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Powerlist: it started with a black power list. Next stop, a school Powerlist: it started with a black power list. Next stop, a school
(5 days later)
I'd have been sceptical if someone had told me five years ago, when I first started work on the Powerlist: Britain's Most Influential Black People, that three of our launches would be attended by the prime minister of the day (Gordon Brown twice and David Cameron last Thursday). More so, to be told that it would lead to the setting up of a charity, the trustees of which are some of the country's leading lights in their respective fields.I'd have been sceptical if someone had told me five years ago, when I first started work on the Powerlist: Britain's Most Influential Black People, that three of our launches would be attended by the prime minister of the day (Gordon Brown twice and David Cameron last Thursday). More so, to be told that it would lead to the setting up of a charity, the trustees of which are some of the country's leading lights in their respective fields.
But it has done all that and more and seems to have taken on a life of its own now. When we launched in 2008, the initial idea was to showcase how success for black Britons was not confined to sport and entertainment. We wanted black kids to look up to other people – in the professions and beyond.But it has done all that and more and seems to have taken on a life of its own now. When we launched in 2008, the initial idea was to showcase how success for black Britons was not confined to sport and entertainment. We wanted black kids to look up to other people – in the professions and beyond.
As the prime minister writes in this year's Powerlist: "We should never underestimate the power of role models. When teenagers see high achievers who look like them, who have reached the top in law, business, politics, they're going to think, 'I can do that; I can go far too.'" It's why we send thousands of copies, most paid for by the people on the list, to schools.As the prime minister writes in this year's Powerlist: "We should never underestimate the power of role models. When teenagers see high achievers who look like them, who have reached the top in law, business, politics, they're going to think, 'I can do that; I can go far too.'" It's why we send thousands of copies, most paid for by the people on the list, to schools.
We are also keen that people of other ethnicities are also made aware of the list. Most racism is born of ignorance and a lack of respect. Challenging negative stereotypes can change perceptions. To survive, the Powerlist has to be dynamic and over the years we have unearthed more and more great people.We are also keen that people of other ethnicities are also made aware of the list. Most racism is born of ignorance and a lack of respect. Challenging negative stereotypes can change perceptions. To survive, the Powerlist has to be dynamic and over the years we have unearthed more and more great people.
In 2008, Dr Mo Ibrahim, the billionaire philanthropist, topped the list when most people had never heard of him. Baroness Scotland, the then attorney general, headed it the following year and she was succeeded, for two years running, by Tidjane Thiam, the CEO of Prudential. This year, David Adjaye, whom President Obama refers to as his favourite architect, is at number one on the list, selected by a panel of independent judges working from a definition of influence as "the ability to alter events and change lives in a positive way".In 2008, Dr Mo Ibrahim, the billionaire philanthropist, topped the list when most people had never heard of him. Baroness Scotland, the then attorney general, headed it the following year and she was succeeded, for two years running, by Tidjane Thiam, the CEO of Prudential. This year, David Adjaye, whom President Obama refers to as his favourite architect, is at number one on the list, selected by a panel of independent judges working from a definition of influence as "the ability to alter events and change lives in a positive way".
His top position is particularly significant because Adjaye is essentially a builder and the Powerlist Foundation, the aforementioned charity, is planning to build a free school that will open in 2015. It will be an A-level college, with a particular focus on leadership, located in inner London. Its intake will be children from disadvantaged backgrounds who have leadership potential that may otherwise go untapped. Our mission is to give them a boost in line with our motto: "Sharing success with tomorrow's leaders".His top position is particularly significant because Adjaye is essentially a builder and the Powerlist Foundation, the aforementioned charity, is planning to build a free school that will open in 2015. It will be an A-level college, with a particular focus on leadership, located in inner London. Its intake will be children from disadvantaged backgrounds who have leadership potential that may otherwise go untapped. Our mission is to give them a boost in line with our motto: "Sharing success with tomorrow's leaders".
The future? We've already launched a publication called Future Leaders, which profiles the best black university students and next year we'll put out a publication about women, which the charity will follow up with a leadership programme for young women at university. It'll be interesting to see where we are in another five years.The future? We've already launched a publication called Future Leaders, which profiles the best black university students and next year we'll put out a publication about women, which the charity will follow up with a leadership programme for young women at university. It'll be interesting to see where we are in another five years.
Michael Eboda is the founder and chief executive of Powerful Media Ltd. The Powerlist is available to purchase online at www.powerful-media.com Michael Eboda is the founder and chief executive of Powerful Media Ltd. The Powerlist and Future Leaders are available to purchase online at www.powerful-media.com
• This article was amended on 1 November 2012 to clarify links to Powerful Media Ltd and its publication Future Leaders.