Born and raised in Glasgow, Afua moved to London at 17 to study journalism at City University. Her career has spanned television production, music publishing, journalism, broadcasting and public speaking, giving her a unique perspective on the intersections of culture, media, business and social change.

Afua Hagan | Broadcast and Editorial

Afua is currently the Royal Commentator for CTV News, Senior International Correspondent for News Central Africa, Managing Editor of Black Business Magazine, and host of The Royal Dress Code podcast.

She has hosted Sustainable Energy for CNBC, written for The Voice Newspaper, served as Editor-in-Chief of Glam Africa Magazine, and held senior editorial roles across a range of publications. Her broadcasting career has included positions at Arise News, ABN TV, The Beat 103.6FM and numerous international outlets.

Her experiences in the media industry, along with her commitment to diversity and inclusion, have solidified her position as a respected advocate and speaker.

Afua Hagan | Speaker

Afua’s expertise extends beyond journalism into public speaker, where she is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, moderator, and host. Drawing on her own journey, she delivers powerful keynote speeches on diversity and inclusion, social mobility, representation, equity, women’s leadership, and overcoming barriers to success.

Afua Hagan’s journey from a young journalism student to a powerful advocate for diversity and inclusion encapsulates her determination and impact. Her appearances on prominent media outlets, her thought-provoking speeches, and her commitment to empowering marginalised voices have solidified her position as a leading voice in British media. As Afua continues to shape discourse and champion inclusivity, her legacy remains an inspiring beacon for the ongoing pursuit of equality and understanding.

In 2024, Afua delivered a highly acclaimed TEDx Talk, “Too Dark for Daytime TV,” exploring race, representation and belonging in the media industry. Her keynote speeches challenge audiences to rethink assumptions around class, race, access and opportunity, while providing practical insights into building more inclusive organisations and workplaces.

Afua Hagan | Speaking Topics

– Social Mobility: Breaking Barriers and Creating Opportunity

– Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Action

– Representation Matters: Why Visibility Changes Lives

– Women in Leadership

– Navigating the Media Industry as an Outsider

– Building Inclusive Workplace Cultures

– Black Britain Today: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities

– The Power of Authentic Storytelling

– Personal Branding and Career Reinvention

Afua Hagan | Keynotes

My Personal Journey: In this keynote, Afua talks about her own journey as a broadcaster and journalist and the impact 2020 had on her career, particularly as a black woman living “in a world that seemed to hate black people”.

Race, Ethnicity, and Culture: In this talk, Afua looks at the difference between race, ethnicity, and culture, and how that affects the way that we interact with people. We sometimes use the words interchangeably, and whilst there are overlaps between the terms, it’s important to know the differences between them and how to use them correctly.

Inclusivity in the Workplace: Afua outlines how workplace diversity is currently a very hot topic amongst businesses, particularly since the pandemic. The modern workplace considers workplace diversity a crucial element of success and happiness in the office and advocates for social improvements. Building a diverse workforce can be a challenge, but there are solutions to create a sense of harmony and unity among different people and teams.

Social Mobility: Social mobility is a concept that holds immense importance in today’s society. Afua talks about how social mobility promotes a fair and just society, were everyone has equal opportunities to succeed and improve their quality of life. It encourages individuals to work hard, acquire skills, and pursue education, as these factors play a crucial role in determining one’s social mobility.

Effective Communication to Bring About Real Change: Afua emphasis that it is important to communicate it to someone when you don’t agree with them, or they will think you are aligned with their racist beliefs. Have the courage to challenge them on this.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers today to book Afua Hagan for your corporate event. 

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