Diversity Secrets (Louise Moulié)

#003 Today, we’re extremely pleased to welcome Heidi Robertson, Group Head of D&I at ABB, a leading Global 500 technology company driving digital transformation through industrial automation, robotics and electrification.

As a matter of fact, 2021 was an important year for DEI at ABB : it marked the first year of rolling out their 2030 D&I Strategy. And so we take a deep dive with Heidi as she takes us on a pragmatic step-by-step tour of how to set up and roll-out a 10-year D&I strategy.
From stakeholder management in setting up the strategy, to measuring progress and ensuring accountability and ownership for reaching the newly-set goals, we discuss how to meet global goals while promoting local and grassroot initiatives.
Honesty and transparency about the progress already been made and the journey that remains are two of the key criteria that Heidi shares with us for an efficient and reliable strategy.

On a more personal level, we talk about the concept of privilege and the sense of duty that comes with it.
When we asked Heidi what the hardest part of the job was for her, she answered: “being patient: there is no quick fix or fast solutions in DEI”. Luckily for Heidi, reaching 2030 goals starts with taking action today!

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

Do not hesitate to follow Heidi Robertson on LinkedIn to continue following her journey as a DEI leader.
To learn more about ABB’s DEI strategy, please visit: https://global.abb/group/en/about/diversity-and-inclusion

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#004 In today’s episode, we welcome one of the pioneers of DEI: Kim Weaver. Kim has been leading Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for over 20 years in a great variety of global firms such as Uber, Sodexo, McCormick&Co, and more. Today, Kim Weaver leads global DEI at Aveva, a global leader in industrial software.

Kim’s DEI story is both a personal battle and a professional journey. She tells us about growing up in the Deep South of the USA and experiencing racism from a very young age, as well as the discrimination and harassment she experienced in her career. This journey, although a painful one at times, has taught her the transformations that need to happen to make the workplace a safe space for all employees. As Kim leads Aveva into its first year of its DEI Strategy, we discuss the business case behind DEI in the B2B and Tech sectors. She explains the productivity gains that come from making work environments safe for employees to be themselves and deliver the best that they have to offer. We talk about engaging leaders right from the onset as part of what Kim calls a “top-down, bottom-up, and across the middle” strategy. We discuss the challenges of measuring demographics across different countries and different legal set-ups. Finally, Kim calls on companies to cease the moment and start a real, profound, dialogue around race, namely in the US.

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

Do not hesitate to follow Kim Weaver on LinkedIn to continue following her journey as a DEI leader. To learn more about Aveva’s DEI strategy, please visit: https://www.aveva.com/en/about/about-aveva/diversity-equity-inclusion/

Kim Weaver references Isabel Wilkerson’s ‘Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents’, a book about racism in the USA.

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#005 For our 5th and final interview of the “On the Job” season, we are very pleased to welcome Aurélie Uricher, as she completes her first year as Global D&I Manager at L’Occitane Group, a global manufacturer and retailer of natural cosmetics and well-being products.

This was an exciting first year on the job for Aurélie, as, with her nomination, L’Occitane is just getting started with their DEI journey. The Group is rolling out its Global Inclusive Parental Leave Policy, gender equity in senior management is reaching new levels, and Aurélie collaborated with teams across the company to co-construct and kick-off L’Occitane’s very first Global DEI Survey. Before stepping in to her DEI role, Aurélie Uricher had worked in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and HR departments of L’Occitane. She tells us how this path has shaped her vision for a holistic approach to DEI, linking the group’s social impact strategy to diversity, equity and inclusion. Seeing DEI through not only an HR, but also a CSR lens, requires working with all stakeholders up and down the value chain and supply chain, as well as keeping consumers in mind in order to offer inclusive products.

Finally, Aurélie tells us about the big challenges that you face when you’re just getting started, but also the big steps that are already being taken, as well as the journey that she looks forward to in order to build a more inclusive and diverse workplace.

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

Do not hesitate to follow Aurélie Uricher on LinkedIn to continue following her journey as a DEI leader. To learn more about L’Occitane’s DEI strategy, take a look at their 2021 ESG report.

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#006 This episode marks the end of Season 1. We’ll be back with new episodes next month, but we wanted to go over what we’ve learnt this season and give you a sneak preview of what you can expect from Diversity Secrets Season 2.

This first season was called “On The Job”, as we asked DEI professionals what it really means to work in DEI. Our guests shared their insights and expertise to successfully drive DEI in organizations, as well as the unique, and sometimes difficult, journeys that brought them to the work that they do today.

Season 2 is called “Why It Really Matters”. We’ll ask ourselves: Why should companies even care about DEI?
Through a new series of interviews with DEI professionals and leaders, we will explore the business case for DEI, as well as the social justice imperatives that push companies to act. Recent and prominent studies have reaffirmed the strong business case for diversity in corporate leadership and teams—and shown that this business case continues to strengthen.
So why is the corporate world making such sluggish progress towards diverse equitable and inclusive work places despite DEI being correlated with such clear wins?
We’ll hear from the researchers that have established the business case for DEI, as well as from the DEI leaders in the corporate world that are applying it to their reality. We’ll also talk to the activists and organizations raising awareness around the social imperatives to act now for DEI in the corporate world. We’ll apply theory to practice to find out what will trigger real, and sustainable change. 

So don’t forget to subscribe to not miss out on Season 2!
If you'd like to get in touch, let's connect on LinkedIn or via e-mail : louise.moulie@outlook.com

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#007 Welcome back to Diversity Secrets Podcast!
 
We’re excited to be back with a brand new season called “Why it really matters”. We ask ourselves: why should companies care about DEI?

In this new series of interviews, we will explore the business case for DEI, as well as the social justice imperatives that push companies to act. Recent and prominent studies have reaffirmed that diversity and inclusion are good for business. So why is the corporate world making such sluggish progress towards diverse, equitable and inclusive work places despite DEI being correlated with such clear wins? Is the business case robust enough to drive real change? Baring in mind recent social protests across the globe, is DEI today a business must, or simply the right thing to do?

We have a very exciting line-up with guests coming from the academic and the NGO world, as well as speakers who lead DEI in a wide variety of firms such as Schindler, Dow, Volvo, Disney, Pfizer, and more!
So be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and tune-in next week for our first episode!

