About Vanessa

Vanessa is an award-winning ESG (Environmental, social & governance) tech entrepreneur, Podcaster and Writer based in London.

She is the Founder & CEO of award-winning global organisation, Girls Talk London that develops products and services to connect businesses with female talent in 37+ countries through digital products and content, bespoke programmes & events. Their aim is to democratise access to opportunities and jobs in male dominated sectors and to empower women to develop the skills and confidence to progress in their careers.

Through this agency, Vanessa has worked with companies such as Apple, Amazon, Beats by Dre, Meta, HSBC UK, Goldman Sachs, Snap Inc, Virgin Media O2, Zalando, BT and Vodafone + many more to connect them with diverse talent across all levels within their businesses.

Vanessa is a Podcaster and Host of The After Work Drinks Club debuting at Number 4 on the Apple Business Charts and her online talk show, Girls Talk, being viewed by nearly 1 million people worldwide interviewing influential global leaders such as Tsitsi Masiyiwa & Munroe Bergdorf. 

Vanessa has held several Senior roles in the financial services, Law and Public Sector for over 16 years and has worked for companies such as Standard Chartered Bank, HFW, HSBC, Barclays, JP Morgan and UK Parliament. 

Her expertise sits in creating and executing global diversity, inclusion and sustainability strategies and programmes, building capability & influence in organisations and partnering with & advising C-suite executives, senior leadership and HR colleagues

She is a sought-after speaker on ESG, business and women’s issues and her speaking engagements have taken her across the globe at institutions such as The Southbank Centre, Glitz Africa She Summit, UN Women UK, Cosmopolitan Self-Made Summit, Investec, Royal Bank of Canada, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Google UK, City Hall, Stylist Magazine, Institute of Directors and Women in Research UK.

Vanessa is a regular visiting lecturer and speaker on Social Entrepreneurship, Corporate Social Responsibility and Diversity and Inclusion for London School of Economics, City University London, Kent Business School, Brunel University and Kings College London.

Vanessa has been recognised as a leader in her field listed as #15 in the Financial Times, Yahoo Finance and EMpower top ethnic minority future leaders list in Europe, U.S and Canada and also as one of 30 people changing the world by the London Business School and one of London’s most influential people by the Evening Standard Newspaper.

Vanessa has written and featured in publications such the Guardian, Cosmopolitan magazine, Sunday Times Style magazine, Stylist magazine, The Evening Standard newspaper and the Financial Times.

The 16th April 2017 Edition of The Style Magazine Sunday Times Supplement listed Vanessa as one of 10 people changing the workplace for women in the UK.

The 9th March 2015 issue of Look Magazine featured Vanessa as one of the most inspiring women in the UK and in June 2015 She was named as one of 67 Changemakers in the UK at The Southbank Centre as part of their annual Festival of Love. 

Vanessa has been awarded for her contributions to diversity and inclusion by the 2018 European diversity awards, 2011 London Peace Awards and 2010 Spirit of London awards. 

  • Finalist, 2022 KPMG Black Entrepreneurs Award
    (2020)
  • Winner, European Diversity Award
    (2018)
  • Winner Community Safety Peace Award
    (2011)