I was honoured to be invited for the first time, to the 2024 Powerlist Celebration of Black Excellence Awards at the JW Marriot, Grosvenor House Hotel, where a glittering ballroom of successful, influential, powerful people united to celebrate this years list of Britain’s most influential men and women of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage.
The awards show gala and the Powerlist celebrates Black excellence, and recognises the U.K.’s most influential black professionals and entrepreneurs. The awards showcase the profound global impact of the Black community.
Amongst a spectacular set of people from various industries including business, leadership, innovation, purpose, arts, fashion, design, financial entrepreneurs, media, publishing, entertainment and sport, law and religion, public sector and third sector, science, medicine and engineering, technology, it was Dean Forbes who was named number 1 on this years list!
Dean Forbes was twice homeless as a teenager before becoming a multimillionaire entrepreneur….hearing him relay his story and journey were inspiring- his wife and his mother clearly played a huge role in motivating his success.
Publisher of the list – Michael Eboda- reminded us that even though some right-wing groups have been emboldened by the Supreme Court ruling in America, which have targeted diversity programs with terms such as ”DEI-didn’t earn it”- to undermine diversity efforts meaning that some organisations have scaled back their inclusion programs. This actually raises questions about their true commitment to diversity initiatives in the first place.
The Chief Exec Officer of JP Morgan – Filipo Gori- reminded us that by celebrating the voices and achievements of black leaders and innovators together as allies, we are all setting a new standard of excellence and paving the way for future generations to thrive.
The Powerlist, Director of Editorial – Adenike Adenitire- reminded us that in a world of uncertainty, it’s easy to delay action and wait for the right moment, but this year has proven that the moment is now, and that every person on the power list embodies the ethos of ”Carp Diem”- pushing boundaries, defying expectations and achieving remarkable things, not just for themselves, but for their communities and future generations.
The evening proved to be inspiring and made us reflect on our own journeys, and embrace the bold leaps of our past, as well as future ones that perhaps we’ve been considering.
The evening left me, feeling inspired, full of ambition, and a sense of reaching higher for ambition without boundaries.
Thank you to the team at Paramount DEI (Wincie & Sophia), for inviting me and sharing with me that my allyship is everything.
I continue to learn everyday how to be a strong ally to the groups that I am not a part of. When to speak up, when to know which physical spaces i belong in, and where I don’t, when to connect others for greater success, unlearning things I thought I knew, holding myself accountable, when to be fearless and rigid in my allyship, when to be flexible, being on apologetic about my passion to bring about change, I know that ally ship is not a wishy washy decision.
Congratulations to the Powerful Media Team – an incredible event trailblazing for current and future generations!
