A COVENTRY entrepreneur has launched a new network aimed at black business professionals, with the backing of West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.
After setting up her own business in 2017, communications consultant Nyasha Pitt struggled to find business networking specifically for African and African Caribbean professionals.
Following discussion with the West Midlands Combined Authority, she set about creating a structure to create a community for herself and likeminded professionals. From this idea, iDNetwork was born, a hub which will be focused on creating a positive, proactive network that champions and empowers black professionals and business leaders.
Commenting on iDNetwork, Pitt said: “I’m really excited about this network and extremely grateful for the support I have already received from WM Mayor Andy Street and his team. I love building relationships with all sorts of people and I’m a passionate and prolific networker.
“I am part of networks aimed at only women, ones focused on specific industries and ones that are purely for entrepreneurs. So, this network is just another community that I will belong to; it’s for black business professionals to discuss issues specific to our experience, whilst providing motivation, inspiration and meaningful connections. I can’t wait to get started.”
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street commented: “A lack of mentors, role models and appropriate networks of individuals to provide social support and advice was identified as a key barrier to diversity in leadership in the Leadership Commission report.
"I am really pleased that Nyasha has proactively sought to remedy the lack of networking and developmental opportunities for black professionals in the West Midlands area through the creation of the iDNetwork and I am looking forward to the launch of this new opportunity.”
iDNetwork aim to provide these things through structured networking, inspirational talks, challenging panel discussions, workshops and masterclasses for black professionals in the Midlands. It will officially launch in Birmingham on February 14 at PricewaterhouseCoopers on Cornwall Street from 5pm with the next event planned in Pitt’s hometown of Coventry in March.
For more information follow iDNetwork: @idnetworkuk on Instagram and LinkedIn, @idnetwork on Facebook or @idnetwork3 on Twitter.
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