Senior Independent Director (SID) – English Football League Trust I Board Member I CEO Paradigm HR I President Emeritus City – Women Network
Finalist’ for the Asian Women of Achievement (Business category)
Uma is of Indian heritage and was born in Uganda. She is a Board Member/Board Advisor serving on a number of boards (in both the private and third sector) including the English Football League Trust. She also holds the role of President Emeritus on the board of City Women Network and is only the second woman of colour to have led the network.
Prior to her NED portfolio career, Uma spent over 25 years within the investment banking/financial services sector working across Europe, Middle East, North America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
A globally experienced business leader and strategic thinker, Uma leverages diverse corporate experience and commercial insight to drive forward ambitious development strategies and ensure accelerated growth. With a nuanced understanding of HR mechanics, she fosters highly effective and collaborative business cultures embedding EDI, diligent governance, operational, reputational and conduct risk at the core of strategic practice. Confident and engaging, she brings bold decision-making and constructive challenge to the boardroom, identifying new opportunities and addressing commercial challenges with an authentic entrepreneurial flair.
Uma has operated at C-Suite level dealing with regulatory reform, corporate governance, organisational design, DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging) projects, talent acquisition/development, succession planning, HR transformation, and change management. She is a natural connector and uses her wealth of experience, personal background, cultural heritage, and life experiences to transform people and organisations around her.
As a migrant from Uganda, Uma is passionate about supporting organisations with a social conscience and a higher purpose committed to creating a culture that is inclusive, supportive and that cares about the health and wellbeing of its employees (personal, physical, career and financial wellbeing) and the clients and communities they serve.
Uma is CIPD accredited, an NLP Practitioner, a Mentor and a Strengthscope coach.
Away from the world of work, Uma’s teenage daughter, husband and boy Cavapoo keep her very busy!
Uma is an ardent Leicester City season ticket holder and fluent in Hindi and Gujarati.