Akua Gyamfi Is Still Dreaming Bigger, 13 Years After Building A Global Creative Platform

On an episode of Woman with Lerny Lomotey, media executive and founder of the British Blacklist, Akua Gyamfi, opened up about her 13-year journey building a platform that has grown from a bold idea into a globally respected voice for Black creatives.

Reflecting on her journey, Akua was candid she has not yet achieved everything she set out to do. For her, the vision has always been bigger than the resources available.

 “I dream big,” she admitted, highlighting the constant challenge of matching ambitious ideas with limited means. Yet, what stands out most is not what she hasn’t achieved, but what she has sustained: persistence, resilience and an unwavering commitment to purpose.

At the heart of her pride is the community that the British Blacklist has built. From established industry figures to rising creatives, the platform has become a space of validation and visibility. 

“Even when people complain that they haven’t been featured, I welcome it,” she shared. “It means it matters.” That sense of relevance, respect, and reliance from the creative community is what she considers her greatest achievement.

Over the years, the British Blacklist has expanded far beyond the UK, evolving into a global platform that connects Black creatives across continents. Through interviews, features and initiatives like Blacklisted Conversations, Akua has facilitated meaningful, peer-to-peer exchanges about craft and storytelling. These conversations go beyond surface-level fame, offering insight into the process, discipline and realities of creative work.

Her reach is evident in the calibre of creatives she has engaged with, including Idris Elba, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Damson Idris, Viola Davis, Jordan Peele, Lupita Nyong’o, Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan. But beyond the star power, she finds equal, if not greater, fulfilment in spotlighting emerging talents those who credit the platform for giving them their first visibility and helping shape their careers.

Central to Akua’s mission is a deep commitment to empowering Black creatives to understand and master their craft. She emphasized the importance of learning the system before attempting to challenge it. “Know the rules before you break them,” she said, stressing that authentic storytelling requires both skill and awareness. For her, the real battle lies in reclaiming narrative control in industries where Black stories have often been filtered or dictated by external gatekeepers.

This passion for knowledge-sharing has also shaped her work beyond the platform. From script consultancy, where she has helped creatives refine their storytelling to her time at the BBC Writers’ Room, Akua has consistently positioned herself as both a curator and a guide within the creative space.

Her latest initiative, Creatives Pause, reflects this ethos. Designed as a collaborative retreat for filmmakers, the program brings together creatives from Ghana and the diaspora to reflect, reset, and refine their projects. 

Through workshops, screenings, and mentorship sessions, participants are given the tools to better understand their work and navigate the industry. It also serves as a bridge connecting local Ghanaian creatives with global perspectives, while fostering collaboration and shared growth.

Importantly, she challenges the idea that success or purpose is tied to age. Her own journey, launching the British Blacklist later in life, leaving a stable role at the BBC and building a business as a single mother serves as proof that it is never too late to pursue a dream. For Akua, mentorship and empowerment are not limited to the youth; they extend to anyone willing to commit to their passion and put in the work.

Her advice to aspiring creatives is both simple and profound: read, watch, research and learn. In a world where information is increasingly accessible, she believes there are fewer excuses for not developing one’s craft. Whether through formal education or self-driven learning, the responsibility lies with the individual to grow, refine and execute their vision.

Thirteen years in, Akua Gyamfi’s journey is far from complete. If anything, it is still unfolding driven by bigger dreams, deeper purpose and an unshakable belief in the power of Black storytelling to shape the world.