Meet The Founder
How ISPY2INSPIRE Began
ISPY2INSPIRE was born in London — in the spaces between boardrooms and breakthroughs, where ambitious women gather but rarely get the infrastructure they deserve. The founder saw it repeatedly: brilliant women doing extraordinary work, yet lacking a dedicated platform that treated their leadership journey with the seriousness, luxury, and strategic rigour it demanded. The vision was uncompromising: build a platform that combines world-class leadership development with the warmth of genuine community — one that doesn't just inspire women but equips them with the tools, frameworks, and networks to lead with authority. From its London roots, ISPY2INSPIRE has grown into a global movement.
Founder Mission
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"I built ISPY2INSPIRE because I lived the gap. I knew what it felt like to be ambitious in rooms that weren't built for me — and to search for a platform that matched my drive and found nothing that truly fit. So I created it. My mission is simple and serious: to ensure that no ambitious woman anywhere in the world has to build her leadership alone, without strategy, without community, and without the luxury of being taken seriously from day one."
— Founder, ISPY2INSPIRE
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FRANNY ÓPRAH -
Founder, ISPY2INSPIRE
Franny Óprah is a media personality, Journalist, Brand Ambassador, executive personal brand consultant - The Refined Image, Media Director at IARA Awards , mentor and Founder of Ispy2inspire women leadership community & ispy mentor app. Franny Óprah has been an international journalist for over a decade and has been able to interview creme de la creme world thought leaders, Hollywood and British stars, international artists , Footballers, as well as shared the stage and red carpet which includes…
Former President of Nigeria HE Olusegun Obasanjo, Hollywood actor Idris Elba, QC Cherie Blair, HRH Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia and Serbia, Martin Luther King Sister-in-law Naomi King, African American Georgia State Representative Dee Dawkins-Haigler, Olympic Gold Medallist Christine Ohurugo and many more…
Meet The Executives
The Faces of Our Organization
Since our founding in 2018 as the leading digital platform for women of impact & legacy builders, ISPY2INSPIRE has developed and grown in a very positive direction. We’re very proud of the diversity of our staff, and their abilities to contribute their own unique experience and skills to our success. Find out more about some of our team members below.
HELEN BEYIOKU IMUAPHE
HONORARY GLOBAL PATRON
Helen Beyioku Imuaphe is an internationally renowned entrepreneur, humanitarian, innovator, motivational speaker, Ispy2inspire Honorary Global patron and founder & CEO of IARA.
The IARA platform has helped launch, recognised and propel many of today’s biggest names in Films, TV, Theatre, Arts & Entertainment industry for creative talents such as Thalapathy Vijay, Joshua Kane, Amel Bouchoucha, Kevin Lesly, Salma Rachid, Talia Storm, Lucy ST Louis, Anthony Boyle, Shaun Escoffery, Terry Pheto, Reggie ‘n’ Bollie , Kiran Sonia Sawar and more.
Helen is a visionary and influential leader who created one the most inclusive and prestigious award through her role as the Founder/CEO of the IARA Awards (International Achievement Recognition Awards) in 2014. in order to recognise the hard work of those in Theatre, Music, Film/TV and the Fashion industry. Which has also influenced the international territories. She also creates opportunities for creative minds who are passionate and willing to gain experience in stage management and event management through IARA masterclass and apprenticeship programme.
From a very young age, Helen had a passion for humanitarian and community impact which propelled her in founding Helen Imuaphe Foundation which was launched to educate, help orphans and the under-privileged to live a better life. Committed to her goals of justice and fair treatment for all, Helen is particularly proud of her of her work and achievements with her foundation
Throughout her career as a law graduate and her leadership role with her brands IARA & JoeBol Exquisite . Helen’s drive, vision, tenacity and passion has been the key to her success and she is very dedicated to helping others do the same by engaging, transforming motivating people, through her work, to switch ordinary to extraordinary and the impossible to possible.
Helen loves nothing more than inspiring others to achieve great success through hard work ,prayer, focus and determination.
Helen Beyioku Imuaphe is an internationally renowned entrepreneur, humanitarian, innovator, motivational speaker, Ispy2inspire Honorary Global patron and founder & CEO of IARA.
The IARA platform has helped launch, recognised and propel many of today’s biggest names in Films, TV, Theatre, Arts & Entertainment industry for creative talents such as Thalapathy Vijay, Joshua Kane, Amel Bouchoucha, Kevin Lesly, Salma Rachid, Talia Storm, Lucy ST Louis, Anthony Boyle, Shaun Escoffery, Terry Pheto, Reggie ‘n’ Bollie , Kiran Sonia Sawar and more.
