Dean Forbes, who overcame homelessness to lead a billion-euro tech company, has just been named the UK’s most influential Black individual. Now 45, Forbes is the CEO of Forterro, a software firm valued at €2 billion (£1.7 billion), and has secured a top position on the Powerlist 2025, a prestigious list that honors influential Black figures across various sectors.
His inclusion on the Powerlist highlights his journey from a challenging start to significant achievements in business and technology. Launched in 2006, the Powerlist celebrates Black excellence in fields like business, science, and the arts, providing young people with inspiring role models from diverse backgrounds.
As one of the few Black CEOs worldwide leading a billion-euro enterprise, Forbes not only steers Forterro but is also a partner at private equity firm Corten Capital and leads the Forbes Family Group, a charitable organization that has raised over £400,000 this year for causes such as the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust. Reflecting on his early years in south-east London, Forbes recalls fond memories of community youth clubs, despite economic challenges.
Growing up with a single mother with muscular dystrophy, Forbes developed resilience early on, running a barber shop and selling handmade belts in school. In his teenage years, he experienced homelessness, and though he initially pursued a football career, an injury led him to Motorola, where he quickly advanced. He later joined technology company Primavera, helping to expand its international division before its $550 million sale to Oracle.
Forbes is passionate about inspiring young Black Britons to explore career options beyond traditional paths like sports and entertainment. While he notes he hasn’t faced overt racism, he often finds himself the only Black person in many professional spaces. Forbes uses this visibility to push for inclusivity, often pausing meetings to allow aspiring professionals to observe, creating pathways for talented individuals to advance and broadening opportunities across his industry.
