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Page 1 of 1 · © Dowshan Humzah · Inspiration for Success Ltd

Dowshan Humzah BSc. (Econ), FCIM, Chartered Marketer, F IoD

Dowshan Humzah is a digital and business transformation specialist. He has over 20 years commercial experience, primarily as a P/L leader including roles as a senior director of 2 blue-chip companies. He is known for delivering profitable growth, innovations, break-through digital plans and industry firsts in a range of markets (financial services, technology, media, telecoms and FMCG) having worked in full-time roles for RSA Insurance Group, Virgin Media, Orange, Procter & Gamble and three start-ups. He has strong credentials in P&L management, product development, strategy, digital leadership, classic brand management, emerging markets and board diversity. Among the industry firsts that he is known for are: for Procter & Gamble, a world exclusive and their most profitable prestige fragrance launch also via non-traditional media; at Orange, where he developed the vision of ‘passport, tickets, money, Orange’ and provisioned IDD and roaming to the full base – a first for the UK mobile phone industry at the time; at Virgin Media, where he delivered a series of product firsts including solo broadband, high speed services, and speed upgrades growing ntl to be the UK’s largest broadband provider and owning a revenue base of over £300 million. In addition, as Director of Strategy, Marketing and Planning, he developed Virgin Media’s next generation network strategy including the UK’s first trials of HDTV and ADSL2+ ahead of Sky and BT and a product roadmap that continues to deliver today. At RSA Insurance Group, as Product Director, he launched original propositions including the UK’s first car telematics product and online pay-as-you-go life insurance whilst owning the UK revenue base of £550 million and was later appointed Business Transformation Director. Most recently, Dowshan co-founded two private digital ventures. The first venture was a media production studio (Intermezzo in Mumbai, India) and the other is a digital and social media agency (The Worst Kept Secret in London) where he shows how organisations can enhance their customer and commercial deliverables by applying a digital lens across their core objectives. He has become known for his work in digital strategy and transformation and has been a keynote at various conferences on the impact of digital (for bodies such as Professional Publishing Association, B2B Leaders, London Fire Brigade/Public Services and InfluencerCon). Like many others, Dowshan’s early years helped to shape his passion for championing difference and ‘access to opportunity’. Born in London, growing up on a council estate in Peckham with his family from Sri Lanka, he was awarded a 100% funded government assisted-place which enabled him to attend Dulwich College. From there he was awarded a sponsorship by Barclays Bank for his degree at The LSE. His drive to succeed also translated into participation in sport at a regional level and led to him developing his photography skills to a semi-professional level. He was also a ground-breaking student-tutor for careers/interview skills in the mid-1990s which further ignited his passion for ‘access to opportunity’ for those less-privileged. His highly creative and commercial side also translated into running a drum and bass club night in London called Shuga with none other than Ricky Gervais! Dowshan’s own highly-different background continues to inform his 20+year passion for championing 'access to opportunity' for those less-privileged as well as his advocacy for diversity of POETS (Perspective, Outlook, Experience, Thought, Sector and Social Background) as business imperatives for organisations and government. This is demonstrated by his being an Executive Ambassador for Board Apprentice (improving the quality and diversity of boards) and an Ambassador for Precious (supporting minority women in work and entrepreneurship). His presentations, panel appearances and writing all substantiate his work here - be it on the theme of ‘social mobility: gatekeepers and gatecrashers’ or business and difference. Related to his work in digital and diversity, Dowshan has launched original projects integrating digital with traditional curriculum subjects in secondary schools as well as developing unique partnerships to bridge the gap between education and work-place skills - particularly for less-privileged students, driving attainment, aspiration, employability and social mobility. Outside of work, his interests are broad as he is a fully-qualified fitness instructor (specialising in Boxercise and kettlebells), an investor in non-traditional markets and travel photography having visited more than 75 countries.