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the first digital HR solution for assessing, managing and promoting D&I in businesses of all lines and sizes. Mixity gives you a 360-degree view of your D&I footprint on 5 dimensions: gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, cultural and social origins, and age.
Be sure to check out their website for more information: https://www.mixity.co/

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#008 For our first episode of Season 2 “Why it Really Matters”, we are thrilled to welcome a very exciting guest: Dr. Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey, PhD, founder and Managing Director of Element of Inclusion. In his mission to make companies more diverse and inclusive, Dr. Jonathan applies academic theory to business practice.

This episode, he keeps us on our toes as he helps us understand what exactly we mean by ‘business case’ when talking about DEI. He tells us that mainstream studies that have made this so-called business case popular may have mislead us: the correlation between diversity and economic performance isn’t as simple as it seems. And so we discuss how to build the right business case for your organization, as well as the missing keys to make DEI deliver on their economic promise. Finally, Dr. Jonathan reminds us that this business case is underpinned by the Friedman Doctrine, that states that the primary responsibility of an organisation is to its shareholders and that the primary goal of an organisation is to maximize returns to the shareholders. We question this doctrine and ask ourselves whether it is still relevant today, especially given the rise of interest in social justice for which companies are being held accountable for. Will the social justice case replace the business case?

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the first digital HR solution for assessing, managing and promoting D&I in businesses of all lines and sizes. Mixity gives you a 360-degree view of your D&I footprint on 5 dimensions: gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, cultural and social origins, and age.
Be sure to check out their website for more information: https://www.mixity.co/

Resources cited in this episode:

• Read Getting Serious about Diversity: Enough Already with the Business Case”, by R.J.Eli and D.A.Thomas on the Harvard Business Review.
• Listen to Dr.Jonathan’s analysis of the article on his podcast
• Listen to his podcast on the social justice case. business case for DEI.
• Visit Dr. Jonathan’s website for more resources and information about his work: https://elementofinclusion.com/
• You can follow Dr. Jonathan on LinkedIn (@Dr. Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey)and Twitter (@JALamptey).

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#009 For our second episode of our “Why it Really Matters” season, we are extremely pleased to be joined Eric Howard Way, Global Head of Inclusion, Diversity & CSR at Schindler Group, a Swiss multinational company that manufactures escalators, moving walkways, and elevators worldwide.

Eric started his career as an engineer in the heavy truck manufacture industry. A long way from D&I, we could say. However, being an engineer himself helped Eric make a compelling case for D&I that other engineers could understand. Eric explains the importance of adapting ones language, and arguments when building the case for DEI, depending on the public being addressed. Problem solving and logical thinking exercises were key to demonstrating to his peers the efficiency and innovation gains that come out of more diverse and inclusive teams. Eric shares with us how to build the right rationale and the necessary sense of urgency for D&I in the traditionally male-ridden manufacturing and engineering world, that you can also apply to your organization.

Finally, Eric reminds us that DEI is a competitive sport for companies who want to stay relevant in our day and age. Building a business case for it just around the numbers and potential performance gains is not enough: an emphasis on equity, social justice, as well as empathy are key elements to gathering support and momentum for DEI in your organization.

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

Do not hesitate to follow Eric Howard Way on LinkedIn (@Eric Way) to continue following his journey as a DEI leader. To learn more about Schindler’s DEI strategy, please visit their website.

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the first digital HR solution for assessing, managing and promoting D&I in businesses of all lines and sizes. Mixity gives you a 360-degree view of your D&I footprint on 5 dimensions: gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, cultural and social origins, and age. Be sure to check out their website for more information: https://www.mixity.co/

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#010 This episode, we continue to uncover why DEI is important to business, including in the B2B sector, with Luisa Boaretto, Regional I&D and Employee Experience at Dow, an American material science global company.

Luisa starts by explaining the business case for DEI at Dow. And it’s a strong one. Dow’s business and relevance relies on bringing ever more innovative solutions. From that standpoint, diversity, equity and inclusion are essential for employees to thrive, reach their full potential, and bring about the innovation Dow needs. And so, today, inclusion is actually part of Dow’s mission statement. In fact, Luisa tells us that DEI is treated with the same regard as any other business strategy in the company: and results are showing. This impeccable business case has allowed Dow to develop a strong DEI strategy impacting both the workplace, the value chain, and the communities in which they work.

However, Luisa reminds us that human minds both have a rational and irrational side. In that sense, a strong business case may appeal to the rational mind, but a strong purpose and moral case are also key to building the right arguments for DEI in the workplace. This is all the more true as businesses are now expected to perform on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria, of which DEI KPIs and metrics form a part of.

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

Do not hesitate to follow Luisa Boaretto on Twitter (@luisa_boaretto) to continue following her journey as a DEI leader. To learn more about Dow’s DEI strategy, and initiatives, you can visit their website, and be sure to check out their 2021 ESG Report, as well as their corporate Twitter account(@DowNewsroom). You can also follow Dow’s Chief Inclusion Officer, @KarenS_Carter, Dow's CEO @JimFitterling and @H_Ungerleider Dow’s CFO, who regularly post about these issues.

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the first digital HR solution for assessing, managing and promoting D&I in businesses of all lines and sizes. Mixity gives you a 360-degree view of your D&I footprint on 5 dimensions: gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, cultural and social origins, and age. Be sure to check out their website for more information: https://www.mixity.co/

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#013 For our last episode of this season about the Business Case for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), we are thrilled to welcome Brimbelle Grandcolas, Head of DEI at Disneyland Paris.

Be sure to get your pen and paper out as Brimbelle shares with us concrete tips and examples on how to deliver on a DEI strategy that makes sense both for business and for our society. Brimbelle openly shares her advice because she believes that DEI is not a competitive sport, but rather a team effort. She is convinced that the best way forward is through businesses collaborating and supporting each other in building a more inclusive world all together. At Diversity Secrets, we couldn’t agree more!

Brimbelle explains how DEI ties in to the day-to-day business at Disneyland Paris. Whether it’s building the most inclusive experience or the most representative products, the motto at Disneyland is that magic is for everyone! And for that to happen, Brimbelle stresses the importance of allyship and intersectionality in conducting the DEI strategy, as well as the necessary balance between bottom-up and top-down initiatives, as well as short-term and long-term projects.

Finally, as someone with experience in the non-profit sector and at the United Nations, Brimbelle shares with us her conviction: public and private sectors must work hand in hand for us to see truly impactful DEI!

