Why Care?
Why Care? is a podcast about inclusion, diversity, and belonging, hosted by Nadia Nagamootoo. It features monthly conversations with experts on topics such as parenting, gender stereotypes, racial inequality, neurodiversity, and sexuality. The show is aimed at people with an inclusion, diversity, and belonging remit who want to build their knowledge and confidence. Listeners get practical advice and new thinking to help accelerate their organisation’s journey toward inclusion.
Episodes
66. From Outrage to Action: LGBTQ+ Equality, with Ellen Jones
In the UK, LGBTQ+ equality is often spoken about as a settled achievement. Author, strategist and campaigner Ellen Jones joins Nadia Nagamootoo to explain why that assumption does not match the reality she sees. They discuss the UK’s position on ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map, the uncertainty facing trans people, and the lasting effects of policies and attitudes that shaped Ellen’s childhood. Ellen als
65. What The Traitors Reveals About Trust and Ethical Leadership, with Amanda Collier
What happens to trust and judgement when people are placed under intense pressure?Former Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector and The Traitors contestant, Amanda Collier, joins Nadia Nagamootoo to explore human behaviour, resilience and ethical leadership.Amanda reveals why people instinctively seek safety in uncertain environments, how confidence can make someone a target and what the ex
64. Allyship As A Leadership Skill, with Lee Chambers
In this episode of Why Care?, Nadia Nagamootoo is joined by Lee Chambers, founder and CEO of Male Allies UK, for a powerful conversation about allyship, masculinity, gender equality and the urgent need to move from division to dialogue.Lee shares how serious illness, caregiving, fatherhood and his experience as a Black entrepreneur shaped his understanding of masculinity, purpose and impact. He ex
63. How to Create Safer Cultures at Work and Beyond, with Jamie Klingler
In this episode of Why Care?, Nadia Nagamootoo is joined by writer, broadcaster and campaigner Jamie Klingler for a conversation about accidental activism, women’s safety, police reform and the institutional failures that still leave women carrying the burden of risk. Jamie reflects on the moment Sarah Everard’s murder pushed her from behind-the-scenes media work into national campaigning, how Rec
62. Why High Performers Still Don’t Feel Good Enough, with Starling
In this episode of Why Care?, Nadia Nagamootoo is joined by pop artist, Starling, for a conversation about self-worth, invisible adversity, ageism, loneliness and the courage to become who you really are. Starling shares how childhood trauma, industry gatekeeping and years of being told she was not enough shaped her early story, and how inner work, nervous system awareness and radical self-belief
61. Worthiness, Belonging, and Leadership with Nova Reid
In the first episode of Why Care? Season 7, Nadia Nagamootoo sits down with Nova Reid, founder, storyteller, and bestselling author of The Good Ally, for a conversation about worthiness, healing, history, and leadership. Nova explains why worthiness is not something we earn through achievement, but something many of us must practice intentionally after learning unworthiness early in life. Together
Shame, Identity and the Right to Be Yourself | Why Care? Live in partnership with Athena Effect
In this special live episode of Why Care? Live, recorded at Dame Kelly Holmes’ Annual Women’s Celebration Event - Athena Effect, Nadia Nagamootoo is joined by Linda Riley, Raga D’silva, and Vikki Feltham for a powerful conversation on identity, shame, visibility, and what it takes to live truthfully in a world shaped by expectations.Together, they explore the pressure to stay hidden, the cost of b
60. It’s Not Magic, with John Amaechi
In the Season 6 finale of Why Care?, Nadia Nagamootoo is joined by John Amaechi OBE, organisational psychologist and Founder of APS Intelligence, for a wide-ranging and deeply grounded conversation on leadership, power, and personal accountability.Drawing on behavioural science, coaching practice, and lived experience, John challenges the myth that great leadership is rooted in charisma or innate
59. Parenting Out Loud with Elliott Rae
In this episode of Why Care?, Nadia Nagamootoo sits down with Elliott Rae, founder of Music Football Fatherhood, creator of the Parenting Out Loud movement and one of the UK’s leading voices on fatherhood, modern masculinity and men’s mental health. Elliott reflects on his decade of work shifting workplace culture for dads, from challenging stigma around flexible working to building systems that s
58. Fixing The Foundations with Kat Parsons
In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo is joined by Kat Parsons, Group Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Centrica and co-founder of the All Female Design & Build Project, which she launched in 2023 with her wife. Kat reflects on her career across male-dominated industries, her passion for fairness and justice, and her drive to transform workplace cultures through empathy and ed
