By Bristol Women’s Voice
On 9 September, the inspiring women series welcomed Ruth Badru, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Bristol as she spoke about her professional and academic journey. What unfolded was far more than a typical career talk, it was a masterclass in resilience, intentionality, and the courage to carve your own path.
Ruth’s story began in a Nigerian household where hard work wasn’t just encouraged, it was expected. But it was witnessing the devastating impact of Nigeria’s financial crisis on people’s lives that sparked her initial passion for economics. She wanted to understand how policies made at the highest levels trickle down to everyday experiences and transform or devastate communities.
Like many of us, Ruth experienced disillusionment along her academic journey. Traditional economics felt disconnected from the lived experiences she wanted to understand. But rather than abandoning her path, she chose to reshape it. During her PhD, she specialized in gender economics, proving that gender inequality actually harms economic growth, challenging conventional wisdom with rigorous research.
What struck me most were Ruth’s guiding principles, born from real experience rather than textbook wisdom:
“What’s the worst that can happen? You can’t have it less than you do now.” This mindset has propelled her through career pivots from finance to academia, from military service to community-focused research.
“Who I want to be is who I am”: a powerful reminder that we don’t need to wait for permission to embody our values and ambitions.
Perhaps most importantly, Ruth shared her evolution around seeking external validation. “You are your biggest competitor,” she reminded us, encouraging us to measure our progress against our own growth rather than others’ achievements.
A pivotal moment came when Ruth found herself the only Black person at an academic conference. Instead of shrinking back, she realized she needed to create the spaces she wanted to see. This insight now drives her work leading the Bristol Transport Project and founding the Rethinking Economics for Africa Project, initiatives that center community voices and lived experiences in policy-making.
Ruth’s journey shows us that career paths don’t have to be linear. Her work proves that we can pursue financial independence while staying true to our values, that we can thrive in spaces where we feel underrepresented by creating our own tables.
As we closed our session, Ruth’s message resonated clearly: success isn’t just about reaching the top, it’s about lifting others as you climb and ensuring the systems we build serve everyone, not just the few.
Find our next Inspiring Women Talks here.