Why Celebrating Black Professionals in Governance Matters

🚨BREAKING NEWS BLACK LEADER ALERT Dom Scott is somebody you need to know this black history month. Meet Dom Scott an award-winning business leader who’s made waves in the world of financial services and leadership. With nearly two decades at Foxtons and Alexander Hall, Dom didn’t just grow companies he grew people. Under his leadership, Alexander Hall saw over £14 billion in property lending, a 700% EBITDA increase, and more than 30 industry awards. 💼🔥 But behind the spreadsheets and success stories is a man powered by purpose. Dom is a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and social mobility, proudly serving as a Trustee for the charity Making the Leap helping young people from all walks of life unlock their potential. Whether he’s mentoring, fundraising, or speaking truth to power, Dom leads with integrity, empathy, and a smile that says “we’ve got this.” This Black History Month, BYP is shining a light on Black leaders you need to know people like Dom who are breaking barriers, lifting others, and redefining what leadership looks like. 👉🏾 Follow, like, and share to celebrate more trailblazers shaping the future. ✊🏾

Looking for meaningful ways to engage your teams this Black History Month? This October, UK Black Business Week offers two opportunities for organisations that want to move beyond statements and take real, visible action. Black Allyship Program: A half-day workshop designed for DEI leads, network champions, and inclusive leaders. UK Black Business Show 2025: With 7,500+ attendees, it’s one of the UK’s biggest gatherings of Black professionals, entrepreneurs, and allies. For organisations, it’s a unique space to connect with talent, listen, learn, and show up with impact. If you’re planning your Black History Month activities, these are two powerful places to start. Sign up for the Black Allyship Program: https://lnkd.in/eUAt-Mn6 Learn more about the Show: https://lnkd.in/eTJwkWpW #BlackHistoryMonth #UKBlackBusinessWeek #Allyship #Inclusion

It’s Black History Month ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽 This year’s theme, “Standing Firm in Power and Pride”, feels special. I wrote an article this week reflecting on what that means for Black founders, not just as participants in business, but as leaders shaping culture, the economy and the future. Power and pride don’t come from waiting for validation. They come from owning the story and amplifying it with conviction. Being one myself, I wanted to spotlight the resilience, creativity and influence of Black founders building their own lanes and rewriting the rules. 👉🏾 You can read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/eW_N5kBA #BlackHistoryMonth #Founders #PersonalBranding #StandingFirm #BlackHistoryMonthUK

October is Black History Month—a time to reflect, celebrate, and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of Black individuals and people of colour across British society. From driving innovation in science and engineering to shaping culture, politics, and business, the impact of these communities is profound. The UK economy is enriched by the work of Black entrepreneurs, public sector leaders, and changemakers in industries ranging from construction and transport to energy and the arts. However, recognition is only the first step. At Pinnacle, we believe that anti-racism is an active, ongoing commitment. It’s reflected in how we recruit, how we work, and who we partner with. We don’t just talk about equity—we embed it in our processes, seeking out diverse voices, challenging bias, and ensuring inclusive practice in every bid we support. We also know we don’t have all the answers. That’s why we listen and learn from colleagues, clients, and community partners—especially those with lived experience. Collaboration is central to everything we do, and by working alongside people of colour, we are continually evolving how we show up as allies and advocates in the workplace and beyond. Because for us, excellence in bid writing includes creating space for everyone to thrive. #BlackHistoryMonth #AntiRacism #EDI #SocialValue #Procurement

Besa Gordon joined Good Day Seattle with Erin Mayovsky to talk about the newest Profiles in Black Leadership on Back2Besa. This week highlights Megan Matthews, Director of Washington State’s Office of Equity. As Besa put it: “I love a good started-from-the-bottom story. Megan is from Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood, started out in an entry-level position, and now she’s a director making a difference for all Washingtonians.” She also emphasized the impact of the Office of Equity: “If the system is not working for everyone, if it’s not fair, they’re changing it, removing it, or adding in something different.” Besa wrapped by teasing more on Back2Besa — from the Seattle Waterfront Park grand opening to NAAM’s History Lives Here exhibit (and of course, food). Watch Back2Besa on FOX 13 Seattle Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. and FOX 13+ Sundays at 10 a.m.

What does this year's #BlackHistoryMonth theme, "Standing Firm in Power and Pride", mean to you? #LinkedInNewsUK The theme “Standing Firm in Power and Pride” deeply resonates with me, both personally and professionally, through my work leading the ASPIRE Programme(Accomplished Study Programme in Research Excellence). ASPIRE was created to address the systemic underrepresentation of Black students in doctoral education. It provides personalised mentorship, coaching, and leadership development that empowers Black scholars to see themselves as capable of belonging, leading, and thriving in spaces where they have historically been excluded. To me, standing firm in power means creating environments where Black excellence is recognised not as an exception but as a norm; where confidence, intellectual curiosity, and authenticity are nurtured. Standing firm in pride reflects the courage to centre Black voices and lived experiences unapologetically, even in the face of global inequalities, racial injustice, and the persistent underrepresentation that still exists in higher education. In an increasingly complex and challenging global landscape, ASPIRE continues to embody this theme by building a community grounded in Ubuntu and the Omoluabi values of integrity, compassion, and collective responsibility. Through ASPIRE’s mentoring and anti-racist training, we are cultivating a generation of scholars and academics who are not only proud of their identity but also equipped to lead transformative change with power, dignity, and purpose.

