Sir David Adjaye OBE is an award winning Ghanaian-British architect known to infuse his artistic sensibilities and ethos for community-driven projects. His ingenious use of materials, bespoke designs and visionary sensibilities have set him apart as one of the leading architects of his generation. In 2000, David founded his own practice, Adjaye Associates, which today …
Alex Okosi is the MD of YouTube EMEA Emerging Markets. He sets the strategy to drive profitable growth for YouTube in the region and ensures the success of partners across key verticals, encompassing music, artists, creators, gamers & media. He played a key role in landing the company’s $100M Black Voices Fund in EMEA, and …
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter is a multi-award winning entertainer and business woman. She first started off as a teen in a girl group called Destiny’s Child alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Married to Jay-Z, she is one of the most influential figures in the Hip-Hop world. Beyoncé is the proud owner of 22 Grammys and …
Mussa Fati is the Executive Chef at The Ned in London, United Kingdom. He oversees eight (yes, eight) different restaurants, serving flavours from around the world! If anyone’s up to the job, it’s Mussa. Fluent in four languages, Mussa left Dakar as a teenager and settled in Portugal. It was there that his rise to the …
Nokuthula (Nokx) Majozi, is the senior pie maker and sous chef at The Pie Room in Holborn Dining Room, located within the luxurious Rosewood hotel in London. Nokx grew up in Empangeni near Richards Bay in the north of KwaZulu-Natal. Her culinary journey started in the kitchen with her father when she was little. He …
Earl G. Graves Jr. (Butch) is President & CEO of BLACK ENTERPRISE. He joined the company in 1988 after earning his M.B.A. from Harvard University. During his tenure at Black Enterprise he has served in many positions, including VP of Advertising & Marketing, and Chief Operating Officer. In 2006 he was promoted to his current …
Tunji Balogun is the Chairman and CEO of Def Jam Records. He is Nigerian-born entertainment heavyweight and former Executive Vice President of A&R for RCA Records, an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. In his role, Balogun oversees a roster that includes music heavyweights like Jay-Z, …
Vanessa King’ori is the Publisher, British Vogue and an MBE is a multi award-winning, British based, businesswoman, diversity proponent, youth advocate and mother. With over 20 years experience in the media industry Vanessa has a special focus on business transformation, digitization and change management particularly in the worlds of marketing, content creation and revenue growth. …
Amanda Gorman is an American poet who was born in 1998 in Los Angeles, California. She was raised by a single mother, Dr. Joan Wicks, a middle school English teacher, along with her two siblings, one of whom is her twin, Gabrielle. Gorman was later inspired by her childhood and her mother’s dedication to her …
Mario Lopes is the Lusophone Youth Policy Analyst & CEO Tela Digital Media Group. He is passionate about issues concerning young people. He has represented young people since he was twelve years old by leading associative movements, student organizations, civil society organizations, with the aim of empowering the voice of young people to the high platforms. …