Do not hesitate to connect with Brimbelle Grandcolas on LinkedIn (@Brimbelle Grandcolas) to continue following her journey as a DEI leader. To learn more about Disneyland’s DEI strategy and initiatives, be sure to visit their website: https://disneyconnect.com/dpep/inclusion/

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the first digital HR solution for assessing, managing and promoting D&I in businesses of all lines and sizes. Mixity gives you a 360-degree view of your D&I footprint on 5 dimensions: gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, cultural and social origins, and age. Be sure to check out their website for more information: https://www.mixity.co/

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#011 In today’s episode, get ready for a fresh perspective on the Business Case for DEI, as we welcome Amelia Huix, Advisor for Gender Equality at the United Nations Global Compact.

In 2015, the United Nations announced a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by our societies at large by 2030. Gender Equality for all women across the globe is one of them. This means achieving diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces and businesses. The UN Global Compact gathers business organizations committed to the SDGs.
 We explore with Amelia how the SDGs are a tool to foster commitment, accountability and transparency for gender equality and DEI in the business field. We discuss how the SDGs participate in building a new social justice case for DEI that goes beyond the business case. We talk about the role that companies and business leaders are expected to play today as social agents of the XXIst century. Are the SDGs the change in paradigme that we need in order to see real and sustainable DEI in all aspects of our economies and societies? Can they gather the buy-in that the business case doesn’t manage to get?

Do not hesitate to follow Amelia Huix on LinkedIn (@Amelia Huix) to continue following her journey as a DEI leader. You can visit her website (http://amelialopezhuix.com/) to learn more about her work as an advisor for achieving the SDG Target Gender Equality, and finally, you can check out the UN Global Compact for more information on how your organization can become a member (https://www.unglobalcompact.org/)

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the first digital HR solution for assessing, managing and promoting D&I in businesses of all lines and sizes. Mixity gives you a 360-degree view of your D&I footprint on 5 dimensions: gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, cultural and social origins, and age. Be sure to check out their website for more information: https://www.mixity.co/

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#012 In today’s episode, we are honored to welcome Alvine Trémoulet, Global DEI Leader at Pfizer.

In this enriching conversation, Alvine tells us about her own inclusion journey as an employee for over a decade of the American pharmaceutical corporation, and shares her experience as a DEI leader for the past 5 years.
Alvine makes a point of granting the upmost importance to individual journeys when it comes to DEI. This means distinguishing between the concepts of equality and equity, and incorporating the notion of intersectionality in DEI initiatives and programs. We discussed the importance of using careful language, and demonstrating nuance and tolerance when trying to convince people of the importance of DEI. Finally, Alvine explains how DEI is both a business strategy that matters for the bottom-line of the company, as well as an opportunity for corporate activism and social impact. In what is called today the Great Resignation, DEI is especially a tool for attracting and retaining talent, through an inclusive company culture. All in all, Alvine leaves us with some concepts to reflect on, as well as some inspiring examples to take away.
Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

Do not hesitate to connect with Alvine Trémoulet on LinkedIn (@Alvine (ASSENE EKOUMOU) TREMOULET) to continue following her journey as a DEI leader. To learn more about Pfizer’s DEI strategy and initiatives, be sure to visit their website: https://www.pfizer.com/about/responsibility/diversity-and-inclusion

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the first digital HR solution for assessing, managing and promoting D&I in businesses of all lines and sizes. Mixity gives you a 360-degree view of your D&I footprint on 5 dimensions: gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, cultural and social origins, and age. Be sure to check out their website for more information: https://www.mixity.co/

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#014 And it’s a wrap for season 2 of Diversity Secrets Podcast! We’ll be back with a brand new season after the Summer. In this episode, we go over what we’ve learned this season, and give you a sneak preview of what to expect from season 3.

In season 2 we had one overarching question: Why should companies even care about DEI? In other words, what’s the business case for diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace? In fact, prominent studies demonstrate that ‘diversity and inclusion are good for business’, it’s the ‘smart [and right] thing to do’. However, despite those claims and despite the recent social demands for companies to take action for DEI, the corporate world is only sluggishly moving toward more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces. So we had to ask our guests if the business case is not a myth. And here’s the 3 key learnings we gathered :

1. The business case isn’t as straight forward as we’ve been lead to believe
2. A strong business case won’t convince everyone in the company
3. A business case doesn’t necessarily set you up for success

Our guests made it clear: DEI matters for companies that want to stay competitive and relevant in this day and age. But if Diversity & Inclusion really matters, if it really is a strategic priority, why aren’t we seeing results? And that’s exactly what we’ll tackle in season 3: how to get results, and fast! How to translate corporate commitment into efficient action.

Thanks for tuning in this season and do send us feedback: it helps us grow!
Don’t forget to subscribe to not miss out on Season 3!

This season, was powered by Mixity.co, the first digital HR solution for assessing, managing and promoting D&I in businesses of all lines and sizes. Mixity gives you a 360-degree view of your D&I footprint on 5 dimensions: gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, cultural and social origins, and age. Be sure to check out their website for more information: https://www.mixity.co/

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#015 Diversity Secrets podcast is back for a bonus episode with Kate Bourdet who leads Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Orange Business Services, part of the French Telecom company Orange Group.

In this up-front conversation, Kate shares with us what the notion of Belonging means to her, and we discuss what implications it holds for a company in order to make sure that employees can bring their true authentic selves to work, and belong there.
Kate raises an important point: a truly transformative and impactful DEI policy implies disruptive and uncomfortable change in a company. And with discomfort often comes backlash. To respond to backlash, there’s nothing better than presenting the facts, because, as Kate puts it: numbers don’t lie! That’s why Orange Group partnered with Mixity.co to establish an equal-opportunities footprint and measure their levels of diversity and inclusion around gender, sexual orientation, disability, multicultural and multigenerational dimensions. Mixity established a 360-degree view of D&I at Orange and Kate tells us how this assessment took place, what stuck out, and how this benchmark serves as a stepping stone for a fact-based DEI action plan at Orange group.
Finally, as a former communications and marketing manager herself, Kate tells us how her professional background contributes to her DEI mission, especially when it comes to getting all managers on board with DEI at Orange.

Do not hesitate to connect with Kate Bourdet on LinkedIn (@Kate Bourdet) or Twitter (@KateBo) to continue following her journey as a DEI leader and her work at Orange Business Services.

