June Sarpong OBE

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.