Last updated 03 July 2023
Thank you for choosing to be part of our community at Omek ("Company", "we", "us", "our"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy notice or our practices with regards to your personal information, please contact us at hello@myomek.com.
When you visit our website https://myomek.com (the "Website"), and more generally, use any of our services (the "Services", which include the Website), we appreciate that you are trusting us with your personal information. We take your privacy very seriously. In this privacy notice, we seek to explain to you in the clearest way possible what information we collect, how we use it, and what rights you have in relation to it. We hope you take some time to read through it carefully, as it is important. If there are any terms in this privacy notice that you do not agree with, please discontinue use of our Services immediately.
This privacy notice applies to all information collected through our Services (which, as described above, includes our Website), as well as, any related services, sales, marketing, or events.
Please read this privacy notice carefully as it will help you understand what we do with the information that we collect.
Personal information you disclose to us
In Short: We collect personal information that you provide to us.
We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you express an interest in obtaining information about us or our products and Services, when you participate in activities on the Services, or otherwise when you contact us.
Personal information provided by you
The personal information that we collect depends on the context of your interactions with us and the Services, the choices you make, and the products and features you use. We do not process sensitive information (ie, biometric data, credit cards).
Information automatically collected
In Short: Some information — such as your Internet Protocol (IP) address and/or browser and device characteristics — is collected automatically when you visit our Services.
We automatically collect certain information when you visit, use, or navigate the Services. This information does not reveal your specific identity (like your name or contact information) but may include device and usage information, such as your IP address, browser and device characteristics, operating system, language preferences, referring URLs, device name, country, location, information about how and when you use our Services, and other technical information. This information is primarily needed to maintain the security and operation of our Services, and for our internal analytics and reporting purposes.
Like many businesses, we also collect information through cookies and similar technologies. You can find out more about this in our Cookie Notice: myomek.com/cookies.
The information we collect includes:
Information collected from other sources
In Short: We may collect limited data from public databases, marketing partners, and other outside sources.
In order to enhance our ability to provide relevant marketing, offers, and services to you and update our records, we may obtain information about you from other sources, such as public databases, joint marketing partners, affiliate programs, data providers, and from other third parties. This information includes mailing addresses, job titles, email addresses, phone numbers, intent data (or user behavior data), Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, social media profiles, social media URLs, and custom profiles, for purposes of targeted advertising and event promotion.
In Short: We process your information to provide, improve, and administer our Services, communicate with you, for security and fraud prevention, and to comply with law. We may also process your information for other purposes with your consent.
We process your personal information for a variety of reasons, depending on how you interact with our Services, including:
In Short: We only process your personal information when we believe it is necessary and we have a valid legal reason (i.e., legal basis) to do so under applicable law, like with your consent, to comply with laws, to provide you with services to enter into or fulfill our contractual obligations, to protect your rights, or to fulfill our legitimate business interests.
If you are located in the EU or UK, this section applies to you.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and UK GDPR require us to explain the valid legal bases we rely on in order to process your personal information. As such, we may rely on the following legal bases to process your personal information:
If you are located in Canada, this section applies to you.
We may process your information if you have given us specific permission (i.e., express consent) to use your personal information for a specific purpose, or in situations where your permission can be inferred (i.e., implied consent). You can withdraw your consent at any time.
In some exceptional cases, we may be legally permitted under applicable law to process your information without your consent, including, for example:
In Short: We may share information in specific situations described in this section and/or with the following third parties.
We may need to share your personal information in the following situations:
In Short: We may use cookies and other tracking technologies to collect and store your information.
We may use cookies and similar tracking technologies (like web beacons and pixels) to access or store information. Specific information about how we use such technologies and how you can refuse certain cookies is set out in our Cookie Notice: myomek.com/cookies.
In Short: We keep your information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy notice unless otherwise required by law.
We will only keep your personal information for as long as it is necessary for the purposes set out in this privacy notice, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (such as tax, accounting, or other legal requirements). No purpose in this notice will require us keeping your personal information for longer than 2 years.
When we have no ongoing legitimate business need to process your personal information, we will either delete or anonymize such information, or, if this is not possible (for example, because your personal information has been stored in backup archives), then we will securely store your personal information and isolate it from any further processing until deletion is possible.
In Short: We aim to protect your personal information through a system of organizational and technical security measures.
We have implemented appropriate and reasonable technical and organizational security measures designed to protect the security of any personal information we process. However, despite our safeguards and efforts to secure your information, no electronic transmission over the Internet or information storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure, so we cannot promise or guarantee that hackers, cybercriminals, or other unauthorized third parties will not be able to defeat our security and improperly collect, access, steal, or modify your information. Although we will do our best to protect your personal information, transmission of personal information to and from our Services is at your own risk. You should only access the Services within a secure environment.
In Short: We do not knowingly collect data from or market to children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly solicit data from or market to children under 18 years of age.
By using the Services, you represent that you are at least 18 or that you are the parent or guardian of such a minor and consent to such minor dependent’s use of the Services. If we learn that personal information from users less than 18 years of age has been collected, we will deactivate the account and take reasonable measures to promptly delete such data from our records. If you become aware of any data we may have collected from children under age 18, please contact us at hello@myomek.com.
In Short: In some regions, such as the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom (UK), and Canada, you have rights that allow you greater access to and control over your personal information. You may review, change, or terminate your account at any time.
In some regions (like the EEA, UK, and Canada), you have certain rights under applicable data protection laws. These may include the right (i) to request access and obtain a copy of your personal information, (ii) to request rectification or erasure; (iii) to restrict the processing of your personal information; and (iv) if applicable, to data portability. In certain circumstances, you may also have the right to object to the processing of your personal information. You can make such a request by contacting us by using the contact details provided in the section "HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?" below.
We will consider and act upon any request in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
If you are located in the EEA or UK and you believe we are unlawfully processing your personal information, you also have the right to complain to your Member State data protection authority or UK data protection authority.
If you are located in Switzerland, you may contact the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.
Withdrawing your consent: If we are relying on your consent to process your personal information, which may be express and/or implied consent depending on the applicable law, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us by using the contact details provided in the section "HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?" below.
However, please note that this will not affect the lawfulness of the processing before its withdrawal nor, when applicable law allows, will it affect the processing of your personal information conducted in reliance on lawful processing grounds other than consent.
Opting out of marketing and promotional communications: You can unsubscribe from our marketing and promotional communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the emails that we send, or by contacting us using the details provided in the section "HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?" below. You will then be removed from the marketing lists. However, we may still communicate with you — for example, to send you service-related messages that are necessary for the administration and use of your account, to respond to service requests, or for other non-marketing purposes.
Cookies and similar technologies: Most web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. If you prefer, you can usually choose to set your browser to remove cookies and to reject cookies. If you choose to remove cookies or reject cookies, this could affect certain features or services of our Services. You may also opt out of interest-based advertising by advertisers on our Services. For further information, please see our Cookie Notice: myomek.com/cookies.
If you have questions or comments about your privacy rights, you may email us at hello@myomek.com.
