.png)
🥂10 years Out The Box: Inspiring Greatness 🥂
July marked 10 years since I started Out The Box.
For 3 years prior, I’d been putting my journalism degree to good use by interviewing all the cool creatives and entrepreneurs I knew, and publishing their stories on my personal blog “Out The Box” (if you remember Blogspot I know you’re club 30+ lol).
In 2014, I decided to give Out The Box its own platform by creating an official magazine style website, and to launch it I teamed up with fellow creative and filmmaker Arthur Sempebwa to bring the concept to life by creating content to accompany some of the written interviews.
I remember being SHOOK to put it out into the world - I had no prior idea how to run or manage a website, or even where its path would lead and my gosh what a journey it’s been.
I interviewed so many cool creatives, founders, and professionals who were developing the things they wanted to see in the world, for us, by us - whether it be through film and theatre, hair and beauty, fashion developing new programmes in their workplace and more. Eventually, I opened up space for the OTB community to be contributors with think pieces and conduct their own interviews with the wider creative and entrepreneurial community. I knew I was truly onto something special.
Then came the events. I knew that online inspiration alone wasn't enough for our growing community, we needed space to gather, break bread and connect. Think back to 2015, when there weren't any commonly known spaces for Black creatives and entrepreneurs to connect in this way. I had no blueprint to follow, had no idea how to plan and execute an event - like where does one even begin? Well, I knew I had to call it OTB Live, and I knew that I wanted to have an event at Google Campus. So that's exactly what I did, and I figured out all of the other logistics as I went along.
Since then we:
Had five OTB Lives with space sponsored by Google Campus and Workspace Group.
Alongside Spiela, co-created Phenomenal Woman, an event series celebrating and showcasing the achievements of Black British Women.
Developed Behind the Box - a workshop series for creatives and entrepreneurs covering 11 industries, in partnership with Quaker Street Coffee.
Partnered with our family from across the pond, TSE Global, to bring Everybody Eats: London to the community. A week of conversation, insight and action focused on the intersections of Black Culture. This 5-day event series delved into Media and Entertainment, Tech, Advertising, and ended on a high with a networking mixer curated by Next Play events. Recruiters in attendance included Snapchat, Roku, AirBnbn Pinterest. The events took place across UsTwo, White City Place, Havas, Google for Startups, and London School of Economics.
Pivoted quickly during Covid-19 lockdowns to move our in-person events online. We equipped our community with the tools they needed to navigate furlough and make money online
Continued to make the most of the 'new normal' by partnering with Google Digital Garage to deliver numerous 'first-time' evening webinars on career building, personal branding, productivity, marketing and more. Through this, we were able to reach audiences in UK, India, USA, Lebanon, New Zealand, Indonesia, Greece and more.
Consulted on community engagement and partnered with M&C Saatchi Saturday School and Mentor Black Business to deliver mentoring and the basics of business to the wider Black Business Community. Our events included 'The Networker, flagship Saturday School Classes (Business Planning, Business Finance, Wellbeing at Work, Digital Marketing) Community Builder Summit and Ownership and Black Futures.
Started Black at Work (as an immediate response to the Black Lives Matter uprisings) - a safe space and training platform for Black professionals and allies. This has since become one of our biggest offerings and is truly changing the game for Black professionals globally.
Through these events, workshops and webinars and partner events we've been able to work with an estimated 5000+ people and counting. Opportunities have been given, relationships have been formed, businesses have been built and careers have been transformed.
Whew. What a journey So many ups, plenty of downs, a million mistakes, things I wish I did…but no regrets! OTB has changed my life, and the life of many creatives, founders and professionals globally. Glory be to God everytime.
There's still so much ground to break and our vision continues to ebb and flow with the times, but most importantly the community.
We're working on telling this story through our very own documentary - but we can't do it without you! if you've got a memory, testimonial or just some good things to say about Out The Box please share here.
Meanwhile, we’ve been celebrating with some memories since July, and highlighting those who have been a part of our journey so far, and will be for the rest of the year over on our Instagram page. Make sure you're following for updates.
Lastly, to stay in the loop of our upcoming events, partner events, opportunities and more - please sign up to our newsletter
Renee x
Comments