Dee Poku-Spalding
Dee Poku-Spalding is a social entrepreneur who was born in the UK and raised between London and Accra.
She is the Founder and CEO of WIE, an influential women’s leadership network. WIE connects emerging and established women leaders, and works to equip the next generation with the tools to succeed. The organization has attracted an incredible range of speakers to its global symposiums and salons, including Donna Karan, Arianna Huffington, Queen Rania, Melinda Gates, Diane von Furstenberg, Nancy Pelosi, Jill Biden, Alek Wek, Katie Couric, Tyra Banks, Lauren Bush, Elizabeth Banks, Iman, Rosario Dawson and Christy Turlington.
She is also the founder of The Other Festival, launched in June 2016, a first of its kind all female festival. The Other Festival showcases the talented makers who are breaking the rules and redefining how business is done. The event showcases musicians, designers, artists, chefs, photographers, entrepreneurs, inventors and storytellers
A former Hollywood studio executive, Dee’s background includes senior marketing roles at Paramount Pictures and Focus Features (a division of Universal Pictures), working with the likes of Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Emily Blunt and Penelope Cruz. She oversaw the international movie release campaigns for films including Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’; the Coen brothers’ ‘No Country For Old Men’ & ‘O Brother Where Art Thou’; Sofia Coppola’s ‘Lost in Translation’, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s ‘Babel’ & ’21 Grams’ and Ang Lee’s ‘Brokeback Mountain’.
Dee began her career in brand marketing and promotions and over the years has worked with renowned brands such as Coca Cola, Absolut Vodka, Crème de la Mer, Stella Artois and London Fashion Week.
Dee was named a CUP Catalyst Changemaker 2015 and one of TRUE Africa’s 100 Top Innovators. She is often asked to speak on women’s leadership issues at conferences and events around the world, and has shared her insights at the Women’s Urban Economic Forum; CUP Women’s Leadership Forum; the Acumen Fund’s New Leadership For Tomorrow; Influencer Con, Women Werk, BAFTA and Her Agenda amongst others. She serves on the Board of Directors of the British Academy of Film & Television (BAFTA); the Credit Suisse New Markets Women’s Advisory Board and is an advisor to beauty brand Tiossan and electronics company Puku. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.
She currently lives in New York with her husband and their son Sebastian.
www.theotherfestival.co, www.wienetwork.org @deepoku, @otherfestival, @wienetwork