Most web browsers and some mobile operating systems and mobile applications include a Do-Not-Track ("DNT") feature or setting you can activate to signal your privacy preference not to have data about your online browsing activities monitored and collected. At this stage no uniform technology standard for recognizing and implementing DNT signals has been finalized. As such, we do not currently respond to DNT browser signals or any other mechanism that automatically communicates your choice not to be tracked online. If a standard for online tracking is adopted that we must follow in the future, we will inform you about that practice in a revised version of this privacy notice.
In Short: If you are a resident of California, you are granted specific rights regarding access to your personal information.
What categories of personal information do we collect?
We have collected the following categories of personal information in the past twelve (12) months:
We may also collect other personal information outside of these categories through instances where you interact with us in person, online, or by phone or mail in the context of:
How do we use and share your personal information?
Learn about how we use your personal information in the section, "HOW DO WE PROCESS YOUR INFORMATION?" More information about our data collection and sharing practices can be found in this privacy notice and our Cookie Notice: myomek.com/cookies.
Will your information be shared with anyone else?
We may disclose your personal information with our service providers pursuant to a written contract between us and each service provider. Learn more about who we disclose personal information to in the section, "WHEN AND WITH WHOM DO WE SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?"
We may use your personal information for our own business purposes, such as for undertaking internal research for technological development and demonstration. This is not considered to be "selling" of your personal information.
We have not disclosed, sold, or shared any personal information to third parties for a business or commercial purpose in the preceding twelve (12) months. We will not sell or share personal information in the future belonging to website visitors, users, and other consumers.
California Residents
California Civil Code Section 1798.83, also known as the "Shine The Light" law, permits our users who are California residents to request and obtain from us, once a year and free of charge, information about categories of personal information (if any) we disclosed to third parties for direct marketing purposes and the names and addresses of all third parties with which we shared personal information in the immediately preceding calendar year. If you are a California resident and would like to make such a request, please submit your request in writing to us using the contact information provided below.
If you are under 18 years of age, reside in California, and have a registered account with the Services, you have the right to request removal of unwanted data that you publicly post on the Services. To request removal of such data, please contact us using the contact information provided below and include the email address associated with your account and a statement that you reside in California. We will make sure the data is not publicly displayed on the Services, but please be aware that the data may not be completely or comprehensively removed from all our systems (e.g., backups, etc.).
CCPA Privacy Notice
The California Code of Regulations defines a "resident" as:
All other individuals are defined as "non-residents."
If this definition of "resident" applies to you, we must adhere to certain rights and obligations regarding your personal information.
Your rights with respect to your personal data
Right to request deletion of the data — Request to delete
Right to be informed — Request to know
Depending on the circumstances, you have a right to know:
In accordance with applicable law, we are not obligated to provide or delete consumer information that is de-identified in response to a consumer request or to re-identify individual data to verify a consumer request.
Right to Non-Discrimination for the Exercise of a Consumer’s Privacy Rights
We will not discriminate against you if you exercise your privacy rights.
Right to Limit Use and Disclosure of Sensitive Personal Information We do not process consumer's sensitive personal information.
Verification process
Upon receiving your request, we will need to verify your identity to determine you are the same person about whom we have the information in our system. These verification efforts require us to ask you to provide information so that we can match it with information you have previously provided us. For instance, depending on the type of request you submit, we may ask you to provide certain information so that we can match the information you provide with the information we already have on file, or we may contact you through a communication method (e.g., phone or email) that you have previously provided to us. We may also use other verification methods as the circumstances dictate.
We will only use personal information provided in your request to verify your identity or authority to make the request. To the extent possible, we will avoid requesting additional information from you for the purposes of verification. However, if we cannot verify your identity from the information already maintained by us, we may request that you provide additional information for the purposes of verifying your identity and for security or fraud-prevention purposes. We will delete such additionally provided information as soon as we finish verifying you.
Other privacy rights
To exercise these rights, you can contact us by submitting a data subject access request, by email at hello@myomek.com, or by referring to the contact details at the bottom of this document. If you have a complaint about how we handle your data, we would like to hear from you.
In Short: You may have additional rights based on the country you reside in.
Australia and New Zealand
We collect and process your personal information under the obligations and conditions set by Australia's Privacy Act 1988 and New Zealand's Privacy Act 2020 (Privacy Act).
This privacy notice satisfies the notice requirements defined in both Privacy Acts, in particular: what personal information we collect from you, from which sources, for which purposes, and other recipients of your personal information.
If you do not wish to provide the personal information necessary to fulfill their applicable purpose, it may affect our ability to provide our Services, in particular:
At any time, you have the right to request access to or correction of your personal information. You can make such a request by contacting us by using the contact details provided in the section "HOW CAN YOU REVIEW, UPDATE, OR DELETE THE DATA WE COLLECT FROM YOU?"
If you believe we are unlawfully processing your personal information, you have the right to submit a complaint about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and for a breach of the New Zealand's Privacy Principles to the Office of New Zealand Privacy Commissioner.
Republic of South Africa
At any time, you have the right to request access to or correction of your personal information. You can make such a request by contacting us by using the contact details provided in the section "HOW CAN YOU REVIEW, UPDATE, OR DELETE THE DATA WE COLLECT FROM YOU?"
If you are unsatisfied with the manner in which we address any complaint with regard to our processing of personal information, you can contact the office of the regulator, the details of which are:
In Short: Yes, we will update this notice as necessary to stay compliant with relevant laws. We may update this privacy notice from time to time.
The updated version will be indicated by an updated "Revised" date and the updated version will be effective as soon as it is accessible. If we make material changes to this privacy notice, we may notify you either by prominently posting a notice of such changes or by directly sending you a notification. We encourage you to review this privacy notice frequently to be informed of how we are protecting your information.
If you have questions or comments about this notice, you may email us at hello@myomek.com or contact us by post at: Omek, OsdorperBan 90a23, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
You have the right to request access to the personal information we collect from you, change that information, or delete it. To request to review, update, or delete your personal information, please fill out and submit a data subject access request.
RUDII ★
Music Industry & Branding Maven
RuDoesIt.
The mononymous Rudii is the principal driving force behind the end-to-end brand marketing, international touring, and events production agency — RuDoesIt. Boasting a client list ranging from Jill Scott to Jay Z and McDonald’s to Motown along with 20+ years of experience, Rudii continues to take on projects with creative and/or social impact on a global scale.
KOFI OHENE-DJAN
CMO & Founder
Osuno Marketing
Determined, proactive and cheerful, I am a marketing professional with over 20 years’ experience spanning online/digital, social, print, outdoor, PR, internal comms and product development. My passions are sport, travel, great food, music and the performing arts. I am happiest when dancing with friends.
CAMERON JENKINS
Artist
Taking inspiration from events in my life and the world around me, my ideals are fleshed out through the process of listening to songs repeatedly until an image is constructed in my mind. By comparing personal events in my life to stories in humanity, I can measure the weight of the stories I’m telling.
