Afro-Caribbean Business Network | Fireside Chat with Frank Onuh, Founder and Executive Director, AIRI Foundation | Monday, October 12, 2026 | Online
Some leaders build for themselves. Others build because they see a gap in their community and cannot look away. Over time, it is usually the second kind of leader who creates something that lasts.
That is the heart of purpose-driven leadership: starting with a real need, building something that serves people and creating opportunities for others along the way. However, purpose alone is not enough. It also takes resilience, discipline and a community that believes in the mission.
So on Monday, October 12, the Afro-Caribbean Business Network continues the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026 with a virtual fireside chat featuring Frank Onuh, Founder and Executive Director of the AIRI Foundation, on purpose-driven leadership, community building, resilience and creating meaningful opportunities for others.
Who Is Frank Onuh?
Frank brings more than a decade of experience in digital transformation and ethical technology. Currently, he is a doctoral researcher at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. In particular, his research explores artificial intelligence, misinformation and the design of inclusive technology systems.
His academic work also looks at how AI can help detect misinformation and how technology can be designed to include, rather than exclude, communities that are often left out. In other words, Frank is not only studying technology. He is asking who it serves and who it leaves behind.
Inside the AIRI Foundation
Frank leads the AIRI Foundation, short for Artificial Intelligence for Responsible Inclusion. Its focus is what it calls the “non-technical majority”: the professionals, educators, business owners and students who are already using AI every day, often without any guidance.
The foundation’s goal is to make AI literacy, and the ethical, productive use of AI, a standard. To do that, it offers practical, solution-focused training that helps both technical and non-technical users engage with AI responsibly and reduce bias.
The need is real. According to AIRI, Canada ranks near the bottom of advanced economies for AI knowledge, with only 38% of Canadians reporting moderate to high AI knowledge and just 24% having received any AI training.
Why This Conversation Matters for the Black Community
1. Purpose starts with a gap you can see
Frank saw everyday people using powerful technology without the knowledge to use it safely or well. Similarly, many Black entrepreneurs already see problems in their own communities that others overlook. That lived insight is a leader’s greatest advantage.
2. Resilience is a leadership skill
Building something new, especially while studying, working or raising a family, takes stamina. Consequently, resilience is not just a personality trait. It is a skill leaders practise: setting clear priorities, leaning on community and staying committed when progress feels slow.
3. Opportunity grows when leaders share knowledge
Purpose-driven leaders measure success partly by how many others they lift. For example, AI literacy training opens doors for business owners, workers and students who might otherwise be left behind. As a result, one leader’s knowledge becomes a community’s advantage.
4. The non-technical majority needs a voice
At ACBN, we name the Four Strikes™ that hold Black entrepreneurs back, and the first is small teams. Most Black-owned businesses have fewer than five people and no in-house tech expert. That is why organizations like AIRI matter: they make sure AI skills reach the people who need them most, not just the specialists. (For more on this, see our Day 10 spotlight on ethical AI for entrepreneurs and our Day 13 conversation on responsible AI in Canada. For hands-on skills, see Day 24 on AI training for small business owners.)
5. Purpose needs a plan
Of course, passion alone will not build a lasting organization or business. This is where ACBN’s 3C Framework™ comes in: Clarity → Connection → Capital. First, get clear on the problem you are solving and the model that sustains you. Next, connect with mentors, partners and community who share your mission. Finally, access the capital that lets your purpose reach more people.
Ready to turn your purpose into a funded business? ACBN’s Growth Pathway program walks you through the 3C Framework™ with coaching, community and a direct route to funding. We are welcoming 100 entrepreneurs into the program.
What You Will Walk Away With
- What purpose-driven leadership looks like in practice
- Strategies for building resilience as a founder or community leader
- Why AI literacy matters for every business owner, not just tech experts
- How to create opportunities for others as you grow
- A live Q&A with a researcher, founder and community builder
Frequently Asked Questions
What is purpose-driven leadership?
In simple terms, purpose-driven leadership means leading with a clear mission to serve people or solve a meaningful problem, and making decisions that stay true to that mission while building something sustainable.
What is AI literacy?
AI literacy is the basic knowledge and confidence to use AI tools effectively, understand their limits and risks, and make responsible choices about when and how to use them.
I missed the live session. Can I watch the replay?
Yes. Replays of BEEConference sessions will be shared on the ACBN YouTube channel.
Join Us on Day 12
Day 12 continues a full month of workshops through October as part of the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026. So if you are building something bigger than yourself, this conversation is for you.
Fireside Chat with Frank Onuh | BEEConference Day 12
Monday, October 12, 2026 | Online
Can’t make it live? Subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss a replay, workshop or conversation: youtube.com/@acbn_canada
Connect. Build. Grow.
