VIACOMCBS - TOP 10 INSPIRATIONAL LEADERS 2021

This award will be given to a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic business leader who has used their influence to effect positive change for Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic Inclusino. The judges will look for evidence within the last 12 months that the inspirational leader has been a role model and has had a wide influence on their workplace and beyond.
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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.

IL Gautam Bhattacharyya

GAUTAM BHATTACHARYYA

Partner

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.

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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.

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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.

IL Karan Dinamani

KARAN DINAMANI

Partner

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.

IL Michelle Delices

MICHELLE DELICES

Director of Business Improvement and Growth

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.

IL Om Dhumatkar

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

Partner

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.

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SEGUN OSUNTOKUN

Partner in Charge, UK

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP)

Segun Osuntokun is Partner in Charge, UK, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP).  With over 27 years litigation and arbitration experience across a range of sectors, including the banking and financial services and energy sectors, Segun specialises in resolving complex disputes and claims which have elements of dishonesty, fraud or corruption.  Segun is Head of BCLP’s Africa Group and many of his cases relate to or originate from jurisdictions in sub-Saharan Africa.
Segun is a founding member of  BCLP’s Global Inclusion & Diversity Action Board and was appointed Co-Chair of the firm’s global diversity initiative in May 2020, shortly before the death of George Floyd which of course saw this role take on a profound level of urgency.  Since taking on this role, Segun has championed the introduction of firmwide Aspirational Diversity Goals, led and informed the introduction of an I&D Cultural Foundation, against which all BCLP Partner’s performance is assessed against and introduced “Hours Gap reporting” in BCLP’s US and UK offices, allowing the firm to monitor, highlight and drive accountability around disparities in hours billed by Lawyers of Color, and specifically Black Associates and their White counterparts.
Segun played a significant role in the launch of the UK Race Fairness Commitment, launched by Rare Recruitment in July 2020 and in October 2020, he was awarded Black British Business Person of the Year at the Black British Business Awards.
Segun is a visible role model and advocate, who has sought to demand improvements in the experience and representation of Black people in the City.  Segun is a longstanding champion of BCLP’s Race for Change initiative which aims to increase the representation of Black lawyers in leading City firms and he regularly features in mainstream UK press on the issues of Inclusion & Diversity and Race Equity.
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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.