HUGO FAUSTINO
Creative Media Strategist (Video, Photography, Digital)
Know as HFaustino I’m a Creative Media professional leveraging a multi-disciplinary approach to grow and promote business brands.
Amsterdam-based, multimedia producer crafting valuable stories using photography and video with a unique voice, clear vision on every aspect of digital brand interaction.
Surely a content creator with a strong Brand Driven mission to promote and distribute creative assets across digital channels building engaged audiences, somedays a photographer another days a video producer involving other professional creatives, always a distinctive marketer with a strong passion for to grow brands with engaging content.
CHARDE GOINS
CEO
The Blak Lotus
Charde Goins is an Entrepreneur, Artist, and Humanitarian. Also known as Akusafani Okuphakade, or Queen Akusa, a Healer, Medium, and Social Architect.
“The advancement of life requires the release of human conditioning, to enable the freedom of our spiritual body. Creating mediums that act as catalysts for liberation is my life’s work.”
GABRIELLE AMANI
CEO
MEFeater Magazine
Gabrielle Amani is the CEO and Co-founder of one of the largest digital magazine platforms, MEFeater Magazine. As an entrepreneur, marketer, and boss, she continues to excel as the brand grows. Being a Brooklyn native, Gabrielle has always been drawn to all things M.E.F.(Music, Entertainment, Fashion). She has recently relocated to Atlanta.
JIMMY SANA
Artist, Student, Co-Founder
NOMADIC
I’m half Burkinabé, half Dutch, raised in Mali and Tanzania, currently based in Rotterdam. I’m co-founder of the NOMADIC collective and have a passion for connecting people and making music. As part of the leadership of the Association of Student’s of African Heritage (ASAH), I aspire to help change the narrative of the continent for the better.
LEWIS McARA
Student, Creative, Co-Founder
NOMADIC
I am a musical artist, producer and co-founder of the collective NOMADIC. Born in Scotland but raised in Tanzania, I seek to channel my experiences being exposed to different cultures and people into my work, and leverage my own and my peer’s networks.
RAUL BALAI
Artist-Curator, Exhibition Maker, Designer
el bastardo
Raul Balai a.k.a. el bastardo, is an Amsterdam based artist (1980). Balai is fascinated by the way our exploitative state of mind frames the shape of the world. He uses a number of different styles, genres, to expose and explore what remains at stake within the history of diversities.
KEMO CAMARA
Founder
Omek
Kemo has more than 20 years of experience in community organizing and bringing people with diverse backgrounds and experiences together. He has co-founded multiple businesses and non-profit organizations and has professional experience in leadership and management working for multinational corporations including banks and manufacturing companies in the US.
ERIC COLLINS
CEO & Founding Member
Impact X Capital Partners
Eric is a VC serving on boards & the C-Suite of fast growth tech cos since 2001. Eric’s experiences include digital, mobileAI, SaaS based & health tech companies. He’s exited businesses to listed cos like MSFT & Nuance. He was named one of the most powerful Black business people in the UK by the FT & Powerlist. Eric hosts The Profit on UK’s Ch 4.
T. DEDAN OWORI
Director Business Development, Co-Founder
Tahka Group B.V
I would like to be part of the energy transition story and improve access to clean and sustainable energy for people in Europe and Africa, by providing consultancy, project and business development services.
MILKA YEMANE
Member of Groenlinks
Milka Yemane is a Political Scientist and she ran for member of Parliament in March 2021 for the Green left party. She is an advocate for humane migration policies and advocates for more Diaspora involvement. She is the founder and Director of the Lemat foundation, an organization that works towards better integration policies for newcomers.
JOY WANJIRU ZENZ
Founder
African Women in Europe
Joy Wanjiru Zenz is the founder of African Women in Europe. (AWE), the CEO of African Market in Europe (AME), Winner of 2018 African Business Support Award (The Voice Awards Amsterdam), Won African Diaspora living Legend in Germany 2018. Born Kenyan living in Germany and a mother of two.
KWANZA MUSI DOS SANTOS
Diversity & Inclusion Consultant
Diversity Matters
Italian-Afrobrazilian activist and intersectional feminist raised in Rome, co-founder of QuestaèRoma: an association against discriminations since 2013. Degree in political science, she organizes workshops about diversity, inclusion and anti-racism for several different organizations. Recently, she joined the board of the Union of Justice.
SERGIO PANDAY
Co-Founder
Roots Inspire
After an international career as a banking executive, Sergio is now determined to increase the ethnic diversity across the senior corporate layers. Together with 50+ mentors coming from ethnic minority backgrounds themselves, Sergio co-founded the Roots Inspire platform to accelerate ethnically diverse talent into senior corporate positions.
VERONICA SAFOA OWUSU
Founder
VPower Coaching
With her Master’s Degree in Educational Sciences and over 10 years of experience working as a Educator, Veronica has created hundreds and hundreds of lesson plans and courses, designed dozens of programme development schemes and executed Educational programmes that have helped achieve targeted skills in students and adults.
SEHAAM ABDULE
President
African Student Association of Tilburg (ASAT)
My name is Sehaam Abdule and I am 21 years old. I am Dutch and Somali. I am currently a third year law student at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. I am passionate about Black Empowerment as well as pan-Africanist.
SHANICA ROMNEY
Board Member of Activities
Tribez Student Association
Raised on the beautiful island of St. Martin, Shanica Romney is a community builder and a European Studies student. She is the co-founder of her platform called Say Less Sis, which serves as a safe space to highlight and discuss taboo topics while advocating for the people of St. Martin.
ABIGAIL VLOET
Vice President
African Student Association of Tilburg (ASAT)
I am Abigail, Ethiopian (originally), with Dutch nationality, and an international upbringing. I am a pan-Africanist who is studying International Law at Tilburg University.
SHENHAT TEDOS
Head of Committees
African Student Association of Tilburg (ASAT)
My name is Shenhat, I am 21 years old and I am currently in my third year of a Global Law Bachelor. I work in activism and community organizing besides ASAT.
SHENIN LEBRUN
CEO
Hustle & Heart Consultancy
My name is Shenin Lebrun and I am a multi-passionate entrepreneur. I am a (business) coach, a mentor, a speaker and a TV / Film story producer. My professional career started at Nike 17 years ago. Now as the founder of Hustle & Heart Consultancy, it’s my goal to inspire & share my knowledge so you feel empowered and reach your maximum potential.
STANLEY ANYETEI
Investment Officer
Triodos Investment Management
Stanley has been in investment banking for the past 16 years working across multiple countries. Starting his career at Investec Bank Limited in South Africa. Stanley is currently an investment manager at Triodos Investment Management, sits on the board of Signify Foundation, and also the Senior Lecturer of CSR at TIAS Business School in the NL.
CHARNEZ JACOBS
Venture Capital Fellow
IncludedVC
Experienced venture capital & finance professional who has built an extensive network across the private equity, venture capital and tech ecosystem( Africa / South- East Asia / Europe / North & South America).
MARTIN RUSSELL
Advisor
The Networking Institute
Martin completed his PhD on Diaspora Strategies at the Clinton Institute (University College Dublin) and was a visiting fellow at UNU-MERIT. He is an advisor at The Networking Institute where the team has collectively worked in 30 countries, cities, and regions on diaspora engagement.
