OTA Media didn’t begin as a company.
It began as a question.

During the uncertainty of the pandemic, founder Edwin Danso, then at PwC, shared a simple but provocative idea with Sir Charles Bowman, former Lord Mayor of London: what if leaders were given space to speak honestly, beyond headlines and posturing?

Off The Agenda began on Zoom. No roadmap. No institutional backing. Just conversations about power, responsibility and progress as they are actually experienced.

Five years on, OTA Media has grown into a global leadership platform rooted in conversation, courage and community, not by chasing relevance, but by staying close to the people shaping outcomes.

That trust crystallised with The Next Agenda, OTA Media’s Market Close hosted in partnership with HM Treasury at the London Stock Exchange. Senior leaders from government, finance, technology and global business gathered with intent, including representatives from Bloomberg, Google, BlackRock, Deloitte, the BBC, Thomson Reuters, the City of London, and Huawei, alongside Afua Kyei, Chief Financial Officer of the Bank of England, and Anaïse Manuel, Ambassador of Haiti.

It marked OTA Media’s role as a convenor: a platform trusted to bring institutions, markets and culture into the same room when it matters.

Along the way, something unexpected happened.
The platform became a living education in leadership, shaped by proximity to those who have built institutions, challenged systems and redefined success.

As OTA Media enters its next chapter, partnerships are expanding, but the purpose remains unchanged: to create spaces where ambition, accountability and long-term thinking coexist.

This isn’t just a milestone.
It’s proof of what becomes possible when leaders listen deeply and commit to building what doesn’t yet exist.

Leadership, Trust and the Systems That Shape Us

At The Next Agenda Market Close, one idea cut through every discussion:

Leadership is not defined by titles or strategies, but by the systems we build and who those systems serve.

Moderated by Horatio Georgestone, the panel explored how inclusion, trust and technology intersect at a moment of economic and social transition.

Rob Pierre reflected on scaling Jellyfish into a global business of more than 2,000 employees. His view was clear: inclusion does not come from targets or performative initiatives. It comes from redesigning systems, removing rigid hierarchies and unconscious bias so better decisions become inevitable.

Catherine Sneath spoke from inside government, emphasising that culture is revealed under pressure. Inclusion shows up in how leaders communicate, how they make decisions and how people experience work day-to-day, especially when the stakes are high.

From a market perspective, Jennifer Thomas reframed inclusion as a competitiveness issue. In a rapidly evolving economy, organisations that fail to rethink access, education and opportunity risk losing the talent required to grow.

The panel also addressed artificial intelligence, not as a threat, but as a lever. When governed responsibly, AI has the potential to widen opportunity by augmenting human capability rather than replacing it.

Watch in full now

Invitation: Appear on the Next Season of Off The Agenda

The new season of Off The Agenda is now in production, and a small number of guest slots are open.

Off The Agenda is OTA Media’s flagship interview series, known for candid, thoughtful conversations with leaders shaping business, policy, culture and capital. Past guests include senior figures from government, global finance, technology and the creative industries, individuals recognised not simply for success, but for sustained influence.

This is not a promotional interview.
It is a space for leaders who have built, led and decided at scale.

The upcoming season will explore leadership in an era of uncertainty: long-term value creation, institutional trust, inclusion, innovation and global responsibility. Conversations are designed to move beyond headlines and into the decisions, trade-offs and experiences that define real leadership.

Due to demand and production constraints, availability is limited. Guest selection is curated, and participation is by invitation or referral only.

If you believe your leadership journey belongs in this conversation or you would like to nominate a peer, we invite you to express interest.

This season will help shape the agenda.
Only a small number of seats are available.

Expressions of interest

Citizens of the Week: Mark Carney

At Davos last month, Mark Carney delivered what may come to be remembered as one of the defining leadership speeches of this moment.

In a world marked by geopolitical tension, economic coercion and eroding trust in institutions, Carney rejected nostalgia and false certainty. His message was direct: the old assumptions no longer hold and pretending otherwise weakens those who rely on them.

His remarks landed squarely at the intersection of policy, culture and capital the exact space OTA Media exists to convene.

Carney’s call for honesty in leadership, resilience at home and cooperation abroad mirrors the conversations shaping Off The Agenda, Market Close and Sessions: how policy choices shape markets, how culture underpins legitimacy and how capital ultimately follows trust.

He did not simply describe the world as it is. He articulated the work required to rebuild it. That is the conversation OTA Media is here to host.

Watch Mark Carney’s remarks here:

Davos - Mark Carney

At Mansion House: The City Invests in the Next Generation

Last week marked the 10th anniversary of the Livery Academy Awards at Mansion House — a reminder of the City at its best: tradition meeting opportunity.

Hosted by Sir Charles Bowman, acting as Lord Mayor Locum Tenens while the Lady Mayor undertook official duties in China, the evening celebrated schools and institutions opening doors for young people through education, exposure and real-world skills.

Congratulations to this year’s joint winners, Mossbourne Community Academy and Foyle College, and to the livery companies continuing to invest in long-term talent.

As Sir Charles noted:

“An honour to represent the Lady Mayor at this wonderful event. Congratulations to every member of each of the schools taking part.”

Why Thursday Is Becoming the City’s Cultural Anchor

The results are in! Last week, we asked senior leaders a simple question:

Which day do you prefer for City after-work events?

The response was decisive.

80% chose Thursday.
20% chose Friday.

This is not a diary quirk, it reflects a structural shift.

Thursday works because people are present. Offices are full. Diaries are intact. Energy is focused. Conversations feel intentional.

Friday, by contrast, has become unpredictable. Hybrid working, travel plans and blurred boundaries drain footfall earlier, weakening the cultural ecosystem that once supported pubs, venues and informal connection.

This insight aligns closely with the City of London Corporation’s Destination City strategy: earning the commute through culture, hospitality and experience, particularly on Mondays and Fridays.

Our findings suggest Thursday has become the City’s cultural anchor. The challenge now is extending that sense of purpose across the rest of the week.

As we prepare to launch Sessions, OTA Media’s role is simple: to create moments worth showing up for, strengthening venues, prioritising the quality of conversation and rebuilding the City as a place people choose to stay.

Thursday is not replacing Friday.

But it shows what is possible when the City feels worth the commute.

Connect With Us

OTA Media partners with organisations that value leadership, credibility and long-term influence.

If you’re interested in collaborating across stories, live events or thought leadership — or exploring access to our private formats — we’d welcome the conversation.

📧 info@otamediagroup.com
🌐 www.otamediagroup.com

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