renke, and her work, visit: https://samantharenkeofficial.com

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