Adam in the ring with Baz for a boxing training session at Switch Up, Nottingham School of Boxing, Nottingham, United Kingdom. (photo by Andy Aitchison)
Nottingham business leader Marcellus Baz BEM vows to bring back teachings to city-based initiatives from world-renowned speakers such as Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Al Gore as he represents the UK at the first TED Conference in three years.
“Baz” will join this prestigious event, this year held in Vancouver, Canada, as part of the global Acumen Fellows community. Baz is one of 22 leaders that were selected to be part of Acumen’s inaugural UK-wide Fellowship in 2020. Fellows are selected based on their commitment to bridging societal divides and tackling injustice across the UK, with Baz’s aim being to further improve his mentoring and management skills to the benefit of Nottingham’s most deprived communities.
Marcellus BEM, founder and chief executive of Switch Up CIC and Nottingham School of Boxing, said: “It’s an honour to represent the UK and Nottingham alongside a global community of extraordinary leaders from the Acumen Academy and having the chance to listen to people that continue to shape the modern world.
“Being a Fellow allows me to build my network and have a global voice. This trip to Vancouver is a great example of that. I’ll be returning with ideas and solutions to make what we offer through Switch Up and Nottingham School of Boxing even more effective as well as strengthening my skills as a business and community leader.
“I did my own talk at TEDx in the UK in 2020. It was an amazing experience and one that I am still hoping will become a future talk in America soon. This is a great opportunity to see what that might entail.”
Benjamin Lane, a member of the Acumen Academy, said: “I am excited that Baz has the opportunity to attend the TED Conference and represent Nottingham, the United Kingdom, and the Acumen community. I know the bonds built and the ideas shared will be of benefit to all the Acumen Fellows and the communities they represent.”
Baz is the founder and CEO of the Nottingham based charitable organisation Switch Up and Nottingham School of Boxing. Both organisations exist to empower Nottingham’s young people, children and young adults to break the cycle of offending and reoffending. Through engaging young people in positive activities, sports, mentoring and peer mentoring, the charity equips them with the skills, character and confidence they need to realise their full potential.
The UK Acumen Fellowship provides Fellows with the knowledge, skills, and community to accelerate and sustain their impact tackling poverty and injustice. The Fellowship begins with a year-long immersive leadership programme through a series of residentials and virtual seminars connected by group practice. The programme is designed to increase the capacity of Fellows to lead through complexity, walk across lines of difference, and mobilise action to solve long-standing problems of injustice.
For more information on Switch Up and the Nottingham School of Boxing, visit https://www.marcellusbaz.co.uk.