The Powerlist is an annual publication that was first published in 2007 in a bid to provide professional role models for young people of African and African Caribbean heritage.
Since then it has brought a number of people to prominence who were hitherto unknown and has created a network of influencers, many of whom now have commercial relationships with one another and some of whom have become friends. In many ways, we are rebranding black Britain.
The publication is distributed primarily to schools and universities, but it has become heavily requested by corporates as well, as it is recognised as a valuable source of identifying black talent. We are only too keen to assist organisations that are seeking to diversify their staff make-up, particularly at senior levels.
First, we should acknowledge that it is totally subjective, and we (Powerful Media) decide nothing, really. The judges do that. But it works like this. Powerful Media receive nominations from potential new nominees.
We then put them through a test based on our definition of the word influence, which we define as: ‘the ability to positively alter events and change lives as demonstrated over a reasonable period of time’.
We give each new nominee marks out of 10 on two indices: how influential they are in their immediate sphere of expertise and how far that influence reaches beyond that. The 50 highest rated new nominees are given to our independent (none of them works for, or is associated with Powerful Media Ltd) panel to deliberate over, along with updates on 99 of the 100 incumbent Powerlistees (the previous year’s number one is automatically elevated into the Hall of Fame).
They are given seven days to look over the documentation before locking themselves in a room for eight hours, usually in early August/ late July to deliberate and come up with the final list.
These are the individuals who topped the 2023 list of the most influential people of African, African American and African Caribbean heritage in the UK
For consistently living out ‘purpose’ and demonstrating solving societal problems and helping drive change in her community.
Nominees:
Martin Griffith
Trauma Surgeon and Violence Reduction Lead, St Barts Hospital, London
Dr Sylvia Bartley
Neuroscientist and Health Equality Leader; Chief of Staff, JS
Professor Kevin Fenton CBE FFPH
London Regional Director at Office, Health Improvement and Disparities, Regional Public Health Director at NHS London
Dr. Sylvia Bartley
Neuroscientist, Health Equality Leader, Chief of staff, JSI
For an outstanding individual or organisation, making significant contribution to their community, through passion and selflessness.
Nominees:
Paul Reid
Head of the International Slavery Museum, Liverpool
Patrick Vernon
Social Commentator; campaigner on myriad social wrongs
Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE
Chief Midwife, International Confederation of Midwives (ICM)
Paul Reid
Head of the International Slavery Museum, Liverpool
For an executive showing excellence in a corporate setting, from a leadership, performance, and progress perspective.
Nominees:
Ije Nwokorie
Senior Director, Apple
Segun Osuntokun
Global Senior Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Vanessa Kingori OBE
Chief Business Officer, Condé Nast Britain; Vogue European Business Adviser
Vanessa Kingori OBE
Chief Business Officer, Condé Nast Britain; Vogue European Business Adviser
For a woman who has demonstrated excellence in leadership in her domain or broader.
Nominees:
Paulette Simpson CBE
Deputy CEO, Jamaica National Bank; Executive Director, The Voice Newspaper Group; Deputy Chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee
Eva Omaghomi
Director of Community Engagement to King Charles and Queen Camilla
Professor Shirley Thompson
Composer and Conductor of Classical music; reader at the University of Westminster society
Paulette Simpson CBE
Deputy CEO, Jamaica National Bank; Executive Director, The Voice Newspaper Group; Deputy Chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee
For a banking professional who shows outstanding performance and embraces innovation, strong leadership, and adept problem solving.
Nominees:
Tangy Morgan
Independent Senior Advisor to the Bank of England and Strategia Worldwide
Kymberlie Andrew
Global Head of Content and External Executive Communications, Standard Chartered Bank
Kene Ejikeme
Partner, Head of Multi Asset Platform Sales and High Touch Execution in EMEA, Goldman Sachs
Kene Ejikeme
Partner, Head of Multi Asset Platform Sales and High Touch Execution in EMEA, Goldman Sachs
For an outstanding leader, based outside the UK, who has demonstrated exceptional vision, innovation, and had a transformative impact on their organisation.
Nominees:
Phuti Mahayele-Dabengwa
CEO, Naspers South Africa
Rene Awambeng
Director and General Head of Client Relations Afreximbank, Cairo
Rene Awambeng
Director and Head of Client Relations, Afreximbank, Cairo
MEET
The task of deciding who makes it on to the Powerlist is down to our formidable judges, who have strict criteria to abide by.
First, we receive new nominations and updates from current Powerlisters. Names are put through a rigorous test based on our criteria of influence: ‘The ability to positively alter events and change lives as demonstrated over a meaningful period of time’. Bios of the highest-scoring 150 or so are given to the panel for deliberation.
The Powerlist showcases and provides a platform for Britain’s most influential people of African and African Caribbean heritage. With every new edition we avidly search for new people to join the ever-diversifying list. We’ve already started compiling this year’s edition. With that said we encourage you to kindly nominate new potential Powerlistees.
The criteria we use is our definition of influence; the ability to change lives and alter events positively, as demonstrated over a reasonable period of time.
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