Thanks for tuning in. Do send us feedback: it helps us grow!
Don’t forget to subscribe to not miss out on Season 3!

This episode was powered by Mixity.co, the first digital HR solution for assessing, managing and promoting D&I in businesses of all lines and sizes. Mixity gives you a 360-degree view of your D&I footprint on 5 dimensions: gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, cultural and social origins, and age. Be sure to check out their website for more information: https://www.mixity.co/

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#016 Welcome back to the Diversity Secrets Podcast !

We’re excited to be back with a brand new season called “How to Succeed at DEI” - a blueprint for real impact and effective results.
In the past 2 years we’ve seen a wave of corporate and CEO statements reaffirming their DE&I values and commitments. Billions of dollars are spent on DE&I trainings, programs and initiatives around the world. Now we want to see real results.
Join us for this series of interviews as our guests share with us their unique experiences and best practices for building diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces. They’ll tell us what initiatives prove most effective, for real lasting impact and results. A hands-on, practical toolkit to help YOU set your DE&I work up for success!
We’ve gathered an exciting line-up of DE&I leaders from businesses of all lines and sizes, such as Bain&Company, HelloFresh, Publicis, SAP, Zalando, and more.

In oder to get results, you need to use the right DE&I assessment and management tool. That’s why we’re extremely proud to be partnering with Mixity.co, the all in one digital platform for assessing, managing and promoting DE&I in your organization. Mixity is offering our listeners an exclusive 2 months free trial for their all-in-one platform. Assess your DE&I footprint, define clear metrics and KPIs, and benefit from customized recommendations and hands-on support from their team of dedicated experts, all in one place.

Redeem your free trial here with the code ‘DiversityPodcast’ : Mixity.co

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#017 For our first episode of Season 3, “How to Succeed at DE&I”, we are thrilled to welcome Sarah Cordivano, Head of DE&I Strategy and Governance at Zalando, a fashion e-commerce headquartered in Berlin.

Sarah published her first book in August 2022 “DEI: How to Succeed at an Impossible Job”, a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to impactful DE&I work. Whether you are a practiced professional in the space, or new to the field, this book is a must-have resource. Akin to the book itself, this episode feels like a friendly chat with one of Europe’s most competent DE&I experts. Sarah lays out for our listeners the 5 building blocks for setting up your DE&I work for success:

1. Finding the right executive sponsor to bring your DEI work forward
2. Creating a strategy with the right people in the room
3. Getting DEI ranked highly among other business objectives
4. Measuring the success of DEI work
5. Avoiding burnout and emotional fatigue in DEI work

Tune in today, and make sure to subscribe in order to not miss our next episode!

You can purchase Sarah’s book here:
Germany: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0B7QDV6CX/
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7QDV6CX/
NL: https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B0B7QDV6CX/
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7QDV6CX/
Follow Sarah on LinkedIn (@Sarah Cordivano) and Twitter (@mapadelphia) or visit her website: https://www.sarahcordivano.com/ 

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the all in one digital platform for assessing, managing and promoting DE&I in your organization. Mixity is offering our listeners an exclusive 2 months free trial for their all-in-one platform. Assess your DE&I footprint, define clear metrics and KPIs, and benefit from customized recommendations and hands-on support from their team of dedicated experts, all in one place.

Start your free trial here with the code ‘DiversityPodcast’ : Mixity.co

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#018 Embark on a time travel with Leïla Grison, DE&I Director at Publicis Groupe, as she takes us back to her first day on the job and tells us how it all started.
Leïla takes us back in time and shares her family story, the social ascension  of her grandmother and mother, a story of social inequality and a real obstacle course.
Fast forward and it’s Leïla’s first day as DE&I Director at Publicis. She tells us how the role got created, how she managed to gather support and commitment from the executive team. So where do you start the work? Which stakeholders do you involve when creating your very first DE&I strategy? How do you build a team and secure a budget to implement the goals you’ve set out to achieve? Leïla tells us everything about how to kickstart your DE&I work!
 
Leïla also shares with us two success stories from her first year on the job:
1. How they developed and rolled out an employee survey on DE&I thanks to the help of Mixity.co - the first thing to do, according to Leïla, if you want to pin point your priorities for your strategy and convince stakeholders with facts and figures. 2. How they launched their first equal opportunity program, ‘Publicis Track’ - going full circle with her family history, social mobility and equal opportunity is at the heart of what Leïla has set out to do at Publicis!

So tune in today, and make sure to subscribe in order to not miss our next episode!

You can stay informed on Publicis’ DE&I work by following Leïla on LinkedIn (@Leïla Grison)
Learn more about DE&I at Publicis here: DE&I at Publicis Groupe

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the all in one digital platform for assessing, managing and promoting DE&I in your organization. Mixity is offering our listeners an exclusive 2 months free trial for their all-in-one platform. Assess your DE&I footprint, define clear metrics and KPIs, and benefit from customized recommendations and hands-on support from their team of dedicated experts, all in one place.

Redeem your free trial here with the code ‘DiversityPodcast’ : Mixity.co

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
Your feedback helps us grow: add a review wherever you’re listening to this podcast!
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#019 There’s a lot of talk and literature out there about how important DEI is for employees, and for companies. But when it comes to finding out what initiatives actually work to build diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces, it suddenly becomes overwhelming, with a lack of benchmarks, an overload of resources and literature and no clear one way to go.

That’s why today we are joined by Julie Coffman, Chief Diversity Officer at the global consultancy firm, Bain & Company, and author of the Bain & Co and Grads of Life 2021 study, ‘10 Proven Actions to Advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’.

This study constitutes a real blueprint for effective actions that drive real impact and results for DE&I. Together, we take it apart and take a deep dive into its learnings as Julie summarises its main takeaways for our listeners. We learn about 5 DE&I best practices which companies have been missing out on, and 5 others, just as important, that companies have been putting into practice but not in the most effective ways. Each of these 10 actions resulted in verifiable positive outcomes for an organization’s diverse or underrepresented talent!

If you’re looking for actionable recommendations as well as concrete examples and case studies from organizations that have tested these actions, look no further!

Tune in today, and make sure to subscribe in order to not miss our next episode!