Helen is a visionary and influential leader who created one the most inclusive and prestigious award through her role as the Founder/CEO of the IARA Awards (International Achievement Recognition Awards) in 2014. in order to recognise the hard work of those in Theatre, Music, Film/TV and the Fashion industry. Which has also influenced the international territories. She also creates opportunities for creative minds who are passionate and willing to gain experience in stage management and event management through IARA masterclass and apprenticeship programme.
From a very young age, Helen had a passion for humanitarian and community impact which propelled her in founding Helen Imuaphe Foundation which was launched to educate, help orphans and the under-privileged to live a better life. Committed to her goals of justice and fair treatment for all, Helen is particularly proud of her of her work and achievements with her foundation
Throughout her career as a law graduate and her leadership role with her brands IARA & JoeBol Exquisite . Helen’s drive, vision, tenacity and passion has been the key to her success and she is very dedicated to helping others do the same by engaging, transforming motivating people, through her work, to switch ordinary to extraordinary and the impossible to possible.
Helen loves nothing more than inspiring others to achieve great success through hard work ,prayer, focus and determination.
Meet The Global Ambassadors
The Faces of Our Organization
LINDA E
ISPY2INSPIRE Global Ambassador
The bubbly Linda E is a presenter, host and entertainment personality from London.
She has had a diverse career in the entertainment world, from opening up for P Squared during one of their London shows (as a singer) and subsequently interviewing the duo years later. To featuring as one of the models for Arik Air's website. To her dance career which saw her and Myztikal VSD do a UK university tour and performances at Catford theatre and the Black Hair and Beauty awards. She even starred in soap drama Echoes, which ran on Ben TV.
Linda E has interviewed a vast array of top names from both Africa, the UK and the USA including Mr Eazi, Kranium, Mila J, Burnaboy, Fuse Odg, C Biz, Big Narstie, Crystal Smith, Tokyo Stylez, Section Boyz, Scorcher, Reggie and Bollie, Iyanya, Davido, Seyi Shay, Ameriie, Tinashe, Akala, Figure Flows, Paigey Cakey, MC Bushkin and Atumpan.
You may recognise her as the female anchor on Youtube show FAKE news, where her comments on Not3s, Mabel and colourism went viral.
Her confident and out spoken nature are two of the traits that got her working with Africax5 on their shows The Sofa, and Perspectives, which deals with a lot of relevant and difficult to talk about topics.
She currently hosts a weekly show every Sunday on Pulse88 2pm-5pm GMT which is sponsored by drinks giant Supermalt and has a fun Supermalt challenge that she plays with her guests.
When not on air or hosting an event, Linda E can be found doing press at festivals such as Wireless and Reading and Leeds festival or attending events and concerts. She often uses her Instagram page to show case her interviews, and various events she attends.
Linda E is a lover of heels, music, fashion and all things fabulous. She is a self proclaimed ambassador of enjoyment!
SHIRLEY DE LAWRENCE
ISPY2INSPIRE Global Ambassador
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Shirley Dee is a magazine editor, a creative director, producer and the current CEO of the Miss Caribbean and Commonwealth organisation. After beating 14 girls from 16 countries to be crowned the 19th Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth in 2008, she embarked on a media career first as a commercial model. As a result, she has been featured in various publications such Black Beauty, Black Hair and Ebony magazine to name but a few. She ventured into Tv presenting, hosting two successful TV shows. A BEFFTA award and Life Changers Award winner, Shirley is also Creative Director of Demur Magazine and an accomplished film producer with various film credits to her resume.
Get to know more about our incredible team today.
Duchess Nena
ISPY2INSPIRE Global Ambassador & Leadership Mentor
Duchess Nena is an award-winning vegan chef, certified plant-based nutritionist, cognitive behavioural therapist, author, and cultural strategist working at the intersection of food, health, sustainability, and African heritage.
With a unique ability to translate lived experience into transformational wellness solutions, she has built a powerful platform centred on Vegan African cuisine, behaviour change, and community empowerment. Her work spans culinary innovation, wellness education, media, public speaking, cultural programming, and large-scale community experiences that reconnect people to the healing power of African food traditions.
As the author of 5 book and the most recent being ‘Drained as AF’, Duchess Nena shares her personal journey of overcoming fibromyalgia, long Covid, chronic fatigue, and burnout, using the same evidence-based principles of plant-based nutrition, mindset reprogramming, and behavioural therapy that she now uses to support others.
Her expertise has positioned her as a leading voice in African wellness and plant-based food culture, with recognised impact across community initiatives, curated dining concepts, food education programmes, and strategic cultural partnerships.
