Last night, OTA Media, in partnership with HM Treasury, LSEG, and HaysMac, hosted The Next Agenda at the London Stock Exchange, an evening of insight, inspiration, and forward-thinking discussion. The Market Close event brought together senior leaders from government, finance, technology, and investment, including representatives from the Bank of England, Bloomberg, Google, BlackRock, Deloitte, BBC, Thomson Reuters, Financial Times, City of London, and Huawei, alongside Afua Kyei, CFO of the Bank of England; Anaïse Manuel, Ambassador of Haiti; and other government institutions, to explore the themes shaping Britain’s economic leadership in the years ahead.

Edwin Danso, CEO of OTA Media:

“At OTA Media, our mission is clear: to bring together leaders, organisations, and communities to define the future of leadership. By amplifying diverse voices and fostering meaningful dialogue, we create opportunities that drive real impact, both in business and society. Tonight’s conversations are more than discussions; they are a blueprint for the next phase of growth, innovation, and inclusive leadership in the UK and beyond.”

Leadership, Inclusion and Britain’s Competitive Edge

Last night, Sir Kenneth Olisa and Sir Charles Bowman explored what Britain needs to lead in the next phase of economic growth, and why leadership, inclusion and optimism matter more than ever.

Sir Kenneth emphasised that diversity and inclusion are not just moral imperatives but clear sources of competitive advantage. Organisations that reflect and understand their customers, communities and markets make better decisions and perform more strongly over the long term.

The conversation also highlighted a generational shift. Younger people increasingly expect fairness, purpose and inclusion from institutions and employers, and are less willing to accept the idea that opportunity is “not for them”. While challenges remain, barriers are lowering as more people push forward and claim their place.

Both speakers pointed to Britain’s often-overlooked strengths, particularly the rule of law, trusted institutions and world-class infrastructure, as critical foundations for global competitiveness. These assets, they argued, deserve greater recognition amid overly negative narratives.

The discussion closed with a call for leaders to challenge pessimism with facts, confidence and optimism. Leadership today is about stewardship: opening doors, building trust and helping the next generation see what is possible.

The Next Agenda Panel Discussion: Leadership, AI, and DEI in Focus

Brenda Emmanus OBE opened the panel, highlighting the opportunity to gather leaders driving change. Moderated by Horatio Georgestone (HM Treasury), the discussion featured Rob Pierre (former CEO of Jellyfish), Cathrine Sneathe (HM Treasury), and Jennifer Thomas (LSEG).

The conversation focused on leadership, DEIB, and responsible AI. Rob stressed that systemic DEI, not tokenism, drives real impact, while Jennifer highlighted integrating DEI into strategy, and Cathrine emphasized leadership accountability. Panelists agreed that equitable pathways and investment in education unlock hidden talent.

On AI, they noted its potential to democratise opportunity when used responsibly, emphasising ethics, governance, and diverse perspectives.

Key Takeaways

• Energy drives change: Leadership requires passion and consistent effort.
• Investment matters: Senior decisions shape outcomes for talent and innovation.
• Technology is a tool: AI can enhance creativity and level the playing field.
• Belonging is consistent: Inclusion must be embedded across organisations.

Gavin Lewis of BlackRock on Leadership, Inclusion, and Tackling Inequality

In the latest episode of Off The Agenda, Gavin Lewis, Managing Director at BlackRock and co-founder of #TalkAboutBlack, shares his journey from growing up in Tottenham to leading billions in investments.

Gavin reflects on how his upbringing, early challenges, and the absence of role models shaped his leadership style - resilient, empathetic, and committed to inclusion. He discusses the importance of representation, workplace culture, and the role finance can play in advancing real economic and social opportunity.

He also shares insights from his book, The Opportunity Index, arguing that inequality should be treated as a measurable risk - one that affects communities, asset values, and society as a whole.

Watch Gavin Lewis on Off The Agenda, available now on YouTube.

Watch Gavin Lewis

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ICYMI: Michael Eboda on Power, Influence and the Powerlist

In case you missed it, last week’s episode of Off The Agenda features Michael Eboda, founder and CEO of Powerful Media and the creator of the Powerlist, the annual ranking celebrating the UK’s most influential Black leaders.

In conversation with Brenda Emmanus OBE, Michael reflected on his mission to challenge the long-held myth that Black talent is scarce. Drawing on his career in journalism, he explained how negative narratives often dominated coverage, while leadership, success and excellence went unseen. The Powerlist was created to change that by putting influence, impact and achievement at the centre of the story.

Over the years, the Powerlist has helped elevate the profiles of leaders across business, culture and sport, including Steven Bartlett, Edward Enninful, Stormzy, Ian Wright, Dame Pat McGrath and Sir Idris Elba, among many others. What connects them is not celebrity, but sustained influence and the ability to shape outcomes beyond their immediate fields.

A central theme of the conversation was the difference between power and influence. Influence, Michael argues, is defined by long-term impact and opening doors for others, not visibility alone. Two decades on, the challenge is no longer identifying talent, but choosing from a growing pipeline of leaders across business, culture and public life.

Watch the full episode with Michael Eboda now on Off The Agenda.

Watch Michael Eboda

The Circle is Growing

Following the success of last night event, we are thrilled to share that The Circle, our private community for founders, operators, and investors shaping the next chapter of business, culture, and capital, is expanding.

Born from a conversation between Edwin Danso and Rob Pierre, The Circle was founded on a simple question: How does OTA Media grow alongside the people building the future, not just reporting on it?

Now, with founding members in place, The Circle is more than a network, it’s a real-world community at the heart of the City, connecting capital, culture, and conversation.

We are also designing a new Friday night format where leaders step out of boardrooms and into a shared space for:

• Ideas, Entertainment, Food and Long-term relationships

Invitation-only, application-led, and built on trust rather than timelines, The Circle continues to bring together the people and ideas that will shape what comes next.

A special event hosted by Edwin Danso and Rob Pierre will be announced shortly, stay tuned.

Apply for Consideration

Citizens of the Week: Celebrating the Voices Behind Market Close & Off The Agenda

This week, we shine a spotlight on the incredible minds and voices that made our latest Market Close and Off The Agenda episodes possible. From insightful guests to tireless organisers, every participant played a vital role in creating thought-provoking conversations and meaningful content.

Whether it was sharing stories of resilience, leadership, and innovation, or helping the behind-the-scenes machinery run seamlessly, this week’s citizens of the week represent the dedication, passion, and expertise that make these series so impactful.

Here’s to the people who make it happen, today and every day. You are the true citizens of the week.

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