SAMIRA RAFAELA
Member of the European Parliament
Samira Rafaela is a Dutch Member of the European Parliament for the social-liberal political party D66. As such she is part of the Renew Europe Group. Rafaela ran on the promise to fight for a strong, social and secure Europe. She strongly believes that the EU is at its best when we work together to diminish inequality and celebrate our diversity.
MPANZU BAMENGA
Co-Founder
INCLEADERS
Bamenga is the Member of City Council in Eindhoven and Co-founder of the Inclusion Leaders Network (INCLEADERS), an organization that provides opportunities for information sharing, leadership development, and networking opportunities for emerging and established leaders.
MIKAL TSEGAI
Member of the City Council in The Hague
Former Candidate to the Parliament
KIZA MAGENDANE
Writer and Policy Entrepreneur
Kiza Magendane is a writer and policy entrepreneur with a special focus on citizenship, identity, globalization, technology and the position of Africa in the world. He studied political science in Amsterdam and Antwerp and works as a knowledge broker in international development. He writes essays and reports for NRC and De Groene Amsterdammer.
CLAUDE FIDELIN
Founder
The Black Negotiator
Claude co-founded Nike Black Employee Network (BEN) in the region and is currently a co-chair. Raised by a single mother in the French “Banlieue”, he got his MBA from Columbia Business School. His career in banking, consulting, and startups took him to London, New York and Miami. Claude is now back to Europe, in the Netherlands, with his wife and two kids.
DARRYL ANTUNEZ
Kroush Kade Radio / DJ
Two Capeverdean kids from the city centre of Rotterdam sharing their Music Library together stand for nothing more than a show full of ear pleasure. With a wide music range nothing will remain the same.
WILSON ALMEIDA DUARTE
Kroush Kade Radio / MC
Two Capeverdean kids from the city centre of Rotterdam sharing their Music Library together stand for nothing more than a show full of ear pleasure. With a wide music range nothing will remain the same.
TARA CRICHLOW
Artist, Teacher, Performer, Lecturer, Facilitator and Curator
New York City native Tara Crichlow, affectionately known as “big tara,” is a pioneer in the world of hip hop. As a New York club culture ambassador, she is an innovative artist best known for her contribution to the art form as an international teacher, performer, lecturer, facilitator and curator of related programs.
UEJANAUA TJIHUMINO
Event Coordinator
Black Ladies Of Groningen
Hi I’m Uejaa, and I am a final year student in International and European law from sunny Namibia. I believe connection and community are important values of mine leading me to join the BLOG board for the last years. I plan on working within the human rights field, I’m a big softie who believes the world needs more empathy.
MWEE VAN DER MEER
Vice President
Black Ladies Of Groningen
I’m 22 years old and studying biomedical diagnostics at Hanze University. I’m currently the Vice president of BLOG and 2019/2020 President.
BOUBA DOLA
Artist
Experienced Artist with a demonstrated history of working in the arts and film industry. Skilled in Photography, film and visual storytelling.
HILLMANN BATUO
President
African-Caribbean Maastricht University Society (ACMUS)
Prospective M.D. Play basketball for fun. Fascinated about the workings of the human brain/mind. Love meeting new people, I believe everyone has a lesson to teach me in life.
KINGSLEY AIKINS
Founder & CEO
The Networking Institute
CEO of The Networking Institute based in Dublin and trains individuals, companies, non-profits and governments how to be better at networking.
ABBY DEBESAY
Stichting NABANA, Afrispectives
Abby has an Eritrean background and grew up in Germany. Activism started to play a big role in her life at the age of 15, with a specific interest in women’s empowerment in Eritrea. Later, she studied Postcolonial Studies, Communications/PR, and Social Science. Education being a key element for development, her focus today is facilitating educational and professional exchange of Africans in the Diaspora and in African countries.
SUNDAY OZEGBE OBIAJULU
Artistic Director
Ennovate Dance House
Sunday Ozegbe Obiajulu is a Dancer, Choreographer, writer, Artivist, Curator, Artist, and Community Organizer. The young Artist is the convener of renowned Community event tagged ‘Slum Party’. He is the Artistic Director of Ennovate Dance House @ennovated and convener Artistes Hangout
ANITA ABAISA
Owner
Black Ladies Talk
In 2015 Anita started the Facebook group Black Ladies Talk. The aim of the platform is that black women exchange experiences, overcome mental barriers and help each other in their personal and professional development.
By December 2016, the group already had more than ten thousand members and several subgroups: health, children and family, travel, history and work. The women also meet offline: there are ‘tea and talks’, in March 2016 one hundred and fifty women in Rotterdam held the first Black Sisterhood Unity March (an annual event since then), and in November 2016 they held a conference in the Bijlmer Parktheater, the Black Ladies Talk conference with workshops and talk shows about (mental) health, among other things.
PETER KWOK
Chair
UK Federation of Chinese Professionals (UKFCP)
Peter is Chair of the Global Diaspora Confederation and of the UK Federation of Chinese Professionals as well as 10 other diaspora associations, and sat at board level for a further 6 community organisations in the UK and China, including a UN ECOSOC accredited charity in Africa.
AHMED LAROUZ
Founder
Climate LaunchPad
Ahmed Larouz is a social innovator, entrepreneur and a strategic creative communication and marketing manager. He’s founder of Diwan Awards Holland and also the co-founder and Author of 180 Amsterdammers celebrating Amsterdam’s rich cultures and for being the most diverse city in the world. Gained experience across several industries around the globe and has consulted commercial businesses, start-ups, government and social organizations.
LOKSAN HARLEY
Founder & Executive Director
Homelands Advisory
Loksan is a migration and diaspora engagement specialist with extensive experience in research, policy analysis, project management, and technical assistance in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, working with governments, regional and international organisations, NGOs, and the private sector. He has a passion for doing highly analytical
LAMAR “BLACK ICE” MANSON
Poet, Spoken Word Artist
The Tony, Peabody & Emmy Award-winning, 6-time HBO and Broadway Def Poet Lamar “Black Ice” Manson, is credited with being a major pioneer of this millennium, turning spoken word into a mainstream Art form. His work is utilized in high school curricula to course studies at the academically acclaimed Ivy League Universities, Harvard and Columbia. Alongside Stan Lathan (creator/producer of Def Poetry Jam) and Rikki Hughes, Black Ice is currently executive producing a new live performance poetry show scheduled to debut in late 2021.
LYNNEE DENISE
DJ, Artist, Scholar, and Writer
DJ Lynnée Denise is an Amsterdam-based artist, scholar, and writer whose work reflects on underground cultural movements, the 1980s, migration studies, theories of escape, and electronic music of the African Diaspora. When she’s not creating, she’s teaching at UCLA and Stanford. Her current book project, Why Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton Matters will be published in 2022 by the University of Texas Press.
