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Herman Stewart, the Founder and CEO of Every Child Needs a Mentor (ECNM), is a leading racial equality speaker, renowned for his powerful delivery and authentic voice rooted in lived experience. A TEDx speaker, author, and podcast host of Finding Your Path, Herman uses his platform to address pressing issues around identity, leadership, empowerment, mentoring, and diversity and inclusion. With over two decades of experience in personal development and mentoring, his work is deeply informed by his own journey—a path that fuels his passion for creating systemic change and championing underrepresented voices. His dedication to helping individuals and organisations thrive through meaningful dialogue and action has positioned him as a sought-after speaker for those aiming to embed racial equality into their workplace culture.
Herman’s career trajectory is uniquely varied, having spanned roles such as professional footballer, recording artist, columnist, consultant, and mentor. This multifaceted background has given him a rare perspective on resilience, adaptability, and identity. Key roles that have shaped his development include his time as Consultant and Lead Mentor at Birmingham City Council, Leadership Fellow at the Society of Leadership Fellows, and Radio Presenter at Birmingham City University. Herman has also mentored entrepreneurs as part of Bridge for Billions, and served as Founding Executive Advisor of the Positive Transformation Group. These experiences have equipped him with the insights and credibility to advise across industries and cultural contexts.
Widely recognised as the “Mentor’s Mentor”, Herman has earned numerous accolades for his work, including Mentor of the Year in both 2020 and 2022. His innovative strategies in mentoring have been acknowledged at a governmental level, with his work referenced in the UK Government’s white paper on social inclusion. His ABM (Asset Based Methodology) mentoring model has been hailed as high-quality by Ofsted, and he has been celebrated locally as Birmingham’s Lead Mentor. Internationally, he was recently invited to the UAE to share his expertise with educational leaders and government officials in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. He is also the author of Every Child Needs a Mentor (2012), a pioneering book that outlines his vision and practical approach to mentoring, helping readers understand the transformative impact of mentoring in the lives of young people.
As a speaker, Herman explores topics such as racial equality, inclusive leadership, identity, empowerment, and transformational mentoring. He ties these themes together with his mission to inspire organisational change and build environments where diverse individuals can truly thrive. Herman is hired because he doesn’t just speak on racial equality—he lives it, applying deep personal insight, evidence-based strategies, and a heartfelt commitment to equity and empowerment in every engagement.
Herman Stewart is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:
“Herman Stewart is a man on a mission! A wonderful human being who cares passionately about what is done in our schools to create a better futures for our young people. The passion and commitment that he has shown through his award winning strategies has resulted in many young people across the country being supported to fulfil their hopes and dreams. I would highly recommend Herman to any educational establishment that is seeking to develop and embed inclusive mentoring systems for their young people.”
“Herman is one of the most inspiring speakers I have ever come across. I’ve had the pleasure of hearing him speak and seen him in action engaging with the audience. I have also had the pleasure of working with him on the design of the ‘Every Child Needs A Mentor’ book cover and branding. He’s a delight to work with and always brings a spark of inspiration to the conversation. If you are looking for a mentor to inspire young people or a speaker to fully engage with your audience, Herman is your man!”
“Herman presented at our recent awards evening. His open, honest and heartfelt speech was both motivational and thought-provoking. He made a connection with our pupils and parents alike. His sincerity was further exemplified by how eagerly he engaged with people after the event. I would whole heartedly recommend Herman to work with your organisation and look forward to working with him again in the near future.”
“Herman was our keynote inspirational speaker at Uptree’s first #FuturesUP event in Birmingham. He was very motivating and inspiring for the young people and the professionals in the audience and he certainly had an impact on me too. He talked about his journey and everything he’s learnt along the way, which was a great story of resilience and determination. It was a highlight of the event to hear Herman talk!”
The BAME Speakers Agency has been one of the UK’s leading bureaus for Black, Asian and minority ethnic speakers since 2020. We supply speakers for corporate and public events across the world, and cater to both in-person occasions and online webinars.
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