Dr. Elsa Zekeng
Dr. Elsa Zekeng is what Forbes called a science-entrepreneur.
From earning her PhD to founding SökerData, she and her team are rewriting the rules of how the life sciences industry engages with data—by centering women and global majority populations who have long been excluded.
Her thesis is simple: when you include data from the full spectrum of humanity, the insights don’t just improve—they become truly representative of the world we live in.
That’s the mission driving her work: to spark a future where science finally sees all of us.
Nyambe “Yam” Sumbwanyambe
Nyambe “Yam” Sumbwanyambe is the Founder of The Black Sherpa, host of The Black Sherpa Podcast, and the creator of The 29K Club, a growth platform helping ambitious professionals and organisations unlock potential and achieve measurable impact.
With nearly 20 years in life sciences, Yam is a strategist, speaker, and cultural
builder with a track record in commercial excellence, inclusive leadership, and
employee development. He has designed award-winning programmes like Lead
Your Career,recognised with the PF Award for Excellence in Education, helping
hundreds of professionals accelerate their careers.
Through The Black Sherpa Podcast, Yam uncovers what’s often left unsaid...the real challenges, breakthroughs, and hard truths of modern careers. He now helps executives and organisations act on these insights to create cultures where all talent can thrive, progress faster, and contribute fully. Yam knows the biggest obstacle to career success isn’t skill... it’s a lack of guidance, opportunity, and meaningful support. Guided by the Black Sherpa Manifesto...
clarity to see the path ahead, confidence to take the next step, and community to ensure no one climbs alone—he offers practicaltools, group mentoring, and masterclasses on the unwritten curriculum (the essential skills and guidance rarely taught but criticalto career growth). Through The Black Sherpa and The 29K Club, he helps organisations and professionals unlock the potential of underrepresented talent across all dimensions of difference through bold action,real opportunity, and game-changing inclusion.
Context Overview
Heritage & Identity: Nyambe “Yam” Sumbwanyambe is a proud Lozi name from his father’s tribe in Zambia, near Victoria Falls. His name translates to “God the Creator, Son of God the Creator”, reflecting ancestralroots and purpose. Most people call him Yam.
SectorExpertise: With nearly 20 years in the life sciences sector, Yam has deep experience in commercial excellence, strategy, leadership development, and building inclusive cultures.
Mission: Yam’s work is focused on unlocking the potential of underrepresented talent through bold action, real opportunity, and game-changing inclusion. He bridges the gap between insight and impact for both individuals and organisations.
The Black Sherpa Manifesto: Guides professionals to rise without losing who they are. Through self-awareness, they know themselves, define success on their terms, and grow with clarity; through system savviness, they act with confidence, navigate challenges, and connect effort to impact; and through influence and visibility, they build meaningful networks, lift others, and share their story to inspire change.
Podcast Insights: Through The Black Sherpa Podcast, Yam uncovers what’s often left unsaid...the real challenges, breakthroughs, and hard truths of career
progression. He now helps executives and organisations act on these insights to accelerate growth, improve engagement, and build inclusive cultures that last.
Key Offerings:
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Strategic Consultancy: Advising organisations on inclusion, talent development, and cultural transformation strategies.
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Learning Design & Facilitation: Creating and delivering programmes, workshops, and masterclasses that equip professionals with the skills and insightto thrive.
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Keynote Speaking: Inspiring and energising audiences on leadership, inclusion, career progression, and the unwritten curriculum. Tools, Group Mentoring & Masterclasses: Practical resources, hands-on learning, and community-driven support that help individuals navigate career barriers, find joy in growth, and apply purpose-driven learning to advance their careers.
Dr. Raphael Sofoluke
Dr. Raphael Sofoluke is a visionary, serial entrepreneur, and author whose work continues to redefine the landscape for Black professionals and entrepreneurs. He is the Founder and CEO of several transformative ventures including the UK Black Business Show, UK Black Business Week, Birmingham Black Business Show, the Black Tech Achievement Awards (UK and US), and Soar, the first bank-backed membership platform dedicated to Black entrepreneurs. His ground-breaking initiative, UK Black Business Week, is the first and only week-long event in the UK dedicated to Black entrepreneurs, professionals, and allies. In 2025, Raphael is set to unveil a bold new project with the ambition of creating 1,000 Black multimillionaire investors—poised to transform the economic trajectory of the Black community in the UK and globally.
