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‘Monumental’ merger to create 900-strong career and leadership platform
Two Bristol-based business leaders, Zara Nanu and Kalpna Woolf, have joined forces to create a combined platform for career development and leadership diversity initiatives.
Bristol career platform WorkVue has merged with leadership diversity initiative BeOnBoard, creating a community of more than 900 professionals navigating career transitions, leadership development and board-level pathways.
The merger comes at a pivotal moment for UK workers, as unemployment rates rise, redundancies increase and uncertainty grows around the impact of AI on jobs.
WorkVue founder Zara Nanu said this period of instability makes “good data and practical support” more important than ever.
“WorkVue has delivered the intelligence, insights and coaching, but we knew we were missing the leadership pathways. That’s exactly what Kalpna has built with BeOnBoard,” said Zara Nanu – photo: Milan Perera
WorkVue, founded by Nanu after scaling pay-equity platform Gapsquare globally, provides data-driven labour market intelligence, skills analysis, research, coaching and community events to help people make informed career decisions.
BeOnBoard, created by Kalpna Woolf, has focused on widening access to boardrooms by supporting diverse talent into leadership roles.
Woolf, who held many high-profile appointments in media — including head of production for BBC Bristol — is also the high sheriff of Bristol, while Nanu is an academic and entrepreneur who is currently a professor at the Business School at the University of Bristol.
Kalpna Woolf, who held many high-profile appointments in media — including head of production for BBC Bristol — is also the high sheriff of Bristol – photo: Workvue
The partnership between the two community leaders is expected to create a combined platform offering data-driven career guidance and leadership opportunities.
“WorkVue has delivered the intelligence, insights and coaching, but we knew we were missing the leadership pathways. That’s exactly what Kalpna has built with BeOnBoard,” said Nanu.
Woolf added: “Diverse leadership is about representation and decision-making. Joining forces with WorkVue gives our community the data, research and support that turns ambition into action.”
The merger will create a community of more than 900 professionals navigating career transitions, leadership development and board-level pathways – photo: WorkVue
Members of the merged organisation will have access to real-time labour market insights, research on the future of work, coaching, events, peer networks, leadership development programmes and cross-stage mentorship opportunities — spanning entry-level workers to board-level leaders.
The combined organisation will continue under the WorkVue name, with Woolf joining as an advisor.
WorkVue is based in Bristol and now serves a global community of professionals seeking to navigate a shifting job-market landscape.
Main photo: WorkVue
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