Claudine Adeyemi-Adams

Spotlight interview with...

CEO, Earlybird

Spotlight interview with...

CEO, Earlybird

Tell me a bit about you and your career history.

In my previous life, I was a lawyer for about a decade, both in private practice at a law firm called Mishcon de Reya and then as sole legal counsel at a venture-backed startup. At some point during all of that, I started what was initially a side project to support people with their careers and help them figure out what they wanted to do. That led to building technology, software in particular, to support that process.

Ultimately, that work transitioned and pivoted into Earlybird where we build software that helps organisations delivering those employment support contracts across the ecosystem to do so more efficiently and effectively, driving better outcomes.

It really came from firsthand experience of seeing the challenges in delivering those contracts and asking, “How can we use technology to solve this?”. Before my career even started, I was actually a participant in some of these programs, looking for support with my own challenges.

Outside of all that, from a career perspective, I also sit on different advisory boards. I currently chair a board and have supported and advised on a range of areas, from diversity and inclusion to AI and the future of work.

What experience have you had being involved in thought leadership?

Thought leadership has generally been quite a natural part of my journey, I’ve always taken the view that if there’s something I care about, I should be vocal about it. And if there’s something I’m developing an expertise in, I should share that expertise with others.

At the moment, and actually for quite a long time, it’s been all about the future of work. Increasingly, that’s focused on AI, given that we’re an AI-first company. That’s involved everything from speaking at events, being on panels, delivering keynotes, and running seminars.

For example, in the sectors I operate in, I’ve delivered seminars and workshops on helping organisations think about security and privacy when it comes to AI, as well as responsible AI adoption. I’ve also talked about more speculative topics, things like the dystopian future and what could be possible, helping leaders understand what’s happening elsewhere and how they can bring those learnings into their sector.

Beyond that, thought leadership includes daily content on LinkedIn and engaging in smaller circles. I think a lot of people assume thought leadership means being on stage, speaking to hundreds of people. But it can happen in a small group at a networking event.

For example, I’ve attended a couple of roundtables with members from DSIT (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) discussing AI opportunities and action plans. These were small groups, but you can leverage your expertise and influence discussions at a policy level.

Aside from your personal experience with thought leadership, how would you say it’s benefited or positively influenced your career and the growth of Earlybird?

It’s been a game changer, actually. In our sector, AI adoption has been slower than in others. In contrast, other tech startups are much more likely to jump on AI tools quickly. But organisations delivering government contracts tend to move more cautiously.

So, for us, it’s been important to position ourselves as a partner in that journey. Thought leadership helps with that because, as a startup, you don’t have instant brand recognition.

What thought leadership does is help build trust and credibility. People see you as an expert and as someone who can be a partner in their journey toward their vision. By leading these conversations, through reports, speaking engagements, and roundtables, we’ve positioned ourselves as leading innovators. That’s opened doors to conversations we might not have had otherwise and helped push deals forward.

Beyond the commercial side, it also helps attract top talent. And it plays a role in winning funding because investors want to back credible leaders who deeply understand their industry.

What do you think are the key advantages for startups getting into thought leadership, especially when it can feel like such a saturated space?

The benefits can be huge! It obviously depends on your business and sector, but if credibility matters, thought leadership is a fast and impactful way to build it.

If it feels daunting, start small. Rather than jumping straight to speaking at a large conference, create content on LinkedIn. Go to networking events with three key talking points in mind. Test how people react.

Thought leadership can be a game changer, and practicing it regularly helps refine your message and clarity of vision.

Thought leadership is often seen as a way to build brand awareness. But how does it drive business success beyond just awareness?

This is the part people don’t see. Without thought leadership, we wouldn’t have had certain sales conversations in the first place, meaning we wouldn’t have had deals to close. It shortens sales cycles because there’s already trust and credibility.

It also generates inbound leads. I’ve had people approach me at events saying they heard about us through LinkedIn content. That credibility existed before we even met. They’ve already got a level of trust in me and in Earlybird which makes for a much warmer conversation when we actually sit down to talk. It also helps with investors, they want to back founders who are respected, credible voices in their industry. They need to know that the people they’re investing in truly understand the market they operate in. Thought leadership helps demonstrate that depth of knowledge and expertise, which can be a huge advantage in funding conversations.

How do you balance personal thought leadership with building your company?

I merge the two. Some content is directly about Earlybird, some isn’t, but it all falls under my areas of expertise or my experiences in my career. I don’t separate them because that would feel like running two businesses!

For me, it’s all interconnected. When I talk about AI, future of work, or responsible technology, it’s not just for the sake of it, it’s because those conversations directly impact the work we do at Earlybird. The more I engage in thought leadership, the stronger our positioning as a company becomes. It also helps me personally refine my ideas and keep learning, which ultimately benefits both me and the business. It’s about making thought leadership a natural part of the day-to-day, rather than treating it as an isolated marketing effort.

About Claudine Adeyemi-Adams

Claudine Adeyemi-Adams is the Founder & CEO of Earlybird, an AI-driven platform improving employability outcomes in government contracts. A former lawyer at Mishcon de Reya, she later became Sole Legal Counsel at a venture-backed startup. Passionate about diversity, she previously founded CareerEar and led an award-winning employability organization.

Recognized by Google for Startups, Digital Solution of the Year 2024, and the Freedom of the City of London, Claudine also co-chairs the Employers’ Network for Equality & Inclusion and is a core member of UK Black Tech.

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