Black History Month: Reflecting on the people who inspired us

​In honor of Black History Month 2025, I caught up with some brilliant Black voices across the industry and asked them more about the people who have inspired them, motivated them and nurtured their ambitions. I simply asked them: ‘What early memory or person in your life inspired or motivated your ambitions?’

But first, let’s start with my story.

Camealia Xavier-Chihota, marketing and social media director, The Digital Voice

Growing up, I didn’t know my paternal grandfather, Asquith Xavier, had done something remarkable.

In my early twenties, I read about his activism in the 60s, but it wasn’t until I became a mother that I truly understood the depth of his legacy and how profoundly it would shape my own ambitions.

Asquith Xavier was a pioneer of the Windrush generation, a man of immense courage who stood up against overt racism in the workplace and helped change British history. He challenged British Rail’s discriminatory workplace policies in the 1960s, and his fight contributed to the Race Relations Act of 1968, a landmark shift that made racial discrimination in employment illegal. Though I never met him, his story has been passed down with reverence. He was described as a man of dignity, strength, and leadership - someone who didn’t just accept the status quo but actively reshaped it. His journey from Dominica to the UK, and his refusal to be silenced, taught me that where there’s a will, there’s a way, and that standing up for what’s right can ripple through generations.

When my daughters were born, something shifted in me. They became my motivation, my mirror, and my reason to step up. I realized I wanted to be more than just present in their lives, I wanted to be a positive role model - someone they could look up to with pride.

My four grandparents came to Britain chasing opportunity, sold a dream of golden streets, only to face discrimination and hardship. But they persevered. And in honoring their resilience, I’ve found my own. I want my daughters to grow up knowing that ordinary people, like their great-grandfather, can do extraordinary things. That their heritage is rich with strength, courage, and change-making. And that they, too, can shape the world around them. My ambition today is not just for myself, but for them, to build a life that reflects the values Asquith Xavier lived by: integrity, justice, and fearless determination.

Axel Campbell, brand growth manager, esbconnect

From a young age, I watched my dad navigate the highs and lows of running multiple businesses. There were wins, there were failures, but what always stood out was his mindset - no excuses. He didn’t shape his life around his income; he shaped his income around the life he wanted. That meant working two jobs if needed, pushing harder in his current role, or even switching careers entirely. His approach taught me that ambition isn’t just about dreaming big; it’s about doing the work consistently and without complaint.

What really stuck with me was his refusal to settle. He’d always ask, “What can you do better? How can you do more?”

That attitude became a blueprint for how I approach my own goals. I’ve never been content with just getting by; I’ve always felt driven to stretch further, to raise the bar. Watching him take ownership of his path, even when things didn’t go to plan, instilled in me a deep belief in personal accountability. Success wasn’t something you waited for; it was something you built, brick by brick, decision by decision.

That foundation has shaped how I show up professionally. Whether I’m in sales, tech, or media, I carry that same ethos: be proactive, be honest with yourself, and don’t make excuses. My dad’s example taught me that ambition isn’t just about wanting more; it’s about being willing to become more. And that’s something I’ve tried to live by every day.

Nick Fettiplace, managing director, Jellyfish

My inspiration and motivation haven’t really come from one single person or moment. It’s come from a mix of people, places, cultures, and circumstances; from a collection of experiences. I don’t think I could tie any of it down to one specific memory or individual.

Spending my early years as a kid growing up in Jamaica, we saw a lot. The 80s were a time of significant unrest. Destabilization from foreign governments, rough politics, and social conflict. I feel a lot of what influenced who I am as an adult is rooted in those early days. Some of what inspired me was what you’d consider “good” or “beautiful,” while other elements of inspiration come from challenging or unpleasant experiences.

Of the good, I was inspired by communities coming together in solidarity, compassion, perseverance and the ability just to keep going. Leadership, and the different shapes, sizes and forms that it comes in, humor, personality, hustle, even faith, and the many expressions of it. Particularly in Jamaica: Rasta. A people’s movement; the non-conformity of it. An unwillingness to bend for what you don’t believe in or represent.

All of these things I still value and try to uphold in how I work and behave with others.

