VIACOMCBS - TOP 10 INSPIRATIONAL LEADERS 2021
DEBBIE ELLISON
Global Chief Digital Officer
VMLY&R Commerce
As one of a handful of female Global Chief Digital Officers in industry, Debbie is inspirational leader with extensive experience of digital innovation in business. Debbie sits on VMLY&R Commerce global growth committee as well as UK EXCO, leveraging her 20 years’ experience in technology and digital commerce, to pioneer transformational business change and growth through people-first, technology solutions. A champion of women and diversity, Debbie sits on WPP’s Roots Steering Committee, Inclusion Council and VMLY&R Commerce’s global IE&D Council; She regularly speaks at schools through her connection with Inspiring the Future, and launched The Incubator in the UK and US, a work experience programme aimed at giving 16–18-year-olds from diverse backgrounds. She is set to expand the programme across Europe later this year.
GAUTAM BHATTACHARYYA
Reed Smith LLP
Gautam qualified as a solicitor in 1993 and has been a partner in the three thousand-person global law firm, Reed Smith LLP, since 2000. Based in the firm’s London office, he specialises in international commercial arbitration and litigation in a number of industry sectors, and is also a member of Reed Smith’s global board, its Executive Committee. Gautam is the former managing partner of Reed Smith’s Singapore office and co-chairs the firm’s India Business Team. He is a big rugby and football fan, and still loves to DJ.
IMRAN YOUSAF
Regional Manager
Morrisons Plc
Imran arrived in a UK as a student back in December 2000 started his career in 2001 as a trolley boy and has never looked back ever since. When Imran first arrived in a UK, he had to adapt new environment and culture where he had a little knowledge to nothing. He has had exposure of variety of senior roles such as managing over 70 large stores including a spell in Australia and is now a senior leader in Morrison’s managing a region of large complex stores and inspiring others future upcoming leaders by sharing his life experience and knowledge. Imran has been recognised in 20/21 as best performing Regional Manager for Central Division he did this by creating an open and honest culture where everyone views and matters are welcomed. As a leader, Imran casts a clear and concise vision by inspiring innovation taking risks and building collaborative approach. He is a great role model and inspiring character, a real credit to Morrison’s.
JAHANARA RAJKOOMAR
Director of Community Investment
Metropolitan Thames Valley HA
Director of Community Investment at MTVH with an excellent track record of delivering strategic and innovative social solutions that tangibly benefit the business and its customers. Making a difference to socially disadvantaged or excluded people is her primary motivator and has defined her career to date. She has over 20 years’ experience in social welfare work including over 12 years’ experience in social housing. She is passionate being active in tackling social issues and structural inequalities. She is committed to using her voice to address the systemic discrimination that exists in society.
KARAN DINAMANI
Allen & Overy LLP
Karan is a Partner in the Corporate practice at Allen & Overy. He acts for some of the world’s leading private equity houses on acquisitions and disposals. Karan is also Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the firm’s London Race & Ethnicity Committee and in this capacity was instrumental in the creation of A&O’s race strategy. He is a leader who has used his influence to drive engagement with the race agenda at the most senior level in the business, resulting in demonstrable change in the firm’s approach to racial inclusion.
MICHELLE DELICES
Sodexo UK & Ireland
In 1998, Michelle was the first Black woman to successfully join the prison service graduate scheme, where she set up mentoring for Black men in prison from Black businessmen in the local community. She initially was approached by Sodexo to work at HMP Peterborough, the only dual-gender prison in the UK, where she pioneered a gender-inclusive service and received recognition for leadership and diversity. She sits on the Sodexo Origins network that represents people from diverse backgrounds and broadcasted a podcast to inspire others within the business to be inclusive. Michelle has also set up an executive sponsorship scheme for female talent and a recruitment initiative to tackle unconscious bias. Externally, Michelle has worked with young ethnic minority people serving community sentences, focusing on role modelling and making them see how unique they are, and continues to mentor young Black people. More recently Michelle spearheaded Sodexo’s UK response to the death of George Floyd initiating listening groups, and influencing at both country and global level for change in representation at all levels and a revised approach to inclusivity.
OM DHUMATKAR
Head of Propositions & Channel Development, Business Banking
Lloyds Banking Group
Om is a strategy and transformation leader at Lloyds Banking Group. He is currently Head of Propositions & Channel Development for LBG’s Business Bank; and has worked with several banks across the UK and globally. Om is a passionate advocate of race issues in the workplace. He speaks extensively on the intersection of race, religion, and sexuality – drawing on his personal experience. He has trained 50+ senior executives on inclusive career development and hiring; and 50+ BAME colleagues on being empowered and authentic leaders. He also extensively mentors under-represented colleagues, and three Black business owners in his spare time.
RUPAL KANTARIA
Oliver Wyman
Rupal is a Partner at global management consultancy, Oliver Wyman. She works primarily in Oliver Wyman’s The Forum: a diverse community of private, public and third sector influencers engaging together to co-create ideas and practically test solutions to shared global challenges. Rupal also co-leads Oliver Wyman’s UK Social Impact team, serves as a strategic advisor at the 30% Club and as a Board Trustee for the Lullaby Trust. She has co-founded two social mission movements: Mission INCLUDE driving inclusive culture at corporates and GenGive igniting the social conscience in families.
SEGUN OSUNTOKUN
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP)
TOSIN AKINLUYI
Managing Director, Head of European Macro Research
Morgan Stanley
Tosin Akinluyi is a Managing Director and the Head of EMEA Macro Research and the first Black person (and Black woman) to serve on EMEA’s Operating Committee. at Morgan Stanley. She also serves on the Global Research Operating Committee and has worked in New York and London over nearly 20 years with the bank.
Tosin has active roles in many diversity & inclusion initiatives including as Morgan Stanley’s executive sponsor for the UK government-backed Race at Work Charter and co-sponsor of the African & Caribbean Business Alliance employee network. Tosin has a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics, an MA in Development Economics from the University of Sussex and an MBA in Finance and Economics from Columbia Business School in New York.