57. Living with Hearing Loss & Deafness with Samantha Baines
In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo speaks with comedian, author, and actor Samantha Baines. Samantha shares her journey of discovering she has hearing loss in her late twenties, embracing her deaf identity, and advocating for better access and representation in the arts. She discusses her books, her experiences navigating comedy and acting with deafness, and the importance of lang
56. Take It & Own It - Redefining Women’s Power with Geeta Sidhu-Robb
In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo speaks with Geeta Sidhu-Robb, award-winning entrepreneur, political candidate, and the visionary founder of W Corp. Geeta shares her extraordinary journey from law and politics to building safer, more inclusive workplaces for women across the globe. She discusses launching W Corp at the United Nations, challenging CEOs with the Return on Investme
55. Include, Rise then Glaze with Ryan Panchoo
In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo speaks with Ryan Panchoo, the Founder of Borough 22, a pioneering doughnut brand built on the principles of inclusion, representation and authenticity. From his early days balancing family needs with business ambitions to breaking into iconic retailers like Selfridges, Ryan shares his inspiring journey of resilience and innovation. He discusses w
54. Menopause and Movement with Lavina Mehta
In this inspirational episode, Nadia Nagamootoo is joined by Lavina Mehta MBE, wellness coach, TEDx speaker, and Founder of Feel Good with Lavina. Lavina passionately discusses her journey of normalising menopause conversations, especially within South Asian communities, and her commitment to promoting accessible health through her innovative ‘exercise snacking’ concept. From celebrating menopause
53. Permissible Beauty with Robert Taylor
In this compelling episode, host Nadia Nagamootoo speaks with renowned photographer, Robert Taylor. Robert discusses his impactful journey from the RAF to becoming an acclaimed artist whose work champions black queer visibility and diversity. Robert shares insights about his pioneering, powerful project, "Permissible Beauty," exhibited at Hampton Court Palace, which creatively explored B
52. From Olympics to Advocacy with Montell Douglas
In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo sits down with the extraordinary Montell Douglas, a groundbreaking athlete known for her historic achievements as the UK's first woman to compete in both Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Montell shares her inspiring story of overcoming barriers, redefining success, and advocating passionately for equitable access to physical activity. She div
51. Pursuing Positive Impact with Christopher Kenna
In this new episode of Why Care?, starting Season 6, Nadia Nagamootoo talks with Christopher Kenna, CEO and founder of Diversity Media Inc. and Media Stream AI. Christopher shares his inspiring journey from a challenging childhood and life in the British Army to becoming a pioneering entrepreneur focused on diversity and inclusion. Learn how Chris uses AI to create personalised and inclusive media
Special Episode: Smarter in Seconds with Blair Imani
In this special episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo sits down with Blair Imani, historian, educator, and author of Read This to Get Smarter. Known for her viral Smarter in Seconds series, Blair breaks down complex topics in an accessible and engaging way. In this conversation, Blair shares her journey as an advocate, the role of education in driving change, and the importance of challengin
50. Murder Most Unladylike: Breaking Barriers in Children’s Literature with Robin Stevens
In this season finale of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo is joined by bestselling children’s author Robin Stevens, best known for the internationally renowned Murder Most Unladylike series, to explore how literature can shape young minds and create lasting change. Robin shares her journey as an author, the personal experiences that influence her writing, and how her neurodivergence, identity, and
49. Food, Family, and Leadership Lessons with Shelina Permalloo & Pamela Permalloo Bass
In this episode of Why Care?, host, Nadia Nagamootoo, has an inspiring conversation with the Permalloo Sisters - Shelina Permalloo, MasterChef winner and celebrated chef, and Pamela Permalloo Bass, a diversity, equity, and inclusion expert with extensive experience in the NHS. Together, they share stories of their Mauritian heritage, navigating identity as British Mauritian women, and breaking bar
48. Beneath the Surface with Michael Gunning
In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo speaks with Michael Gunning, an elite swimmer and trailblazer for diversity and inclusion in sport. Michael shares his incredible journey from becoming one of the few Black swimmers to compete internationally, to using his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ representation and equality. He opens up about navigating labels, breaking barriers, and the
