June Sarpong OBE

June Sarpong OBE; TV Presenter, Diversity Expert, Award-Winning Author and Former Director of Creative Diversity at the BBC

Former BBC Global Director of Creative Diversity: Led the BBC’s Diversity & Inclusion strategy, overseeing a £100 million investment in diverse content for a global audience. Founder of Diversify International Ltd.: Advises top companies like Burberry, Google, and Nike on DEI strategy and culture transformation. Award-winning Author & Inclusion Advocate: Written three books on DEI, including Diversify, and honored with an OBE and MBE for contributions to broadcasting and diversity.

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June Sarpong's videos

What June Sarpong's clients say

Here is some of the feedback from audiences and clients who have worked with June.

"Lots of positive feedback, and people sharing their takeaways"

NHS North East London

"June was great, lots of charisma and energy which was great, we loved having her and the feedback has been excellent."

Anna,

Marketing Manager UK,

Align Technology UK Ltd

"June was absolutely brilliant last night. Such an amazing host and so warm and friendly to all our guests. Please pass on a huge thank you from us all."

Georgie,

MetTVH

"The feedback we have received regarding June presenting has been outstanding - really fabulous to have her join us on site and everyone who attended said it was brilliant"

Jessica,

Group Head of Diversity & Inclusion,

RS Components

"It was really good thanks. We love having June in the call. She has lots of provoking statement that we asked ourselves. We appreciate her honesty and openness. I listened to her recording as I cant attend during the call but it was very powerful!"

Ria,

MDLZ

"June was a very positive, energetic and inspiring speaker. There was a lot of opportunity for questions at the end of the session and June's answers were really helpful and appreciated by those who asked a question. Following our briefing call, June related a lot of her examples to our sector and was able to challenge us to think about what we can do to increase diversity and inclusivity both internally and with our customers."

Geraldine,

Learning and Development Advisor,

RHP

"Please pass on our thanks to June - she was awesome as expected. Her messaging on diversity, equity and inclusion were on point, her storytelling was engaging and thought-provoking- what a great guest speaker and interviewee. We're really pleased. Thanks to June, and also to you for your support"

Liz,

Stephenson Harwood LLP

"The feedback was 'through the roof!' - secure to say, members loved June and the valuable insight/delivery! So, yes - all went very, very well and exceeded expectations!! A huge thank you to you, Chris and June and her team for working with me to get the positive message on D&I delivered this IWD!"

Sandra,

Network Officer Treasurer, Windrush Team,

UK Visas & Immigration

"We absolutely loved the session with June Sarpong. And June made for a formidable duo that rocked the house of Co-Op! Haha, that sounds like a quote out of Pose. But it was truly a fantastic session. June was powerful in her storytelling and very honest in sharing her thoughts around inclusion, bias and allyship. Thank you all for your support in helping us to deliver this session during Black History Month."

Ash,

Co-Op

"It was a great event, I really enjoyed June's take on unconscious bias and allyship in particular the practical things everyone can do to challenge themselves. It was awesome to learn more about Shirine. Thank you for bringing this to life for us"

Denise,

Co-Op

"What a great session- thanks so much to June and Shirine, I got a lot from hearing their experiences"

Laura,

Co-Op

"So glad I managed to join this event, June's storytelling was amazing and such an insightful and engaging session. Well done all involved"

Kerry,

Co-Op

"This was a brilliant session... if you didn't manage to dial into the event, take the time out to listen. Will really help you think through the small steps we can all take as individuals. Thank you Rise and Shirine, what a session!"

Tessa,

Co-Op

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June Sarpong OBE's 2025 biography

June Sarpong OBE: Global Diversity Leader, Author, and DEI Consultant

June Sarpong OBE is one of the world’s leading inclusion speakers, educators, and Top 10 D&I executives with over two decades of professional experience in the U.K and U.S. Formerly Global Director of Creative Diversity for the BBC and the first Black woman to sit on the corporation’s Executive Committee, June led the D&I strategy and implementation for the BBC’s 500-million plus global audience as well as internal creative teams and external production supply chain. As part of her portfolio, she spearheaded the BBC’s ‘Creative Diversity Commitment’; a £100 million ($131 million) investment in diverse and inclusive TV content, with an extra £12 million ($16 million) infused into inclusive radio programming and podcasts. In addition to her role with the BBC, June is the founder of Diversify International Limited (DIL), a boutique consultancy firm whose clients include Burberry, Barclays, Nike, NHS, EY, Google, Unilever, Facebook, Wagamama and many more. As part of DIL’s services, June also advises Founders and CEO’s on DEI strategy, delivery of culture transformation, ways to connect with new audiences and growth markets with a special expertise on Africa.

