Dean Forbes says his mother taught him “never to be a victim of our circumstances”. It’s safe to say he learnt that lesson well — last month, the private equity executive topped this year’s Powerlist of the UK’s most influential Black people, which has previously included grime artist Stormzy as well as footballers Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling.  

Forbes’ ‘circumstances’ were definitely not typical for a senior private equity executive. By the time he turned 18, his family had twice been made homeless and his dreams of becoming a Premier League footballer had ended when an injury cut short his time as an academy player at Crystal Palace FC.