47. Tackling Workplace Bullying with Claire Collins
In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo sits down with Claire Collins, a coach and Henley Business School Professor of Leadership, to discuss the impact of toxic work environments. Claire shares her journey from a biomedical career to becoming a law firm chief executive and, following a highly successful academic career, finding her purpose in coaching professionals who are dealing wit
46. Generative AI and Alleviating Inequity with Tarek Kamil
In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo speaks with Tarek Kamil, a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Cerkl. Tarek shares his fascinating journey, from leaving a stable career in software engineering to launching multiple tech ventures aimed at making the world a better place. They dive deep into how AI is transforming workplace communication, the importance of personalised experie
45. Normalising the conversation with Sarah Mulindwa
In this episode of Why Care? host Nadia Nagamootoo speaks with Sarah Mulindwa, who has uniquely combined her background in nursing with her passion for fashion, to become an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Sarah shares her journey from the healthcare sector to the fashion industry, highlighting the challenges and rewards of such a significant career transition. She also discusses he
44. Midlife Reinvention with Rosie Nixon
In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo welcomes Rosie Nixon, former Editor-in-Chief of HELLO! Magazine and author of three novels - The Stylist, Amber Green Takes Manhattan and Just Between Friends - plus the Be Kind book, all about showing different types of kindness.
Rosie shares her journey from the glamorous world of magazines to facing burnout and ultimately finding a new path f
43. Indivisible with Denise Hamilton
In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo welcomes Denise Hamilton, a leading DEI practitioner and author of Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences Into a Stronger Future. Denise shares her journey from corporate America to becoming a sought-after DEI consultant, emphasising the importance of practical application and the human side of diversity, equity, and inclusion work. They disc
42. Make It Last with Dr. Sandra Upton
In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo welcomes Dr. Sandra Upton, an esteemed DEI expert and author of Make It Last. They dive deep into Sandra's journey, from academia to consulting, and explore her eight-step DEI Propel framework designed to create sustainable and impactful DEI strategies within organisations. Sandra shares her insights on overcoming resistance, building effecti
41. The Power of Prose with Tegan Summer
Welcome to the Season 5 premiere of the Why Care? podcast! In this episode, host Nadia Nagamootoo sits down with the incredibly talented Tegan Summer, a distinguished writer, producer, and lyricist whose work has graced Broadway and the West End. Get ready for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation about the transformative power of theatre and the importance of diversity and representatio
Special Episode: Beyond Discomfort - The Launch with Nadia Nagamootoo
This is a unique Why Care? episode - a live fireside chat where I am the one being interviewed! The interviewer is my dear friend, Darin de Klerk, as we discuss all things Beyond Discomfort at my Book Launch event, which took place on 21st March 2024. During our intimate conversation, we tackle the challenges of leadership development and the significance of valuing diverse perspectives. I share s
Special Episode: Unique with Dame Kelly Holmes
In the second special celebrity episode of Why Care? I am joined by the multi-talented, Double Olympic Champion, Dame Kelly Holmes. We dive deeper into her journey of self-discovery, personal experiences, and traumas, which she explores in her powerful memoir Unique. Kelly shares her emotional backstory in which she concealed her true identity and sexuality from the public and lived in fear for
Special Episode: Being Your Best Self with Dr. Ranj
In this special celebrity episode of Why Care? I am joined by the truly inspiring, Dr. Ranj, to delve deeper into what drives him, his passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and his perspective on how to break society’s confines of masculinity. Dr. Ranj shares many personal life experiences as we discuss his cultural upbringing, mindset, sexuality, identity, and journey to being authe
40. The Brave Leader with David McQueen
In Episode 40 of Why Care? I am joined by the brilliant and highly entertaining David McQueen to delve deeper into his brand-new book, The Brave Leader. David shares some life experiences, powerful insights and we touch on subjects such as the importance of followership, his BRAVE framework for good leadership, and how to take a systems approach to inclusive leadership.
