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Mavis Amankwah BEM – The Funding Lady

Entrepreneur | Diversity Strategist | Award-Winning CEO

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Mavis Amankwah

Multi-award-winning entrepreneur

About Mavis

Mavis Amankwah is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, diversity strategist, and funding specialist. Recognised in PRWeek’s Power Book for six years and featured in 300+ media outlets, she has spent 20+ years helping businesses access millions in funding, scale sustainably, and grow with confidence.

Read Her Full Story

Diversity Strategist

I partner with agencies to make diversity and inclusion a strategic advantage, not an afterthought. From inclusive audits to campaign design, I help you deliver, reach and engage with diverse audiences, safeguards client reputations, and drives measurable results. With 20+ years leading campaigns for brands like Digital UK, HMRC, NHS, HSBC, and ASDA, I know how to help agencies pitch, win, and deliver inclusive work that clients trust and communities value.

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The Funding Lady

I help ambitious leaders and organisations unlock the money they need to scale. From grants and tenders to income systems and investment readiness, I turn complex funding landscapes into clear, actionable strategies. With £18.5m already raised for 800+ businesses, charities, and social enterprises, I know how to position you to win ,so your next £100k, £250k, or £1m+ is not just possible, it’s within reach.

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Inspiring Audiences Around the World

Mavis is an internationally renowned speaker known for her warmth and engaging style. She has spoken across the UK, USA, Ghana, South Africa, Dubai, and Europe — sharing platforms with Richard Branson, Lord Alan Sugar, Levi Roots, and more.

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The Funding Lady™ Services

Unlocking Millions for Businesses, Charities & Leaders

As The Funding Lady™, I help ambitious leaders, entrepreneurs, charities, CICs, and social enterprises access the money they need to grow. Over the last two decades, I’ve helped over 800 organisations secure £18.5 million+ in funding through grants, tenders, and contracts. Whether you’re looking for £5k to get started or £1m+ to scale, I know the pathways that work. 

  • 1. Get Funded I’ll help you identify, apply for, and win grants, tenders, and contracts worth anywhere from £5,000 to £1 million+. My expertise takes the guesswork out of funding and increases your chances of success.
  • 2. Build Income Funding is just one piece of the puzzle. I’ll help you develop new services, products, and recurring revenue streams so your business or organisation isn’t solely reliant on grants.
  • 3. Grow Cashflow Through smart planning, financial systems, and sustainable growth strategies, I’ll show you how to keep cashflow strong and consistent — even during uncertain times.
  • 4. Protect & Legacy It’s not just about today — it’s about tomorrow. I provide strategies to protect your wealth, safeguard your organisation, and build generational legacy.
  • 5. Be Seen & Validated Visibility is as powerful as money. I’ll help you raise your profile through PR, branding, and media exposure, ensuring funders, partners, and clients see you as the leader you are.

Proof of Impact

  • Supported 800+ businesses, charities & CICs with £18.5m raised.
  • Built income streams that turned start-ups into six-figure enterprises.

Your next £100k, £250k, or £1m in funding could start here.

Book a Funding Strategy Call

Diversity Strategy Services for Agencies

Embedding Inclusion. Driving Innovation. Building Legacy.

Diversity isn’t a buzzword — it’s a business advantage. As a Diversity Strategist with over 20 years’ experience, I help corporates, government bodies, and organisations of all sizes build strategies that are not only inclusive, but effective. My work has been trusted at a national level, from leading the Digital UK switchover campaign that reached 1.5m households, to designing inclusive communications for HMRC, NHS, and HSBC.

  • 1. Inclusive Business Audits & Communications Training I’ll review your organisation’s policies, communications, and campaigns — spotting gaps and providing tailored training that ensures inclusivity is at the core of your business.
  • 2. Lunch and Learn Programmes I create and deliver culturally intelligent leadership programmes that equip your senior teams to lead inclusively, inspire change, and drive innovation through lunch and learns.
  • 3. Community Engagement & Outreach Strategies I help organisations connect authentically with underrepresented groups, ensuring outreach is trust-driven, culturally sensitive, and impactful.
  • 4. Equity & Inclusion Advisory (Corporate & Public Sector) From the boardroom to policy level, I provide strategic advisory services to corporates, government departments, and NGOs who are serious about embedding equity into their DNA.

Proof of Impact

  • Digital UK Campaign → Reached 1.5m ethnic minority households.
  • Designed inclusive campaigns for HMRC, Home Office, NHS, HSBC, ASDA, and Comic Relief.
  • Recognised in PRWeek’s Power Book (2009–2015) as one of the UK’s most influential PR leader

Ready to future-proof your organisation with equity and inclusion? 

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My Promise

From Canning Town to Canary Wharf, from IT technician to BEM-honoured entrepreneur, my journey has never been about survival — it’s been about scaling ambition, building inclusion, and creating legacy.

And now, I dedicate my life’s work to helping ambitious leaders like you secure funding, elevate visibility, and grow with confidence.

The Full Story of Mavis Amankwah BEM

I was born on 28 August 1974 in Canning Town, East London, into a vibrant Ghanaian family. From a young age, I absorbed two powerful lessons: the discipline of hard work and the belief that no dream is too bold. Growing up in one of London’s most diverse and energetic boroughs gave me a unique perspective I saw the richness of culture, the resilience of communities, and the untapped potential waiting to be unleashed.
I wasn’t chasing survival. I was chasing impact. I always knew I wanted to lead, to innovate, and to create opportunities not only for myself but for others who deserved to shine.

