In this conversation, I'm speaking with Sheryl Miller about the critical role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the modern workplace. We discuss the importance of creating a sense of belonging among employees and the tangible benefits it brings and explore the strategies organisations are using to drive innovation and business success through DEI initiatives, including the influence of employee networks (ERGs) and the need for leadership support.

Sheryl highlights the evolving DEI landscape, the challenges, the backlash, and the importance of measuring and improving DEI efforts and highlights the benefits of attracting top talent, driving innovation, and creating a sense of belonging.

00:00 Introduction and the Meaning of Belonging

04:52 The Role of Employee Networks in DEI

11:31 Understanding the Business Case for DEI

14:53 Measuring the Success of DEI Initiatives

21:19 Navigating the Current Landscape of DEI

28:23 The Role of Employee Networks in Driving DEI

30:56 Measuring the Impact of Diversity on Revenue Growth

32:57 Challenges and Biases in Traditional Recruitment Processes

37:46 The Importance of Intersectionality in Employee Networks

40:09 Long-Term Commitment to Inclusion

44:36 The Role of Community and Networks in Supporting DEI Work

Connect with Sheryl and her work:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachedbysheryl/

Website: https://www.reboot.global/

UK ERG Leaders Summit: https://www.ergleader.com/https://www.ergleader.com/

Connect with Ben:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-de-pfeiffer-key-729626a/

Website: https://bendpk.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belongingconvos/

16th June is Neurodiversity Pride Day, and joining me on this episode is Karl Allcoat.

Karl's story is one of self-discovery and embracing his unique experiences as an autistic person.

He shares what it means to him to be "neurospicy" and opens up about realising he was autistic, from the hurdles he faced in school and university, to the sense of loss for things he might have missed out on.

We talk about the long wait for an autism diagnosis and how it affects getting help.

Communication and advocating for himself are key for Karl in navigating life and he shares insights into the misconceptions and challenges faced by autistic people, especially when it comes to fitting into societal norms.

He also touches on being both autistic and LGBTQ+, and the importance of feeling like you belong, especially at work.

The conversation emphasises the need for education, understanding, and empathy to create a more accepting world.

Karl reminds us to approach others with kindness, curiosity, and an open mind

00:00 Introduction and Excitement for the Conversation

05:23 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Self-Diagnosis

10:52 Reflecting on Past Experiences and the Impact of Autism

13:44 The Importance of Understanding and Communicating Needs

26:38Addressing the Need for Improved Support and Accessibility

33:53 Challenging Misconceptions and Stereotypes

41:53 Creating a Sense of Belonging in the Workplace

47:48 The Role of Education and Mindset Change

55:11 Navigating the Intersectionality of Identities

59:01 Meeting Others with Empathy and Curiosity

Connect with Karl:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-allcoat/?originalSubdomain=uk

Connect with Ben:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-de-pfeiffer-key-729626a/

Website: https://bendpk.com

My guest is the fantastic Dorothea Jones.

Dorothea is a rockstar in my eyes in the world of DEI she has been building bridges, breaking down barriers and creating safe and inclusive spaces for a while and we covered a lot in this conversation. We talk about Dorothea’s journey in DEI, we hear about her work across Social Justice, anti-racism as well as her own personal experiences of a later in life diagnosis with ADHD. We talk about medication, we talk about navigating work environments and everything that comes with it as well as the issue of underdiagnosis of neurodivergence in minority groups especially people of colour so we'll be diving into that along with the need for more support and awareness. But as always the conversation will go beyond just understanding DEI we explore how bringing everyone together respecting differences and creating that feeling of belonging is key to creating workplaces where everyone can just crush it.

We also chat about diverse teams and coming up with brilliant ideas that make businesses even more successful plus we see how Gen Z is pushing for change and how the world of DEI is constantly evolving.

So get comfy, get ready it's a fantastic conversation, so here it is.

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:53 Dorothea's Journey into Social Justice and Anti-Racism

08:26 The Underdiagnosis of Neurodivergent Individuals

10:45 The Importance of Creating Inclusive Spaces

12:50 Dorothea's Diagnosis and the Impact of Medication

31:50 The Importance of Intersectionality and Belonging

40:59 Creating an Inclusive Environment

47:00 The Impact of Diverse Teams

49:36 Adapting to Gen Z's Values

53:05 The Need for an Intersectional Approach

54:35 Embedding the Concept of Belonging

Connect with Dorothea

Linkedin

Email: dorothea@inclusivation.com

Connect with Ben

Linkedin

Instagram

Jon Hering is Scholarships Lead for Blackbullion.

In this conversation we discuss social mobility and its impact on individuals and organisations.

Jon shares his journey and the importance of representation and storytelling in promoting social mobility. Jon explains his role in creating scholarship programs to support talented young people and remove financial barriers to education.

We also touch on the value of apprenticeships and internships in providing opportunities for underprivileged individuals. The conversation explores the importance of diversifying early talent strategies and creating pathways for young people from all backgrounds.

We also highlights the critical role of financial well-being in student mental health and the need for businesses to address this issue and break down the barriers to making an impact.

Connect with Jon & Blackbullion

Jon's Linkedin

Blackbullion: https://www.blackbullion.com/

Connect with Ben

Linkedin

Instagram: @belongingcoach

Website: https://bendpk.com

Joseph Pack is an entrepreneur, Founder of Drug Free ADHD, host of the Drug Free ADHD Podcast and a father, whose son lives with autism.

Joe joins me to talk about his experiences recognising and accepting difference as a parent, the tools he uses to manage societal reactions, the importance of early diagnosis and how we should embrace the strengths of the condition as well as how organisations can support parents going through their own journey with autistic children.

00:00 Introduction and Background

07:46 Parenting and Neurodiversity

12:54 Recognising and Accepting Differences

15:58 Societal Reactions and Coping Mechanisms

26:13 The Lengthy Diagnosis Process

28:46 Importance of Early Diagnosis and Education

30:59 Creating Supportive Educational Environments

34:22 Harnessing the Strengths of Autistic Individuals

47:50 Creating Flexible Work Environments

55:52 Embracing Autism and Supporting Parents

You can follow Joe on his channels:

Instagram @josephpackcom

Twitter @josephpackcom

TikTok @drugfreeadhd

YouTube @joepack

Podcast: The Drug Free ADHD Podcast

Speaking enquiries: joseph@drugfreeadhd.org

You can follow me here:

Instagram: @belongingcoach

Linkedin

Website: bendpk.com

Email: ben@bendpk.com