She’s not waiting for permission.

Flavilla Fongang went from the ghettos of Paris to building Black Rise—one of the UK’s boldest tech tribes. She’s mixing identity, data, and storytelling to scale Black power through business.

In this episode:

-Why storytelling beats pitching in tech
-How she turned oil & gas into a launchpad
-Her strategy for building community-first platforms
-Why AI is non-negotiable for Black excellence
-The real ROI of diverse ecosystems

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro — Paris to Power
01:42 Childhood in the Paris ghettos
03:55 Moving to London & early struggles
06:18 From oil & gas to fashion to tech
09:44 Founding 3 Colours Rule
12:30 How storytelling became her weapon
15:02 Why she built GTA Black Women in Tech
17:50 Launching Black Rise — the AI-powered tribe
21:33 Scaling community and credibility
25:01 Diversity with data, not feelings
28:40 What leadership looks like in 2025
31:09 Her advice to future founders
34:00 Closing thoughts + how to connect

About Flavilla Fongang:
Multi-award-winning entrepreneur. Founder of 3 Colours Rule, GTA Black Women in Tech, and now Black Rise. Former oil & gas exec turned tech community builder. UN Brand Partner. Named UK’s Most Influential Woman in Tech (Computer Weekly), Global Top 100 MIPAD Innovator, and Entrepreneur of the Year (BTA 2023). She also serves as an entrepreneurship expert at Oxford University Saïd Business School.

Watch this if you lead with identity and build with vision.

—

Follow Flavilla Fongang:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flavillafongang
Twitter (X): https://x.com/FlavillaFongang
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flavillafongang
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flavillaf
Website: https://www.flavillafongang.com
Black Rise: https://www.theblackrise.com
GTA Black Women in Tech: https://theblackwomenintech.com
3 Colours Rule: https://www.3coloursrule.com

#blackfounder #techstorytelling #communitytech

Disruption Now: Disrupting the status quo, making emerging tech human-centric and Accessible to all.

Website https://disruptionnow.com/
Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com

Music: Powerful Beat - Oleksandr Stepanov

She was told she wasn't tall enough, thin enough, pretty enough.
Now she’s rewriting the rules of beauty for everyone else.

In this episode 183 of the Disruption Now Podcast, Sian Bitner-Kearney, founder of Rock Your Beauty, reveals how perfectionism, filters, and social media lies damage self-worth—and what it takes to break free. Her nonprofit is helping women embrace their authentic selves, one fashion show and workshop at a time.

🎙 Learn how Rock Your Beauty evolved from a charity event into a bold movement helping women and girls reclaim confidence, self-love, and sanity in the algorithm age.

💬 If you've ever doubted your worth, this conversation is for you.

🔗 Follow Sian & Rock Your Beauty:

Website: https://www.rockyourbeauty.org
Instagram (Sian): https://www.instagram.com/sianbk
Instagram (Rock Your Beauty): https://www.instagram.com/rockyourbeauty_cincinnati
Podcast: https://www.rockyourbeauty.org (see "Podcast" tab)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Rock-Your-Beauty/61559182740239
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sianbitner
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/sianbk

👁️‍🗨️ If you're building confidence, battling self-doubt, or raising strong girls, watch this.
#realbeauty #womensconfidence #mentalhealth

Disruption Now: Disrupting the status quo, making emerging tech human-centric and Accessible to all.

Website https://disruptionnow.com/
Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com

Laid off or lost in the noise? You’re not alone.

Episode 182: Nicole Dunbar—Cornell-trained strategist and viral LinkedIn voice—joins Disruption Now to dissect the “white collar recession.” From AI displacement to hiring freezes, she breaks down how even top-tier pros are invisible in today’s job market. Learn:

6 proven job search strategies (only 1 involves job boards)

-Why resumes alone fail—and what recruiters actually trust
-The mindset shift every mid-career pro must make now
-How to “network” without small talk or selling out
-The emotional trap that sabotages high performers
-The hiring game changed. Here’s how to stay in it.

🎧 Listen, subscribe, and rewire your search.

#jobsearchstrategy #futureofwork #whitecollarrecession

Disruption Now: Disrupting the status quo, making emerging tech human-centric and Accessible to all.

Website https://disruptionnow.com/
Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com