Founded in 2013, 20/20 Levels works to empower young Black and racially underrepresented people by supporting them on their journey toward meaningful employment and business success. With a mission to forge a more inclusive and empowered society, they focus on addressing youth unemployment and the need for a diverse workforce in the UK. Their flagship programme, “I AM CHANGE,” has already empowered over 2,500 young people, with a vision to continue growing and scaling their impact.
Context.
To allow the Founder Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to focus more externally on future opportunities, 20/20 Levels sought a new Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join the leadership team and focus on strategic growth, operational excellence and program development.
Bringing entrepreneurial thinking and skills in managing growing charities, they would work with the board and exec team to focus on programme development, financial management and governance. As the second-in-command, the COO would work closely with the CEO to execute the charity’s strategic vision and support its next phase of growth.
Brief.
We led the search for a seasoned leader who could manage the charity’s operational functions while driving strategic growth. The candidate needed to possess exceptional communication skills, experience in leading teams and a passion for youth empowerment. Additionally, the role required the candidate to have strong financial literacy and experience in overseeing large-scale programmes with a focus on inclusivity and impact.
We sought an experienced COO who not only possessed the required skills and expertise but also demonstrated a deep commitment to the charity’s mission.
Outcome.
Our search began by identifying individuals with a background in charitable leadership, specifically those with experience in operational management, programme development and youth empowerment. We used our extensive network and a targeted outreach strategy to ensure candidates understood the organisation’s mission and values. The candidate pool was rigorously assessed for cultural fit, leadership potential, and alignment with the charity’s vision of creating equal access to opportunities for young people from underrepresented backgrounds.
The successful candidate is a highly experienced leader with a strong background in operations, finance, strategy and people management across both large and small charities. With over 14 years of charity leadership experience, they demonstrated skill in driving organisational growth, improving financial sustainability and enhancing operational efficiency. With a passion for social justice, they have a proven track record of leading diverse teams, managing large budgets and delivering impactful strategic initiatives.
Their leadership will play a pivotal role in driving the growth and success of the 20/20 Level’s programmes, ensuring that it continues to empower young people, enhance its operational capabilities and strengthen its strategic partnerships to continue their mission to open doors for underrepresented young adults to the finest opportunities, propelling them towards a future of unparalleled achievement.
“My experience working with Peridot has been nothing short of excellent from start to finish. This was our first time recruiting an executive team member, and they were extremely supportive right from the outset.
Working with our consultant, Clare Chesworth, was an absolute joy. Her experience and knowledge of the candidates were spot on! I have already started recommending your services to my contacts, and you will definitely be hearing from us again.”
Duro Oye, Chief Executive Officer of 20/20 Levels.
