Paul Bent shares what community means to him, the people who have influenced him, and how we can all play a part in creating opportunities for the next generation.
01. When you hear the phrase “Honouring Our Community”, what does that mean to you personally?
For me, it means recognizing the people who help others move forward. Some are celebrated publicly; many make a difference quietly, through the example they set, the support they give and the opportunities they create. It’s about appreciating those contributions and asking ourselves how we can continue them. I want my own contribution to be measured partly by who I’ve helped along the way.
02. Who within the Black community has had the biggest influence on you, either personally or professionally, and why?
Maya Angelou, the American poet, author and civil rights activist, has been an influence on me. She had an extraordinary ability to express powerful ideas with clarity and conviction.
One of her insights that has become embedded in my thinking is: “You shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.” For me, that speaks to the responsibility that comes with achievement. As you progress, your capacity to make a difference grows through the standards you set, the decisions you make, and the opportunities you create.
That shapes how I approach leadership. I want to build a successful business where talent can progress, ambition is encouraged and people are challenged to achieve more than they thought possible. I want people to see a future for themselves here, including roles they might not yet feel able to imagine. And I want to help them reach the day when what once felt unimaginable becomes the starting point for their next ambition.
03. Is there a particular moment, experience or piece of Black history that has shaped the way you see the world today?
Martin Luther King Jr.’s example has shaped how I think about courage, equality, and leadership. His vision of a society in which people are judged by their character continues to resonate with me. What stands out is his conviction to pursue that vision in the face of discrimination, inequality, and extraordinary opposition. He could see what needed to change, articulate a better future, and inspire people to act towards it.
For me, his legacy is a reminder that progress requires both ambition and action. It challenges us to examine our own judgements, stand by our principles, and take responsibility for the changes we have the power to make. His commitment to peaceful protest shows that you can be uncompromising in your principles while treating others with dignity. How you pursue change matters as much as the change you
want to achieve.
His dream lives on, and we each have a part to play in bringing it closer to reality.
04. What do you think makes a community strong, and where have you seen that strength demonstrated in your own life or career?
Trust, shared responsibility and people taking an interest in one another. I’ve spent nearly 20 years at KFH, progressing from Trainee Sales Negotiator to Sales Director, and that journey has reinforced how much people matter. Strong teams support each other, share knowledge, and hold each other to high standards. There’s real strength in knowing that people want you to succeed and will help you get there.
05. Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate achievement as well as reflect on the challenges that remain. What progress are you most proud to have seen, and where do you think there is still more work to do?
Within our own business, progress is visible in the diversity of our people across our branches. That is something to be proud of and to continue building on. There is still more work to do in ensuring that talented people from different backgrounds have the opportunity to progress into senior leadership and C-suite positions.
I’m a representation of that progress, and I believe appointments must always be based on merit and competence, with the right person chosen for the role. That requires us to recognise talent wherever it exists, give people fair access to development and responsibility, and ensure that the
route to leadership is open to everyone with the ability and ambition to earn it.
06. Representation can have a powerful impact on young people and their ambitions. How important was it for you growing up to see people you could identify with succeeding?
Growing up, I had the privilege of witnessing courage, perseverance, love, hard work, resilience, aspiration, humility, selflessness, and integrity every day. All through the example of one person: my mother. She gave those qualities a human face long before I had the words to describe them. Her resilience and aspiration showed me what it meant to keep going, to aim higher, and to put your heart into what matters.
I hope my journey shows young people that they can enter a business, develop their abilities, and progress through the ranks into senior leadership.
My determination to go further and maximise my full potential still burns as brightly today as it did when I first walked through the door as a trainee negotiator nearly 20 years ago. I’m clear about where I want to go and committed to doing the work to get there. No half steps or shortcuts!
07. Our charity partner, London Youth, works with a network of community youth organisations to support young Londoners. What role do you think youth organisations and community spaces can play in helping young people feel supported, confident and able to fulfil their potential?
They can give young people somewhere to belong and access to adults who listen, encourage and take them seriously. Confidence often grows when someone notices an ability you haven’t yet recognised in yourself. A community space can provide that encouragement, alongside friendships, structure and the chance to try something new. Having someone consistently show up for you can make an enormous difference.
08. Thinking about London Youth and the next generation more broadly, what do you think businesses and individuals can do to create meaningful opportunities for young people from different backgrounds?
Through my role as a Born Ambitious ambassador for London Youth, I see the importance of investing in the next generation. I’ve spoken to young people about role models and ambition, with the aim of encouraging them to think more broadly about what they could achieve.
Businesses and individuals can turn that ambition into opportunity by offering work experience, opening up professional networks and giving young people meaningful exposure to careers they may never have considered. We should be willing to recognise potential and the behaviours that underpin success, such as curiosity, initiative, adaptability and the ability to connect with others, before someone has a polished CV. Then give them the responsibility, guidance and practical experience to demonstrate what they can do.
I’d particularly like to recognise the people working in youth organization's across our city. Their commitment creates places where young people can belong, develop confidence, and explore their potential. Their contribution deserves recognition beyond Black History Month.
09. If you could give one piece of advice to a young Black person starting out in their career today, what would it be?
Don’t rule yourself out before you’ve given yourself a chance. In a world where so many people are trying to stand out while following the same trends,
remember that your greatest point of difference is you. Your perspective, character and experiences are a combination nobody else can offer. Develop your abilities, learn from others and set yourself high standards, but don’t lose your identity along the way.
Be ambitious about where that can take you. Glass ceilings are meant to be shattered. Be yourself, Everyone else is taken.
10. Finally, as we celebrate Black History Month, who or what would you personally like to honour from your community - and why?
I’d like to honour Notting Hill Carnival and the communities who bring it to life. Having attended since I was a child, what I value is its celebration of Black heritage, rooted in Caribbean culture, while welcoming people from every background. It’s a melting pot of music, creativity, and tradition that brings generations and cultures together.
That heritage is woven into Britain’s own story. The Windrush generation helped rebuild the country after the Second World War, and among them were people who had already served Britain during the conflict. Carnival honours the identity, resilience, and contribution of those communities. For me, pride in our Caribbean heritage and pride in being British belong together. Carnival gives that a powerful expression: honouring where we come from while celebrating the London we have helped shape.
It has grown into Europe’s largest street festival and the world’s second-largest carnival, after Rio. That is an extraordinary achievement for a celebration built by a community and shared with the world. Behind that are the organisers, performers, costume makers and volunteers whose collective
effort keeps it alive. It represents something London should be deeply proud of.
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