PRECIOUS Nights at the British Library | May Edition
PRECIOUS Nights at the British Library give you the opportunity to hear from PRECIOUS Awards women about their business journey, catch up with old connections and build your network with new contacts.
Each event features a panel of previous PRECIOUS Awards category winners and finalists sharing their insight and top-tips.
The PRECIOUS Awards was founded in 2007 to celebrate and applaud the professional achievements of women of colour in the UK.
Over the years, the Awards have grown into a flagship event characterised by open and generous sharing of stories, strategies, challenges and experiences: a room full of exceptional women in business all ‘paying it forward’ and creating a unique atmosphere of collaboration and motivation.
Now, we’ve decided that once a year just isn’t enough and so we’re thrilled to be hosting this series of networking events that capture the PRECIOUS Awards spirit all year round.
Tickets are just £10 and include a networking reception with drinks.
Meet our speakers:
JESSICA HUIE MBE
Jessica Huie went from being a teenage mother, expelled from school and living in a hostel, to having a glittering career in Public Relations, working with some of the world’s biggest stars and business people including Samuel L. Jackson, Simon Cowell, Sir Bob Geldof and Meghan Markle.
When she set up her first business Color blind cards, it started an early national conversation around diversity in retail and is credited as the first independent multicultural greeting card line to be stocked in the UK high-street, earning her invitations to No.10 Downing street with the UK Prime Minister and an MBE award for services to entrepreneurship – all by the age of 34.
Jessica Huie founded the award-winning public relations boutique agency JHPR www.JHPR.co.uk and has worked with world-renowned clients. Jessica received an MBE in 2014 for services to entrepreneurship and her positive influence on the community.
On the outside, Jessica’s life was a fairy-tale of triumph, but she spent years struggling with an internal view of herself which left her plagued by depression.
In 2016 a miracle shifted her lifelong belief system into an unequivocal knowing that our body and identity is merely casing to the truth of who we are – and her life and outlook changed forever.
Having redesigned her life through entrepreneurship, Jessica is passionate about supporting startups such as www.connectmentors.com and is a champion of social mobility and inclusion, sitting on the boards of several national charities
Jessica won Entrepreneur of the Year and Best Business at the 2007 PRECIOUS Awards.
KELLE BRYAN
Kelle Bryan was sure of her future in entertainment from an early age – winning a junior Miss World competition at only two years old. Aged 11, she joined the prestigious Italia Conti School, where she completed 8 years of performing arts and qualified as a dance teacher.
One night whilst clubbing (under age!), Kelle and her schoolmate Louise Redknapp met music producer Denis Ingoldby, who was in the midst of forming a girl band. She auditioned and that band later became Eternal – Britain’s most successful R&B group ever.
The band went on to sell over 10 million records, notching up 14 top 15 UK hits and four top ten albums, as well as achieving Brit Award nominations, MOBOs and Smash Hits Awards, embarking on four world tours and even performing for Pope Jean Paul II. Their debut album, ‘Always and Forever’ was the first album by a girl group to sell over a million copies and the ‘Greatest Hits’, released four years later is still the UK’s best-selling compilation album by an all-female act.
Kelle reformed with her Eternal bandmates for a sold-out show at London’s Eventim Apollo in 2014, documented during as part of ITV’s ‘The Big Reunion’ 2017 brought a short list nomination for ‘Inspirational role model of the year’ at The European Diversity awards 2017 and Kelle made her West end Debut playing the role of ‘Billie’ in Wings at the Young Vic Theatre in London.
Behind the scenes, Kelle was busy developing her own media brand, Advocate Agency – promoting and managing artists, under the ethos of “inspiring self-belief in infinite possibilities.
She won the Leadership Award at the 2015 PRECIOUS Awards.
DIANE DUNKLEY
Diane Dunkley is the proud owner of RM2 Music, a music management company, booking agency and record company all rolled into one. Celebrating its 8th year in operation.
The philosophy behind RM2 Music is ‘Real Musicians, Real Music,’.This conviction and passion Diane has for music comes from a life-long love affair. Few can say that they truly enjoy their job and Diane’s success in turning her passion into a profitable business venture is admirable.
After a chance conversation in 2005, with an ex-backing singer of the legendary Prince, that passion for music turned into a chance to fulfil a childhood dream. Being asked to arrange a London show for the singer led to Diane taking her first steps into the music business.
Diane’s first full-time foray into the music industry was with the company KIKIT, a company formed with Kiran Sharma, where she was Head of Tour Management, which allowed her to bask for the first time, in the joy of earning a living from her passion with a company that represented Prince, one of the world’s musical superstars.
After eight years of hard graft, RM2 Music now is central to the British music scene and Diane continues to work as an ambassador to British Black music. The company is making waves within the music industry by nurturing its fresh artists and pushing its veteran talent.
Diane won The Business of the Year at the 2013 PRECIOUS Awards.