LYSANNE CHARLES
Educator, Activist, Creative
Lysanne Charles is an educator in the areas of Caribbean history and creative arts, in addition to being an activist and creative in her own right. She’s been writing poetry and short stories for the past 30 years as well as songs in the genres of Calypso, Soca and Road-march. Her work in education, activism and arts mainly focus on matters dear to her heart including the Caribbean archipelago, politics, love, spirituality, family, the arts and activisms around youth, women’s, right, LGBTQIA+ and Racial Equality.
DANA SAXON
Founder & CEO
Ancestors unKnown
Dana is the Founder and CEO of Ancestors unKnown, an education social enterprise that provides schools, nonprofits, corporations and other institutions with curriculum and workshops related to identity development, family history research and discovering untold histories. After spending nearly 10 years in the education nonprofit sector in the U.S., Dana moved from New York City to the Netherlands in 2011, where she earned a Master’s in Sociology at the University of Amsterdam.
STACEY LAMPTEY
Founder
Black Ladies Of Groningen
I am an LLB graduate currently working within the field of compliance and anti-money laundering. Moreover, I am the Founder of the organization ‘BLOG’ (Black Ladies Of Groningen) which focuses on providing women of ethnic African and Caribbean descent with a platform that eases the process of establishing valuable connections amongst each other.
KEOSHA LOVE
Writer, Activist & Wellness Educator
Keosha is a multi-disciplinary artist, activist, and educator that intersects art and wellness to promote positive mental health in BIPOC communities and empower women.
SASKIA JEANNE DURE
Anger/Activism Coach
The Angry Black Life Coach, Toking Travel International LLC
30-year-old femme with a degree in International Relations. I use my coaching practices to support other Black gender marginalized people embrace anger and other uncomfortable emotions. I am currently living in Spain and operate this company remotely.
RENATE MATROOS
Founder
Twenty 6 Consultancy
I’m a creative mind who wants to help every entrepreneur perform to the best of their ability and become more successful. As a Digital Learning Designer and Facilitator I create and develop interactive workshops and programs.
GERALDINE MOODLEY
Operations Manager, Lawyer, Mediator
I am a human rights lawyer, former operations manager and team leader. I have worked in various international organisations with multicultural teams. I am of African descent and mix cultures which have worked for me and in my current work as diversity equity and inclusion adviser, trainer and consultant bringing much-needed change to organisations.
KOBI AMPOMA
Talent Lead
Otrium
Kobi is a Talent Acquisition Lead. He has an educational background in Human Resources. Having worked in the HR function as an HR Generalist, International Mobility and Talent Acquisition. Kobi is a big advocate for Diversity & Inclusion in recruitment. He has worked in the FMCG, Retail, Sporting Goods, Fashion, and Technology industry for 20 year.
GEORGE D. WILLIAMS
Founder, Managing Director
Diversity Global Institute
George manages an organization that provides access to global education and language acquisition. He has experience as a political consultant, interpreter, and startup founder, among others. Some of his other projects include sustainably developing a boutique international real estate portfolio, and designing and executing political events.
MOHAMED ZAHIR ALIMOHAMED
Director of Research and Training, Lecturer, Scientist, Medical Geneticist
Mohamed worked for the RND section of the Genetics department in NL. His PhD focused on using NGS to diagnose (genetic) diseases in the clinic. He is a co-founder of the Tanzania Society of Human Genetics and is currently based in Tanzania and serves as the Acting Director of Research and Training at the Shree Hindu Mandal Hospital.
JOAN MWANGI
Community & Programs Manager
Pangea Accelerator
A design professional and creative with an interest in social impact and business development, I am always looking for new ways of providing solutions to challenges. Currently passionate about building Inclusive Africa a platform to catalyze systemic change for inclusivity and diversity on the continent. It has been a growing and exciting process.
ANNE LAWI
Managing Director
Pangea Accelerator
Anne Lawi Is a Managing Director for Pangea Trust catalyzing innovation through social businesses that stimulate economy in Africa by creating enabling environment to harness skills, provide technical expertise and capital, to spur and accelerate social-economic transformation, increased job creation and improved quality of life at the base of the pyramid.
MICHAEL KITTICAI
Founder
Nairobabe
I’m a Creative Designer with a passion for arts, music, and street fashion. It’s this moment that gets me to put my head down and think out of the box.
IVY IRUNGU
Operations Associate
Pangea Trust
Pangea Trust was registered in 2019 and was initiated by Pangea Accelerator as they identified a big need for a non-profit organization that could focus on building the innovation ecosystem and mobilizing resources from the African Diaspora.
JONAS TESFU
Co-Founder, CEO
Pangea Accelerator
Jonas is a strong voice in the Norwegian and African startup scene. He currently works with 100+ African tech companies based out of the Pangea Accelerator in Nairobi, Kenya. A life-long entrepreneur with 15+ years of experience with building startups in the Tech sector, food industry and impact startups.
JONAS NJAU
Founder & Director
Finesse Art and Media
Norwegian/Tanzanian art and media consultant with both professional and academic background in African Governance and Electoral systems, currently pursuing a Masters at Leiden University in The Netherlands. Jonas also serves on the Board of the Tanzania Global Diaspora Council Chamber of Commerce and the Norwegian Council for Africa.
MARIA TOKO
Chairwoman
Tribez Student Association
As the former Student Chair of the University Council of The Hague University of Applied Sciences, I participate and co-decide on important developments and on the policy of the university. As the Chair of the Student section I am inspired by the students I represent. Besides, I focus on better Diversity and Inclusion policies in higher education and sustainability policies that empower this generation and the next one. I am involved in topics on society, art and culture by co-organising and co-facilitating events with among other Het Nationale Theater.
HEAVEN BEREKET
Senior Project Manager
Pangea Accelerator
Heaven is ranked top 33 Female Tech Leader in Sweden and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 with an incredible background growing up in the countryside in the north of Sweden with roots from East Africa. Heaven is a prominent Business Advisor contributing to Africa’s and Europe’s start-up and Tech scene.
MARIA KLINT
Project Manager
Sida
Maria Klint is a service designer and facilitator at Antrop with the main focus on solving complex sustainability challenges. At the moment she’s working with global aid issues and building an innovation lab at SIDA and she’s focusing on circular design and to build circularity into e-commerce.
WEINI SMON
Yoga Teacher
Weini Smon is a certified Ashtanga and Vinyasa teacher from the Sampoorna Yoga Teacher Training School in India. She has a background in Banking but has always had a passion for Yoga and all things Wellness. As she deepened her Yoga practice, she wanted to share the benefits of Yoga and Wellness with more people and in particular the black community.
OLUBUNMI OKOLOSI
Founder, CEO
Kajola
Bunmi has worked with some of the world’s leading chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and entrepreneurs. Former clients include Arabica Food & Spice Company (Time Out London’s Best Restaurant), Lima London (1-star Michelin restaurant), and The Student Hotel (international hospitality start-up). With Kajola, Bunmi can lend his passion and expertise to those who are eager to make their mark in the food and hospitality sectors.
HASSAN DIRISU
Founder
Kakanda
A lawyer and social entrepreneur seeking to make financing and greener supply chains more available to artisanal and small scale miners in West Africa.