After leaving St Angela’s Ursuline Secondary School with GCSEs, I pursued a diploma in IT and later completed a BA (Hons) in Marketing and Communications at Middlesex University. My first career chapter began in technology, working as an IT technician and later ICT manager for organisations such as UK Export Finance, the Child Support Agency, City & Hackney NHS Trust, and Sleek Hair & Beauty.
But I had a bigger vision. I recognised that businesses, charities, and government bodies were struggling to connect authentically with diverse communities. I knew I could be the bridge.
So in 2002, I left IT behind and co-founded Rich Visions Diversity, the UK’s first agency dedicated to ethnic communications.

Through Rich Visions, I led groundbreaking campaigns for major organisations including the Home Office, HMRC, NHS, HSBC, ASDA, Comic Relief, Defra, Metropolitan Police, and MoneyGram.
We didn’t just deliver marketing. We delivered representation. We created campaigns that made people feel seen, heard, and valued.

The pinnacle came in 2011, when Rich Visions won a £1 million Digital UK contract to lead the digital switchover campaign for ethnic minority households. Our work reached 1.5 million homes ensuring no community was left behind during one of the UK’s biggest public transitions.
This campaign was more than a project. It was a national milestone, and it cemented my reputation as a trusted strategist at the highest levels.
Between 2009 and 2015, I was listed in PRWeek’s Power Book for six consecutive years, placing me in the top 1% of UK communications professionals.

I didn’t stop at one success. My entrepreneurial spirit led me to create multiple ventures, each with its own unique mission:

  • Marvel Business Group (MBG) Specialising in business recovery, growth, and funding consultancy. Today, MBG supports 300+ clients and has helped organisations access £18.5million+ in funding in the past five years alone.
  • Marvel Recruit – A recruitment firm matching businesses with diverse, skilled talent.
  • Creatively Made Consultancy – Personalised business  strategy for leaders ready to scale.

Across these ventures, I’ve supported over 800 organisations, secured £18.5 million+ in funding, and created 300+ jobs over two decades.
During the pandemic, when many businesses faced collapse, I stepped in with free digital marketing and business support to help them pivot online. That generosity earned me a new title from clients: “Business Coach Mavis.”

I have always believed that women and Black entrepreneurs deserve platforms that don’t just acknowledge them — but celebrate them.

  • In the early 2000s, I launched Diva Visions, hosting networking events that gave women confidence, visibility, and a seat at the table.
  • In 2016, I founded the Women Like Me™ Business Club, which has since evolved into an international movement empowering women 440+ to glow up, grow income, and build legacy.
  • In 2016 and 2018, I launched the Be Mogul Awards sponsored by NatWest and RBS, recognising the UK’s most influential Black entrepreneurs.

Through these platforms, I’ve celebrated and empowered 1,000+ women and Black business leaders, proving that recognition fuels confidence and confidence fuels growth.

My influence has reached far beyond the UK.

I’ve spoken at international events in the USA, Ghana, South Africa, Dubai, Romania, Germany, and Tunisia. I’ve shared stages with icons such as Richard Branson, Lord Alan Sugar, and Levi Roots, and I’ve even crossed paths with Stedman Graham, Oprah Winfrey’s partner.
In 2020,  I went to Dubai and trained 40 executives at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in digital leadership, showing that my methods resonate globally.
With over 300 media features, I’ve been profiled by Forbes, The Guardian, Telegraph, Mirror, BBC, Channel 4, and Black Enterprise.

Over the course of my career, I’ve received 16 awards celebrating entrepreneurship, diversity, PR, and leadership.
In 2022, I was appointed a UN Goodwill Ambassador.
In 2023, I was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King’s New Year Honours for services to business and community.
These honours are not just for me — they represent every business I’ve helped, every woman I’ve mentored, and every community I’ve uplifted.

My influence has reached far beyond the UK.

I’ve spoken at international events in the USA, Ghana, South Africa, Dubai, Romania, Germany, and Tunisia. I’ve shared stages with icons such as Richard Branson, Lord Alan Sugar, and Levi Roots, and I’ve even crossed paths with Stedman Graham, Oprah Winfrey’s partner.
In 2020,  I went to Dubai and trained 40 executives at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in digital leadership, showing that my methods resonate globally.

With over 300 media features, I’ve been profiled by Forbes, The Guardian, Telegraph, Mirror, BBC, Channel 4, and Black Enterprise.

Today, I continue to lead  and manage ventures that shape industries and empower lives:

  •      Diversity Reach AI – Harnessing artificial intelligence to power inclusive growth.
  •      Target Funding – Helping organisations secure six- and seven-figure grants and contracts.
  •      Women Like Me Awards™ – Celebrating women who embody reinvention, confidence, and presence.
  •      Be Mogul Awards™ – Honouring Black entrepreneurs who are changing the UK economy.

My vision for the future is bold: scaling the Pardna Power Fund™ to £1m by 2026, launching Grow & Glow™ retreats for women leaders, and expanding my awards platforms globally.

Let’s work together

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Email Us

business@mavisamankwah.com

Call Us

0203 633 0513
07949 441284

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