Why Care? Pursuing Positive Impact with Christopher Kenna

Written By Falah Ahmad

“I just want to make sure everything that I'm doing has a purpose and a reason, and that the nuances of different cultures and communities are just part of that from the beginning. We have a tagline, which is ‘nothing about us without us.’ So, if we are going to make content for the Blck community, the LGBT community or the Clubbing community, then they are part of each stage of the process, from brainstorming through to production. And, we've done a TV show together and since it was for International Women's Day, we made sure that there were a lot of young women ready to be trained, as well as experienced people on the crew. It's very important to me.” 

In this new episode of Why Care?, starting Season 6, Nadia talks with Christopher Kenna, CEO & Founder of Media Stream AI, Generation Black TV and influencer marketing agency, Roots & Fruits. Christopher shares his inspiring journey from a challenging childhood and life in the British Army to becoming a pioneering entrepreneur focused on diversity and inclusion. Learn how Chris uses AI to create personalised and inclusive media, why authentic representation matters deeply to him, and his vision for a more equitable media landscape. He also shares his challenging upbringing, navigating personal threats, and the relentless pursuit of positive impact through innovation.


Key Takeaways

Diversity and inclusion must be foundational values, not superficial initiatives.

  • True leadership involves actively dismantling systemic barriers.

  • Entrepreneurial success requires balancing passion, resilience, and the courage to face adversity.

  • Real activism goes beyond performative gestures—it's everyday actions that create change.

  • Leveraging privilege to uplift underrepresented voices is essential for lasting societal impact.

Highlights

  • Christopher's Journey – From Adversity to Activism
    Christopher shares his remarkable story, overcoming a difficult childhood and then entering military life to become a powerful advocate for diversity and inclusion in the media and tech industry.

  • Leveraging AI for Real Inclusion
    Discover how Christopher uses innovative AI technology to create personalised media that authentically represents diverse communities, revolutionising viewer engagement.

  • True Leadership in DEI
    Christopher highlights the importance of genuine leadership commitment to dismantling systemic barriers and why superficial approaches to diversity are insufficient.

  • Representation Beyond the Surface
    Explore Christopher’s perspective on why true diversity involves more than token gestures, emphasising authentic storytelling and representation at every level.

  • Balancing Entrepreneurship and Advocacy
    Gain insights into how Christopher navigates the challenges of entrepreneurship, including facing personal threats, to pursue meaningful change through his ventures.

  • Practical Activism through Daily Actions
    Christopher explains how real activism isn't just about grand gestures but is demonstrated through consistent, everyday actions that leverage privilege for positive societal impact.

Links

Falah Ahmad
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Why Care? Special Episode: Smarter in Seconds with Blair Imani