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the all in one digital platform for assessing, managing and promoting DE&I in your organization. Mixity is offering our listeners an exclusive 2 months free trial for their all-in-one platform. Assess your DE&I footprint, define clear metrics and KPIs, and benefit from customized recommendations and hands-on support from their team of dedicated experts, all in one place.
Redeem your free trial here with the code ‘DiversityPodcast’ : Mixity.co 

Resources cited in this episode: 

• Read the Full study cited in the episode on the Bain&Co website. 
• Learn more about DE&I at Bain & Co on their website page, as well as on LinkedIn (@Bain & Company). 
• Finally, don’t hesitate to follow Julie Coffman (@Julie Coffman) for more precious insights on DE&I. 

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#020 What does it take to be a good Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leader?

Today on the Diversity Secrets podcast, we hear from DE&I coach, fellow podcaster, and keynote speaker, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue.
Ashanti tells us that if you want to have real impact as a DE&I professional, passion and lived-experience are not enough. Being a DE&I know-it-all either! So what skills do you need to succeed in this job? Well, that depends on the task at hand in the organization you work in… We cover change management, and stakeholder management skills, facilitation and negotiation, among other central DE&I skills.
One thing is sure: to be a good DE&I professional, you need to be self-aware and honest about your own skill-set and demand the external help that you need in order to deliver results!

Tune in today, and make sure to subscribe in order to not miss our next episode!

You can follow Ashanti’s work on LinkedIn (@Ashanti Bentil-Dhue), and listen to the Confessions of a DEI Pro Podcast on your favorite Podcast App for more insightful conversations with Ashanti and experts in the DEI field.

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the all in one digital platform for assessing, managing and promoting DE&I in your organization. Mixity is offering our listeners an exclusive 2 months free trial for their all-in-one platform. Assess your DE&I footprint, define clear metrics and KPIs, and benefit from customized recommendations and hands-on support from their team of dedicated experts, all in one place.
Redeem your free trial here with the code ‘DiversityPodcast’ : Mixity.co

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#21 We’re kicking off the year with a brand new Diversity Secrets Episode!

'Diversity hiring’ and ‘inclusive culture’ take up a lot of space in the DE&I discussion. But beyond recruitment and culture, a lot needs to be in place in a company setting to guarantee that all employees can truly achieve their full potential. So how do you guarantee inclusion and equity are embedded in all stages of an employee’s life cycle in your company?

To gather answers, we are joined today by Miguel Castro, Senior Director and Global Lead for Diversity and Inclusion at multinational software company, SAP.
Is your on-boarding process giving employees the right keys to start building their network? Are DE&I trainings delivering on expected results? Are feedback loops, up-skilling programs and career advancement processes clear, fair and equitably accessible? Are compensation and benefits equitable and inclusive?
Miguel shares insights as well as best practices at SAP that guarantee a fair, equitable and inclusive career for all employees.

Tune in today, and make sure to subscribe in order to not miss our next episode!

You can follow Miguel’s work on LinkedIn (@Miguel A. Castro), and find out more about DE&I at SAP on their corporate website.
Cited resources: Fair Talk: Three Steps to Powerful Feedback, Sergey Gorbatov and Angela Lane.

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the all in one digital platform for assessing, managing and promoting DE&I in your organization.
Mixity is offering our listeners an exclusive 2 months free trial for their all-in-one platform. Assess your DE&I footprint, define clear metrics and KPIs, and benefit from customized recommendations and hands-on support from their team of dedicated experts, all in one place.
Redeem your free trial here with the code ‘DiversityPodcast’ : Mixity.co

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#22 When we think of ‘diversity hiring’, we often think of the result: new diverse talents joining our organization. But if we wind up a bit, how do we get there?

In this episode, Yasar Ahmad, Global VP Talent at HelloFresh meal-kit company, explains what it takes to actually attract, hire and retain diverse talents. He shares insights, anecdotes and best practices from many years of experience in talent acquisition in the Tech sector.
There’s no sugar coating it: reaching your objectives when hiring diverse talents is no piece of cake. Standing your grounds is the biggest challenge. We cover the hard work that needs to fall into place in order to guarantee that your hiring processes are as inclusive as possible, and that your values and work environment are welcoming to all - no need to risk the revolving door effect where talents walk in, and right back out the same door.
How do you diversify your talent pool and partner with the right recruiters? What should your assessment process look like and how can you track diversity throughout your pipeline?
As Yasar shares his personal stories, we talk about the ‘back to office’ trend and how it’s affecting diversity too. Finally, Yasar tells us that culture and values are two very different things that shouldn’t be confused… tune in to find out why.

Tune in today, and make sure to subscribe in order to not miss our next episode!

You can follow Yasar’s work on LinkedIn (@Yasar Ahmad) and Twitter( @YxSxR), and find out more about DE&I at HelloFresh on their website.

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the all in one digital platform for assessing, managing and promoting DE&I in your organization. Mixity is offering our listeners an exclusive 2 months free trial for their all-in-one platform. Assess your DE&I footprint, define clear metrics and KPIs, and benefit from customized recommendations and hands-on support from their team of dedicated experts, all in one place.
Redeem your free trial here with the code ‘DiversityPodcast’ : Mixity.co

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#23 Anyone that’s done it before knows it: deploying a diversity and inclusion employee survey is no side project. It’s a complex endeavour that should not be taken lightly - and that’s an understatement.

That’s why we’ve invited Sandrine Charpentier, CEO of Mixity.co, the first 360 digital platform to assess, manage and monitor DEI in the workplace. We deep in the nitty-gritty of what makes a good DEI survey: from guaranteeing safe and anonymous data collection, to understanding the underlying expectations to deliver on shortcomings revealed in the survey results. Sandrine also shares insider tips on how to guarantee everyone is heard, by making the survey accessible to all employees, no matter if they sit at a desk, or work in a plant or in a store. Beyond measuring the level of diversity and feeling of inclusion in the company, DEI assessment is also about measuring the impact and effectiveness of DEI actions and initiatives by using the right variables and setting relevant targets. As a whole, DEI tracking is a real challenge. It’s a test on an organization’s transparency, humility and accountability for DEI. That’s why Sandrine believes in the power of tech as a tool to help organizations and employees in their DEI efforts. She founded Mixity.co to offer organizations the right platform to conduct their surveys, track their DEI, set clear KPIs and measure progress. She tells us how Mixity.co works and shares with us the best practices she’s observed among users.

Tune in today, and make sure to subscribe in order to not miss our next episode!