Establishing a Movement
Raphael launched the UK Black Business Show in 2017. Held annually during Black History Month, it champions Black-owned businesses and professionals through inspiring panels, exhibitions, and networking. With high-profile endorsements from figures such as London Mayor Sadiq Khan and MP David Lammy, the show has become the UK's leading business event during Black History Month. Attendees benefit from invaluable insights delivered by the nation’s top Black business leaders.
In 2021, the UK Black Business Show expanded into UK Black Business Week, a historic milestone that attracted over 8,000 attendees in its first year. By 2024, the week-long programme welcomed up to 15,000 attendees, with the flagship show alone drawing more than 7,000 visitors in a single day and featuring 200 exhibitors. The events have garnered major media coverage, including features in Forbes, The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, Evening Standard, and others.
Amplifying Black Excellence in Tech
In his mission to address racial disparity in the tech sector, Raphael founded the Black Tech Achievement Awards in the UK. These awards celebrate Black innovators and role models in technology and have received national media coverage on platforms such as BBC and Sky News. In 2024, he took this vision global by launching the Black Tech Achievement Awards in the United States, hosting the event in the heart of Times Square, New York.
Author and Thought Leader
Raphael is the co-author of Twice as Hard, published by DK (Penguin Random House) in 2021 alongside his wife, Opeyemi Sofoluke. The book features the stories and strategiesof 40 Black trailblazers from the UK and US, offering inspiration and practical advice on navigating predominantly white spaces. Interviewees include Mathew Knowles, Trevor Nelson MBE, and Bianca Miller.
His second book, Together We Thrive, will be released in September 2024 under Penguin Business. It explores the power of community in personal and professional success. The book has received widespread praise:
Steven Bartlett, Diary of a CEO: “His book offers a uniquely valuable perspective on how to build thriving communities.”
Sharmadean Reid, entrepreneur: “An indispensable resource on how to develop your network with authenticity.”
Elizabeth Uviebinené, author of Slay in Your Lane: “A practical, heartfelt and insightful call to build your tribe.”
Holly Branson, Virgin Group: “A wonderful book about building connections and communities that support, embrace, and empower us all.”
Recognition and Honours
Raphael has been recognised globally for his contribution to business and community empowerment. Key accolades include:
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Forbes: Listed in “25 Leading Black British Business People to Follow” (2020)
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AXA & Evening Standard: 2022 Start-Up Angel and national campaign feature
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BBC 1Xtra Future Figure to Watch (2022)
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Honorary Doctorate: Awarded by Arden University (2023)
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Entrepreneur-in-Residence: University of Hertfordshire (2022)
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Powerlist 2025: Named one of the UK’s most powerful and influential Black people by JP Morgan and Powerful Media
Under his leadership, the UK Black Business Show has also won several awards, including Best Company Initiative at the AEO Awards and Diversity Champion at the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards.
Global Influence
Raphael’s work has been featured by major organisations including Sky News, BBC, ITV, Ebony, Facebook, CBS, BET, Meta, Mastercard, HSBC, JP Morgan, NFL, the University of Hertfordshire, and Gartner. He has been invited to speak internationally, including engagements in the United States and at the British Embassy in Belgium. He was also invited to 10 Downing Street during Black History Month in recognition of his impact.
Campaigns and Initiatives
In collaboration with HSBC, Raphael launched the annual 25 Black Entrepreneurs to Watch campaign, spotlighting leading Black business talent across the UK. The campaign has been amplified through various media channels to further uplift and inspire the next generation.
Since 2017, his collective events—including the UK Black Business Show, UK Black
Business Week, Birmingham Black Business Show, and the Black Tech Achievement
Awards in both the UK and US—have attracted over 40,000 attendees.
Prestigious Partnerships and Legacy
The UK Black Business Week and Show now take place at the ExCeL London and are proudly supported by sponsors such as HSBC, JP Morgan, American Express, Ralph Lauren, eBay, EY, Barclays, Moody’s, Tesco, Mastercard, TalkSport, The Times, PwC, Morgan Stanley, McDonald's, and Capital One, among others. Notable speakers across his platforms have included Sir Trevor McDonald, Lenny Henry, June Sarpong, Kanya King, David Olusoga, Steven Bartlett, Frank Bruno, Trevor Nelson, and Levi Roots.
All of Raphael’s platforms are regarded as the premier events for Black entrepreneurs, professionals, and allies across the UK and Europe. His continued efforts have established him as a beacon of Black business excellence and community empowerment.
As The Financial Times remarked:
“If the quote ‘be the change you wish to see in the world’ was a person, Sofoluke
embodies that saying.”
The Host
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