We live in a strange and sad state of affairs. Somewhere along the way, society became obsessed with pointing fingers rather than lending a hand. We complain before we compliment, criticise before we congratulate, and rage before we reflect.
The age of aggression seems to have arrived – civil unrest, social division, and an almost industrial-scale appetite for outrage have become the norm. We see it online, on our streets, in our politics, and in our playgrounds.
And I get it – life is tough. People are hurting. But I’ve always believed that we don’t rise by pulling others down. We rise by lifting each other up.
Growing up in the West End of Newcastle, I saw the best and worst of humanity. My late mother, Salim, worked 18-hour days just to put food on the table and still found time to help others in the community. She didn’t ask for recognition. She simply believed in doing the right thing. I learned from her that kindness isn’t weakness – it’s strength with purpose.
So, when I saw the lack of genuine representation for the Asian community in the North East – no voice, no visibility, no vehicle for change – I didn’t just complain. I created one.
That’s how Asian Business Connexions (ABConnexions) was born. Not as an exclusive club, but as an inclusive movement. From day one, our mission wasn’t just to connect the Asian community. It was to connect all communities, to support, celebrate, and showcase the talent and tenacity of every individual – regardless of race, religion, gender, or postcode.
And do you know what I’m most proud of? The fact that more white people have been supported through our work than Asian – simply reflecting the make-up of our region. That’s inclusion. That’s impact. That’s what happens when you build bridges instead of barriers.
We’ve created a platform where people feel safe to speak and be heard. We’ve helped individuals find their voice and their value. We’ve launched initiatives long before it was fashionable – or even understood – to do so.
We’ve:
Platformed women when others were still making token gestures.
Advocated for the unemployed and disengaged, not with pity, but with purpose.
Inspired primary school children to dream bigger through enterprise challenges.
Launched the largest inclusion survey in the North East, giving policymakers real data to drive real change.
Delivered grassroots and governmentlevel programmes that made a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Hosted inclusive awards that celebrate everyone – not just the usual suspects – with a smile, some fun, and a whole lot of heart.
And this year, on 9th October, we’ll do it again – with our ABConnexions Awards, a night where every story matters and every person is valued. Because this isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about changing the narrative.
Our region is on a mission to become the most inclusive in the UK. And through our campaign, #InclusionByDefault, we’re showing that progress doesn’t have to be polarising. It can be positive, proactive, and powerful.
We don’t ignore problems – we face them. But we do it with a belief that solutions are better built in solidarity, not in silos.
Because when you strip away the noise, the anger, the fear – you realise something simple: People just want to feel seen, heard, and hopeful.
So here’s my call to action: let’s celebrate more than we criticise, collaborate more than we compete, and connect more than we cancel.
In the words of the late great Maya Angelou: “Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.”
Let’s make that our default setting. Power to the positive people – because in a world full of division, positivity is the most radical thing we can choose.
And I, for one, am choosing it every single day.
Ammar Mirza CBE is Chair & Founder of Asian Business Connexions, Executive Chair of the AmmarM Group, Honorary Colonel of 101 Regiment RA and holds various positions across the public and private sectors with a deep interest in Inclusion, Innovation and Internationalisation