DR BARBARA BANDA

Expertise at the Intersection of Leadership and Culture Change

A woman with short hair, smiling, dressed in a sleeveless white and black dress, standing with arms crossed against a pink background.

I am Dr. Barbara Banda – an educator, speaker, executive coach, and author. For over two decades, I've had the privilege of partnering with global organisations and their leaders to navigate the complexities of organisational change and unlock profound human potential. My journey, deeply rooted in both extensive academic rigour and practical industry experience, has led me to a singular belief: true transformation flourishes through insightful conversations and a commitment to people-driven solutions.

Connecting Knowledge to Impact

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I believe in our innate power to cultivate change through self-awareness, understanding, and knowledge. I champion the magic of effective dialogue to help us make more empathetic, inclusive, and impactful decisions. My work is informed by a blend of complexity theory, gestalt, and more traditional approaches, ensuring a comprehensive and adaptable methodology. I am passionate about ensuring that my work has a direct and lasting impact on both individuals and organisations. Informed by my studies at the University of Oxford, I champion the crucial link between management education and practical workplace application, breathing life into academic theory in refreshing and entertaining ways. This means every intervention, every strategy, and every conversation is designed to yield tangible, sustainable results within your unique organisational context.

A Foundation of Expertise

My professional journey spans over 25 years in executive development and consulting. Prior to this, I held senior sales and marketing positions with Fisons Pharmaceuticals, Boots the Chemist, and BASF Pharma, working across Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. This dynamic career, spanning industry, consulting, and education, provides me with a unique dual perspective, allowing me to understand both the strategic imperatives of business and the intricate human dynamics within an organisation.

My academic foundation includes:

  • D.Phil. Management Education - University of Oxford

  • MSc. Organisational Change - Ashridge Business School

  • MSc. Training and Performance Management - University of Leicester

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Business and Personal Coaching - University of Chester

  • MBA - Loughborough University

  • B.A. German & Russian - University of Leeds

  • AstraZeneca logo featuring the company name in purple and an abstract orange symbol.
  • Merck logo in blue lettering.
  • Fresenius Kabi logo with three blue wavy lines and blue text
  • GSK logo with orange shield and white text
  • Continental logo with a horse silhouette
  • Univar Solutions logo with the tagline 'Innovate. Grow. Together.'
  • Schroders logo in blue text
  • Jaguar Land Rover
  • Deloitte
  • NHS
  • Steris
Close-up of a Black person's face with a split, revealing textured skin and other facial features, on the cover of a book titled 'The Model Black' by Barbara Banda, discussing Black British leaders.

Thought Leadership & Impact

I have a particular interest in the strategies that Global Majority leaders use to navigate their workplaces. This passion led me to author The Model Black: How black leaders succeed in organisations and why it Matters. My book has been hailed by the Financial Times as “a timely exploration of race in the workplace” and was shortlisted for the 2023 Business Book Awards. My current focus includes supporting organisations in the practical implementation of their equity strategies in ways that consider the needs of Global Majority workers, and preparing Global Majority leaders to take on more senior roles through specific executive education initiatives.

  • Desray Shuck, Head of Technical Learning, Anglo American

    “Highly recommend Barbara for her ability to sense what’s needed in the moment in the class, consummate professional.”

Ready to Begin Your Transformation?

Whether you are looking to enhance leadership capabilities, navigate complex organisational change, or build a more inclusive culture, Dr. Barbara Banda and her team are here to partner with you. Let's start a conversation that leads to lasting impact