Meet Our Day 1 – Masterclass Speakers

Jean Blackstock

CEO JB Consultancy

Jean always believed that organisations thrive when their people do.
This philosophy has guided her 30-year journey from corporate leadership to founding JBC, where she partner with visionary leaders to transform organisational challenges into opportunities.

Her career spans continents and cultures—from rising through senior positions at PWC, Diageo, Cable and Wireless, and Digicel to establishing JBC in 2005.

These experiences taught her something crucial: behind every organisational challenge lies a human solution waiting to be discovered.

When that CEO approached her in 2005 about her siloed teams, Jean saw more than just structural issues. She recognized people who needed better ways to connect, collaborate, and contribute their unique talents.
This human-centred perspective has been her compass ever since.

Jean is curious about how organisations work and, more importantly, how they can work better. Her analytical mind loves untangling complex workforce challenges, while her creative spirit thrives on designing innovative solutions that fit real-world contexts.

As a lecturer and trainer in strategic workforce planning and organisational development, Jean had the privilege of sharing knowledge while continuously learning from others. This exchange of ideas keeps her energized and inspired.

She holds a Masters in Manpower Studies from the University of Westminster and a Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations.

She’s a Fellow of the CIPD and a member of several professional organisations. But what truly defines her is her commitment to building genuine relationships with clients across the globe.

Whether she’s working with UN teams, advising private sector organisations, or collaborating with non-profit leaders, she approaches each partnership with equal parts empathy and expertise.

Angelina Blackwood-Hernandez

HR Business Partner & Career Coach for Black Women in Higher Education

Angelina Blackwood-Hernandez is a results-driven HR leader with over 20 years of experience in higher education. Currently serving as HR Business Partner at Imperial College London, she previously held leadership roles at University College London where she successfully led staff through organisational transitions and improved engagement by developing innovative strategies that outperformed university-wide metrics.

As a Black woman in HR leadership, Angelina intimately understands the challenges faced by Black women in the profession—from experiencing microaggressions and being the only Black woman in the room to navigating toxic workplace environments where Black women must work significantly harder to be perceived as equally competent. Having experienced intimidating behaviour, public dismissal in meetings, and the exhaustion of constantly proving her worth, Angelina now helps other Black women HR leaders overcome similar systemic barriers.

Through her REVITALISE program, she guides professionals in identifying workplace discrimination, regaining career clarity, and prioritising wellbeing while balancing demanding careers with family responsibilities. Her approach combines strategic HR expertise with spiritual intuition, drawing from her Caribbean heritage and her father’s lessons about working twice as hard to succeed in environments where inequalities are deeply rooted.

Angelina holds a Master’s in Strategic HR Management from the University of Bedfordshire and a Master’s in Hispanic Studies from University College London. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she brings both academic credentials and lived experience to her transformative coaching practice.

When not transforming HR practices or coaching professionals, Angelina likes to spend quality time with her four children. She also leads the choir at her local Orthodox Church. She prioritises daily exercise in the gym and loves yoga. She is currently training to be a yoga teacher and will be offering classes as a means of healing for black women who have experienced racial trauma.

Detola Amure

Productivity and Leadership Coach

Detola Amure is a Productivity and Leadership Coach with over 20 years of experience across corporate and entrepreneurial sectors. As the CEO of The Productivity Company, she partners with high-achieving professionals and organisations to build sustainable productivity, overcome mindset and emotional blocks, and build thriving, people-first cultures.

Detola began her career in management consulting and business analysis, working with global brands such as Accenture, Ford Motors, and BSkyB, where she specialised in streamlining systems and improving efficiency. Today, she blends that corporate insight with her expertise as a Certified Maxwell Leadership Coach, Speaker & Trainer, and DISC Behavioural Consultant—helping leaders strengthen communication, emotional resilience, and team performance.

She is particularly passionate about the intersection of productivity and emotional well-being in the workplace. As a Certified Grief Specialist, Detola supports individuals and teams navigating change, burnout, and loss, bringing compassion and clarity to complex people challenges. Her workshops and coaching programmes empower HR professionals and leaders to address hidden barriers that affect team performance and retention.

In addition to her corporate work, Detola is the founder of Super Working Mum, a global faith-based platform that mentors Christian women in purpose, productivity, and leadership. She is also the Founder and Director of the My Little Warrior Child Foundation, providing support for bereaved parents.

An international speaker, host of the Get Productive with Detola podcast, and author of four books, Detola is a trusted voice on productivity, emotional well-being, and high-impact leadership.

Theresa (Akua) Powell

Founder & CEO Dream Catcher Global

Theresa (Akua) Powell is a transformational leadership voice, master coach, and advocate for rehumanizing the workplace from the inside out. With over two decades of experience in HR and people development including frontline leadership in employee relations, she has seen firsthand the cultural and emotional toll of traditional leadership models. Her work is deeply informed by the lived stories of employees and leaders navigating systems that often prioritize performance over presence.

Formerly the Deputy Chief of People & Performance at New York University Abu Dhabi, Akua brings both corporate depth and soulful insight to the evolving conversation around human-centered leadership. Having journeyed through over 86 countries, Akua brings a rich, global perspective to her work; one that deepens her commitment to connection, understanding, and human-centered leadership.

After stepping away from the traditional corporate path, Akua returned with a fresh perspective; one that blends strategy with soul. Her work is grounded in real-life experience, emotional presence, and her signature framework: Unbecoming—a process of letting go of outdated roles and reconnecting with what’s true and aligned. Her approach challenges performance-based leadership and instead embraces values like emotional intelligence, authenticity, and embodied alignment.

