Oona King
Oona King is Google’s Director of Diversity Strategy, was previously YouTube's Director of Diverse Marketing, and before that Chief Diversity Officer for British Broadcaster Channel 4. She is a member of the House of Lords and former Senior Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street. Oona became a member of the House of Commons at 29, and was the 200th woman ever elected to the British Parliament (and second woman of colour). Oona was voted by other MPs “the MP most likely to change society.”
Oona founded the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Genocide Prevention in the House of Commons, and received a commendation from the UN Security Council's Expert Panel for her group's work on peacekeeping. During her time as an MP and later as a Member of the Lords, Oona helped to change the law in a number of areas, including housing policy, equalities policy and in areas impacting vulnerable children.Before becoming an MP, Oona was a Trade Union organiser representing low-paid workers, and spent five years as a researcher at the European Parliament. Oona has previously worked as a television presenter for Channel 4, BBC, Sky, Five and ITV. In her role at Channel 4, Oona designed and implemented a new diversity monitoring tool to drive change across the industry, and this is currently being implemented by the BBC, Channel 4, Sky, ITV and Viacom.
Oona has recently moved with her Italian husband Tiberio to live in the Bay Area; they have four young children, three of whom are adopted. Oona’s hobbies include cycling, ice-skating, and listening to AI podcasts in the middle of the night. In case Oona’s career goes very wrong, she is also a qualified aerobics instructor.
Website: http://www.oonaking.com
Instagram: @oona_king
Twitter: @oona_king
What is your idea of perfect happiness?: Living without an alarm clock or umbrella
Which living person do you most admire?: Hillary Clinton
What is your greatest extravagance?: Sunglasses
What is your current state of mind?: Generalised 21st century trauma
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?: After a point... patience
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?: Literally.
Which talent would you most like to have?: Singing
What do you consider your greatest achievement?: Changing British law in 10 areas - then swapping Parliament for Silicon Valley
Where would you most like to live?: A greek island
What is your most treasured possession?: My husband - he's not a possession, but apart from the kids nothing else really has intrinsic value
What is your favorite occupation?: Swimming in an emerald sea.
What is your most marked characteristic?: Determination
What do you most value in your friends?: Kindness
Who are your favorite writers?: Historical fiction, for example Hilary Mantell and Julian Rathbone. And my favourite book of all time is probably Vanity Fair by Thackeray.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?: Ida B Wells - the first black woman not to give up her seat for a white person (and be arrested); born a slave in 1862, she was a working mum with 4 kids & no help who changed the world's view on lynching... #legend
What is it that you most dislike?: Rude people. Slow drivers.
What is your motto?: On the edge baby, on the edge