“Inspiring” evening celebrates diverse leadership programme with graduates

Posted on 18 March 2026 • Business, Business and law

The Open University honoured its cohort of graduates from its pioneering Minority Ethnic Leadership (MEL) Programme at a special event in London last week.

The programme was the first-of-its-kind, aiming to support a new generation of diverse leaders, with a bespoke course and opportunities for peer learning and mentoring.

Students, senior leaders, mentors and guests gathered in London to mark the programme’s success, share their experiences and strengthen networks across communities. Afterwards, many attendees took to social media to praise the evening, calling it “inspiring” and “empowering”.

The MEL Programme provided six learning hubs in the four UK Nations, and was funded by the Henry Smith Foundation, which supports organisations that tackle social injustice. It followed an earlier successful pilot, the Black Leadership and Empowerment Programme in Manchester.

Support for the voluntary sector through collaboration and leadership

The MEL Programme was established to address the underrepresentation of minoritised ethnic communities in leadership roles, particularly within the third sector, following research showing that only 9% of employees in the voluntary sector are from minority ethnic backgrounds (in the UK, December 2022).

The partnership with the Henry Smith Foundation was established with the OU’s Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership (CVSL), one of the OU’s Business School’s centres of research excellence, which supports and initiates action in the voluntary sector through collaboration and leadership.

Dr Fidèle Mutwarasibo, a Senior Lecturer in Work-Based Learning at the OU, co-author of the courses and Director of the CVSL and one of the programme leaders, said:

“Seeing leaders from the voluntary sector, business and public services in the room sends a powerful message to our learners: that their voices matter and that change is possible.

“At The Open University, our social mission is to bring people together and build the leadership capacity of those at the margins—ensuring that, whatever their background, they feel represented across society and confident to engage with employers, business leaders and civic institutions.”

Guest Rob Pierre, investor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Jellyfish spoke about the digital marketing firm’s strategy to increase inclusivity and eradicate unconscious bias by removing management roles altogether. Instead, staff had autonomy and accountability for their own roles and, to apply for promotion, were encouraged to submit a business case highlighting their achievements to a panel.

Speaking to graduates, Rob said:

“I ask you not to play the game, but to change the game. You have the ability to do that.”

Other speakers at the event included Anand Shukla (CEO of Henry Smith Foundation), Nana Agyemang (Eagle Labs – Proposition Delivery Manager, Barclays UK) and Charmaine Lawrence (CEO, Full Circle Docklands and one of the learners of the second cohort). Baroness Sandip Verma, a member of the House of Lords also attended the event.

The MEL Programme facilitated quality, tailored leadership learning based on reflective practice in the workplace and across communities.

Main image: Group of MEL Programme participants and leaders with invited guests.