David’s dedication to DEI
39. Say More About That with Amber Cabral
“I encourage people in my books to please lean into your privileges, they give you a chance to show up as an ally, take advantage of all of them and I do but I simultaneously also understand the implications of what not having that access looks like. And even though I can't fix all of that, I also have a bit of responsibility to be a part of the solution.”
In Episode 39 of Why Care?, I am joi
38. Equality Vs Equity with Jenny Garrett
“The reframing that I do around that is that meritocracy
is a myth, the fact that everyone wants to get a job on their merit. Sadly, we know that lots of people get jobs because of who they know not necessarily what they know. They get opportunities and extra opportunities because of who they are...”
In Episode 38 of Why Care?, I am joined by Jenny Garrett, Founder of Jenny Garrett Global to discu
37. Untapped Leadership with Jenny Vazquez-Newsum
(Leadership theories are being developed by white men and researched on those from white backgrounds). “I think the biggest risk is how subtly permeated this exists within our definitions of leadership, of the leadership that we value and trust…"
In Episode 37 of Why Care?, I speak to Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, Founder and CEO of Untapped Leadership. We discuss her book, Untapped Leadership, and
36. Demanding More with Sheree Atcheson
“The other problem that we have is that people disregard the nuances of, in this case, women. And one of my Forbes pieces that I wrote, which is called Women are not a Monolith, and we must stop treating them as such..."
In Episode 36, Sheree Atcheson, Global DEI Senior Executive at Valtech, joins me to speak about her book, Demanding More. We explore the concept of white saviourism and whit
35. Conscious Inclusion with Catherine Garrod
"So quite often I find all that DEI activities and initiatives is operating without a plan. People don't know what they're aiming for, right? They may have read something on LinkedIn, or they experience something in their previous organisation, or they've read an article somewhere and they go, we should do this. And it kind of ends up being this big shopping list of activity that
34. Growing the Elephant with Chris Altizer and Gloria Johnson-Cusack
“And so, what we try to lift up in this book is ways for people to shift their mindsets from having that fixed mindset of thinking this is the way it is, it's the way it's always going to be, people won't grow, people won't change, it’s how it’s been for centuries, so maybe there's a way for us to ask these tough questions. For them to believe with optimism and competence and h
33. Reconstructing Inclusion with Amri Johnson
In Episode 33, I am joined by Amri Johnson, CEO and Founder of Inclusion Wins, to discuss the dangers of being led only by emotion and not reason, the dangers of being led by passion and not skill, and what DEI practitioners and organisations need to do to sustain DEI efforts.
Amri’s DEI journey has spanned over two
decades and is based on his experiences as a social capitalist, epidemiologist, e
32. Belonging with Sue Unerman
“I think this is a question for the world of work overall, which is challenge versus consensus. I think it is something you have to acknowledge as a leader which is that you might have three points of view in the room. If you go for consensus, you might be getting half good of all three of them. How do you get the very best? because if you’ve got those three opinions, everybody’s worked quite hard
31. How to be An Inclusive Leader? with Jennifer Brown
“I want to challenge the comfortable in all of us and in myself. I want to invite us to walk that path together because the comfortable amongst us is needed in the change equation so desperately for change to be sustainable, to be at scale, to be accelerated, to address the real pain and inequities in our society.”
