2025 Winners and Finalists

Kanya King is an influential cultural visionary and trailblazing entrepreneur who has redefined British music. As the founder of the MOBO Awards – Europe’s largest celebration of Black music and culture – she has empowered under-represented voices and transformed the creative landscape.Beyond music, Kanya’s influence extends across industries. She sits on key boards and councils, including the Creative Industries Council, Creative UK Council and Sky Advisory Board, where she shapes strategy and drives diversity. She also founded the MOBO Help Musicians Fund, which has awarded over £1 million in grants; MOBO UnSung, a talent development programme for emerging artists; and MOBOLISE, a platform tackling racial inequality in the workplace. In 2024, she partnered with Prostate Cancer UK to highlight disparities in Black men’s health outcomes.

Through her vision, Kanya continues to amplify new voices, inspire inclusion, and redefine British culture on a global stage.

Anne Mensah is a doyenne of British entertainment and one of the most influential figures shaping UK culture today. With over three decades of experience at the BBC, Sky, and now Netflix, she currently oversees all UK content for the global streaming giant. Since 2020, Anne has led Netflix’s major investment in the UK’s creative economy, backing groundbreaking productions that have defined modern British storytelling. Her portfolio includes global hits such as Adolescence, Netflix’s second most-watched English-language series, the Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning Baby Reindeer, and the RTS Award-winning Supacell, which heroised Black British lives while raising awareness of sickle cell disorder. A champion of diverse storytelling, Anne is a trustee of Lewis Hamilton’s Mission 44, Into Film, and Vice President of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She’s been celebrated in Vogue25, the Powerlist, Variety500, and was named Outstanding Executive of the Year by the British Broadcasting Guild in 2025.

Nick Studer is a dedicated advocate for inclusion and a long-standing champion of Black talent in global business. As President and CEO of Oliver Wyman Group, he combines leadership at the highest levels of consulting with a deep commitment to creating a more representative and equitable industry.

In 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Nick shared a personal reflection on privilege and the need to move from non-racism to active anti-racism. As the first executive sponsor of Oliver Wyman’s ethnic and cultural inclusion network, he led the firm’s inaugural race strategy and challenged the consulting sector to confront systemic inequities.

His leadership has amplified Black voices through open dialogue, cultural engagement, and global community-building. Grounded in humility, curiosity, and action, Nick’s allyship continues to shape Oliver Wyman’s culture — setting a powerful example for inclusive leadership worldwide.