Celebrating Black Excellence
This October brought us a wonderful reason to celebrate. We can all be proud because Afua Kyei, Chief Financial Officer at the Bank of England, has been named the UK’s Most Influential Black Person on the 2026 Powerlist.Her achievement reminds us that when Black women succeed, they uplift entire communities too.
It’s a moment that highlights why networks like BWHR exist — to ensure stories like hers become the norm, not the exception.
At BWHR, we remain committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) as more than just a corporate formality. For us, it’s about restoring the dignity of Black professionals in the workplace, thereby creating environments where we don’t just survive but are truly able to thrive.
But, let’s be honest: the path upward isn’t always smooth. Black women still face barriers that others don’t even notice. We’re talking about unconscious bias in promotion decisions, limited sponsorship and visibility, and being under-mentored yet overworked. Too often, we have to work twice as hard to prove we belong in rooms where our competence has already earned us a seat.
The lack of representation in senior HR and executive roles means we rarely see reflections of ourselves in leadership; that absence can quietly diminish confidence, opportunity, and access to influence.
There has been progress, yes, but we need to be honest: most DEI strategies still only scratch the surface. They sound promising on paper but often lack clear, measurable accountability. Representation in leadership roles still progresses at a painfully slow rate because the structures that control power haven’t fundamentally changed.
We want to see it develop into a genuine cultural shift. It must become part of the organisation’s DNA, influencing recruitment, promotion, and reward systems. Senior leaders must connect diversity outcomes with real accountability and business performance; otherwise, equity will remain an aspiration rather than a tangible reality.
If you’re a young Black woman entering the HR profession today, remember this: your voice matters from the very start. Don’t diminish yourself to fit in. Stand confident in your worth. Broaden your learning. Develop your expertise.
Never allow anyone to make you feel like you need permission to lead. Find mentors but also find allies. Seek out people who will champion you in rooms you’re not yet in. Keep a record of your successes. Be strategic with your growth. You’re not just in HR to manage systems; you’re here to transform them.
Through our work at BWHR, we’ll keep pushing, mentoring, and advocating until that vision becomes reality.
As we continue to celebrate US, we should remember that representation is not the ultimate aim. The real objective is transformation.