In Episode 31, I am joined by Jennifer Brown, Founder and CEO of Jennifer Brown Con
30. Fixing the Broken Rung for Multicultural Women with Bonnie St. John
‘With multicultural women, we see that most of the time they are like, I will be just like everyone else, I will be talented and work hard and my work will speak for myself. It’s not easy for these women to deal with these issues. Being intentional about getting the assistance you need, setting your goals and moving up .. How do you use your difference as an asset and leverage it as an advantage f
29. DEI Mythbusters with Paolo Gaudiano
“Let’s not focus on just the number of representations, let’s focus on creating an environment where everyone has an equal chance to succeed, the numbers will then work themselves out. We would truly have the best people in the best positions instead of advantaged privileged white men who might have advanced in their career because of privilege they didn’t even see, and that leads to the dispariti
28: DEI and the Art of Localisation with Claire Brody
“There’s no pressure on you to be global - there’s pressure on you to think about who is around your table. To think about who you’re bringing in to start a strategy.”
In Episode 28, I am joined by Claire Brody, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Warner Bros. Discovery, to discuss the art of localisation. Claire shares valuable learning and insight on how to develop a DEI strategy th
27. The Inner Work of Inclusive Leadership with Rose Cartolari
The Inner Work of Inclusive Leadership
“We need to be able to be so attuned to what’s going out around you. And the only way to do that in a stable way is by being rooted in the way you are. In really understanding…OK, is this me? This constant evaluating.”
In Episode 27, I am joined by Rose Cartolari, Founder and Director of RC Consulting, which specialises in Leadership Advisory and Executive Co
26. Silencing the Echo Chambers with Sámi Ben-Ali
“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not”
In Episode 26 I am joined by Sámi Ben-Ali, Vice President of Inclusion & Diversity at Wood, to discuss the importance of silencing the echo chambers, recognising that lived experience fuels individual perspectives, and how times of global crisis often put the focus on individual survival over the needs of the group.
Sámi’s interest in DEI started
25. The Power of Truth with Devi Virdi
“When it comes to creating that inclusive culture, frankly you’re either leading the way or getting in the way – because neutral doesn’t exist”
In Episode 25 I am joined by Devi Virdi, Group Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Centrica, to discuss how cultural intelligence is key to inclusive leadership, the importance of collecting employee data, and ‘the power of truth’.
Devi’s DEI journey is o
24. DEI: Creating a Holistic Narrative with Geoffrey Williams
“Everyone has their personal passion points, and [DEI] conversation[s are] often looked at from a personal viewpoint. So it’s not really looked at as a business driver or a business conversation, it’s looked at as ‘I care about gender’, ‘I care about race’, ‘I care about disability because my child has a disability’ and you have to encourage the leaders to go outside the scope of their personal pa
23. Meritocracy or Mirrortocracy? with Kristen Anderson
“When you start defining diversity in a broader sense, usually you will find a lot of people who are passionate about one element. Maybe they have experienced exclusion because they are a certain age, or have a certain number of years at the company, and they don’t feel like they’re taken seriously or listened too. Getting people engaged in one element is important, and that’s where the wave start
22. Count, Share, Change with Nina Goswami
“Often if some organisations or people feel that something is a ‘tick box’- it fails. We see that time and time again. So if you can, through passion and collaboration, create momentum, then that’s what’s gonna keep things going.”
In Episode 22 I am joined by Nina Goswami, Creative Diversity Lead for the BBC, to discuss the importance of inclusive storytelling, representation in the media, and the
21. Self-Reflection as a Superpower with Pat Phelan
“I asked the team – Where should I go? What should I read? What should I look at? I had conversations with my own team members around certain areas that genuinely I didn’t quite understand…..I would have been the first person in the world to say ‘I do not see colour, I do not see gender’…..and it’s the most cliched, most inaccurate thing someone in my position could ever say”
In the first episode
Special Episode: Leading Outside the Cookie Cutter with Elvin Nagamootoo
“There was definitely a level of expectation that you felt, I use the word pressure because that’s exactly what it felt like at the time. Some people thrive upon that and go forward, I rebelled – I did the exact opposite. My rebellious bit was to go ‘I don’t want to pursue academia anymore, I want to go and work, I want my own financial independence’ and not to choose the cookie cutter path.”