We Have to Be the Change We Want to See. 🤝 In this vital clip from Thrivin, Jerome Hutchinson, Jr. emphasizes that our strength against any challenge lies in connecting, collaborating, and leveraging the immense talent and resources within our communities. This collective effort is our greatest leverage point to lift ourselves and continue to grow and thrive. If this powerful conversation on DEI and Black Professional Advancement resonated with you, watch the full episode replay here: https://lnkd.in/edvdMq2b Plus, this is just a glimpse of the rich content and celebration coming this October! We invite you to continue celebrating, elevating, and showcasing Black excellence and leadership throughout Black Professionals Month-Oct. 2025. Learn more, get involved, and support the movement here: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eg52X3sd Thank you very much to our incredible panel for setting the bar high: Panelists: Nikki Lewis Simon, Dr. Nikki R., and Natalie Norfus Moderator: Dr. Dennis Kimbro * * * * * 🚀 Grow your visibility through podcast guesting. Join Podmatch Now 🎙️ https://lnkd.in/edkSJ9_r ✨ #ThrivingPodcast #ICABA #CollectiveImpact #BlackProfessionalsMonth #DEI #Leadership #LivestreamEditors #ExecutiveHelpNow

As we mark this month’s celebrations of Black achievement and enterprise, we’re reminded that innovation thrives when opportunity is shared and this initiative is a great example of that in action. 🚀 The Founders’ Collective - Black Business Collective This 5-week accelerator is designed to empower Black entrepreneurs in the West Midlands with the tools, knowledge, and network to secure the right funding and build sustainable, investment-ready businesses. Hosted at the Legacy Centre of Excellence, the programme offers: 💡 Expert guidance on funding routes and opportunities 🤝 1:1 investor support and tailored business insight 🌍 Strategies for scaling internationally 🌱 A collaborative space to learn, connect, and grow As Jack Francis Kelly, Business Finance Specialist from the Investment Readiness Programme, shares: “The Investment Readiness team are delighted to be supporting Alex Cole and The Black Business Collective here in the West Midlands. There’s a huge opportunity in international trade and investment through diaspora networks , but here in the UK, and especially across Birmingham and the Black Country, we need stronger, more sustainable ecosystems to truly unlock it. Our goal is to transform overlooked talent into investible, net-positive businesses, aligned with the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy and the West Midlands Growth Plan.” 📅 Wednesday 8 October 2025 📍 Legacy Centre of Excellence, Birmingham 🎟️ https://lnkd.in/eYx8w7py Oxford Innovation Advice Sandwell Council / Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council / Birmingham City Council / / Dudley Council / Walsall Council / / Coventry City Council / City of Wolverhampton Council / Dudley Business First

For the 12th Black British Business Awards, our 2025 theme is Elevate, a celebration of progress, ambition, and the power of Black professionals and entrepreneurs breaking barriers and redefining excellence. At this year’s Judging Day, presenter Cecil Jee Thomas asked our finalists what Elevate means to them. Their answers beautifully capture the spirit of this year’s theme. 🎥 In this video, hear from: Kevin Ampeh - STEM, Rising Star Serufusa Sekidde - STEM, Senior Leader Jane Msumba - Consumer and Luxury, Rising Star Joey Antwi Kusi- Kusi - Entrepreneur, Senior Leader Lulu Isdory - Professional Services, Rising Star Tayo Ologbenla - Arts and Media, Rising Star View the full 2025 Finalist list: https://lnkd.in/efZzfp-B #BBBAwards #BlackExcellence #Elevate

What does it mean to rebuild an entire educational ecosystem after loss? For Adrinda Kelly and Stevona Elem-Rogers, the answer begins with spirit capital—the grounding, culture, and confidence Black educators instilled in them, and the brilliance they now pour back into New Orleans through BE NOLA. In this Rolling Out feature, Adrinda Kelly shares how her all-Black classroom journey in pre-Katrina New Orleans gave her an anchor strong enough to carry her to Harvard and back to become a founding Executive Director. Stevona Elem-Rogers shares how Birmingham roots and the wisdom of veteran New Orleans teachers shaped her decision to fight for culturally affirming classrooms after Katrina as a founding visionary. Together, they are restoring representation, building the Black Is Brilliant ecosystem, and proving that education is about more than academics. It’s about community, wellness, and self-determination. ▶️ Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eq9E6aSf #BlackEducation #BlackIsBrilliant #Leadership #BENOLA #Education #NewOrleans