A Q&A with Professor Erinma Bell

Fri 03 Oct

Ahead of her visit to HOME on Monday 6 October, we caught up with Professor Erinma Bell to find out more about her panel discussion with Professor Ngozi Edi-Osagie and Dr Cordelle Ofori, a taste of the advice and honesty at the heart of it, and what she hopes the outcomes of 'An Evening with Erinma Bell' will be. 

We're delighted to welcome you to HOME for 'An Evening with Erinma Bell'. Can you tell us a little about what you and your fellow panellists will be discussing? 

I'm really looking forward to this conversation. Together with Prof Ngozi and Dr Cordelle, we'll be exploring leadership through the lens of our lived experiences as Black women in the UK. It's not just about professional titles, but about resilience, representation, and the ways in which we navigate and shape the communities we're part of. Expect honesty, humour, and hopefully some inspiration too. 

How did you meet Dr Ngozi and Dr Cordelle, and what makes them a perfect fit for this discussion? 

I met both of these phenomenal women through different walks of life, but what unites us is a shared commitment to service and leadership in our communities. Ngozi has been a trailblazer in medicine, and Cordelle is an outstanding clinical leader - both bringing immense experience, integrity and heart. They are perfect for this panel because they don't just talk about leadership, they live it every single day. 

With the theme of leadership at the heart of this conversation, can you elaborate on your own experiences setting up community initiatives and projects, such as the pioneering CARISMA? 

When we set up CARISMA in 2003, it was out of necessity. Gun and gang violence was deveasting our community (Moss Side), and we knew that if change was going to happen, it had to come from within. CARISMA became a platform for young people and families to find alternatives, to see hope, and to feel supported. That work taught me that leadership isn't about titles - it's about stepping up when something needs to be done, and bringing others with you on the journey. 

Without giving away too many stories you might be sharing on the night, can you share a piece of valuable (and not-so-valuable!) advice you have received in your life and work? 

One piece of advice that has stayed with me is: "Never underestimate the ripple effect of small acts." Sometimes it's the quiet conversations, the listening ear, or the encouragement of just one young person that makes the biggest impact. 

As for not-so-valuable? Someone once told me to "tone it down" - and I'm so glad I didn't! If anything, I've learned that we need to bring our full selves into every space. 

What are you hoping for from the evening?

My hope is that people leave feeling uplifted and encouraged - that they see themselves in our stories, and that they believe leadership isn't out of reach or reserved for a chosen few. It belongs to all of us. And above all, I hope the evening sparks new conversations, new connections, and new possibilities. 

Thank you, Erinma.

'An Evening with Erinma Bell' takes place on Monday 6 October 2025, 19:45.