Digital innovation and leadership: Learning from the Black Panther

Dr Shera Chok, Chair and Founder of the Shuri Network shares her reflections, celebrates highlights and achievements as the network goes from strength to strength, recently reaching their 5 year anniversary and showcases some impactful testimonials from network members.

"For the first time, I felt heard by my organisation. On the Shuri name alone, I have been welcomed into the digital space." Shuri Network member.

The Shuri Network celebrated our fifth anniversary this year. What an incredible journey it has been to see the impact on our members’ confidence and career progression and improving safety, innovation and diversity!

We are an award-winning network of women in technology from health and social care who are from minority ethnic groups. Shuri is the Black Panther Marvel character who is responsible for her country’s technological success and survival. The Network is supported by NHS England and allies such as Digital Health.

Launched in 2019, we empower women to succeed in tech careers, shape and influence national workforce and digital policy and challenge the system to take action against discrimination. We are passionate about ensuring our digital workforce and leadership represent the wider health and care workforce and the communities we serve. 

We have done the following: 

• Built a unique network of over 4,000 women from minority ethic groups in digital health and care in the UK and other countries
• Successfully developed and delivered an award-winning Digital Fellowship for women since 2021 with NHS England with nearly 90 alumni and 85 Fellows from health and social care this year
• Created over 25 podcasts on digital topics, for example, Cybersecurity, AI, Data and career pathways to demystify careers in technology and data
• Awarded over 150 bursaries to support women’s career progression in health technology
• Launched a ground-breaking virtual shadowing scheme during the pandemic to support women to build connections with tech leaders and entrepreneurs
• Delivered over 100 events and created a platform for women to share their achievements in technology and data
• We are included in the national Digital Health & Social Care Plan and the NHS England Three-Year Delivery Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Services
• Built partnerships with allies including NHS England, Digital Health, NHS Providers, the NHS Confederation and private sector organisations

We describe our impact as the Shuri magic as the Network creates opportunities that did not exist previously:

"An email really did change my life… The Fellowship has been instrumental to my personal growth, it has been a platform that has given me a voice. The Network for me is about acceptance. It is an amazing programme that reminds me that digital includes all of us, not just software engineers or analysts." Shuri Network member.

"The Shuri Network has been instrumental in mentoring emerging talent and creating new digital leaders." Helen Balsdon, CNIO, NHS England.

"I honestly couldn’t have gained my first digital role without the experience, connections and learning afforded to me through the Fellowship. I'm so glad that I went ahead and applied even when the dreaded imposter syndrome kicked in and gave me 100 reasons not to. The Fellowship has given me so much confidence and belief in myself and my ability to make a difference." Shuri Network member.

We have shared what we do with colleagues in the UK as well as internationally including South Africa, the UAE, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and Australia and with the BBC, NHS Race and Health Observatory, the Health Foundation, Kings Fund and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM in England.

It has been wonderful to see the Shuri Network and our members grow and thrive. We will continue to empower women in the digital space who will use their skills, connections and experience to improve patient outcomes and create a powerful ripple effect across health and care.