“Choose to be visible, choose to be known – find mentors, find sponsors, and make sure the decision makers at all levels know who you are.” ~ Dee Poku, Founder and CEO of WIE
Summary: Dee Poku is the Founder and CEO of WIE, an influential women’s leadership network. WIE connects emerging and established women leaders, and works to equip the next generation with the tools to succeed. A former Hollywood studio executive, Dee’s background includes senior marketing roles at Paramount Pictures and Focus Features (a division of Universal Pictures). Dee was named a CUP Catalyst Changemaker and one of TRUE Africa’s 100 Top Innovators. She is often asked to speak on women’s leadership issues at conferences and events around the world, and has shared her insights at the UN, the Black Girls Rock Summit, the Women’s Urban Economic Forum; CUP Women’s Leadership Forum; the Acumen Fund’s New Leadership For Tomorrow; Influencer Con, Women Werk, BAFTA and Her Agenda amongst others.
Nationality: Ghanian
Industry: Humanities & Marketing
Q: Through your WIE network, you found that your events drew a lot of millennial women, which triggered the idea of creating an empowerment extravaganza for entrepreneurs of all levels. What do you look for in speakers you ask to come to the event? on billboard.com
A: Younger women were flocking to our events and they were very entrepreneurial women, all self-starters and I wanted to support that entrepreneurship for women, nurture their creativity and help them get their ideas to fruition. We tend to have speakers and performers who combine a little bit of both business and culture. With this upcoming festival, I’m generally looking for women who are disrupting a little bit in their space, who are great speakers, and are willing to be open and forthright in sharing their stories.