You can follow Sandrine’s work on LinkedIn (@Sandrine Charpentier) and Twitter(@SandrineSCC), and find out more about Mixity.co on their website or social media (Twitter: @Mixity_co / @EnMixity LinkedIn: @Mixity / @Mixity International)

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the all in one digital platform for assessing, managing and promoting DE&I in your organization.
Mixity is offering our listeners an exclusive 2 months free trial for their all-in-one platform. Assess your DE&I footprint, define clear metrics and KPIs, and benefit from customized recommendations and hands-on support from their team of dedicated experts, all in one place.

Redeem your free trial here with the code ‘DiversityPodcast’ : Mixity.co

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
Your feedback helps us grow: add a review wherever you’re listening to this podcast!
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#24 For our last episode of the season on how to succeed in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), we are joined by the brilliant Jeffery Smith, VP DE&I at the online education streaming platform Masterclass.

With over 25 years of experience as an HR and DEI leader both in-house and as a consultant, Jeffery shares with us what it means to successfully integrate DEI into your business.
Integrating DEI in your business means that DEI should be considered as a critical business component for every activity in the organization. This implies multiple things. For one, Jeffery explains how to foster accountability for DEI in the different roles and at the different levels in the company: making employees responsible for embedding DEI in what they are responsible for delivering, whether they stand in HR, sales or marketing.
Integrating DEI also means that DEI should be at the table. But not just any table: the C-suite table at par with other business leaders, of course. Not only that, but the DEI leader should be considered a business leader first and foremost, weighing in and participating in major business decisions. As an extension, the DEI team should aslo be integrated in the day-to-day of the business.
Finally, we discuss the importance of allocating budget to DEI - just like for any other business component in the organization. In the end, an organization with a truly integrated DEI will see its positive impact not only within the workplace, but also in its marketplace, thus expanding the reach of DEI beyond company walls.
A perfect segue into our next season that will air later this year and where we will explore how to take DE&I from the workplace to the marketplace.

Tune in today, and make sure to subscribe in order to not miss our next episode!

You can follow Jeffery’s work on LinkedIn (@Jeffery Smith).

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the all in one digital platform for assessing, managing and promoting DE&I in your organization.
Mixity is offering our listeners an exclusive 2 months free trial for their all-in-one platform. Assess your DE&I footprint, define clear metrics and KPIs, and benefit from customized recommendations and hands-on support from their team of dedicated experts, all in one place.
Redeem your free trial here with the code ‘DiversityPodcast’ : Mixity.co

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#025 And that’s a wrap for season 3 of Diversity Secrets Podcast! We’ll be back with a brand new season during the next quarter.
In this episode, we go over what we’ve learned during this season, and give you a sneak preview of what to expect from season 4.

This season, we wanted to build a hands-on, practical blueprint to help YOU set your DE&I work up for success!
Here are the main lessons our guests shared with us on how to succeed at what sometimes can feel like an impossible job, i.e building truly diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces:
1. Lay the building blocks for success right from the start. Build a solid DEI strategy that gathers the buy-in from the stakeholders that are critical to its success.
2. Setting your organization up for success in DEI, is also about setting yourself up for success as a DEI leader. Set personal boundaries and realistic expectation for you and your stakeholders, prepare for discomfort, and stay aware of your competencies and how to develop them.
3. Don’t build DEI on wobbly structures: deconstruct to rebuild. Review your whole recruitment and employee-life cycle (onboarding, compensation, development, benefits…) and restructure it from a DEI lens, in order to truly attract, hire and retain diverse talents that can belong and reach their full potential in your organization.
4. Finally, successful DEI is DEI integrated from end-to-end in your organization as a core business component. This means DEI sits at the C-suite table at par with other business units, the DEI team has a budget and is embedded in day-to-day business, you measure progress with KPIs and relevant metrics, and each function in the organization is held accountable for embedding DEI in what they are responsible for delivering at their level.

It’s not easy to succeed at DEI but we hope that through these honest conversations we managed to build a blue-print that will help you along the way. In the end, successful DEI not only means better workplaces for all. It also should lead, thanks to trickling effect, to positive impact beyond the company walls.
That’s exactly what we’ll be talking about next season: taking DEI from workplace to workforce and marketplace!

Thanks for tuning in this season and please don’t hesitate do send us feedback: it helps us grow! Don’t forget to subscribe to not miss out on Season 4!

This season was powered by Mixity.co, the all in one digital platform for assessing, managing and promoting DE&I in your organization. Mixity is offering our listeners an exclusive 2 months free trial for their all-in-one platform. Assess your DE&I footprint, define clear metrics and KPIs, and benefit from customized recommendations and hands-on support from their team of dedicated experts, all in one place.

Redeem your free trial here with the code ‘DiversityPodcast’ : Mixity.co

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#26 Welcome back to Diversity Secrets Podcast!

We’re back with a brand new season called ‘So, what now?’ Why this question? Well, because at Diversity Secrets we feel that DE&I is at an inflection point and we want to make sure that as an industry we take the right turn.

For several months now I’ve been asking myself wether DE&I, and its practitioners (myself included!) are holding themselves accountable to the very principles that we preach: authenticity, integrity and impact. DE&I hasn’t had it easy. But faced with backlash, stalling results, cynicism and a lack of common standards, we believe that together, we can find a new way of bringing DE&I forward. Our expert speakers will help us answer this season’s pressing questions: are we going in the right direction and aiming at the right goals, should DE&I get political, can practitioners set themselves common standards of integrity and results?

Listen to this episode for a sneak preview of what we have in store!
Trigger Warning: A section of this episode refers to an event that may trigger trauma connected to racism and violence against BIPOC. (5:14-5:50)

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#27 For the first episode of season 4 'So, What Now?', we are thrilled to welcome an experienced DEI advocate and practitioner, Elizabeth Anderson.

Elizabeth says that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at a Mirror Moment in its history. What does that mean and how did we get to this point? What comes next, once we've taken a good hard look into the mirror? Find out with us on this episode as we tackle DE&I at crossroads and its implications for the industry and its practitioners.

Elizabeth is also the founder of Venn DEI, a consulting and community networking agency that aims to connect people who believe in the potential of DEI to build stronger companies and a more equitable world. Follow their work on LinkedIn.