In
20. Shifting Mindsets with Shawna Ferguson
“2020, the year that changed everything in all of our lives around the globe. Whether it was the global health crisis and pandemic of COVID, or looking at everyone working under quarantine, or looking at some of the social-racial unrest that has happened around the globe. We started to go from diversity, to diversity and inclusion, to that year - we started talking about belonging, intersectionali
19. DEI From The Inside with Pauline Miller
“[Working in the DEI field] I learnt lots of things and things we should always remember – One: we don’t know everything. One: We can’t resolve everything on our own...But most importantly, I learnt about myself.”
In Episode 19 of the ‘Why Care?’ podcast, I am joined by Pauline Miller, Chief Equity Officer, EMEA for dentsu, where Pauline is responsible for shaping and leading its DEI strateg
18. Everyday Experiences with Emma Codd
“You would assume that because someone is in a virtual workplace that [non-inclusive behaviours] wouldn’t happen. Well forget it. Over 50% of the women that we spoke to said yes: in the past year they had experienced non-inclusive behaviours, and that was worse for women of colour and worse for LGBTQ+ women.”
In Episode 18 of the ‘Why Care?’ podcast, I am joined by Emma Codd, Global Inclusion Lead
17. Reclaiming Identity with Rukasana Bhaijee
“When [Muslim] women want to enter the workplace in places like the UK for instance, they may end up facing a triple penalty. The penalty of being a Muslim, the penalty of being potentially from a different racial background and also being a woman. It’s almost instead of facing the glass ceiling, you’re facing a triple glazed or a concrete ceiling which is almost impossible to penetrate.”
In Episo
16. Active Allyship with Marc McKenna-Coles
“Active allyship should end up meaning that whatever an active ally was trying to achieve becomes normal. That it’s normal to see people from various ethnic backgrounds, from various sexual orientations, genders, disabilities, family situations, etc. in positions of authority or seniority in organisations.”
In Episode 16 of the ‘Why Care?’ podcast, I am joined by Marc McKenna-Coles, Diversity, In
15. The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of Stereotyping with Sheri Crosby Wheeler
“I was looking for something to aspire to, but I also knew – I don’t know why – it can’t be the situation where I can’t ascend to those things. What I see around me is not the true picture of the world. That’s what I just started to tell myself. Maybe there’s people here who think that’s the case, but I don’t believe it and I’m gonna set out to prove that’s not the case; that there are people like
14. D&I as a Positive Business Strategy with Charlotte Cox and Caroline Nankinga
“I am thoroughly delighted – and feel sad almost when I have a big cheer inside – when on the screen pops up a senior female executive from another organisation. I get a bit giddy. That just shows we’ve come a long way, but how far we’ve got to come.” - Charlotte
In a first for Why Care?, I am joined by two guests Charlotte Cox, President EMEA Pentland Brands and Pentland’s D&I Manager, Caroli
13. Living A People Culture with Marta Pajón-Fustes
“If you’re going through a recruitment process, instead of that idea of ‘how will this person fit into the company?’, it’s the question of ‘what will this person bring?’ How could they add into the culture of Innocent and into the way we do things?”
In this episode I am joined by Marta Pajón-Fustes, Head of Technical and Inclusion & Diversity at innocent drinks, to discuss Marta’s personal exp
12. Making Global DEI Locally Relevant with Christian Hug
“Discussions are not just about the [employee] population who we have, it’s about their network, their families members, their friends. … It’s not just about the demographics we replicate, it’s about everybody else, because we are all diverse ultimately.”
In this episode I talk with Christian Hug, the Vice President of LifeWorks & Inclusion at Discovery, the company behind the popular televisi
11. LGBTQ+ Liberation Reimagined with Bendita Cynthia Malakia
“There is broadening acceptance in society, which means some of these identities that have been more at the margins have had the opportunity to appear and flourish. It doesn’t mean they haven’t been there - they’ve always been there. It’s just becoming more visible to those outside of the community”.