And from the less positive, also came good - albeit with slightly less comfort… Loss, fear and uncertainty. To me, these have played a big role in inspiring and shaping my work ethic and how my ambition is articulated by my behaviors. They’ve inspired me to try and seize every moment, not to underestimate what it takes to succeed or win, and to value all that we have.

On a final note, while not attributing my inspiration or motivation to one specific person, I will dedicate this comment to Henry “Soldier Man” Campbell. He was adopted by my grandparents as a boy, from the hills of Newcastle, neighbouring a military camp. Henry helped care for my sister and I. His steady presence and kindness are still a big part of my inspiration and of my gratitude.

Jermaine Balfourth, creative director, Oliver Agency

My mum was my first real inspiration. Whenever I asked her to draw something, she’d do it with ease, from Disney characters to Street Fighter’s Ryu. It didn’t matter what it was, she’d find a way to bring it to life.

I remember one time I kept trying to draw Ryu myself, but he just didn’t look right. I couldn’t get him to look cool no matter how many times I tried. Then my mum took the paper, smiled, and drew him perfectly: calm, focused, powerful. Watching her turn my failed attempts into something that felt alive made me see creativity differently. It wasn’t just art, it was power.

Our house was always the one where everyone came - friends, cousins, neighbors. There was always noise, laughter, food, and people around. Looking back, I realize that sense of community shaped me just as much as my mum’s creativity did. It taught me the value of connection, sharing, and building spaces where everyone feels welcome.

Those moments lit a fire in me. They made me believe that ideas can live beyond imagination if you’re bold enough to bring them out, and that creativity means more when it brings people together. That lesson has stayed with me ever since. It’s what still drives me to create, to build, and to push what’s possible.

Adele Lewis Bridgeman, talent acquisition consultant

For me, it’s definitely Porge (my mum). Porge taught me from an early age that I could be anything I wanted to be, as long as I coupled hard work with discipline. Education was important in my family, and I’ll never forget telling her I wasn’t going to university as I wanted to start working and gain experience. Her words to me were “whatever you’re doing, make it count”, and I’ve used that piece of advice so many times since. I know she’s proud of me as the photo taken of me leading a workshop at UN//SCENE is currently her WhatsApp photo – because, you know, mums are like that.

Being a Black woman born to parents who came over to the UK in the ’80s has everything to do with my career choices. I’ve worked in teams where I have been one of one, or been one of less than a handful, and I’ve always been fascinated with the key role recruitment plays in contributing to the culture and bottom line of businesses. I’ve always been cognizant of who isn’t in the room, curious as to why that’s the case, and modelled my career around doing the work to change that. Considering I entered the industry through my recruitment expertise - and this industry is amazing - I’m keen to partner with businesses to implement people-focused strategies to help them ultimately reach their goals.

Annabelle Walters, global chief people officer, Jellyfish

The person who has really inspired me recently is Amina Folarin. She’s the UK CEO now of Oliver Agency, which is part of the Brandtech Group. And I remember when she first interviewed me - it’s about seven years ago now. In one of my first conversations, she gave me some really direct feedback. And it wouldn’t have happened anywhere else in my career, because she was another Black female.

She understood some of the challenges that I would be facing and what I would need to do to hold my own, but also make sure I was representing myself in the best possible way, because the space is different for Black females. We have to show up differently. It is what it is. And maybe our kids will see that change, but right now you just have to be aware of the environment that you’re in and move accordingly.

So for me, she always strove for excellence. It was non-negotiable. That has really driven that ambition for me.

Ibrahim Kamara, technical ad solutions engineer, GumGum

My mum is one of my greatest inspirations, coming in the ’90s from war-torn Sierra Leone to the UK. Seeing how hard she worked, navigating challenges with limited resources to provide, has taught me the importance of perseverance and self-belief.

Now, I make it a priority to build genuine connections and engage with like-minded individuals who share similar backgrounds. Fostering these relationships and contributing to a sense of community, I’ve been able to create opportunities, open doors that might otherwise have remained closed, and maximize the growth and impact of my career.

Also Published in: The Drum