As we celebrate Black History Month this October in the UK, it's the perfect time to highlight the incredible contributions of Black entrepreneurs, who help drive at least £74 billion into the UK economy each year. However, the journey toward equality continues. In 2021, there were no Black CEOs in FTSE 100 companies, and less than 1% of senior executives or board members were Black, according to the Green Park Leadership 10,000 Report.
The ethnicity pay gap also remained a challenge in 2023, with Black employees earning 5.6% less on average than their White counterparts. Sadly, Black women faced an even bigger gap, earning 36% less than White men in the same roles.
This year’s Black History Month theme, "Reclaiming Narratives," is all about taking ownership of Black stories, honoring Black heroes, and celebrating the impact Black people have made across different fields.
To join in this celebration, we’re excited to introduce you to five Black entrepreneurs who are shaping the Influencer Marketing industry in the UK. These leaders are redefining the industry, and shaping the narrative of its journey to becoming a place where Black individuals can thrive.
Charlotte Stavrou is the founder of SevenSix Agency, a London-based Influencer Marketing and creative agency dedicated to diversity and inclusion. Since its launch in 2019, SevenSix has worked with brands like Pinterest, WWF, and Refinery29 to deliver campaigns and spearhead the conversation about racial pay disparity in the industry.
SevenSix also represent a cohort of exceptional influencer talent including Charlotte herself. As a creator, Charlotte has collaborated with brand including Samsung, Tylko, and Vodafone.
Charlotte will be the next guest on our Visionary Voices series, so subscribe to our YouTube channel to tune in when it’s live.
At just 21, Timothy Armoo founded Fanbytes with a vision to help brands connect with young audiences on social media. He grew the company into a 75-person team in just five years, collaborating with major brands like Estée Lauder, Deliveroo, Samsung, and even the UK Government. Timothy made headlines by May 2022 at only 27 when Fanbytes was acquired by marketing and tech agency, Brainlabs, in an eight-figure deal.
Now, nearly three years later, Timothy continues to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. With over 10,000 business readers subscribed to his popular newsletter, CheatCodes. He’s also teaming up with Penguin Publishing Group to turn his insights into a book in which readers can take inspiration from the mental frameworks and hacks that helped Timothy succeed in life and business.
Chloë Downes, a proud South Londoner, is the Founder and CEO of SHFT, an Influencer Marketing and creator talent agency focused on bringing back the true meaning of the word "influence."
Recognized as one of Forbes' 30 Under 30, Chloë’s rise in the industry has led to her achieving numerous accolades, including winning Ad Week Europe's Future is Female award in 2023 and being a finalist for the Black British Business Awards. Her agency was also named bCreator's Boutique Talent Management Agency of 2023.
Chloë aims to redefine influencer marketing with a focus on representation, innovation, and meaningful impact. Learn more from about that here…
Jordan Schwarzenbeger, Co-Founder, Arcade Media
Jordan Schwarzenberger Co-Founder of Arcade Media, manages Europe’s most successful YouTube group – the Sidemen – and has guided their career growth, including the launch of multiple brands. He also runs an industry podcast that highlights insights from the influencer space.
On top of this, Jordan juggles parenting three children, showcasing his ability to balance work and family life. His dedication to his career and building a legacy in the Influencer Marketing industry makes him an admirable figure in the world of large-scale content creation and influencer entrepreneurship.
Jordan spoke to us about his journey in our Visionary Voices series…
Shola West, Marketing Specialist and Gen Z Educator
Croydon-based Shola West is a Marketing Specialist and Gen Z Educator with six years of experience across various marketing roles. Since starting her career as a digital marketing apprentice, she has created campaigns for brands like Nike, Doritos, Channel 4, and Barclays.
In 2022, she launched her TikTok page, AllThingsMediaSis, to help young creatives break into the media industry, quickly building a community of around 40,000 engaged Gen Z followers. Shola calls herself the “big sis to young creatives”.
Shola has been recognized for education and advocacy for Gen Z in publications such as the Evening Standard and BBC, and she was honored as a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient for 2024.
These Black entrepreneurs in the marketing space are inspiring others, redefining narratives, and shaping an industry that advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion of Black voices.
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