I had the pleasure of attending the Lloyds Bank Inclusive Business Networking event on Tuesday, 17th September at the iconic BAFTA venue in Piccadilly, London. It was an amazing experience to be in a room filled with so many inspiring entrepreneurs, each with a unique story of resilience and innovation. The energy in the room was palpable as we gathered to celebrate diversity and inclusion in the business world.
One statistic that stood out to me during the evening was the mention that 25% of entrepreneurs have a disability. While I’ll need to do more research to confirm this figure, it certainly resonates with what I’ve always believed. Disabled people, by their very nature, are accustomed to overcoming barriers every day. It’s this tenacity and problem-solving ability that defines entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs see problems and find solutions — something disabled individuals do routinely as they navigate a world that isn’t always built with their needs in mind.
At Blind Ambition, we’ve always championed the notion that diversity is the bedrock of innovation. Hearing from so many visionary entrepreneurs from underserved communities last night only reinforced that belief. Their stories of resilience and adaptability are living proof that businesses thrive when diversity and inclusion are at the forefront.
A special shout-out goes to Elyn Corfield, CEO of Business and Commercial Banking at Lloyds, and her team for championing disability and minority-led businesses. I was incredibly proud when Elyn mentioned Seema Flower and Blind Ambition first as an example of one of the inspiring entrepreneurs present, highlighting the importance of businesses focused on diversity and inclusion.
It was also a pleasure to reconnect with Martyn Sibley, Co-Founder and CEO of Purple Goat Agency, who has been an old friend and someone I’ve crossed paths with many times over the years. Martyn, along with other incredible speakers, shared invaluable insights about the power of diverse leadership in driving innovation. The lineup of speakers included:
- Andy Ayim MBE, CEO & Founder of Ayim Limited, who has been a tireless advocate for inclusive business practices and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups in the entrepreneurial space.
- Pamela Aculey, CEO & Founder of Just Like Me Books & Mixd Reality, who is making waves with her dedication to inclusive children’s literature and immersive experiences.
- Byron Dixon OBE, CEO & Founder of Micro-Fresh, known for his groundbreaking work in developing anti-microbial technology that has a wide range of applications globally.
- Jen Lothian, CEO & Founder of MyArk, whose focus on innovation and tech-driven solutions is helping redefine the business landscape for people from all backgrounds.
- Martyn Sibley, Co-Founder & CEO of Purple Goat Agency, whose work in the disability marketing space is opening doors for businesses to tap into the spending power of disabled individuals.
It was an inspiring evening, and I can’t wait to see the continued growth of this incredible community!
