Ama Ocansey is multi-award-winning DEI executive and finance lawyer, whose career has spanned both private practice and in-house.
Ama successful legal career, began at the Magic Circle law firm Linklaters LLP, where she practised in their London and Tokyo offices. She then joined the Legal and Transaction Management at BNP Paribas, a leading investment bank, and helped build their emerging markets platform through structuring and working on high profile capital markets and cross border transactions.
Ama is currently the Head of Diversity & inclusion, and provides thought leadership, visionary guidance and strategic direction. She is dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace, by helping employees from all backgrounds, progress, feel a sense of belonging and a shared purpose in the organisation. Ama’s role is multi-faceted and serves as a non-executive director on the bank’s financial subsidiaries.
Throughout her career, Ama has experienced the highs and challenges of being a Black female professional and has been keen to assist others from underrepresented groups access quality support and opportunities. She has spearheaded diversity and inclusion efforts, establishing a women’s career development programme focusing on intersectional women, introducing her organisations first race and ethnicity strategy involving training, data analysis and setting targets.
Am actively mentors and coaches aspiring junior lawyers and executives and has participated in Business in the Community Cross-Mentoring Circles. Through volunteering for the Financial Inclusion Forum, she has supported the financial and digitally excluded. Ama is a though leader and public speaker on matters relating to Environmental Social and Governance, talent, skills, technology and innovation.
Ama has been shortlisted for many awards, and been recognised as Brummell Magazine’s 30 Ones to Watch (2017), Head of Diversity of the Year at the European Diversity Awards, Diversity Lead of the Year at the Women in Finance Awards, One of the Most Influential DEI Leaders in HIVE Learning Top Influential Leaders in EMEA and the Stretch Awards 2024 Career Masterclass Industry Leaders.
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