Who is Dean Forbes? Journey from homelessness to Britain’s most influential black person

Dean Forbes went from homeless teenager to Britain’s bestseller influential black person.

The former keen professional footballer grew up in south-east London in an “economically challenged” single-parent family.

When his contract with Crystal Palace Football Club ended suddenly when he was 17, he took a job in telemarketing at a Motorola call centre.

This would be the first step on a hugely successful ladder. business careerThis put him at the top of the 2025 Powerlist.

He said: “It’s an incredible honor to be voted number one in the Powerlist. From growing up in south-east London to leading global businesses, my journey has shown me the power of resilience, the importance of community and the importance of seizing every opportunity.

“I hope my story can inspire others from similar backgrounds to believe in their potential and work hard to achieve their dreams.”

Who is Dean Forbes?

Mr Forbes was born in Lewisham in October 1978 and spent his childhood on an estate in south-east London.

His mother raised him and his two younger brothers alone. After being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, they faced financial difficulties as they were unable to work all the time.

The family became homeless twice while he was growing up, but he still managed to pass 10 GCSEs at school.

A talented football player had a contract with the local team Crystal Palace FC. But after an injury, his contract was terminated, and to pay off his debts, he took a job in telemarketing for the mobile phone company Motorola.

He said the “disappointment and rejection” of his failed football career set him on “this path beyond my wildest dreams”.

He rose through the ranks at Motorola and eventually left to work at Philadelphia-based technology firm Primavera.

His first big breakthrough came at the age of 29, when he played a key role in the US software company’s global expansion, leading to its sale to Oracle for $550 million.

He later became CEO of travel and expense management software company KDS, which was acquired by American Express.

He later became CEO of another software company, CoreHR, which was eventually acquired by The Access Group.

The 46-year-old is currently the CEO of software company Forterro and He is a partner at private equity firm Corten Capital.

He and his wife, Danielle, also founded the Forbes Family Group (FFG), a non-profit organization that supports a wide range of charities and causes.

He recently held a gala for the African Leukemia Foundation (ACLT) and raised over £400,000 in one night.

Mr Forbes said: “For a black, working-class man from south-east London to rise from where I started to where I am now, growing businesses and driving social change through my family foundation, is truly beyond anything I could have imagined.

“My journey has been shaped by those who believed in me and opened doors, and now I am determined to pay it forward.

“I want to provide opportunities for young people like me who need extra support to reach their potential.”

The father of three added that his mission now is to “use my experience and resources to make a lasting, meaningful impact in underserved communities.”

Who else is on the Powerlist?

Powerlist was first published by Powerful Media in 2007 to provide young people with professional role models.

It has since been published annually, recognizing the UK’s most powerful people of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage who have made significant contributions to business, politics, science, technology and the arts.

Judges select them based on their “ability to positively alter events and change lives, as manifested within a reasonable period of time.”

Each new candidate is scored out of 10 on two indices; how influential they are in their field of expertise and how far their influence extends beyond that.

Former editor-in-chief of British Vogue Edward Enninful7 times Formula 1 world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton and former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman all have topped the list in the past.

Dean Forbes was named to top the 2025 list.

Michael Eboda, CEO of Powerful Media, which publishes Powerlist, said: “Dean Forbes exemplifies the heights that can be achieved through determination and leadership, but what really sets him apart is his commitment to giving back.

“His achievements in business and philanthropy make him a truly deserving number one on this year’s Powerlist.”

The top 10 of Powerlist 2025 are as follows:

• Dean Forbes – CEO of Forterro, partner at Corten Capital, chairman of Forbes Family Group
• Bernard Mensah – international president of Bank of America, managing director of MLI
• Afua Kyei – chief financial officer of the Bank of England,
• Emma Grede – CEO and co-founder of Good American, co-founder of Skims
• Joshua Siaw, MBE – partner at White & Case
• Tunde Olanrewaju – senior partner at McKinsey & Company
• Alexander and Oliver Kent-Braham – founders of Marshmallow
• Adejoke Bakare – Chef owner of Michelin star restaurant Chishuru
• Justin Onuekwusi – chief investment officer at St James’s Place
• Pamela Maynard – Microsoft chief AI transformation officer