Page 112 - 2018 Powerlist

Tommy Williams and
Sanmi Ogunmola
Co-founders and Co-CEOs,
All Shades Covered
Black hair and haircare has long
been a lucrative business in the UK
and across the globe. However,
historically, despite it being about
black people, this hasn’t been a
space where people of African and
Paris Petgrave African-Caribbean heritage have Dr Sarah Itam
Founder and Managing Partner, participated in terms of operating Urologist and online presenter
Rare Seed Capital; Co-founder, businesses, and are usually just
We Love Work seen as willing consumers. Dr Sarah Itam is only one of
However, Tommy Williams three black female urologists
Paris is the founder and managing (centre) and Sanmi Ogunmola in the UK. The Imperial College
partner of Rare Seed Capital, a (far left) are two young men who London graduate, who gained
seed fund which invests in early are changing all that with their a distinction in her Surgical
stage technology companies exciting online marketplace, All Education Masters, works in the
with at least one female or ethnic Shades Covered (ASC), which sells Urology unit at University College
minority founder on the founding premium hair and beauty products London Hospitals. When she is not
team, providing capital of up to to African-Caribbean women and busy operating, she is the writer
£150,000. The company also saw them recognised by Forbes in and presenter of Health in HD,
offers access to a global network their much-celebrated annual 30 an exciting web series of short
of investors, corporate partners, Under 30 list in 2017. documentaries and informative
and technologists to help grow The goal of ASC is to videos looking at holistic health
and shape young businesses. Serial “fundamentally change the way and well-being issues and how
entrepreneur Paris is supported by women of colour shop for hair and many diseases are linked to
a core team who are all of African beauty globally”. lifestyle choices, including the air
and African Caribbean heritage. around us, stress management and
Alongside Rare Seed, Paris is moderation.
the co-founder of another exciting Born and raised in South-
business. East London, Dr Itam knows the
We Love Work is an award- challenges that can be faced as a
winning people analytics platform young black woman with dreams
that uses employee data on a of a career in surgery, which has
company’s organisational culture to fuelled her passion for inspiring
predict performance and fit in a bid others. She currently mentors a
to reduce staff turnover. number of aspiring trainees, and
Before this Paris ran her own is a regular speaker on health at
head-hunting firm for seven years. community events in the UK.

FA coach, played for the she trialed Goals4Girls in
Francesca Brown Manchester City youth East London, working on
CEO and Founder, Goals4Girls team and the Manchester it voluntarily for two years.
United community team Now G4G works alongside
Goals4Girls is an award-winning as a teenager, which leading organisations
development programme, which led to her winning such as London FA,
empowers young women through a scholarship to Tottenham Hotspur and
workshops, football coaching, America. However, London Youth. In 2016,
player development, qualifications, a serious groin Francesca received
motivational talks, mentoring and injury suddenly the WeAreTheCity
trips. More than 700 girls between 11 ended that dream. Rising Star in
and 16 have progressed through the With no Sports Business
programme since 2013, with ongoing qualifications to Award 2016,
opportunities offered in FA Level 1 fall back on she Tomorrow’s
qualifications, coaching re-integration, moved to London Business Award
work experience, individual player with just £10 in and the Prince’s Trust
development and career pathways. her pocket. In 2011, Young Achiever Pride of
Francesca, an ambassador for with the Prince’s Trust Britain Award, presented
the Prince’s Trust and a Qualified supporting the project, by Prince Charles.

108 Powerlist 2018