FOLASADE AYOOLA
Co-Founder
Electric Fish
Folasade is Co-Founder of ElectricFish Energy Inc., an energy storage company providing grid resilience and EV ultrafast charging. She is also a Ph.D. researcher focused on the deep decarbonization of large-scale energy systems, exploring low-carbon transition pathway alternatives for oil-dependent countries, specifically Nigeria.
INDIGO JANKA
Communications Officer
Wetlands International
MARQUISE T.A.
Choreographer, Director
Marquise T.A. was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. At a very young age Marquise fell in love with the art forms: Drama, Dance & Film. He furthered his passion for Drama by majoring in Theatre Arts at Clark Atlanta University. Marquise has been able to use art as a way to heal from systemic trauma and wishes to share his art with the world.
CHRISTIANO TERRY
President & CEO
N LITE Media
Christiano is the Founder and President of N LITE Media, a black owned production company with a unique team of new and veteran Hollywood talent dedicated to bringing untold stories to life. N LITE focuses on classic storytelling and brand creation that champions POC characters in timeless and provocative ways for a global audience.
POLLY IRUNGU
Founder
Black Women Photographers
Multimedia journalist, digital editor, and photographer Polly Irungu is the founder of Black Women Photographers, a global community and directory of 500+ Black women and non-binary photographers.
Polly is also a Digital Content Editor at New York Public Radio (WYNC), where she is responsible for managing social media for WNYC and PRX’s ‘The Takeaway’, a national NPR show with over 2 million listeners, pitching news stories and features for The Takeaway and her podcast is ranked the 4th most downloaded, amongst others.
HANAN OSMAN
Creative Production & Operations, Co-Founder
FourTwo Creative
Seeker of creative humans. Production and operations professional with extensive experience in people operations, cultivating social community and campaign development & management.
RATIDZO MAMBO
Actor, Creative Producer
Ratidzo Mambo is an actor and creative producer, with over 8 years’ experience working in International Film and TV Distribution. With her expertise in content sales across all broadcast platforms, she has managed clients in Africa, North America and Eastern Europe.
Mambo’s upcoming project – 50 Shades of Black Girl (which she’s both developing and producing), was recently acquired by a US streamer (TBA). In addition, she recently received the 2020 Rising Star Award from the Casting Guild of Australia for her acting work.
NII AYIKWEI PARKES
Editor, Writer, Socio-Cultural Commentator
I am always interested in fresh challenges and using my experience in the service of a new and innovative venture.
Flipped Eye Publishing, which I co-founded, has been an element in my life and work for close to two decades and has remained so while I have lectured, worked for and consulted for several organisations. It is a relationship that I expect anyone who seeks to work with me to respect – I am able to scale my involvement to match several circumstances.
MALCOLM-EMILIO
Original Man of Creation
Stay Relevant
For the past 10 years Malcolm-Emilio has consistently created work that inspires new perspectives on how to communicate and navigate in diverse cultural landscapes. Using references from personal travel studies to create a language that can speak to the world, mainly using paint, sculpture, and interactive installations
MARLOU FERNANDA DA SILVA
Visual Artist
Introducing Marlou Fernanda: The effervescent self-taught Visual Artist. With a particular focus on painting, Fernanda also works as a performance artist and creative director.
NGALULA BEATRICE KABUTAKAPUA
Storytelling and Strategic Communications Consultant
After a decade spent working as a journalist, she became a business storytelling coach helping underestimated entrepreneurs incorporate stories into their businesses. She partners with purpose-driven organisations and CSR teams to improve employees engagement and external marketing and communication through storytelling.
JULIA BROWN
CEO & Founder
Walking The Spirit Tours-Black Paris & Beyond
Julia Browne pioneered Black heritage tourism in France in 1994. She was born in Britain, raised in Canada, and resided in France for fifteen years.
In Paris, she founded the heritage education company Walking The Spirit Tours-Black Paris & Beyond while a student at the Sorbonne’s Center for African American Studies. Her Afrocentric tours and customized itineraries have introduced countless travelers, students, and educators to the rich but lesser known influence of Black history and culture in Europe, the UK, Washington DC, and Canada.
RICKI STEVENSON
Founder & Director
Black Paris Tours
Ricki Stevenson, founder of Black Paris Tours, has served as its creative thinker and CEO since its inception in 1998. Stevenson, a native of Oakland, California, is a former TV-news anchor, international travel reporter and talk-show host.
She holds a master’s degree in History from Stanford University, with an emphasis on African and African American studies. Ricki began dreaming of life in Paris at three years old, when her mother, a former professional dancer, took her to see Josephine Baker perform. She was ten when her Mom took her to hear James Baldwin speak in California. Ten years later Ricki found herself interviewing Baldwin for a New York City radio network.
Mme. Stevenson says the idea for Black Paris Tours grew out of her experiences as a United Nations reporter and a travel reporter….always looking for and finding amazing, untold stories of Black history dating back to the beginning of all history!
JENNIFER TOSCH
Founder & Historian
Black Heritage Tours
Jennifer Tosch is a cultural historian and the founder of Black Heritage Tours in Amsterdam, New York State and Brussels. The tours make the cities’ ‘hidden’ histories visible as you explore their early Black presence and colonial history.
She is the co-author of 3 guide books on Dutch colonial history: Amsterdam (2014), New York (2017) and The Netherlands (2019). Jennifer is the co-founder of Sites of Memory Foundation (2019) and a member of the Mapping Slavery Project Netherlands (2014). She was born in Brooklyn, New York to Surinamese parents.
JODY OGG
PR/Social Media, Co-Founder
NOMADIC
I was born in Scotland but I grew up in England and Tanzania, where I met the other NOMADIC members. As part of the PR/Social Media team, I help to run the social media platforms as well as plan project promotion and generate ideas for ways to better connect with our audiences.
MS. ABA
Music artist, Radio-personality, Broadcaster, Speaker
MS.ABA (also known as Augustina Austin) is a multi-faceted entertainer: music artist, an
award-winning radio-personality/broadcaster, speaker, former beauty queen and communication & brand strategist.
On 30 October 2020, the singer released her debut EP ‘Rooted’ on streaming platforms. The singer is determined to captivate international markets with Afrocentric Soul.
KAMAU WARE
Founder & Lead Creative
Black Gotham Experience
Kamau Ware is an award-winning visual artist and storyteller based in New York City. Kamau creates new narratives about the African Diaspora’s history through photography, films, exhibitions and events. He founded the Black Gotham Experience (BGX) in 2010 to illustrate the impact of the African Diaspora.
GAI SPANN
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Association of Black Travel Professionals
Experienced CEO with a demonstrated history of working in the leisure, travel & tourism industry.
RAOUL FOKKE
Founder & Travel Designer
Act Of Travel
Born in Amsterdam but raised around the globe, Raoul has lived and worked across four continents; his mission as a luxury travel advisor is rooted in helping clients uncover underrated gems. Recently launched SoloRetreats, a passion project which was birthed amidst the pandemic: a local and solo travel experience focussed on self development.
