AKAYA Hosts First UK Summit at Zoom London Experience Centre, Empowering the Next Generation of Female Leaders

“Girls of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow” comes to life at Zoom London Experience Centre

Last Thursday, AKAYA Foundation held its first-ever UK Summit, a landmark event celebrating the achievements of our inaugural UK AKAYA Wellness Initiative cohort and empowering the next generation of young Black women and aged 16–22.

Hosted at the iconic Zoom London Experience Centre, the day was filled with powerful workshops, transformative conversations, and intergenerational community building, all designed to champion young Black women on their leadership, wellbeing and career journeys.

The event opened with a welcome address from Dr Khadija Owusu, AKAYA’s Founder, who reminded everyone in the room of the power of purpose, the importance of creating safe spaces for young women to be affirmed, and the role we each play in building the future.

A line-up of inspiring speakers and facilitators led sessions on creative leadership, women’s health, self-esteem, and more. Highlights included:

• The “Leading While Black” panel, hosted by Dr. Khadija Owusu, featuring speakers from medicine Dr Olamide Oguntimehin, finance Yasmine Frimpong Manso, entrepreneurship Ama Amo-Agyei, and the creative industries (Stephanie Okoye)

• Vanessa Boachie of Inside Out Well-being on building confidence from the inside out

• Sandra Adu, MPhil of Black Girls In Design on leadership through creativity

• Dr. Joyce Omatseye on advocating for Black women’s health

• A powerful keynote from Aghogho Okpara on choosing yourself, leading boldly and rising anyway

One of the most meaningful moments of the day came from our youth-led campaign pitch presentations, where participants took the stage to share their ideas for impact. With judges from the wellness, education, technology and social impact sectors including Renée Kapuku Ed.M, Elsie Ayotunde Cullen, Dr Yaa Oheema, Ama Amo-Agyei and Helen from Zoom, the energy in the room was electric.

In addition to the powerful sessions, attendees engaged with incredible exhibitor stands from organisations such as Melanin Medics Aleto Foundation Inside Out Well-being Doceo Black Blood Matters SiSTEM UK Empowered By Vee alongside amazing Women in Tech from Zoom, Meta, Amazon and Fujitsu - offering a vibrant snapshot of the organisations already changing the landscape for Black women in the UK.

The Summit closed with a unifying affirmation from everyone in the room shouting, “Girls of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow” - a moment that encapsulated everything AKAYA stands for.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to Zoom and Katy Morris for making this event possible, and to every sponsor, facilitator, speaker, volunteer, and guest who contributed to a day filled with joy, purpose, and power.

The feedback has been overwhelming:

Absolutely loved this event, thank you so much ! It’s so inspiring being in a room with so many women with ambition!

I enjoyed the summit and even connected with a mentor so it was an amazing opportunity as well as the venue being perfect!

This was such an important part of my journey and I appreciate the effort put in these aspects of life that people tend to ignore. I find it very beneficial to my life and look forward to apply them in my daily life.

Very thankful to Dr Khadija for producing such a platform to help young black girls. I can wholeheartedly say she truly changed many lives for the better.

This is just the beginning.

Stay connected for more highlights in the coming days. Together, we’re raising the next generation of female leaders who know they belong in every room, on every stage, and at every table.