Looking for a network that amplifies and enhances Black lives? Well, BYP Network held their first Leadership Summit in Atlanta this year specifically on topics aimed to support Black professionals and corporate allies. We’re a global network dedicated to helping you thrive as a Black professional through mentorships, sponsorships, upskilling, educational opportunities, and career networking. Our overall mission to bridge the gap to empower the Black community has been making great strides since our inception in 2016, although there is still much to be done within DE&I.
Birth of BYP
BYP was founded by Kike Oniwide Agoro. She grew up in East London, and throughout her career she noticed a distinct lack of Black representation in the professional world. Yes, there were athletes, musicians, etc, but not many people she could look up to in corporate. In that lack, she found a purpose, to create a global network that would connect Black professionals to opportunities for growth and success. Her vision was to amplify the achievements of the Black community and enhance their lives through new connections, all while redefining the narrative surrounding Black professionals at large.
Instead of focusing on negative statistics and stereotypes, BYP aims to highlight Black professionals’ aspirations, attainability, and achievements. Through webinars, blog posts, and thought leadership pieces, the organization amplifies success stories, showcases role models, and provides insights into various organizations to inspire Black professionals and challenge societal norms.
Expanding Globally
As of 2023, there are currently over 20 global chapters and a new office that has just opened in Atlanta. So if you are traveling about, be sure to see if there is a chapter in your current location. From Dubai, to London, to New York, you never know what opportunities lie ahead.
Empowering Black Professionals
Through events like this Leadership Summit in Atlanta, BYP connects professionals with potential employers and mentors. The network also offers an AI-powered career advancement platform called Javelin (a nod to Kike’s experience as a javelin thrower for GB and symbol of spearheading your career development) providing hundreds of job opportunities for Black professionals. Their mentorship programs enable individuals to gain guidance and support from experienced professionals in their respective fields, fostering growth and career advancement.
Acknowledging Sponsors and Cisco’s Presence
This event would not have been possible without the support of our sponsor Cisco. Their involvement in the summit highlighted their commitment to fostering diversity and providing job opportunities.
“Cisco made a 350 million dollar commitment to support the African-American Black community. We did that by launching 12 social justice actions… those actions include making 150 million dollar commitment to historically Black colleges and universities stem education and Tech upgrades.
We made a commitment to increasing partnerships with Black-owned businesses…and then the action that I lead is focused on…legislation that it impacts the African-American Black community. And the…(another) action was focused on increasing representation at Cisco.
I’m really proud to say that since 2020 and this is public information I would encourage you to look at our purpose report to see the strides that we’ve made over time but particularly since 2020.” – Aleta Howell, Global Director at Cisco.
Panelists:
Aleta Howell
Global Director, DEI Business and Recruitment Strategy
Aleta Howell, with a background in marketing and advertising, has been a driving force in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) at Cisco. From her early days as a program manager for the Office of Inclusion to her current role leading diversity and inclusive recruitment, Aleta has been instrumental in aligning DE&I strategies across the company. Aleta’s commitment to creating an inclusive workforce showcases her leadership in advancing DE&I in the workplace.
Read: How Cisco’s Aleta Howell is Pioneering Representation in the Corporate World
Kike Oniwide Agoro
BYP Network Founder & CEO
Kiki Oniwide Agoro created BYP Network, which connects Black professionals with various organizations and communities across the globe. She is a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree, a Maserati Top 100 Most Innovative Founders honoree, a Financial Times Top 100 BAME Leaders in Technology honoree, and a Computer Weekly Top 10 Woman in Technology honoree. She is a member of many notable Boards and a devoted mother and wife.
Discover more
Cisco Meraki and numerous other partners will be sponsoring our Careers Fest 2023. Join for an invigorating day of career opportunities, networking, insights and more! It’s completely FREE and you can attend in person in London or via our virtual booth.
Watch the talks from the Atlanta Leadership Summit on YouTube!
