Even in her darkest hours Yemi Penn believed.
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Being told by her parents to pack up her bags and leave home was heartbreaking for the 12-week pregnant Penn.
Tougher times were to come sofa surfing and living in rat-infested hostels with addicts.
She also slept on streets and only got her own place in Brixton, South London, four weeks before giving birth.
But throughout the ordeal Penn believed in her ability to bounce back and live the life she was meant to live.
Today the single mother of two children is running three successful businesses raking in almost $1.5 million a year.
One of those businesses is a thriving Sydney consultancy firm. But the 37-year-old is quick to point out she had to take out loans just to move to Australia and start her own business in 2016.
That's why the mechanical engineer and podcast producer is super keen to encourage other young girls to believe in themselves no matter what.
And, that's exactly what Penn told 200 Illawarra high school girls who attended a Engineering Australia conference at the University of Wollongong last Friday.
Engineers Australia Experience It! Student Conference was held on the back of the latest census which showed just 13.6 per cent of Australia's engineering labour force were women.
While Engineering Australia member Penn admits to being "slightly biased with the whole STEM space", she wanted girls to chase their dreams no matter where it took them and always believe in themselves.
We are our biggest champions. It is important not to limit self belief.
- Yemi Penn
"We are our biggest champions. It is important not to limit self belief," she said.
"The words which you say to yourself is eventually what you become. So, you need to get comfortable with looking at yourself in the mirror and reminding yourself you are amazing."
Penn also takes great delight in getting people from "victims to victorious".
"I come from a generation where we are always told build and improve your weaknesses. There is merit to this.
"But sometimes I think we spend too much time on our weaknesses that we have forgotten about our strengths.
"My message is champion yourself, look at yourself and do what really excites you."
Penn's passion to spread this message is satisfied regularly on her podcast called Did You Get The Memo? Because I F***ing Didn't!