BYP Leadership Conference & Careers Festival 2026
About this Event
This September, BYP Network turns 10.
Ten years of connecting Black professionals to opportunity. Ten years of building a network that has changed careers, opened doors and proved what this community is capable of. And this year, we are marking it the only way that makes sense by bringing everyone together for the 8th edition of the Leadership Conference and Careers Fest.
The theme is Rest, Review, Reset. After a decade of building, growing and pushing forward, this is the year to pause, take stock of how far we have come, and make bold, intentional decisions about the next chapter. For BYP. And for every professional in the room.
Whether you are just starting out or leading at the highest level, this is the day you will want to say you were at.
Two separate events. One venue. One landmark day.
"It was such a brilliant event, really well put together and impactful. I am proud to have been a part of it." — Atinuke Awe, Speaker 2025
"The only networking event I have been to that I enjoyed and felt empowered, like I truly got value from the space." — Georgiana, Attendee 2025
Event Details:
- Date: Thursday, 17th September 2026
- Time: 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Venue: Cumberland Hotel, London
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Thursday, 17 September 2026 | From 12:00 PM Tickets from £150 + VAT
For mid-to-senior professionals, executives, founders and leaders.
Ten years in, the conversations at the BYP Leadership Conference have never been more important or more senior.
This year's conference is pitched squarely at professionals who are past the fundamentals and ready for something sharper. Not motivational soundbites. Not surface-level panels. Sessions built for leaders already operating at a high level who want thinking that genuinely challenges them on building wealth beyond their salary, on leading through AI-driven change, on making bold decisions about the next decade of their career rather than just the next role.
The 2026 programme includes:
- High-profile opening fireside chat on turning setbacks into strategic advantage
- Expert panels on building lasting wealth and influence and on the future of leadership in an AI world
- Presentations with interactive Q&A on the franchise route and the intrapreneur advantage, and
- Closing address on reinventing your career for the decade ahead.
Every session is curated for professionals who have earned the right to ask bigger questions. The room will reflect that.
"I enjoyed the leadership panels. The diverse professional background of all the speakers catered to both employees and entrepreneurs." — Attendee 2025
"Did not expect to feel so seen in the first 30 minutes but here we are. Tom's story hit different. Genuinely left feeling like my setbacks were actually setting me up." - Attendee 2025
"The content and speakers were excellent and appropriate. Much more mature audience. Great calibre of attendees which matched the type of jobs we have." — RX Global, Partner 2025
"The speakers on the Founder's panel kept it real. No fluff. Just the truth about what building actually looks like. Refreshing honestly." - Attendee 2025
Secure your place now. Limited Spots Available this Year.
In addition to the sessions we have:
- Networking lunch + refreshments round the clock
- Complimentary professional headshot
- Access to the expo hall for sponsors/corporate interaction
- Speaker and Attendee Meet and Greet
For group or corporate ticket enquiries, email [email protected] Watch the 2025 Leadership Conference sessions and gallery at byp.network
Watch the 2025 Highlight Video.
CAREERS FEST
Thursday, 17 September 2026 | From 12:00 PM Tickets from £25
For early-to-mid career professionals, recent graduates and career pivoters.
The BYP Careers Fest is for professionals who are done waiting and ready to move and at £25, there is no reason not to be in the room.
This is not a careers fair and it is not a day of vague inspiration. Every session is built around something specific you can take away and act on whether that is a stronger CV, a clearer sense of where you want to go, or a conversation with a recruiter that opens a door applying online never would.
Here is what the day covers:
Partner Sessions Get a real inside look at how leading organisations work, what they value and what they are actually looking for when they hire. These are not generic company presentations they are honest conversations about culture, opportunity and how to get in.
Career Lab: CVs, LinkedIn and Social Media for Jobs to understand exactly how to present yourself on paper and online in 2027. What hiring managers look for, what makes a CV get read and what your LinkedIn profile is doing for you or against you.
Career Progression Panel Real recruiters and professionals from leading companies share their own career journeys — the pivots, the setbacks, the decisions that changed everything. Hear what progression actually looks like from the inside and what it took to get there.
AI and Career Anxiety: The Future of Work An honest session on what AI is changing in the job market, what skills matter now and how to stop worrying about the future and start preparing for it.
Career Communication Lab: Speak with Confidence A practical, interactive session on how to communicate your value clearly and confidently in interviews, in the workplace and beyond. Not theory. Live practice.
Throughout the day the Expo Hall puts you in the same space as companies that are actively hiring. Browse opportunities, make connections and have the kind of conversations that do not happen through a job application portal.
"I enjoyed hearing about professionals who had pivoted from one industry to another the challenges they faced and how it shaped them today." — Liliana, Attendee 2025
"Some of the applications we received for our graduate programme came from the BYP Careers Fest. These individuals said they spoke to us there — hence they applied." — BSI, Partner 2025
"The diversity in the talent was outstanding. It was an event that truly aligned to our organisation's values." — Macmillan Cancer Support, Partner 2025
Grab your ticket now. Places are limited.
Please note this ticket does not include access to the Leadership Conference.
For group or corporate ticket enquiries, [email protected]
IS THIS FOR YOU?
Whether you are just starting out or leading at the top of your field, there is a place for you here.
Early career and graduate You are looking for your first role or trying to break into a competitive sector. The Careers Fest gives you direct access to companies hiring now, sessions covering the Career Lab, Career Communication Lab and Career Progression Panel, and conversations with people who have been exactly where you are.
Mid-level professional You have experience behind you and want to move faster, communicate your value better and get in front of the right opportunities. Both events offer something depending on where you want to focus.
Senior professional and leader You are operating at a high level and want thinking that genuinely challenges you. The Leadership Conference is built for this stage — wealth, legacy, AI and what your next decade looks like.
Founder and entrepreneur You are building something and want to be in a room with people who understand what that takes. The Leadership Conference brings together founders, executives and leaders who are doing the same.
Career pivoter You know you want something different but are not sure where to start. The Careers Fest gives you direct access to professionals who have made the pivot and employers who are open to it including companies you may not have considered.
Agenda
🕑: 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Registration
🕑: 11:00 AM - 07:00 PM
Exhibition/Expo
🕑: 01:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Careers Fest & Leadership Conference Sessions
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 25.00 to GBP 150.00
