Black Media, Culture & Sports Talks

Thursday 5th October

6pm – 9.30pm

Black media is extremely powerful, this event will highlight what can be done to push positive black stories and how we can embrace our culture in today’s society. Speaking with black entrepreneurs and professionals within media and sports we aim to discuss some of the exciting opportunities available for black professionals.

Who is this for?
Anyone interested in pursuing a career in these industries and anyone within the media and sports industry. Regardless of your race this is a fantastic session for you to attend.

Speakers

Frank Bruno

Former WBC Heavyweight Boxing World Champion

Frank’s amateur boxing career started with boxing for Young England and becoming the youngest ever Amateur British Champion at 18 years of age. He became a professional boxer in 1982, starting with 21 consecutive wins by knockout.

In 1989, Frank challenged Mike Tyson for the unified world Heavyweight title in Las Vegas.  Although not winning, it was fair to say the whole of the UK was willing Frank on!

Frank kept winning fights, helping him to retain his spot as one of the world’s leading Heavyweights.

On 2 September 1995 Bruno finally became World Champion by outpointing McCall over twelve rounds.  The whole of the UK hailed Frank as King Broooono!!  A tour through London with the winning belt on an open top bus drew hundreds of thousands of fans to cheer and wave at Frank.

Fast forward to today, Frank….

Adrian Grant

Theatre Producer and Founder, Visionary Arts Foundation

Adrian Grant has worked in the entertainment and media industries for over 30 years, producing magazines, books, records, videos, television, concerts, and theatre shows.

Adrian’s career started in 1988 when he published an international fan magazine dedicated to Michael Jackson. This led to an amazing 20-year working relationship with the King of Pop and saw Adrian create ‘Thriller Live’, a show seen by over five million people worldwide, and becoming the 12th biggest West End musical of all-time.

In November 2018 Adrian launched the Visionary Arts Foundation aiming to inspire positive social change by empowering young creators to use artistic platforms from film, music and theatre to literature and digital media as a sound board for discussion and debate around issues such as racism, equality, mental health awareness, youth crime prevention and the climate crisis.

Adrian is currently developing two new musicals which will open in 2024.

Charlotte Stavrou

Multi award winning entrepreneur and founder, SevenSix Agency

Charlotte has fast become a go-to voice for brands wanting consultancy on inclusive marketing strategies and regularly speaks for and works with platforms such as Meta and YouTube, alongside sitting on roundtables and panels with industry figureheads such as the ISBA and Advertising Association.

Charlotte founded SevenSix Agency in 2019; since then it has worked with brands such as Pinterest, Greenpeace, Bumble and WWF. The agency provides consultancy services to brands and influencers, centred around representation in advertising and how to create purpose-led campaigns that generate a positive impact.

Alongside running SevenSix Agency, Charlotte has recently launched her career on TV and radio as she co-hosts the hit sustainability-focused podcast Sustainably Influenced as well as All Consuming on BBC Radio 4. Charlotte is also the Sustainability Contributor for the Gadget Show on Channel 5 every Wednesday at 7pm.

Juls

Producer, DJ and songwriter

Juls is a London Born Ghanaian Producer, DJ and songwriter.

He has produced and worked on records for/with several major acts including Stormzy, Lauryn Hill, Agent Sasco, Jah Cure, Burna Boy, Goldlink, Masego, Tyler the Creator, Wizkid, Wande Coal, Don tOliver, Mr Eazi, and many more.
Juls has SEVERAL critically acclaimed EPs/Tapes TO HIS NAME INCLUDING THE CLASSIC “Leap of Faith”, “Ojekoo”, “Colour’ “Happy Place” and “FUFU and GRITS” with American Producer Sango.

Ola Christian

Producer, Casting Director & founder of LEVILE

Ola Christian is a British-born Nigerian producer, casting director, and founder of LEVILE. He has built a reputable casting and media agency under the LEVILE brand. Ola has led his team to work with companies such as The Wall of Comedy, Footasylum, and YouTube, as well as internationally acclaimed artists in the music promo medium, including Stormzy, WizKid, Burna Boy, and more. LEVILE specializes in providing opportunities to diverse creative talent both in front of and behind the camera. Our mission is to bring underrepresented talent to the forefront of the TV and film industry.

Christina Taylor

Founder, Aim Sky High and The Purpose Agency

Tina Rehana is a multi-award winning entrepreneur and was named Business Insider’s #1 Female Founder of Colour in Europe to Watch. Forbes branded her an ‘entrepreneur changing youth lives through dance’ as the founder of Aim Sky High Academy, a social enterprise dance school. Tina also has an agency that represents talent and influencers. As part of her work on the agency, she also represents female footballers, including Euros 2022 winner and Manchester United and England #1 Goalkeeper Mary Earps, and Birmingham FC and Jamaica international Siobhan Wilson.

Stephanie Yamson

Story Consultant, Writer, Actress and Founder, The Ascend Collective CIC

Stephanie worked as a Story Consultant on the BAFTA and EMMY Award Winning TV series I May Destroy You (BBC/HBO) and Dreaming Whilst Black, (BBC/A24), after leading the writers room.
As a writer, her original TV drama series, Winging It, had a Sky Table read produced by #Merky Films. She is currently developing a number of original projects, including Winging It and a book adaptation.
As an actor, Stephanie graduated from The London School of Musical Theatre and has worked in TV, film, theatre and voiceover with companies including the BBC, Channel 4, the Young Vic and Talawa Theatre Company.
Stephanie always had an eye for entrepreneurship, founding The Ascend Actors Group and The Ascend Collective CIC, where she created and produced numerous projects for creatives and entrepreneurs.
She is also a qualified accountant, (ACCA), and has worked with a range of organisations and entrepreneurs, providing financial and strategic services.

Ade Oladipo

Sports Broadcaster

Ade initially grew up in Brighton before moving to East London at a young age. His involvement in sport started early, as he represented Essex in both football and athletics, in addition to trialling for the Tottenham Hotspur Academy.

2019 was the year Ade started his new career in broadcasting, joining the broadcast team of Sky Sports. A year after this, he added talkSPORT to his resumé by becoming part of their GameDay programme. He is now a regular presenter on the worldwide radio station.

Ade is the lead presenter for DAZN Boxing, presenting on all the biggest fights and those in between too, From . Heavyweight fights through to the Misfits, from Anthony Joshua to Canelo Alvarez, Gervonta Davis, KSI. and many more.

In addition to his broadcast work, Ade also has his own very popular YouTube channel, aptly named ‘Ade Oladipo’. With 50k subscribers and almost 15,000,000 views, this is another location where fans can find Ade discussing all the latest news in boxing.

Lianne Sanderson

Footballer and Sports Analyst

Lianne is one of the world’s most recognisable female football stars. In a career spanning two decades, the London-born striker has amassed a wealth of experience playing for England, Arsenal, Chelsea, Philadelphia Union, Boston Breakers and Juventus. She won 50 caps for England scoring 15 goals and was part of the Lionesses squad who finished third in the 2015 World Cup in Canada. She now connects with football fans around the world as a hugely respected analyst for Sky Sports, BBC, DAZN, talkSPORT, the Premier League channel and covering the NWSL in the United States for CBS and Paramount +. Lianne has also successfully made the transition into entertainment TV. She has appeared on A Question of Sport, Soccer Aid, A League of Their Own, The Chase and CelebAbility.

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