Oluwatomisin Adeola Adedigba

Thesis: Venture to Be Resilient? The Interplay of Entrepreneurship, Migration Stress, and Mental Health Among African Immigrant Entrepreneurs in the UK

African immigrants form a rapidly growing entrepreneurial community within the UK, yet little is known about how entrepreneurship shapes their experiences of migration stress and mental well-being. This PhD research investigates the complex and potentially non-linear relationship between entrepreneurship as a coping strategy and the mental health of African immigrants. While entrepreneurship may offer autonomy, economic stability, and a sense of control, it can also expose migrants to heightened financial pressures, regulatory burdens, and social isolation. Drawing on interdisciplinary theories, the project examines how African immigrants frame and enact resilience through entrepreneurial activities, and the conditions under which these activities support or undermine mental health. Using a mixed-methods design, the study will combine a longitudinal survey of both entrepreneurs and nonentrepreneurs with in-depth interviews to capture rich narratives of motivation, coping, and well-being. In partnership with The Envoy Nation, a Leicester-based African diaspora charity, the research aims to generate an empirically grounded, culturally sensitive framework for understanding immigrant entrepreneurship as both an adaptive response and a potential stressor. Findings will inform academic debates on migration, resilience, and diaspora entrepreneurship while supporting community organisations, mental health providers, and policymakers to design more effective interventions for immigrant wellbeing.

Biography:

Adeola Adedigba is a strategic researcher and innovation analyst with over eight years of cross-sector experience spanning AI-driven analytics, user and market research, digital innovation, and organisational strategy. She holds a Distinction MSc in Data Analytics from De Montfort University and is currently undertaking a UKRI-funded PhD through the ESRC Midlands Graduate School DTP. Adeola’s research focuses on the intersection of entrepreneurship, migration stress, and mental health among African immigrants in the UK. Her broader interests include the use of emerging technologies to reshape human and organisational behaviour, mentorship, and research-driven approaches to equip people, particularly underrepresented groups, with practical skills that enhance their employability. She has led programmes that support learners in building real-world data, AI, and digital capabilities, helping them transition from academic learning into industry-ready roles. Her work reflects a commitment to bridging the gap between academia and the employment landscape by translating research insights into practical pathways that empower individuals and strengthen communities.

Professionally, Adeola has held roles including Director of Technology at Realcare Tech Mark Ltd, Data Coach at Multiverse, Senior UX Researcher at Sterling Bank, and Systems & Application Developer in the financial technology sector. She has led AI-driven ed-tech innovation projects, delivered research-driven mentorship programmes, and supported research-aligned strategic initiatives. Her published academic work includes studies on fintech usability, digital inclusivity, and technology acceptance among minority communities. Adeola is an active member of the UK Academy for Information Systems and serves as a reviewer for the ACM Computing Education Research Conference (COMPED). She is passionate about community-engaged research, evidence-based policy, and developing frameworks that enhance the well-being and productivity of underrepresented groups.

Publications:

Contextual Usability of Fintech by African Caribbean Micro-business Owners in the UK (Springer, 2023)

Other research interests:

- Responsible and ethical AI

- Diaspora entrepreneurship

- Technology acceptance in minority communities

- Migration, resilience, and wellbeing

- User-centred and inclusive design

Memberships:

UK Academy for Information Systems (UKAIS)

Peer reviewer for ACM Computing Education Research (COMPED)

Health and Life Sciences

De Montfort University

2025 Cohort

Email:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adeolaadedigba/Link opens in a new window

Supervisors:

Brian Brown

Abiodun Edgetokun

Collaborative Partner:

The Envoy Nation (Registered Charity), Leicester, UK