CHRISTINA BELLOGE
Director
Melanin Travels Magic, Ltd.
I’m French born in Paris, originally from Guadeloupe Island. I’m both a Social Media Marketing Consultant and recently founded a tour operator online company for the black diaspora Melanin Travels Magic. I’ve studied both in France in the UK after a Master in Economics, management from the Sorbonne university. I’ve been an ex-pat for 14 years.
AURELIARITA MARCELLUS
Founder
Intentional Creations
Aurelia is a International Law lawyer, business strategist and a creation guide of projects that spark joy. She is a travel enthusiast, a humanist and a lifestyle mentor.
NITA LIEM
Artistic Director
Don’t Hit Mama
Nita Liem, born in Indonesia, grew up in the Netherlands and is a dance researcher, theater maker, and performer.
SANDRA ST. VICTOR
Singer, Songwriter
A trained opera singer, the Dallas born, Holland based singer/songwriter Sandra St. Victor is very much an artist’s artist. Known for her work as the front woman of rock/soul group The Family Stand, her solo career was solidified with fan favorite Mack Diva Saves The World.
St. Victor’s songwriter has had her songs recorded by legendary artists like – Curtis Mayfield, The Temptations, Chaka Khan, Prince, Roy Ayers, Lalah Hathaway, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ziggy Marley. She can currently be found writing songs or clearing samples for one of your favorite artists.
NIXON MUKIZA
Urban Curator
Nixon is a multidisciplinary who focuses on establishing cross-connections between people and buildings. With a history in Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, he specialize in integrated processes and spatial issues that represent polyphony, urban design, ecology and transformation. As the founder and Artistic Director of the house: Maison Mukiza he is closely involved with social development of buildings for the creative industry.
OYINKAN OLOJEDE
Brand Marketing & Design, Co-Founder
FourTwo Creative
Strategic creative & culture enthusiast. Background in influencer marketing, social media strategy, branded content & strategic partnerships.
SOPHIE DOUALA
Visual Artist & Art Director
I am Sophie Douala, Cameroon born, France raised and Berlin based and visual artist and art director. In my work and personal life, I am interested in the interplay and confluence of a formal visual language and its emotional and cognitive affect.
Observe – States – Question – The essence – Interpret – (In)tensions – Represent – Perceptions
ENNIO “BLESZ” BURLESON
Sound Designer, Artist, Cultural Entrepreneur
Ennio ‘BLESZ’ Burleson is an Amsterdam based sound designer, artist and cultural entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of the Burgundy Productions foundation, owner of the Burgundy Sound Studio and co-organizer and host of the Word Up platform. These platforms all create spaces for talented creatives and promote diversity, inclusion, self-expression and personal growth. As a performer he is a spoken word artist, MC and DJ. His style is versatile, but recognizable and his works are characterized by honesty, love, passion and criticism.
KWAME WILSON
Copywriter, Co-Founder
Out Of Home
A creative mind that likes to connect with others. Fanatical about effective storytelling, intricate details, and debating classic hip-hop albums.
SHANNAN E. JOHNSON
Writer, Former Development Exec
The Professional Pen
After receiving her MFA in Film from Florida State University, Shannan became a junior creative executive in development and current programming at NBCUniversal at the Syfy Channel. In 2010, Shannan quit her executive position to pursue a theater and dance career that included. Amazing Grace, Ghost the Musical, Dreamgirls, Sister Act, How to Quit Your Day Job, Step Afrika! and Sole Defined. Shannan has since continued her passion for helping writers through their roadblocks as The Professional Pen, a script consultant for writers in all stages of the writing process. In 2019, Shannan teamed up with IYO Visuals to co-write ALL SCREWED UP, the viral, visual tribute to Houston’s own DJ Screw.
LAINE MARIE DAINI
Educator, Writer, Podcaster
L.M. Daini is an award-winning children’s author and the host of the African Storytelling podcast: Giraffe’s Eggs and other African Tales. She currently works as a languages teacher in London, UK.
JOHN ORPHEUS
CEO
Haus Orpheus
From South-Central Trinidad, John Orpheus is a multi-cultural musical artist and published author. His memoir called SAGA BOY and album of the same name will be released in 2021. They are based on themes of: searching for home, family, love and a fly coat to wear when you get there. His recent single FELA AWOKE (I WILL MISS YOU) begins this journey.
JOHN AGESILAS
Dancer, Choreographer, DJ, and Teacher
John Agesilas is one of the founders of jazz-fusion, not only as a dancer/choreographer, but also as a DJ. He is also one of the co-founders of the festival Summer Dance Forever, an international house and hiphop dance festival, organized each year in Amsterdam, since 2009.
KIM DANKOOR
Media expert, Interviewer, PhD candidate, Owner
KIMBYKIM
Kim understands the power and (potential) impact of media and as such, she is highly respected by her peers. Her mission is to provoke critical thinking not just for viewers but for her colleagues as well. She is currently working on her doctoral dissertation on US rap music, gender and self-concept. Lastly, Kim also works as an interviewer.
MICHELLE DAVID
Singer, Songwriter
A theater star for most of her career (ie: Sounds of Motown, Glory of Gospel, Big Black & Beautiful), Michelle David has recently made noise in concert halls and festivals across Europe as a member of Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions. Known for her electrifying stage presence and inspirational song writing, David’s shows are nothing short of memorable. MDTGS’ 5th album is on its way with a single dropping within weeks.
WILLIEM VAN DER VLIET
Student
Dutch Jamaican by heritage, I have grown up in Jordan, India, the US and the Netherlands. Mechanical Engineer by study, I’m interested in creatively applying engineering to build a more sustainable future!
RUI JUN LUONG
Founder
Asian Raisins
(She/Her) Designer, Photographer, founder of Asian Raisins, an Anti-Asian Racism platform.
JOËLLE RAUS PRUDENCE
Curator, Program Maker
Korzo Theater
Professional in performing arts for over 20 years, expertise marketing & communication, programming, talent development and networking.
JIMENA MENDIZABAL DEL MORAL
Artistic Director
Young Blood Initiative
I am a writer, researcher and cultural project manager currently based in Amsterdam. I help artists and organisations to conceptualise, develop and execute their projects. My research focuses on collaborative practices, processed-based practices, and affective encounters both off and online.
JACQUELINE NGO MPII
Founder
Little Africa
Behind the rise of the Little Africa enterprise is its founder and CEO, Jacqueline NGO MPII. This
young entrepreneur had a vision to transform her passion for art, tourism and languages into a multidimensional project with character. Jacqueline is constantly redefining and expanding her activities….
ROBIN BATES
Founder & Executive Director
Maison Noire Americaine
Philanthropist and Black Paris travel guru, Robin has dedicated over 20 years to highlighting the Black Diaspora in France. Through her ventures Café de la Soul * Your Black Paris Portal and Maison Noire Américaine, Bates focuses on cultivating a deeper sense of community between diverse French, African American, and Afro-Francophone cultures.
