Hannah Chukwu: Championing voices of underrepresented authors worldwide

Fair Play Talks to diversity champion Hannah Chukwu, Assistant Editor at Penguin Random House UK and this year’s BBBAwards finalist, about the challenges and opportunities for Black people and minorities in the publishing industry. She also shares her passion for championing the voices of underrepresented authors worldwide.

FAIR PLAY TALKS: Can you briefly tell us about your career journey to date and about your long-term goal? 

Hannah Chukwu: I have been working in publishing for three years now. I joined Penguin Random House on their talent development programme for applicants from underrepresented backgrounds, as an Editorial Trainee. Then I was hired by my current team, Hamish Hamilton, as full time Editorial Assistant; and have now moved up to Assistant Editor. I love my job and bringing stories to readers, and helping authors achieve their vision. I have a particular passion for championing the voices of underrepresented authors; and I would love to continue being an advocate in this space across the creative industries throughout my career. 

FAIR PLAY TALKS: What specific challenges have you faced along the way?

Hannah Chukwu: In my opinion, changes regarding diversity have rapidly accelerated in the last three years. I found it quite challenging to arrive in such a privileged, White environment; and try to make space for myself here at the beginning.

FAIR PLAY TALKS: Are there any specific challenges Black professionals face on their journey to the top that White/other groups do not face in your industry?

Hannah Chukwu: I know in my industry, there are virtually no Black professionals in leadership positions, which I think is evidence of a ‘glass ceiling’ that has historically not allowed Black professionals to achieve their full potential. Retention rates are very low in publishing for Black professionals; and I think this is an issue that hasn’t faced as much scrutiny as attracting entry level candidates has. 

FAIR PLAY TALKS: In your opinion, what more could companies be doing to promote racial equity in the workplace? 

Hannah Chukwu: I think 2020 was a big wake-up call for a lot of businesses; and feel encouraged by the start they’re making. But I definitely think the majority of them still have a long way to go.

FAIR PLAY TALKS: What more can organisations be doing to attract and retain Black/minority talent?

Hannah Chukwu: I think pay transparency, progression and training are absolutely key to this. Publishing is definitely guilty of undervaluing staff, which can lead to only a privileged few being able to apply for jobs, and so properly valuing staff at all levels will change the make up of the industry. Pay transparency will allow potential candidates to properly evaluate potential career journeys; and companies need to support candidates from minority backgrounds to progress through the organisation with thoughtful training, goal-setting and regular opportunities for promotion.

FAIR PLAY TALKS: Can organisations promote equality and fairness to enhance belonging and inclusion that will resonate with all groups?

Hannah Chukwu: Absolutely – creating company cultures that promote work-life balance, discourage hierarchy, promote honesty around pay and progression, and encourage community building can drastically change whether any employee feels welcomed and supported by their company.

FAIR PLAY TALKS: Can the Black community and other minority communities do more to promote race equity?

Hannah Chukwu: In all honesty, I do feel that Black professionals can get saddled with the emotional labour of promoting race equity within their businesses; so I would never want to suggest taking on extra emotional labour that you can’t handle. Hopefully, with the tide-change we’ve seen in companies’ approach to EDI this year, companies will get better at ensuring senior management work hard at implementing these changes at all levels throughout their businesses; so that the load doesn’t always get given Black professionals.

FAIR PLAY TALKS: Are you involved in promoting Black talent/race equality or other diversity initiatives?

Hannah Chukwu: I am the series editor for Black Britain: Writing Back – Booker Prize winning-author Bernardine Evaristo and I curate the series, which aims to rediscover and celebrate pioneering books depicting Black Britain that remap the nation. I am also Policy and Campaigns Consultant for the campaign ‘Lit in Colour’; run by PRH and the Runnymede Trust, the campaign aims to diversify the English GCSE curriculum. The literary magazine Five Dials, is another project I’m involved in. We platform high quality writing by writers from communities underrepresented on the bookshelves of the English-speaking world.

FAIR PLAY TALKS: What was your reaction when you heard that you are one of just 39 BBBAwards finalists this year? 

Hannah Chukwu: I was so excited. It is truly such an honour to be featured, alongside such an incredible list of change-makers and pioneers.

FAIR PLAY TALKS: How important are awards and organisations like The BBBAwards in the UK to promote Black/minority talent and Black role models?

Hannah Chukwu: It’s such a wonderful celebration; and feels like a real shift in discourse, to highlight and elevate the achievements of Black role models for the next generation.

FAIR PLAY TALKS: What advice can you offer to young Black/minority youth to encourage them to pursue their dream job or business venture.

Hannah Chukwu: Always remember that you have entirely unique talents, perspectives and experiences that make you an exceptionally valuable asset to any company.

MORE ABOUT HANNA CHUKWU

Hannah Chukwu is an award-winning Assistant Editor at Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Random House UK, where she works on literary fiction and non-fiction, working with authors such as Bernardine Evaristo, Zadie Smith and Arundhati Roy. She is an editor for Five Dials magazine, and the series editor for Black Britain: Writing Back. She is also Policy and Campaigns Consultant for the campaign ‘Lit in Colour’; run by PRH and the Runnymede Trust, the campaign aims to diversify the English GCSE curriculum. She co-founded the theatre production company Chucked Up Theatre in 2016, is a Trustee at education equality charity The Brilliant Club and a Board Member of Creative UK. In 2021 she won the LBF Trailblazer Award and was named on the EMpower Ethnic Minority Future Leader list.

CELEBRATING INSPIRING BLACK ROLE MODELS

Winners for each category, as well as the Black British Business Person of the Year, will be revealed at the Black British Business Awards Virtual Ceremony taking place on 7 October 2021.  

Click here to check out the full list of this year’s Brilliant BBBAwards Finalists.