Key UK Black female leaders are set to gather in Manchester alongside the MOBO Awards founder, Kanya King, to discuss boosting diversity in senior job roles as the leading Black music event comes to the city.
As the largest event of its kind in Northern England, the Empowered to Lead one-day event at the Manchester Central Convention Complex on 18 October is expected to see more than 600 Black senior figures from across industry and the public discuss how Black women can be ‘unstoppable’ in the workplace.
Attendees will ‘learn from experienced multi award winning speakers and thought leaders who’ll teach you insider secrets for accelerating your career and growing your business’.
The bash has been organised during Black History Month by the social enterprise, She Leads for Legacy, founded by mother-daughter duo Sharon Amesu and Afiya Amesu.
Sharon and Afiya set up the social enterprise after noticing barriers to senior roles from their own experiences as barristers. They’re on a mission to reduce the challenges which may prevent Black women from entering senior leadership or board positions.
The founder of the MOBO Awards, Kanya King CBE, will be addressing delegates at the event. It was recently announced that the MOBO ceremony will also take place in Manchester for the first time in its 30-year history.
As well as Kanya, award-winning diversity advocate, Cynthia V Davis CBE, and former investment banker, Ayesha Ofori, will be among the guests.
According to a 2024 study, Black female leaders take ‘greater career risks to succeed’. Other statistics, from the TUC, show more than three in ten BME women have reported being unfairly passed over for or denied a promotion at work.
Amesu said: “The 2025 She Leads for Legacy: Empowered to Lead will be a must-see event for Black female leaders, employees, employers and allies.
“Each year we’ve hosted we’ve grown in numbers and 2025 is set to be unstoppable – both in its theme and its reach.
“We can’t wait to showcase the talent there is and discuss the challenges preventing Black women from pursuing senior roles.”
Find more information and buy tickets on the She leads for Legacy website.
