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Leadership Beyond Limits

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About Obsidi® Awards 2025, presented by BMO

The OBSIDI® Awards 2025, presented by BMO, celebrates visionary leaders and allies who embody the essence of transformative leadership. With this year’s theme, Leadership Beyond Limits, we honour individuals who defy boundaries, challenge the status quo, and drive meaningful impact across the tech landscape.

This prestigious event highlights the innovators, disruptors, and change agents shaping technology’s future and redefining leadership. From pioneering executives to groundbreaking tech professionals, the OBSIDI® Awards recognizes the full spectrum of Black excellence and allyship in tech across the United States and Canada.

Join us as we spotlight those who do not simply inspire progress but create lasting legacies. True leaders don’t just influence change; they make a difference.

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Obsidi® Awards 2025 Categories

BMO Black Entrepreneur of the Year, Tech Industry

Black Tech Executive of the Year

Black Marketer of the Year

Black Professionals Trailblazer of the Year

Black Tech Ally of the Year

Black Employee Resource Group of the Year

Breakout Professional of the Year, Technology Division

BMO Black Tech Community Builder of the Year

Black Communications Professional of the Year, Tech Industry

Black Engineer of the Year

Obsidi® Awards 2025 Winner Selection Process

Phase 1

Self-Nomination Period
03 February 2025 to 03 June 2025
Complete Self-Nomination Form

Phase 2

Submission Evalution Period
03 June 2025 to 06 July 2025
Submissions Reviewed Period by Judging Committee

Phase 3

Top 5 Finalist Announced
07 July 2025
Committee Announces Top 5 Finalist

Phase 4

Audience Voting Period
08 July 2025 to 08 August 2025
Judging Committee & Audience Votes for Top 5 Finalist to Determine Winners

Phase 5

OBSIDI® Awards Winner Announced
18 August 2025
Winners in Each Award Category are Announced

Phase 6

Awards Ceremony
25 September 2025
Winners attend the Awards Gala to Celebrate Achievements
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Meet Our Past Winners

adijat_akinsipe
Adijat Akinsipe Director, Enterprise Technology & Digital Recruitment Royal Bank of Canada
Award Title: Black Tech Recruiter of the Year
jesutomi-joy-onibonoje
Jesutomi Joy Onibonoje Marketing Supervisor UPS Capital
Award Title: Black Marketer of the Year
kevin-l-nichols
Kevin L. Nichols Founder, President & CEO The Social Engineering Project, Inc.
Award Title: BMO Black Tech Community Builder of the Year
andre-smith
Andre Smith Founder & CEO Flip Academy
Award Title: BMO Black Entrepreneur of the Year, Technology Industry
al-ramsay
Al Ramsay VP, 2SLGBTQ+ & Black Customer Segments TD Bank
Award Title: Black Professional Trailblazer of the Year, Sponsored by Sun Life
alex-coleman-1
Alex Coleman Chief Information Officer / Assistant Deputy Minister Government of Ontario
Award Title: Black Tech Executive of the Year
onyeka-illoh
Onyeka Illoh Director, Cloud Risk & Governance Sun Life
Award Title: Black Breakout Professional of the Year - Technology Division, Sponsored by Intuit
allan-porter
Allan Porter SVP, Chief Technology Officer Sun Life
Award Title: Black Tech Ally of the Year
amy-sylla
Amy Sylla Equity Diversity and Inclusion Advisor CBC
Award Title: Black Employee Resource Group of the Year

What Our Members Are Saying

All the recipients are so impressive. This is one of the biggest honors I’ve had.
Krista Satterthwaite
Krista SatterthwaiteSenior Vice President and General Manager HPE Mainstream Compute at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (2023 Black Tech Executive of the Year)
Spaces like this are important because they’re not safe spaces but courage spaces.
Thierry Lindor
Thierry LindorCo-Founder at Happly.ai (BMO Black Entrepreneur of the Year)
All the recipients are so impressive. This is one of the biggest honors I’ve had.
Krista Satterthwaite
Krista SatterthwaiteSenior Vice President and General Manager HPE Mainstream Compute at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (2023 Black Tech Executive of the Year)
Spaces like this are important because they’re not safe spaces but courage spaces.
Thierry Lindor
Thierry LindorCo-Founder at Happly.ai (BMO Black Entrepreneur of the Year)

Relive Last Year’s Obsidi® Awards Gala