The fan who landed an internship at Europe’s number-one podcast

Imagine stumbling upon a podcast and becoming such a fan that you listen to almost every episode.

Now, picture landing an internship at that very podcast.

That’s exactly what Ruth Ameku did, winning a one-month internship at The Flight Studio, the home of “The Diary of a CEO” (DOAC) — the number one podcast in the UK and Europe.

Ameku first listened to the podcast — an episode featuring American actor Terry Crews — when she was applying for jobs. Upon listening to it, she became almost obsessed with the podcast.

“I was a huge fan of the TV show Brooklyn Nine-Nine, so I was excited to listen,” she says. “In the episode, Crews opened up about his struggles with mental health, marriage, and other difficult topics that aren’t often discussed openly.”

This led Ameku to be amazed at how Steven Barlett, the founder of The Flight Studio and host of DOAC, could make Crews open up in a public setting. Since then, she’s been hooked on the show.

Among the other guests who have appeared on the podcast are TV personality Simon Cowell, British-Irish comedian and presenter Jimmy Carr, former footballer Gary Neville, inspirational speaker Simon Sinek, celebrity billionaire Richard Branson, and more.

“As part of the internship, they allow me to come behind the scenes and watch them live,” Ameku says. “My favourite guest so far is Simon Sinek.”

What was supposed to be a one-month internship has turned into several months. Ameku loves working with her team and learning from experts in the field. 

One such “expert” at the company is her colleague Grace Andrews. Andrews joined the company as a Social Media Manager in February 2021. Her degree, which included a social media journalism subject, exposed her to the world of social media from a business perspective. 

However, she learned more about social media from Barlett, who also founded Social Chain, the UK’s leading social media agency at the age of 21. Today, Andrews is the Marketing and Brand Director, managing and curating creative campaigns, often working with high-profile brands.

How did Ameku, someone with no podcasting experience, end up working at Flight Studio, a podcast media and tech company? 

It all started when Ameku went to the UK Black Business Show, where Bartlett spoke. Hailed as Europe’s biggest black business show, it is created to inspire and connect Black Business owners and working professionals.

“I remember thinking, ‘I’d love to talk to him and work with him. I think it’d be fun and exciting’,” Ameku says. 

The decision to attend the event was last-minute — so much so that she didn’t even get her ticket until the night before. Despite the rush, Ameku thought, “What’s the worst that can happen?” 

With no clear plan, she took a train to London with her best friend Yahannah, set on meeting Bartlett. Ameku had no idea if she would actually get to speak with him or if he’d even be easy to reach with the security around him.

Once inside the venue, she paced around the room, waiting for Bartlett to arrive. When he appeared on stage, Ameku could hardly believe that the entrepreneur she had revered from afar was right there, just a few steps away.

As the event progressed, Ameku wanted to get the microphone first during the Q&A session. She turned to Yahannah and said, “Whatever we do, we need to get that mic. I need it first because if I’m second, I might not have enough time.”

When the moment arrived, Yahannah ran to the back to grab the microphone for her — something Ameku was so grateful for. 

“I didn’t know what I was going to tell Bartlett because I hadn’t rehearsed what I would say,” Ameku says. “I just started pouring out my heart.”

She shared how she started listening to the podcast and learned a lot, and she ended her comment by boldly asking, “Is there any way, shape or form, I could have a few minutes of your time?”

Bartlett’s response was unexpected: “I always respect someone that shoots their shot. I’ll give you something better than a few minutes of my time now. You can intern with us for a month in my office.”

It was a stroke of luck, especially since Bartlett’s company doesn’t offer internships. Ameku knew she had been lucky to get there quickly, to have a plan, and to seize the moment. 

But it wasn’t all luck. Ameku has always been willing to take risks to learn and grab opportunities, a trait that began early in her life.

Her early education and background

Born in Sweden, Ameku moved to the UK when she was young.

She completed her A Levels at Ousedale School Newport Pagnell, an award-winning school recognised with the MK Education Award for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. She then pursued a BSc (Hons) International Business and Management at Aston University, which was ranked in the Top 25 in the Guardian University Guide (2023).

During her university years, Ameku was offered a free language course. She chose to study Mandarin. To improve her fluency, she spent a semester at the City University of Hong Kong. 

“My Mandarin became much more fluent, my intonation was stronger, and I was able to fully immerse myself in the experience,” she says.

Afterwards, she worked for six months in Portugal at a small startup, where she faced the challenge of a language barrier while working full-time.

“For me, that was a risk, but I’m glad I took it,” she says. 

