Lisa Carter is a mother of 3 and Founder of Discussion Box; a virtual events platform for brands, communities and individuals who want to shift culture and move the world forward through the power of meaningful conversation. Discussion Box is parent company to ‘The Spotlight Experience’ which was born out of Lisa’s passion to pave the way for future generations of women from all corners of the globe, and thus partners with the world’s largest technology brands to platform women in leadership through online discussions that are turning the tide on representation for women in business. With 10+ years working in events, Lisa has vast experience and understanding of the collaborative benefits and ability to remove geographic barriers through digital event experiences. Lisa founded Discussion Box in 2018, bootstrapped and built the business without external investment, and turned over £1.2 million in its first trading year. Discussion Box remains the only black woman owned and run business in the virtual events industry and in 2023 Lisa was named top 100 most influential women in Europe in the start-up and VC space.

Izzy Obeng is an entrepreneur and business consultant. She is the founder and Chief
Executive Officer of Foundervine and sits as a Non-Executive Director for Capital Enterprise.

At Foundervine, Izzy leads a consultancy for creating systemic change in entrepreneurship. Foundervine has launched accelerators in the UK that support early-stage companies, providing entrepreneurs from under-represented communities with mentorship, training, and access to capital. By 2022, Foundervine had helped over 5,000 leaders to start, scale new business or raise capital. Izzy acts as an Advisor to Lloyds Banking Group, Big Issue Invest & Unltd. She has been featured in the BBC, The Telegraph, The Times, The Guardian and in 2022, Izzy was listed in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Social Impact.

Ella Weinberg is an award-winning financial advisor who has helped numerous individuals achieve their financial goals. With over 500 satisfied clients and more than £1 billion worth of insurance placed, Ella has established herself as a thought leader within the financial industry. Ella’s areas of expertise extend beyond the realm of insurance, as she is well-versed in developing poor credit scores and profiles, as well as implementing relevant estate planning protection strategies. What sets Ella apart is her ability to break down complex financial terminologies into easily understandable information, empowering individuals to make informed decisions and elevate their financial trajectory. Ella’s passion for helping others achieve financial success has led her to launch a comprehensive e-guide that provides practical information and strategies to help individuals achieve their financial goals. Her expertise and dedication to helping others have allowed her to develop a successful brand, “Ella Ensures,” and a loyal community of 10k+ individuals across her social media platforms. As a mother, Ella has a passion for women and young people’s financial independence and has become a sought-after public speaker. She delivers insightful presentations and workshops that empower her audience with financial insight, knowledge, and confidence.

Irene Agbontaen, Founder of the TTYA London label is a global tastemaker and opinion former, Irene is the ultimate connector at the heart of cultural relevancy for brands and talent alike. Well respected across fashion, music & culture. Irene adds enormous flare to a number of brands across each industry.
Founder of the TTYA London label, Irene has worked with global brands including; Louis Vuitton, Apple, Burberry and has been featured in publications including I-D, Vogue, ELLE & Sunday Times Style. Irene has expanded her brand TTYA into a lifestyle offering which now encompasses; TTYA Talks, a podcast series, cultural programming for brands and events. Utilising Irene’s global network she has curated events for Wizkid, Mabel, Tiwa Savage, FKA Twigs, Halle Berry, SZA & Erykah Badu. She continues to shake the table in her recent role Director of Artist Brand Strategy + Partnerships at global talent agency UTA. Irene is at the forefront for cultural campaigns shaping the future for global artists such as Burner Boy + Central Cee.

Carina White, award winning event host, broadcaster, cultural commentator and keynote speaker. Voted the Voice Newspaper’s “One to Watch” and winner of the coveted We Are The City “Rising Star” Award in the same year, Carina White is an award winning event host, broadcaster, cultural commentator and keynote speaker.

Carina is a familiar face and voice on Good Morning Britain, BBC Radio, Sky News, Times Radio and a regular panellist on the Jeremy Vine Show on Channel 5.

Introducing Sainabou, a dedicated and accomplished Real Estate Director with over a decade of experience working in the Fintech industry. With a strong background in real estate management, Sainabou has consistently demonstrated her expertise and leadership as an integral member of a Fortune 250 US company. Her unwavering commitment to excellence, combined with her innovative approach and in-depth industry knowledge, has contributed to her continued success both inside and outside the boardroom. Outside of her professional pursuits, Sainabou enjoys mentoring, has a keen interest in fashion & design, travelling and great food. She is a driven professional, a respected leader, and an inspiration to those around her.

