Black History Month: Leading with Power and Pride

Reflecting on this year's Black History Month theme of Standing Firm in Power and Pride, Tee Bello discusses how she has been inspired by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and lessons from the Warwick MBA journey.

When I think about a leader who embodies Power, I immediately think of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. Beyond her historic appointment as the first African and first woman to hold the role, what inspires me most is the quiet yet unwavering strength with which she leads. Her leadership is not loud; it is grounded in data, diplomacy, and deep conviction. She navigates spaces that were never designed with people like her in mind, yet she stands tall, firm in her intellect, heritage, and identity. For me, she represents the type of power that transcends titles; the kind that is earned through competence, authenticity, and courage.

That same ethos has shaped my journey through the Full-time MBA at Warwick Business School. Coming into such a diverse, high-achieving environment was both inspiring and challenging. I learned quickly that standing firm in my identity meant more than representation, it meant showing up fully as myself even in rooms where I might be the only one who looks or sounds like me. My time as President of the Black in Business Club deepened this realisation. Leading that community required balancing advocacy with diplomacy, and passion with purpose. It meant amplifying voices while ensuring that conversations about diversity translated into tangible action.

I remember a conversation with a fellow MBA where I was encouraged to “tone down” the cultural framing of my points to make them more “inclusive.” It wasn’t said maliciously, just from a place of trying to make everyone comfortable. But that exchange stayed with me. Instead of softening my message, I chose to reframe it and highlight that inclusion without authenticity is performative. That moment reminded me that power is not just about influence; it’s about integrity.

The MBA journey has taught me that Pride is not arrogance, it is the audacity to take up space with grace. It is knowing that my perspective, shaped by my heritage and lived experience, brings value to global conversations. As I continue to build a career in business and leadership, I carry that duality of Power and Pride with me, not as armour, but as grounding.

Because standing firm is not about resisting change; it’s about being rooted enough to withstand it.