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Keynote
Speaker

Nyambe (Yam) Sumbwanyambe

Step into your power. Spark lasting change. Lead with purpose.

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Hi, I’m Yam. With nearly 20 years in the life sciences sectors, including leading roles at MSD and Merck, I’ve honed a deep expertise in driving commercial excellence, strategic initiatives, and business growth. My focus is on empowering leaders to create sustainable change and build high-performing teams in complex global environments.

At MSD, I supported the launch of our biggest brands and played a key role in the UK strategy office, delivering impactful initiatives that drove both business results and operational efficiency. This experience has shaped my belief that true growth happens when organisations align their leadership, strategy, and talent development efforts.

One of my superpowers is creating psychological safety… building spaces where people feel truly seen and heard. I have a unique ability to put people at ease, agitating just enough for them to step outside their comfort zones, speak their truth, and take meaningful action. This is at the core of my approach when helping leaders and organisations navigate change and unlock potential.

In 2025, I launched The Black Sherpa to support under-represented talent in thriving within competitive industries. My work focuses on unlocking the potential of individuals and helping leaders foster inclusive, high-performing teams that deliver measurable success. I work with organisations to implement strategies that bridge talent gaps, optimise performance, and drive long-term growth.

Outside of work, I live in East Yorkshire with my wife, Victoria, and our children, Theo and Isabelle, alongside Dexter, our German Shorthaired Pointer. Outside of work, you’ll find me training to keep in shape, enjoying great food, travelling, and spending quality time with friends.

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Nyambe (Yam) Sumbwanyambe

Founder of The Black Sherpa | Strategic Consultant & Leadership Coach

Inclusive Leadership Strategist & Culture Transformation Expert

Powerful 60 minute keynotes with tailored messaging and and Q&A to motivate and inspire:

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After Dinner Speaking

Bespoke Events

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Keynote Speaking

Motivational Speaking

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Public
Appearances

Virtual
Events

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Thriving Without Compromise
A New Blueprint for Career Growth for Under-Represented Professionals

This empowering keynote is designed for under-represented professionals navigating workplaces not built for them. Drawing from Yam’s own experience as a high-performing leader, this talk explores the emotional, cultural, and systemic barriers that hold diverse talent back… and how to overcome them with clarity, courage, and authenticity. No more code-switching. No more compromising who you are to succeed.

Learning Objectives:

  • Discover a new approach to career progression rooted in authenticity

  • Identify and release patterns of over-assimilation and burnout

  • Build visibility, influence, and impact without conforming to outdated norms

  • Learn strategies for navigating bias and advancing with confidence

  • Reclaim your narrative and lead from a place of power and purpose

Perfect for:
Employee resource groups (ERGs), high-potential talent programmes, early- and mid-career professionals, graduate programmes, and DEI-focused events looking to empower diverse talent.

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Redefining Merit
The Social Mobility Wake-Up Call for Today’s Business Leaders

This provocative keynote challenges the myth of meritocracy in modern workplaces. Yam unpacks the often-ignored realities of social mobility… from cultural displacement to the emotional tax of being the “only one in the room.” Through data, personal narrative, and leadership insights, he equips senior stakeholders to rethink how talent is assessed, developed, and progressed.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand why traditional ideas of “merit” often exclude diverse talent

  • Recognise the structural and psychological barriers to social mobility

  • Learn how to assess potential beyond credentials and cultural conformity

  • Equip leaders with tools to build equitable talent systems and development pathways

  • Shift from pipeline-based DEI thinking to long-term cultural transformation

Perfect for:
Executive teams, HR and talent leaders, DEI professionals, senior managers, policymakers, and leadership development forums focused on equity and social mobility.

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Loved, Lifted, Led
What Fatherhood Taught Me About Inclusive Leadership

In this heartfelt and human keynote, Yam shares how becoming a father to mixed-race children reshaped his view of leadership, inclusion, and identity. Blending vulnerability with insight, this talk invites leaders to move beyond performative inclusion and lead with empathy, presence, and purpose. It’s a refreshing and timely reminder that great leadership begins with being deeply human.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explore how personal transformation shapes inclusive leadership

  • Identify blind spots and unconscious bias through the lens of parenthood

  • Understand the link between belonging, psychological safety, and team performance

  • Learn how to lead with empathy without compromising accountability

  • Build inclusive cultures rooted in trust, care, and lived experience

Perfect for:
Executive leaders, male allies, people managers, leadership development programmes, inclusion summits, and organisations seeking to humanise DEI through storytelling.

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Change doesn’t start with everyone.
It starts with someone.

If you’re interested in booking a speech or keynote, please use the form below to share a few details about your event.

Speaking Highlights

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