Akua’s unique approach repositions emotional intelligence and intuition not as “soft skills,” but as soul-deep strategies for trust-building, retention, and meaningful leadership. She is known for creating reflective spaces where individuals feel safe to pause, reconnect with their values, and reimagine what leadership can look like beyond titles and checklists.

A recent recipient of the Global Transformation Coaching Award in Dubai, Akua’s presence has been described as grounding, expansive, and deeply needed in today’s world of work. Through her coaching, workshops, and international retreats, she creates spaces where people can reconnect with their values, reclaim their voice, and lead with greater clarity and authenticity.
• Masterclass Topic: The Unbecoming Leader: Redefining HR from Within
What if the future of HR leadership isn’t about doing more—but about unlearning what no longer serves us—or the people we serve?

In this masterclass, Theresa (Akua) Powell returns to the HR space with a radically honest invitation: to reimagine leadership from the inside out. Drawing from decades of experience and a deep personal journey beyond the traditional corporate path, she explores how presence, intuition, and authenticity aren’t soft skills—they’re soul-deep strategies for building trust, shifting culture, and leading with integrity.

This isn’t a call to perform. It’s a call to pause. To remember. And to rehumanize HR leadership—starting from within.

Juliette Austin M.A

Global Organizational Development & Culture
Strategist | Executive Coach | DEIB Thought Leader

Juliette Austin is a seasoned global leader with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of Organizational Development, Cultural Competency, and Employee Engagement.

As astrategist and executive coach, she partners with senior leaders to drive cultural transformation and align inclusive practices with organizational performance and innovation.

Juliette is known for her distinctive approach that blends appreciative inquiry and Organizational Psychology to create agile, human-centered strategies.

She has held senior leadership roles at companies such as Zillow Group, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Canon USA, and EY, where she led transformative Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) initiatives and talent development programs.

Her work is grounded in intercultural fluency and evidence-based methods. Juliette holds a Master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Hofstra University, as well as certified in the Global Competence Aptitude Assessment (GCAA), the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), and Holistic Wellness.

She designs experiences that enhance self-awareness, reduce bias, and elevate communication across diverse teams.

A first-generation Haitian-American, Juliette resides in both New York City and Accra, Ghana, giving her a lived perspective on global leadership and cultural intelligence.

Juliette brings authenticity, insight, and a grounded presence, inviting audiences to reimagine leadership, inclusion, and the future of work.

Paul Oyewusi

Founder & Managing Director POMA Point Limited

Paul Oyewusi is the Founder & Managing Director of POMA Point LTD, a premier consulting firm dedicated to helping businesses achieve operational excellence and sustainable growth through management consulting, executive coaching, and professional development.

He collaborates with organizations to enhance leadership capabilities, optimize human capital strategies, and drive enterprise-wide transformation.

With extensive experience in talent management, organizational development, and business strategy, Paul has guided companies across multiple sectors in building agile, high-performing teams that fuel business success.

As an HR executive, management consultant, executive coach, and four-time author, he specializes in integrating workforce analytics, leadership development, and strategic planning to help companies attract, nurture, and retain top talent while ensuring alignment with corporate objectives.

Paul possesses deep expertise in navigating the African business landscape while leveraging global trends in human capital management and business innovation.

His ability to translate complex organizational challenges into scalable solutions has made him a sought-after advisor for companies aiming to strengthen their competitive advantage.

Holding professional certifications from the Human Resources Certification Institute (USA), ScrumStudy (USA), and DevSkiller (Poland), Paul continually refines his knowledge through advanced education at leading institutions.

He is currently pursuing an Executive MBA at Rome Business School in Italy, further expanding his expertise in corporate strategy, financial acumen, and leadership effectiveness.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Paul and his wife run the Paul Oyewusi Foundation in Nigeria, advocating for inclusion and skill development among individuals in marginalized communities.

Guided by the belief that “You are what you think,” Paul is committed to fostering business ecosystems that enable organizations and professionals to not only succeed but continuously evolve in a dynamic, fast-changing marketplace.

Vivian Eni

HR professional, Leader, & Career coach

Vivian Eni is an experienced HR professional, leader, and career coach with nearly two decades of expertise spanning the banking, telecommunications, and technology consulting sectors.

Originally from Nigeria, she relocated to the UK in 2007 to pursue a master’s degree in Human Resources and International Business at De Montfort University in Leicester. In 2020, she trained as a professional and personal coach with Barefoot Coaching and is a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF).

As a first-generation immigrant, Vivian has navigated the complexities of building a corporate career in the Western world without traditional guidance. Her journey, marked by resilience, challenges, and success, inspired her to author her debut book, How to Build a Corporate Career: Lessons from a First-Generation Migrant, which has ranked among Amazon’s top books in Diversity and Inclusion and HR and Personnel Management.

Since the book’s release, Vivian has toured esteemed institutions including King’s College London, LSE, Imperial College, Coventry University in London, and her alma mater, De Montfort University, encouraging young people to pursue career paths aligned with purpose and fulfilment.

She has delivered keynote speeches on prominent platforms such as the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Brunch in t’ City, and multiple International Women’s Day events, in addition to appearances at international book readings, corporate conferences, and leadership forums. Her story has also been spotlighted on influential podcasts including Bread and Butter with Emmanuel Asuquo, Black Create Connect, SHE Can, and Stories Next Door.

Known for her authentic voice and warm delivery, Vivian creates safe, inspiring spaces where her audience feels seen, heard, and empowered. No question is off-limits. Her practical and purpose-driven approach to career development continues to demystify the path to success. Vivian is passionate about guiding the next generation of corporate leaders to recognize their strengths, embrace their potential, and build careers that are impactful, courageous, and true to who they are.