In this episode I talk with Bendita Cynthia Malakia, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Hog
10. Creating Equity with Andrew Fairbairn
“To ignore reality for as long as people have is a cultural illness, quite frankly – a delusion”
In this episode Nadia talks to Andrew Fairbairn, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) London, a Charity set up engage young people from low socio-economic backgrounds and create opportunities for them that would otherwise have been unlikely for them to attai
9. Neurodiversity and Mental Health with Sean Betts
“The world is set up for neurotypical people and when someone who is neurodiverse tries to fit into that neurotypical world, that can create a lot of stresses and strains on them mentally, that then manifest themselves in kind of broader mental health issues. That is not to say that everyone who is neurodiverse has a mental health challenge as well, but there is a very strong correlation between t
8. Diversity & Inclusion as a Source of Energy with Eric Pliner
“And then there is the opportunity to flip it on it’s head. Rather than seeing it as a burden or another thing to manage, inclusive leadership and driving a successful D&I agenda actually has the potential to be a huge source of energy.”
In this episode I talk to Eric Pliner, CEO of YSC Consulting, a global leadership consulting firm, which has partnered with nearly 20% of the Global Fortune 5
7. Mental Health & Surviving Sundays with Emma Mainoo
“You are far more likely to work with somebody that is experiencing suicidal thoughts than with somebody that is about to have a heart attack”
In this episode I have a powerful and inspiring conversation with Emma Mainoo, Partner and Head of Mental Health at Utopia, the culture-change consultancy I collaborate with, which works with businesses to create more purposeful, more inclusive, and more en
6. The Barriers to Equal Parenting with Dr. Laura Radcliffe
“Most work-family policies and the whole way work is set up is still based on a really outdated model of what a family is.”
In this episode I talk to Dr Laura Radcliffe, Senior Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour at the University of Liverpool and author of many research papers on the topic of parenting and work-life balance. Together we published the Business in the Community Equal Lives: Parent
5. Recruiting and Retaining Diverse Leaders with Christina Brooks
“The puzzle is solved when all sides are equal, and it takes time and patience.”
In this episode I talk to Christina Brooks, an exceptional talent acquisition expert with 15 years industry experience and Co-founder of executive search firm Ruebik, a name that represents an analogy of D&I and the famous cube game. Remarkably, her firm is the only executive search company to offer a one-year onb
4. Visible Fathering with Yash Puri
“People would say ‘oh I heard you’re going on a long holiday?’ and I’m like, ‘No, no, no I’m not going on a long holiday!’ And that’s what people think it is - 3 months of fun! It’s not fun – it’s amazing, but it’s challenging”
Yash Puri has been working in the financial sector for 20 years and was one of the under 2% of entitled fathers, who decided to take 3 months of shared parental leave with
3. The Job Sharing Solution with Sophie Smallwood
“As a manager, this type of work arrangement is phenomenal, because I can give the flexibility and then I can get the coverage and help meet my quota.”
In this episode, Sophie Smallwood, Co-founder of Roleshare talks to me about her first maternity leave experience where she took a full year but was actually feeling ready to come back before that if there would have been the option of 3 days. She
2. Walking the Talk with Rob Baker
“Men often say to me: “So what can I do?” and the first thing I say to them is: listen.”
In this episode, I have the privilege of talking all things inclusion to Rob Baker. He is a thought leader on diversity & inclusion and on engaging men to support gender equality: at work, at home and in all aspects of life. In recognition of his achievements in supporting women in the workplace, he was na
1. Parenting From Work with Brian Ballantyne
“If all men and women could let men be more gentle, vulnerable and caring, that would be useful”.
What better way to kick-off my podcast series than talk to the articulate and inspirational Inclusion & Diversity thought leader, Brian Ballantyne. Brian is a Senior Program Manager for Inclusion & Diversity at Amazon, father of two and author of the book, Confessions of a Working Father. In t