“I started as a marketing assistant, then got promoted to content manager. Later, I became the personal assistant to the CEO and the content manager. I don’t think I would have had the same experience if I had stayed in the UK, so it was worth it.”

Afterwards, Ameku joined The Share Centre as a Customer Service Associate during its acquisition by Interactive Investor. Over several months there, she maximised slower days by secretly listening to Google podcasts and audiobooks such as Eat That Frog and Who Moved My Cheese between calls.

“When I did have calls, I would take them,” she says. “You just need to learn how to make the most out of every situation; you can’t sit there and be miserable.”

In fact, this spirit is what led her to approach the company’s CEO one day.

“As we were being acquired by Interactive Investor and he was preparing for retirement, I decided I wanted to speak with him,” she says. “I approached him and said, ‘Hi, my name’s Ruth. I’d love to understand how you grew this business.’”

The CEO was pleasantly surprised by her move but equally impressed, and they had a great chat. This just goes to show how Ameku’s bold approach and genuine interest helped her forge valuable contacts and gain insights from key figures.

We caught up with Ameku to learn more about her education and career, how she came to Flight Studio, and her future goals.

What motivated you to pursue a Bachelor’s in International Business and Management at Aston University? 

I went to university because I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do. I was happy to pursue a broad degree to figure out my path. I chose a broad degree that would let me pick up a range of skills. I’ve always wanted to go into business or understand it better, so I studied it at both GCSE and sixth form and continued it at university.

I think connecting with people from different backgrounds and cultures is important, so it made perfect sense to choose a four-year degree with a placement year abroad. That’s what I ended up doing.

At the time, I felt it was important because the world seemed more connected. Globalisation was becoming normalised, and social media was on the rise. It just made sense.

What study habits and techniques helped you excel academically?

One of the things I used to do at school was to complete all my homework on the same day.

After school ended around 3 p.m., I’d stay at sixth form until five or six to get all my work done in the building. That way, I didn’t have to do any work at home. I ensured that my school environment was where I studied and my home was where I relaxed. This created a clear distinction between working and relaxing, and I believe that helped a lot. Plus, I found that if I had a relaxed day, I could work harder the next day. Having a routine, balance, and consistency was important. 

When I lived in Portugal, my manager encouraged me to learn to use Google Calendar, which improved my time management.

I believe that doing well at university, or in anything you’re studying, or really in life in general, comes down to understanding how to prioritise and manage your time effectively. That’s something I learned as I was finishing university, and it was probably one of the most valuable skills I picked up.

You’re now a marketing intern at DOAC. Can you recall when you first tuned in and what kept you tuning in every week?

I listened to the first podcast when I was applying for jobs.

I strongly believe in multitasking and I’m big on not wasting time. So listening is a great way to ensure that you’re always learning without having to do very much physically. The first podcast I remember is Terry Crews’ episode. At the time, I was a huge fan of the TV show Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and since I love comedy, I found the show hilarious. I didn’t know much about Terry Crews outside of the show, but when I stumbled upon that episode, I was excited to listen.

In that episode, Crews opened up about his struggles with mental health, marriage, and other difficult topics that aren’t often discussed openly.

I was amazed at how candidly he spoke about these personal issues. It was refreshing to hear someone talk about such raw, real experiences, and it made me feel a connection to him. From that moment, I was hooked. I became almost obsessed with the podcast, loving everything it stood for and the way Bartlett could make guests open up, which was rather astounding. 

At the UK Black Business Show, were you nervous before speaking to Bartlett? How did you handle your emotions?

The first thing I said to Bartlett was, “I’m so nervous. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for how nervous I am.” Anyone who was close to me would have seen me shaking physically because I was so scared. I was speaking in front of over 1,000 people.

I could have lost my job, to be honest, with the way it went. My manager could have called me and said, “Are you trying to quit?” So, I was nervous out of my mind. But I also thought, “What’s the worst that can happen?” Obviously, the best has happened — in fact, better than I ever expected.

Being scared is something that I’ve had to learn to become comfortable with. The day I met Bartlett at the Black Business Show, I was so scared. But I had to put it aside and accept that if I lose my job, fine.

It was very evident that I was super scared, but if you’re not scared, then what are you doing, to be honest? 

What are your aspirations for the future? 

I’m in a season of learning right now, and I’m fully embracing it.

Every day has new experiences, and that’s what I love most about being an intern — there’s always something fresh to dive into.

For me, life unfolds in seasons. Right now, it’s about growth through learning. The next season might be focused on expanding or building, but each phase has its purpose.

The key is to be present and make the most of where you are, rather than rushing ahead. Living in the present and staying focused on what’s in front of me is my priority.