From camping outside Birmingham City Council as a determined young migrant seeking access to university, Elham Fardad has forged a path of extraordinary leadership and impact. With a 23-year career as a finance director at global corporations including GE, News Corp, and EY, Elham brings corporate expertise to her mission of social equity.

As Founder and CEO of Migrant Leaders, Elham leads a national charity that transforms the lives of ethnic minority and low-income young people by providing high-impact mentoring and career opportunities. Under her leadership, the programme has grown to support 4,000 mentees through a network of 2,000 mentors drawn from 95 FTSE 100 and top-tier firms such as BP, Salesforce, and KPMG.

Elham collaborates closely with employee resource groups (ERGs), talent leaders, and social mobility teams to co-create initiatives that unlock real pathways to leadership for underrepresented talent. Her work builds bridges between industry and overlooked communities, ensuring that potential is nurtured regardless of background.

A passionate advocate, Elham regularly speaks at universities, schools, and industry forums—amplifying the voices of young people too often excluded from the national conversation. Her influence has earned wide recognition: she was named a Coronation Champion in 2023, awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2024 by the Lord Mayor, and selected among the Empower 2025 Top 100 Executives in 2025. Migrant Leaders also received the Social Mobility Project Award at the prestigious Inclusive Awards 2023.

In 2024, Elham published Migrant Magic, a powerful book sharing her personal journey and that of others with practical insights to inspire others to lead with purpose and courage.

Elham’s visionary leadership, relentless drive, and deep commitment to inclusion make her a standout CEO, shaping a better future for the next generation.