who we are

Our team of ten has degrees from Oxford, QMUL, Warwick, Sussex, Cambridge and Aberystwyth. We studied Physics, History, English, Law, Modern languages, Engineering, Politics, Philosophy, Economics, and Film and TV. Between us, we speak English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Yoruba, Rutoro, West Indian Patois - and Java. Our team includes a Blue Peter presenter, a DJ, two former African Caribbean Society Presidents, an ex model, a former bra saleswoman, a gospel singer, a young single mother, an ex Goldman Sachs associate, and a distant relative of Princess Diana. We have lived in Malawi, Uganda, Nigeria, Cuba, Mexico, Belgium, and Spain. Some of us work full time, some part time. We work from the office and from home and – within reason – we work the hours that suit our lives. Each member of the team has a unique perspective which informs the way we do business.

In addition to our paid team, Rare has an Advisory Board made up of prominent individuals from a variety of sectors. Board members are unpaid and give Rare their time for free. The Advisory Board is chaired by Sir David Bell, former Chairman of the Financial Times. 

Our managing director, Raphael Mokades, graduated with a First from Oxford University in 2001. He also played basketball for the University and served as president of his college students’ union. While at Oxford, Raphael organised the biggest ball Oxford has ever seen, the Oxford Revolution. The Oxford Revolution was endorsed by President Bill Clinton, had 3,000 paying guests and raised £25,000 for the Oxford Access Scheme, an organisation which works to get inner city and ethnic minority kids into Oxford.

Raphael joined the Financial Times as a graduate trainee in 2001. From 2003 to 2005 he was in charge of diversity at Pearson, the international media company which owns the FT. Under his watch, Pearson more than doubled the proportion of its staff that came from ethnic minority backgrounds and won Race for Opportunity awards in 2004 and 2005.

Raphael has written on business, sport, and social issues for both the Guardian and Financial Times. He also sits on the boards of a number of small businesses.