Join for this event at which we will discuss our latest cutting edge research: TRANSPARENT: Creating Organisations Inclusive of Black Women in Finance, Professional Services and Big Technology.

The TRANSPARENT framework is the UK’s first cross-sector framework designed to remove the barriers blocking the progression of talented Black professional women in finance, professional services and big technology.

Meet our speakers and chair

Erika Brodnock (@ErikaBrodnock) is an award winning entrepreneur (including Female Entrepreneur of the Year and Intel's Global Business Challenge), founder of software companies Karisma Kidz and Kami; a Non-Executive Director of The Good Play Guide; and she serves on the advisory board of the APPG for Entrepreneurship. She is also an MBA, a PhD candidate at LSE, the Head of Research at Extend Ventures, and a Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College London. Through her work at the intersection of technology, wellbeing and product development, Erika has built products and services that disrupt and spearhead a path out of outdated systems. At TII, Erika is leading research that aims to understand and diversify access to venture capital and innovation finance for entrepreneurs who are diverse by way of gender, ethnicity or educational background.

Ann Cairns in her role as Executive Vice Chair, represents Mastercard around the world, focusing on inclusion, diversity and innovation. She plays the important role of senior ambassador and executive leader and sits as part of the company’s global management committee. Prior to her current appointment, Ann was President of International Markets responsible for the management of all Mastercard customer-related activities in over 200 countries. Ann brings more than 20 years’ experience working in senior management positions across Europe and the U.S. Prior to joining Mastercard in 2011, Ann was head of the Financial Services Group with Alvarez & Marsal, CEO of Transaction Banking at ABNAMRO and held senior positions at Citigroup. Ann is currently chair of ICE Clear Europe, owned by the Fortune 500 company Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). She is also global chair of the 30% Club and the chair of the Financial Alliance for Women. In addition, Ann is the lead non-executive board member for the UK government’s department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and is a member of the UK government’s AI Council. 

Alexandra Faye is a Franco-British investment specialist, leading key product development initiatives and other strategic product-related initiatives for Liontrust Asset Management. Prior to this, she was responsible for product innovation at Architas where she launched the firm’s first multi asset sustainable fund aimed at UK investors. Alex is passionate about making Financial Services more inclusive for the future generations of people working in the industry but also for consumers, by creating financial products that are easy to understand, accessible and responsible. She is also a mentor to young investment professionals and an active contributor to various initiatives such as Liontrust’s D&I committee, the Diversity Project, Girls Are Investors Network and Black Women in Asset Management. In 2021, Alex won a We Are The City Rising Star Award in the Investment Management category. These awards were introduced to showcase the UK pipeline of female talent below management and to create 100 female role models across different industries and professions. Alex Faye holds a Master in International Business, an MBA from Southern Illinois University and the CFA ESG Certification.

Dr. Heather Melville, OBE is a thought-leader on leadership, an innovator in business and has a notable track record of delivering strong financial performance and building high performing inclusive teams across both financial and professional services. In 2017 Heather was awarded an OBE for her services to female entrepreneurs, diversity in business and gender equality. In July 2019 she was awarded with an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Portsmouth for her contribution to Diversity in Business. Heather also holds a number of Trustee positions: Chair of Chartered Management Institute Women, Board Trustee CMI and Enfield Enterprise, Patron of Women In Banking and Finance and, most recently, a member of the PwC Colour Brave Charity Committee.

Dr. Grace Lordan (@GraceLordan_) is the Founding Director of The Inclusion Initiative (TII) and an Associate Professor in Behavioural Science at LSE. Grace is an expert advisor to the UK government sitting on their skills and productivity board. Her academic writings have been published in top international journals in economics and the broader social sciences. Think Big, Take Small Steps and Build the Future you Want is her first book.

More about this event

TII (@lse_tii) aims to bring behavioural science insights to firms to allow them to enhance the inclusion of all talent, and simultaneously produce academically rigorous and relevant research that links directly to TII’s purpose.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSETII