Vee Kativhu

Vee Kativhu is a Zimbabwean-born, British-raised speaker, content creator, and internationally recognised youth advocate who currently serves as a Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for UNICEF and is the founder and former Director of Empowered By Vee. She uses her platform to inspire underrepresented and marginalised young people across the globe to believe in their own potential. Vee’s lived experience — from growing up in a low-income, single-parent household to becoming an Oxford and Harvard graduate — deeply informs her advocacy for racial equality and social justice. Her powerful storytelling and vulnerability connect her work to real-world impact. She regularly speaks on topics including empowerment, leadership, community building, widening access to education, self-development, mental health and wellbeing, and diversity and inclusion, all through the lens of inclusion and equity.

Vee’s career began through her early involvement in initiatives such as the Aspiring Professionals Programme at JP Morgan in 2014, later returning to the firm in 2015 for work in Asset Management. A Widening Participation Ambassador for The Social Mobility Foundation and a mentor at Oxford, she used her academic journey to uplift others from disadvantaged backgrounds. In 2018, she founded Empowered By Vee, a social initiative providing guidance and resources for students from non-traditional backgrounds. Her trajectory accelerated with a TEDx talk in 2019, and a Master’s degree in International Education Policy from Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2020. Vee has also held key positions with One Young World, UWS, and Global Partnership for Education, building her reputation as a passionate, informed voice on educational equity and youth empowerment.

Her accolades reflect the impact of her work: Vee was listed on the BBC’s 100 Women 2023 as a content creator and changemaker. She is a UN Young Leader for the SDGs, a former Advisory Board Member for the Born This Way Foundation, and a LinkedIn Changemaker. Her debut book, Empowered: Live Your Life with Passion and Purpose, published in 2021, received acclaim for its relatable and motivational tone. Additionally, she has been honoured with the Rare Rising Star UK Award at the Houses of Parliament and the Vice-Chancellor’s Diversity Champion Award at Oxford.

Through her extensive work in global education, youth leadership, and digital empowerment, Vee integrates racial equality into every topic she covers. Whether speaking about widening access to education or mental health, she ensures that marginalised voices are centred. Her emphasis on systemic change, lived experience, and cultural competency makes her an insightful, dynamic speaker. Organisations hire Vee not only for her inspirational story and global recognition but for her evidence-based, action-oriented approach to racial equity and inclusive leadership.