Jamelia Donaldson, founder and CEO of TreasureTress, Europe’s largest subscription service dedicated to curly hair product discovery, Jamelia has transformed the natural hair care landscape.

TreasureTress not only addresses the lack of quality products for curly hair in the UK but also nurtures a vibrant and interconnected community that transcends geographical boundaries.

Jamelia’s influence extends far beyond TreasureTress. Recognizing the beauty industry’s disregard for Black and Multi-Ethnic consumers, she has spearheaded a consultancy arm within her company, empowering brands worldwide to establish authentic connections and find their rightful place within this underserved market.

Jamelia’s expertise and transformative work has been featured in renowned publications such as Forbes, Buzzfeed, and The Times.

Jamelia has unveiled TreasureTress’ first official TREND REPORT: “The Untapped Opportunity: in the UK Afro Hair Market.” This seminal report sets the stage for future innovation and growth within the beauty sector.

Chinny is the Group Director of Diversity & Inclusion at the BBC where she is responsible for putting D&I at the heart of everything the BBC does to inform, educate and entertain millions of people in the UK and around the world. She oversees the BBC’s global D&I strategy to create an inclusive culture and ensure that our teams and content reflects the audiences we serve. She has deep expertise and experience leading transformational D&I strategies at leading global organisations and is working to advance the BBC’s ambition to deliver value for all.

Prior to joining the BBC, Chinny was the Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at L’Oréal and previously Global Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Depop, where she helped to build culturally relevant brands by integrating D&I throughout the employee, consumer and product experience.

Monique N. Codjoe is currently a Managing Director at HSBC bank Plc where she serves as the Head of Business Management & the Chief Control Officer (CCO) for the Global Payment Solutions (GPS) business in Europe.

Monique is very engaged in the Bank’s global diversity and inclusion programmes with a focus on enterprise-wide initiatives and actions towards the attraction, retention, and promotion of Black heritage employees across the Group. She has further contributed to the Bank’s diversity and inclusion strategy by serving as a member of the Black Leadership Action & Advisory Council (2021-present), the National Chair for AHERG (2013-2019) as well as serving as a founding member of the Veterans ERG (an employee resource group focused on enhancing employee engagement and career development for veteran employees and perspective candidates).

Khalia is deeply passionate about improving diversity, equity and inclusion within the public and private sector. She has supported the diversity agenda through the Barclays Black Professional Employee Resource Group and numerous external initiatives on a national scale. Her work has been recognised by King Charles and The Queen where she received an invitation to meet their majesties at St James’ Palace and also an invitation to assist the Advisory Board for an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM in following her TEDx Talk in 2017 ‘Why Diversity Initiatives Fail’. She has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Black British Business Awards, Rising Star in Financial Services, We Are the City, Female Rising Star and was previously listed as Top 3 Ethnic Minority Power Future Leaders in the Financial Times (2018)

Claudette manages the commercial performance and new business development of key strategic accounts within the EMEA FMCG licensing team based in London. She is also Co-Chair of Disney Diversity UK&I and is driven by a passion for championing equitable inclusion of communities across all DEI dimensions. She has been with Disney for 8 years. Alongside her role at TWDC, Claudette sits on the Advisory Board of a youth organisation that supports young black students with their journey into higher education

Eme graduated from the University of Oxford with a B.A in Economics and Management, followed by a Masters in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School. Eme joined American Express in 2013 as part of the Strategic Planning Group and since, Eme has held a number of roles at central, regional, and local levels, including as Country Manager for Belgium & Luxembourg. In her current role, Eme leads the International Proprietary Products & Benefits team, responsible for driving the strategy for international premium consumer products, and partnering with markets and colleagues across the globe to deliver differentiated and competitive products within their respective regions.

Louis Howell is a dynamic and rounded professional with experience that pans the voluntary youth sector, education sector and the world of small business. Today, he co-runs an educational social enterprise, Revolution Hive, that equips young people for life by running programmes focused on Personal Development, Social Responsibility and Global Citizenship at schools, colleges and universities. Louis’ experience has also led to him setting up 7PK, a progress partner that helps charities, social enterprises and corporate organisations to improve their approaches to Youth and Community Development, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and their Social Mobility Initiatives.

His other commitments include being the chair of TRIUMPH an independent action group creating equity in the voluntary youth sector, a trustee and council member of two UK based charities, and he is a proud member of the 100 Black Men of London. Louis’ central belief is that young people are the leaders of today.