This week we’re highlighting key black voices in business and looking at one of Britain’s youngest and upcoming entrepreneurs, Steven Bartlett.
After being kicked out of school for poor attendance and dropping out of university at the age of 22, Steven set up ‘The Social Chain’ from his bedroom, to reshape the commerce and branding world.
Apart from being a published author, he recently announced that he will be joining BBC’s ‘Dragon’s Den’ as the youngest ever Dragon on the panel.
Steven is determined to challenge the convention of what a typical entrepreneur looks like by refusing to wear a suit on the show to inspire future young business leaders.
"I'm not against white men in suits...by being a Black man in a snapback, I will appeal to other Black men, and women…or anybody that comes from an underrepresented background, and I will let them know that they can sit at the table.”
In the top 100 companies in the UK there are no Black CEO’s and Steven has openly discussed his challenges of being a Black entrepreneur and often talks about the typical “image” of business leaders.
"I will not allow racism to hold me back, or even the idea that someone is going to hold me back." – Steven Bartlett
Steven has spoken on many platforms about ignoring the rules and following your own instincts no matter of your upbringing or ethnicity.