June is the co-creator of the Women: Inspiration & Enterprise Network (WIE). WIE first launched in NYC in 2010, in the UK in 2012 and then in Africa in 2014. WIE has featured leading speakers from a gamut of industries, previous participants include: Melinda Gates, Arianna Huffington, Donna Karan, Queen Rania, Nancy Pelosi, Dame Natalie Massenet, Iman and many more. This women’s professional network has a community of over 200,000 around the world. In partnership with the United Nation’s ITU (International Telecommunication Union) June was the brainchild behind the DNA Summit, an initiative aimed to bring together some of the most innovative minds in the world to generate ideas and solutions for critical global challenges, the outcomes from the DNA Summit were presented to world leaders at the G8. She is currently an ambassador for London Tech Week and is the co-creator of the EQL-Pledge

June is the author of three award-winning books published by Harper Collins on the subject of DEI, the first being ‘Diversify’. Diversify shines a spotlight on groups who are often marginalized in our society, including women, ethnic minorities, those living with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community. Diversify uncovers the hidden cost of exclusion and shows how a new approach to how we learn, live, and do business can solve some of the most stubborn challenges we face. With unshakeable case studies, research from Oxford University, and six revolutionary steps to help overcome unconscious bias, Diversify makes a compelling case as to why inclusion is the best formula for sustainable long-term growth. Her other books are Power of Women and Power of Privilege and Calling Una Marson: The Extraordinary Life of a Forgotten Icon will be published in the coming months.

June was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) on the Queen’s 2007 new year’s honours list for her services to broadcasting and charity, making her one of the youngest people to receive an MBE. In 2020 she was awarded an OBE for her services to diversity and inclusion in the creative and media industries. June was awarded ‘Lifetime Fellow’ by the RSA (Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) and voted three years running as one of the Top 10 D&I Leaders in the Global Diversity Index.

June has worked extensively with the Prince’s Trust for two decades, the United Nations, and a number of smaller anti-poverty and gender equality charities.

EXTENDED BIOGRAPHY

Meet June Sarpong OBE

June Sarpong OBE is one of the world’s leading speaker’s, educator’s, and Top 10 DEI executives with over two decades of professional experience in the U.K and U.S. She made history in 2019 when she became the first ever Global Director of Creative Diversity for the BBC and the first Black woman to sit on the corporation’s Executive Committee, Sarpong led the D&I strategy and implementation for the BBC’s 500million plus global audience as well as internal creative teams and external production supply chains. As part of her portfolio she spearheaded the BBC’s ‘Creative Diversity Commitment’, a £100 million ($131 million) investment in diverse and inclusive TV content; with an extra £12 million ($16 million) infused into inclusive audio programming.

Television Broadcaster – Author & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Executive

Sarpong has over twenty-five years on-air television broadcasting experience and has interviewed some of the worlds biggest thought leaders. She is the founder of Diversify International, a boutique consultancy firm, as part of DIL’s services, Sarpong also advises Founders and CEO’s on DEI, strategy, delivery of culture transformation, ways to connect with new audiences and growth markets. Clients have included: Burberry, Barclays, Nike, NHS, EY, Google, Unilever, Facebook, Wagamama, McDonalds and many more

Sarpong is the co-creator of the Women:Inspiration & Enterprise Network (WIE). WIE first launched in NYC in 2010, in the UK in 2012 and then in Africa in 2014. WIE has featured leading speakers from a gamut of industries, previous participants include Melinda Gates, Arianna Huffington, Donna Karan, Queen Rania, Nancy Pelosi, Dame Natalie Massenet, Iman and many more. This women’s professional network has a community of over 200,000 around the world.

In partnership with the United Nation’s ITU (International Telecommunication Union) Sarpong was the brainchild behind the DNA Summit, an initiative aimed to bring together some of the most innovative minds in the world to generate ideas and solutions for critical global challenges, the outcomes from the DNA Summit were presented to world leaders at the G8.

She is currently an ambassador for London Tech Week and is the co-creator of the EQL – Pledge, an initiative supported by Secretary Haillary Clinton which encourages the venture capital community to repurpose capital into investing in diverse founded campanies.