Melanie Eusebe

Melanie Eusebe
MBE
Born (1977-03-12) 12 March 1977 (age 47)
St Austell, England
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of Toronto; Birkbeck, University of London
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur and author
Known forFounder of the Black British Business Awards
Websitemelanieeusebe.com

Melanie Veronique Eusebe MBE (born 12 March 1977) is a British entrepreneur and author, known for co-founding the Black British Business Awards in 2014. She has written for publications such as The Huffington Post and Management Today.[1][2][3] She serves on the board of the Creative Industries Federation and teaches as a professor at the Hult International Business School in London.

Early life and education

Eusebe was born in England and grew up in Canada of Trinidadian-Dominican heritage,[4] with her mother being a psychiatric nurse who "worked two jobs".[5] Eusebe has said: "I was raised with black and white friends. I went to a predominantly white school.... Coming to London changed my black experience. In terms of my Caribbean-ness, it is just me. It is part of me, not all of me."[4] After graduating from the University of Toronto, she gained a master's degree in Philosophy (Ethics) from Birkbeck College at the University of London.[6]

Career

Eusebe started her career as a management consultant/strategist for more than 17 years with such global brands as IBM and Ernst & Young.[7] She subsequently started her own business services consultancy, The Fresh Ideas Company.[8][9] She is also an adjunct professor at Hult International Business School, with a focus on Leadership and Management Skills.[6]

The Black British Business Awards

In keeping with her concern to uncover role models and inspire a new generation of leaders, Eusebe together with international corporate finance lawyer Sophie Chandauka co-founded in 2014 The Black British Business Awards (BBBAs),[7] whose partners include Everywoman,[10] The Telegraph,[11] Evening Standard[12] and others.

Broadcasting and other media work

Eusebe works with various schools as a mentor and is a regular speaker, lecturer and broadcaster for BBC television and radio programmes such as BBC News at Six, What The Papers Say and Radio 4's Today,[6] as well as hosting a show at Colourful Radio.[13] She has written for such outlets as Huffington Post[14] and Management Today.[7]

Eusebe serves on several boards, among them the Creative Industries Federation.[7]

Eusebe was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to diversity in business.[15]

In July 2023, she was presented with an honorary degree from the University of Exeter – Doctor of Laws (LLD) – "in recognition of her commitment to championing diversity" throughout her career.[16][17]

References

  1. ^ George Eleady Cole, "Melanie Eusebe", Black Social History, 12 August 2015.
  2. ^ The Black British Business Awards website.
  3. ^ "About" Melanie Eusebe website.
  4. ^ a b Iesha Townsend, "Melanie Eusebe, Business Leader", Students for Students Initiative.
  5. ^ Natricia Duncan, "‘Black Businesses Become Billion Pound Industries’", The Voice, 27 September 2014.
  6. ^ a b c "Melanie Eusebe | Executive Producer of WoW at the Southbank Centre", The—Dots.
  7. ^ a b c d "Founders", The Black British Business Awards.
  8. ^ The Fresh Ideas Company.
  9. ^ "Inspirational Woman: Melanie Eusebe | Co-Founder of the Black British Business Awards", WeAreTheCity, 17 April 2014.
  10. ^ "Spotlight on Everywoman Club: Melanie Eusebe and Sophie Chandauka pave the way for workplace diversity", Update, Everywoman, May 2015, pp. 3–4.
  11. ^ Isabelle Fraser, "Black British Business Awards on the hunt for nominees", The Telegraph, 10 April 2017.
  12. ^ Benedict Moore-Bridger, "Black Business Awards given to rising stars", Evening Standard, 6 October 2016.
  13. ^ "About", The Fresh Ideas Company.
  14. ^ "Melanie Eusebe" at Huff Post.
  15. ^ "No. 63377". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2021. p. B18.
  16. ^ "Honorary graduates 2023". University of Exeter. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  17. ^ Parton, Russell (25 July 2023). "Graduates urged to 'embrace gift of diversity' as Black British Business Awards founder honoured". University of Exeter. Retrieved 9 December 2023.