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#28 Welcome back to Diversity Secrets podcast! In this episode, Laure Bereni, Sociology Research Professor at CNRS lays out the key findings from her latest book “Management of Virtue: Corporate Diversity in New York and in Paris” (published in French). This comparative study of Diversity & Inclusion management in New York and in Paris offers a unique perspective into the work of DE&I managers.
Laure's findings demonstrate the inherent contradictions that lie at the heart of DE&I as a field of management. Trying to solve the equation between social justice and business profit, DE&I managers and practitioners are trusted with the unbearable task of smoothing and masking the contradiction between virtue and the appearance of virtue. Faced with what Laure is calling the stigma of virtue, they try to legetimize their work with the ubiquitous idea that ‘diversity means business’.

Can DE&I managers overcome this stigma or must they continue upholding these contradictions? What does the ethnic and gender identity of DE&I professionals have to do with their credibility? Will political and external pushes help DE&I managers face the inherent duality of their work?

You can continue following Laure Bereni’s insightful work on LinkedIn and purchase her book here (soon available in English).

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#29 Today we welcome Nichelle Appleby, Founder of Work Imagined Compensation and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultancy.
Nichelle is putting pay equity and dignity back at the heart of DE&I. With multiple years of experience in compensation and compliance, Nichelle is helping organizations committed to DE&I put their money where their mouth is. In capitalistic societies where value, self-worth and respect are largely derived from the amount of our pay-check, pay equity takes a whole new dimension in building dignified and inclusive work places. 
Nichelle is also the creator of what she calls the Dignity Standard, a framework to help DE&I leaders reframe their work around what she considers the bedrock for workplace inclusion: dignity.
Tune in to find out what it's all about!
If you’d like to follow Nichelle’s work, do visit  www.workimagined.com or her LinkedIn. 

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#30 B, from Belonging, is the new letter that we increasingly find attached to the Diversity Equity and Inclusion acronym: DEIB. As an industry, we've reached the tacit agreement that the success of DE&I in a company is measured by the feeling of Belonging of its employees. But what does Belonging really mean to each of us? What does it take to belong, and who is made accountable for the act of 'Belonging'? Pushed to its limits, can Belonging fall in a performative trap and end up hurting those of us who most long to belong?

To unpack the complex concept of Belonging, we are joined by Apolline, Founder of La Piscine Media (if you're a French Speaker, sign up to Apolline's newsletter to continue unpacking topics related to diversity, inclusion and purpose at work).

This is a new episode format: candid conversations with DE&I peers to unpack relevant DE&I topics. Let us know if you like it!

Cited resources:

• The subtle difference between Inclusion and Belonging, Academy to Innovate HR
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Wikipedia
• Rethinking Belonging as a Group Effort, Sohra Behmanesh on TBD*
• White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch, Netflix

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#31 Welcome back to Diversity Secrets Podcast!

 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) leaders are driven by two things: passion for humanity, equity and inclusivity, and their will to create systemic change. In other words, the perfect mix for potential burn-out! So how can we achieve systemic change for DEI, in line with our passion, without running out of fuel along the way? What stakeholders, allies, and systems can we rely on in our organizations to increase our impact and safeguard our mental health as DEI advocates?  

 To help us explore this topic, we're very excited to welcome Dharshni Padayachee. A charted accountant by profession, Dharshni switched career paths to lead Inclusion, Equity and Diversity at a large corporate and investment bank in South Africa. She shares with us how she finds balance between passion and strategy, to achieve impactful results for inclusion in the workplace.

To follow Dharshni's work, don't hesitate to connect with her on Linkedin. 

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#32 Welcome back to Diversity Secrets Podcast!
June is around the corner and companies around the globe are getting ready to celebrate Pride Month.
 
While more and more organizations are being proactive in their LGBTQ+ inclusion, even LGBTQ+ friendly companies usually focus more on the “LGB” than on the “TQ+.”
So at Diversity Secrets we wanted to mark this year’s Pride Month by slightly shifting the focus. We invited Magda Stega, DEI practitioner and LGBTQ+ advocate, to discuss how to create inclusive workplaces for transgender and gender-nonconforming people.

In this honest conversation, Magda shares with us her personal journey, as well as her HR expertise on building inclusive workplaces. We share concrete tips and advice for organizations to transform their recruitment processes, their management practices, rethink their employee benefits, and their culture in order to support transgender and gender non-conforming colleagues. From the small actions with big impact, to what being an ally really means. 

Tune in to find out!

Additional resources:

• EU Fundamental Rights Agency, 2024 Survey: LGBTIQ equality at a crossroads: progress and challenges
• Harvard Business Review, Creating a trans-inclusive workplace
• Human Rights Campaign, Trans toolkit for employers  
• Human Rights Watch, Germany Landmark Vote for Trans Rights Law 
• McKinsey, Being Transgender at work (includes glossary)

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#33 Welcome back to Diversity Secrets Podcast!

Numerous articles are pointing to what is being called the rise and fall of DEI. After the protests following George Floyd’s murder in 2020, many companies pledged to increase their investment in DEI initiatives, leading to a two-year boom in DEI funding and staffing around the globe. However, DEI initiatives seemingly lost steam in 2023, with many of those very same organizations making pledges in 2020, cutting back on their DEI efforts, in a context of backlash, pushback, as well as political and regulatory pressure targeted at DEI programs. Within 3 years, DEI went from being the right thing to do in business, to being a largely controversial topic in the corporate world and in our societies at large. 

Taking a step, back, is DEI's peak really behind us? How can organizations and practitioners continue delivering on commitments made in 2020? How de we get out of this extreme-to-extreme DEI and ensure sustainable results over controversy? As an industry, how can we regain credibility, and change the narrative to highlight what DEI really is: inclusive and equitable societies for all!

With over 15 years of experience leading DEI initiatives at a global scale, and as former Global Chief Diversity Officer at Google, Sanofi, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Wema Hoover, shares with us her unique insights and perspective to better understand this DEI crisis. (visit Wema's website here)

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#34 Welcome back to Diversity Secrets Podcast!
Today, let’s dive into the complex and often taboo topic of measuring diversity in organizations in Europe.

There’s a running myth in most European countries that collecting sensitive data on ethnic backgrounds, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and other diversity characteristics is simply illegal and therefore impossible. But that’s not true. Yes, Europe’s stringent regulations around data privacy, most notably the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) makes collecting sensitive data a challenge. However, data privacy regulation should not be an excuse standing in the way of progress for DEI, no matter how delicate a task.