LEMI GHARIOKWU
Visual Artist, Graphic Designer, Illustrator
Ghariokwu Lemi, is a self taught Nigerian Visual Artist, Graphic Designer, Illustrator and Songwriter. He is most renowned for many of his original cover art for Nigerian music legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti. His work involves a variety of styles, often using vibrant colours and individuated typefaces of his own design.
RABI BAH
Co-Founder
The Update
Rabi Bah is a multidisciplinary creative whose works are mainly set in illustration, Hip-Hop dance, music and art direction. Her personal work explores the complexities of identity and lived experiences which she translates into the tangible world.
NEDDA SOU
Interdisciplinary Maker & DJ
Interdisciplinary maker and DJ Nedda Sou is looking for a myth that might make a comeback: Conversations through storytelling. As a maker she is driving by her bi-cultural background and her experiences as a dancer from the club and hip hop culture. As a DJ her selections are melodic, House or Techno and always creating motion on the dancefloor.
DEYONE MILANA GUISEPPI
Student, Artist, Singer, Creative
Deyone Milana Guiseppi aka “Milly” aka “Milly de Quing” grew up on the island of Trinidad and now residing in the City of Groningen in the Netherlands, where she attends the university of Groningen. She is a Black, Trans, Woman, Immigrant activist and creative.
KELINE JACQUET
Student
My Name is Keline. I moved to the Netherlands 3 years ago. Born in Sint Maarten and traveled to Florida where I lived for 6 years. I am an mental health advocate and an aspiring life trauma coach. I enjoy traveling, music, and culture.
COURTNEY BRADWELL
Technical Writer
Verifone
Courtney is a content leader responsible for implementing digital editorial strategy for some of the largest global brands across banking, retail, and technology. For over 10 years, she has generated measurable customer-focused content to drive engagement. Now working in Amsterdam, she creates guides for EMEA ecommerce product teams.
SHARNETTE DONACIEN
Business & Empowerment Coach
Be You Consult
I am a 37 year old, mother of 2 currently living in the Netherlands after moving from London, 8 years ago. My professional background is in financial advisory services. I am a qualified accountant and insolvency practitioner and I recently transitioned to business and empowerment coaching. I am also an aspiring children’s book writer.
LENÉ HYPOLITE
Co-Founder
Netherlands Black Women
Lené is a world traveler and serial expat who has lived in 7 (soon to be 8 countries). As the co-founder of Netherlands Black Women and The Goal Standard Podcast, she’s come to understand the importance and significance of community around the globe.
MAMADOU CISSÉ
CEO
Oju-Wa
My name is Mamadou Cissé, 32 years old, from Lyon (France) and of Senegalese origin. I am a founder and CEO of Oju-Wa a cosmetics brand for black men.
BRENDA JOLLY AJIDIRU
Founder
Natural Hair Solutions by Brenda
I am Brenda Jolly Ajidiru from Uganda and I have been in the Netherlands for two years. I owned a beauty parlour in Uganda and so I know how to care for hair ánd run a business. I am always motivated by the challenges of day to day life. When people with Afro natural hair here in the Netherlands asked me who did my hair, it motivated me to start.
COCO OLAKUNLE
Photographer
Coco Olakunle is an independent Nigerian-Dutch photographer based in Amsterdam. Preferring non-professional models, Coco uses her signature verité style photography to capture the stories she finds important. For Coco, the camera is a way to engage humanity and peacefully open the doors of inclusivity and full-spectrum representation.
SYDNEY NWAKANMA
Founder
EMEKA Suits
Sydney Nwakanma is the Founder and Creative Director of EMEKA. Emeka is a circular lifestyle brand which creates clothing from upcycled fabrics in rural Kenya.
DANIEL GYIMAH
Founder
Mystery, Modern Mark
Mystery, Modern Mark is Dutch perfume brand that started in 2019. The Owner of the brand is Daniel Gyimah. We currently have four(4) fragrances to our collection.
ELIJA ABDULAZIZ MAYO
Co-Founder
Try My Bag
A 23 years old who is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in International Business Studies at the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. I have deep affection towards entrepreneurship which is why I decided to start a business while I’m still in my second year at university.
TITO VALERY
Writer, Political Activist, Radio and TV Host, Spoken Word Artist, Motivational Speaker
Tito Valery is equally a photo artist who has shown his work in Documenta (2016) Kassel, Berlin and Athens, solo shows in New York, Zurich with Tracey Rose, performed spoken word at the Tate modern in London (July 2018), a solo at Guest projects Hackney London, (Yinka Shonibare’s art space) group exhibitions in Cameroon, Senegal (Dakart biennial 2014) and recently performed a solo Poetry end-of-residency Piece in Arnhem Netherlands entitled “Game Of Tones 2019”. Tito has written independently, articles for the BBC arts hour, CameroonTribune to name a few. He has been featured in cultural magazines like Inspire Afrika, and bakwa magazine.
MICHAEL GUINN
Poet, Events Coordinator, Author, Actor
Michael Guinn is professional performance poet, events coordinator, published author, award winning-poet and up and coming actor, advocate and survivor residing in the Dallas Fort Worth Texas. He holds a master’s degree in social work and works full time as a permanent supportive housing coach in Dallas! Michael has more than 22 years of stage, open mic, local, regional, national, international youth and adult poetry slams, virtual events, films, radio and public speaking experiences. He is currently acting in a series now streaming on Amazon Prime!
LOUISE McSTRAVICK
Writer, Educator, Poet
Louise is a writer and educator from Birmingham. She has performed her poetry across the UK and abroad and has had her work featured on BBC Berkshire. Her first collection, How to Make Curry Goat is Out now with Fly on the Wall Press.
MISS YANKEY
Writer, Spoken Word Artist
British/Ghanaian Writer and Spoken Word Artist Miss Yankey has captivated audiences from London to Paris, to New York, and as far as Melbourne. Her energy is unmistakable, every word she spills is carefully crafted, performed with passion, and loaded with authenticity. As a part of the international collective ‘FLO Poets’ Miss Yankey is mentored by x7 times Grammy award nominated Natalie ‘The Floacist’ Stewart, and hosts at two of London’s most popular Spoken Word shows, The Chocolate Poetry Club and Mind Over Matter.
NANISO TSWAI
Author, Academic, Artist
Originally from South Africa, Naniso Tswai is a Berlin-based author, academic and artist. His work is strongly embedded in broader issues of justice, particularly as these relate to human rights and identity. He has performed on various stages across Europe, and also in Australia and South Africa. He is the founder of Wicked Projects, which is a dynamic endeavour that initiates, supports and promotes Spoken Word art projects both in and outside of Europe.
ANTHONY HARRISON
CEO & Founding Member
Impact X Capital Partners
Eric is a VC serving on boards & the C-Suite of fast growth tech cos since 2001. Eric’s experiences include digital, mobileAI, SaaS based & health tech companies. He’s exited businesses to listed cos like MSFT & Nuance. He was named one of the most powerful Black business people in the UK by the FT & Powerlist. Eric hosts The Profit on UK’s Ch 4.
