International Women’s Day Blog
In honour of celebrating International Women’s day, we would love to share 10 BAME female entrepreneurs and women in business making a massive impact for all women. International Women’s day is about bringing attention to equality issues, reproductive rights, and violence/ abuse against women. Together we rise to celebrate our successes while we push to close the gaps still prominent in today’s society.
YVONNE BAJELA
Recognised in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2020, Bajela is a Founding Member and Principal at Impact X Capital, a UK-based venture capital fund founded to invest in companies predominately led by black and female entrepreneurs. You can find posts about her and her amazing work through our Instagram where we share more about her story and success.
FIONA DANIEL
Fiona is a qualified diversity and inclusion leader and D&I company award winner with over 15 years experience of in leading and growing the global diversity and inclusion agenda for one of the largest banking and finance service organisations in the world, including leading the UK as the Head of Diversity and Inclusion. Fiona is consistently paving the way for a fairer workplace for minority ethnic groups.
AYESHA OFORI
Ayesha is the CEO of Black Property Network. After over a decade of working in the Financial Services sector, Ayesha took the plunge and resigned from her successful banking career to focus full-time on property investing, property mentoring and education and sharing what she knows with others. Ayesha continues to defy stigmas and stereotypes as she dominates the property investing market.
ADE HASSAN, MBE
Ade Hassan is the creator and founder of Nubian Skin, a nude bra and skin tone hosiery brand for women of colour. Since its launch in late 2014, Nubian Skin has been featured in every major fashion magazine; supplied the wardrobes of significant productions in the West End; won the Great British Entrepreneur Award for Fashion in 2015; and provided the intimates for the Beyoncé Formation Tour in 2016. ( She is quite literally Bey Approved, I don’t think there is a higher honour).
YOMI ADEGOKE
Yomi Adegoke is a multi-award-winning journalist. She is the co-author of the bestselling book Slay In Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible and was named one of the most influential people in London by the Evening Standard in 2018. This book is a guide to life for black women navigating the patriarchy, racism, and how to find success. Yomi is an inspiration and a guide to young black girls everywhere.
JUNE SARPONG MBE
June has enjoyed a 20‐year career, in which she has become one of the most recognisable faces of British television. June is currently the Director of Creative Diversity at the BBC and a recognised diversity and inclusion activist. (Fun Fact: our founder Sandy was a presenter on BBC).
SOPHIA ALUKO
Sophia Aluko is the Head of Service Management at The Transitions Management Office at Barclays. In addition to her day job, Sophia is passionate about empowering others to unlock their career potential. She is the founder of The Steer Network, a non-profit career development initiative, set up to help career-oriented individuals succeed and thrive in their careers through personalised mentoring, coaching and leadership development.
SIMONE BRESI-ANDO
Simone is global communication and PR expert. She is an accomplished public speaker, social commentator and female empowerment activist. In 2009, she founded the social enterprise, I’mPOSSIBLE Global CIC, a network with a global reach that educates and empowers women and girls of colour.
HEATHER MELVILLE
Heather is the Director and Head of Client Experience at PWC and the chairwoman of CMI Women for the Chartered Management Institute. She is a leader in diversity and inclusion. Heather was awarded an OBE for her ‘services to Gender Equality.’ She was also the founder and Global Chair of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Focused Women’s Network. She is on the list of the 100 most influential Black Britons.
BOLA SOL
Sol is the creator of the platform Refined Currency which provides information on debt, budgeting, saving and making money. She has also founded a sister company Rich Girl Chronicles, a money accountability group for women looking to be empowered by their finances and hosts the podcast “The Last Three Digits”.