Luckily, to guide us through the tricky process, we have with us  Eileen Barnard, Principal Organisational Culture Manager - DE&I at Babbel (language e-learning platform). She’s done all the hard work of designing a GDPR-compliant DE&I survey, so you don’t have to! Make sure to grab a pen and paper to note down her precious step-by-step advice. In this 1st episode of a 2-part series, Eileen shares all the pre-work that goes into designing a DE&I survey in Europe: legal compliance, stakeholders to partner with in your organization, survey questions that make sense to your people.

Tune in next month for part 2: Eileen will share her insights on rolling out the survey, and analyzing the findings.

Eileen is happy to answer questions and share the set of questions she used in the DE&I survey at Babbel. To reach out to her, please fill out this Form.

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#35 Welcome back to Diversity Secrets Podcast!

This is episode 2 of a 2-part series where we explore the ins and outs of deploying a diversity and inclusion survey in organizations in Europe.

To help us unpack this complex topic, we have the pleasure of welcoming Eileen Barnard, Principal Organisational Culture Manager - DE&I at Babbel, one of the leading language learning platforms globally. Eileen designed and rolled out her company’s first DEI survey this year, and agreed to take us through the step by step process, sharing her tips for success. If you’re thinking of rolling out a DEI survey in your organization these 2 episodes are for you!

In our last episode, Eileen shared about how to design a GDPR-compliant DEI survey, which stakeholders to get on board and what type of prework you need to do in order to make sure that the survey is in line with your culture and makes sense to your people, so that they feel comfortable filling it out.

In this episode we’re going to discuss employee participation rate, how to analyse survey results, as well as the challenges of sharing them in the organization. We also explore how to use these results to transform policies and drive real change in the organization. Eileen's advice is pragmatic, actionable and relatable!

Eileen is happy to answer questions and share the set of questions she used in the DE&I survey at Babbel. To reach out to her, please fill out this Form.

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
Your feedback helps us grow: add a review wherever you’re listening to this podcast!
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Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
Your feedback helps us grow: add a review wherever you’re listening to this podcast!
Find us on LinkedIn

#36 Welcome back to Diversity Secrets Podcast!

Season 4 of Diversity Secrets concludes with a crucial conversation on Diversity Fatigue—what it is, why it happens, and how to tackle it. Host Louise welcomes Alexia Sena, founder of Joyeux Bazar and author of Understanding Racism and Antisemitism (get the book here), and Camille Fant, Global CSR lead at Akeneo, to unpack the physical, mental, and emotional toll of DEI work.

As a wrap-up to a season filled with reflections on the challenges and opportunities for DEI, this episode highlights the importance of recognizing fatigue and building resilience to sustain long-term impact. Our guests share how DEI professionals can recognize signs of Diversity Fatigue in themselves and their organizations, along with practical tips to address it when it arises for both DEI practitioners and employees.

Connect with Alexia Sena on LinkedIn and Camille Fant on LinkedIn.

Don’t miss this thoughtful conclusion to our season of reflection and action.

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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Welcome to the Diversity Secrets podcast, the podcast that explores the secrets behind leading authentic, impactful and successful diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. Through meaningful dialogue with leaders in the field, we aim to help organizations build, accelerate and promote DEI in the workplace and in our communities.

In our first season, “On the Job”, we focus on DEI practitioners themselves, because behind every impactful DEI program, lies a team of people. We’ll ask ourselves: What does it really mean to work in DEI? We'll talk about their accomplishments, the structures they've evolved in and how those have impacted their leverage in accomplishing their mission. We'll discuss the challenges and lessons along the way, as well as the little pieces of advice they can now share. But most importantly, we’ll hear about their personal journeys and DEI stories: what has brought them to the work they do today?

We have a very exciting line-up with guests that have lead DEI in large firms across the globe, such as Uber, Sodexo, Aveva, ABB, Danone, LinkedIn, and more so be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and tune-in next week for our first episode!

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#001 In our first episode we’re very excited to welcome Putri Realita, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Danone, a a multinational food-products corporation based in Paris.
Putri took on this role in 2016 to build the firm’s DEI programs from the ground up. She tells us how her personal identity as an Indonesian citizen, and her background in operations and corporate affairs, have shaped her vision for Danone’s DEI strategy. Putri shares with us how she and her teams initiated and spearheaded the global #ActInclusive movement across all functions and regions in the company. We discuss how to build shared accountability and ownership for all employees to commit to building an inclusive company. Beyond building an inclusive workplace and brands at Danone, Putri makes a point of making sure that Danone’s DEI programs have an impact within the communities they serve and work with, by partnering with key actors in the field. Finally, Putri tells us what are the most rewarding parts of the job, as well as the most challenging.

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

Do not hesitate to follow Putri Realita on LinkedIn to continue following her journey as a DEI leader.
To learn more about Danone DEI programs, please visit: https://www.danone.com/impact/people-communities.html#INCLUSIVE

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#002 In our second episode, we’re very honored to be welcoming renowned diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) thought-leader, and former SVP Corporate Responsibility and Global Chief Diversity Officer for Sodexo, Dr. Rohini Anand.
 
She comes to speak to us about her newly published book: Leading Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This is not an additional academic book on the matter of DEI, it is a view from the trenches, based on the lived experiences of the author. This practical guide offers five proven principles for multinational companies to advance DEI transformation with a nuanced understanding of local contexts across countries and cultures.

Listen to this episode for a sneak peak into Rohini’s learnings and teachings, as she combines them to the story of her personal journey going from being part of the majority in her native India, to part of the minority in the USA where she pursued her studies and career.
Rohini also shares with us her missteps and the lessons she’s learnt along the way, as challenges on the road have proven to be the most frustrating, yet the most rewarding aspects of the job.
Finally, Rohini Anand shares with us her call to action for both individuals and organizations: be disruptive, and do it boldly!

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

To purchase Rohini Anand’s book, visit: https://www.rohinianand.com/
Do not hesitate to follow Rohini Anand on LinkedIn and on Twitter (@rohinianandphd) to continue following her journey as a DEI leader.

Fact-check note: It was mentioned in this episode that France erased the word “race” from the first article of its constitution in 2018. While Members of Parliament unanimously voted for that change in 2018, the constitutional reform bill never fully went through Parliament, and France’s Constitution remains unchanged to this date.

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
Your feedback helps us grow: add a review wherever you’re listening to this podcast!
Find us on LinkedIn