Manjul Rathee is CEO and co-founder at BFB Labs: a social enterprise building digital therapeutics to tackle childhood anxiety.
BFB Labs’ “hero” service, Lumi Nova, has been accessed by more than 10k children to-date via the NHS, schools and local authorities. Prior to founding BFB Labs, Manjul launched the UK’s first child-led campaign to tackle avoidable blindness. Manjul has presented at a number of high profile conferences, including NHS Confederation Expo, Public Health England Annual Conference and eMen. She’s been awarded the Prime Minister’s Point of Light Commendation, and was recognised as one of the Best Providers of Mental Health Services by the HSJ in 2025.
How did you land your current role? Was it planned?
Before landing my current role I was working on international social impact projects. I was offered the opportunity to lead a project for what was then a two-person organisation. In its second year, the company was struggling, but we kept going. We built it up from there and it turned into what is now BFB Labs: the company I lead. We’ve been on an upward trajectory ever since.
What does an average work day look like for you?
I always start early, at 5am, so that I can have some time for reading, fitness or music before work. I enjoy cycling to work and always bring my own breakfast. As a team, we try to have lunch together and sometimes play ping pong in the park or play board games. I work standard hours and try to get the team to wrap up by 5:30pm. We celebrate birthdays and major milestones – I particularly love sharing holiday photos. I have lots of meetings, both in-person and online, so I really appreciate when I get a dedicated couple of hours to get stuck into a task. After work, I’ll cycle home, prepare a healthy meal and enjoy my latest show.
Have you ever faced insecurities and anxieties during your career, and how did you overcome them?
As a migrant woman of colour, I’ve faced barriers to getting to where I am. For instance, through trying to get a sponsored work permit in the UK straight after university, I ended up in a job where I was overworked, underpaid and underappreciated. While frustrating, this energised me to change course. I’ve learned to recognise and accept that discrimination exists and to not compromise on my values when dealing with it.
Entering the world of work can be daunting. Do you have any words of advice to anyone feeling overwhelmed?
There’s lots of competition, so standing out and being strategic are crucial. Firstly, don’t copy and paste for lots of different applications. Make sure your CV and cover letter respond to the specific role you’re applying for. Use AI wisely as readers can tell when content is AI-generated.
Secondly, highlight what’s unique about you. If two applicants have similar qualifications and experience, employers will consider what attributes will help the candidate perform better in the role or be a better cultural fit. Take the time to consider what you can bring to the table that’s different.
Finally, create opportunities for yourself. If you’ve not been able to land your dream job, then start a project yourself. Collaborate with others and approach it exactly as you would if you were being employed. Employers value real-world experience, so doing it yourself shows initiative and will put you in a better position.
