Since the start of 2025, DEI initiatives across the board have been deprioritised. This has left many people, most acutely those in already vulnerable groups, feeling marginalised and anxious. This level of anxiety undermines organisational performance and fuels the already spiralling mental health crisis.

In this episode, Dr. Christopher Owen draws on his decade of experience in LGBTQ+ inclusivity consulting and his research into systemic oppression to share with internal communicators stories can be used to create more inclusive, connective and engaging work environments that boost organisational performance.

About Dr. Christopher Owen

"If we want to make a difference, then we need to do things differently - I’m here to show you how."

As the founder of Coliberate, Christopher Owen (he/they) offers inclusivity and liberation coaching, consulting, speaking and training to individuals, groups and organisations seeking to improve their impact for positive social change.

A 2024 Northern Gamechanger, Christopher has a PhD in intersectional systemic oppression and Black feminisms, with over a decade of experience in LGBTQ+ inclusivity and consulting. They have presented to thousands internationally and published on intersectionality, identity, social change, queer resistance, and inclusive practice, with his second book now forthcoming from Routledge Education.

For more, please visit: coliberate.co.uk

Find Christopher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecjowen/

As time hurtles by at lighting pace, there is scarcely a second to take stock and breathe. Across the world, work seems increasingly harried and fraught and it’s taking its toll on engagement and organisational performance.

In this episode, Dom, Jen and Cat talk with Megan Reitz and John Higgins about their most recent research report, Permission to pause: Rediscovering spaciousness at work. They look at what it is, and why it’s a business-critical issue.

Against a rising tide of stress anxiety and burnout, spaciousness is the one permission we should all be granting ourselves, not least if we stand any chance of resolving society’s most pressing challenges.

To find out more go to www.johnhigginsresearch.com, www.radicalod.org, and www.meganreitz.com

About Megan Reitz

Megan is Associate Fellow at Saïd Business School, Oxford University and Adjunct Professor of Leadership and Dialogue at Hult International Business School. She focuses on how we create the conditions for transformative dialogue at work and her research is at the intersection of leadership, change, dialogue and mindfulness. She is on the Thinkers50 ranking of global business thinkers and is ranked in HR Magazine’s Most Influential Thinkers listing.

Megan has written a number of books, most recently Speak Out, Listen Up which is the second edition of her bestselling book Speak Up, with Financial Times Publishing. Speak Up was shortlisted for the CMI Management Book of the Year 2020.

Megan is a contributor to Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review. She has presented her research on the BBC and CNBC. Her TED talk on the topic of employee activism has been viewed more than one and a half million times.

She is mother to two wonderful teenage daughters who test her regularly on her powers of mindfulness and dialogue.

Find Megan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganreitz/

Megan’s website: https://www.meganreitz.com/

About John Higgins

John is a widely published researcher and author who for many years has been exploring, with Megan Reitz, what it takes for truth to be spoken to power at work – and how this shapes workplace activism. Their work has appeared in the Harvard Business Review, Sloan Management Review and the European Business Review – and on various public platforms, from Radio 4’s ‘The Bottom Line’ to Brene Brown’s ‘Dare to Lead’ podcast.

For the last year and a half, John and Megan have been looking at the concept of spaciousness, and what it takes for organisations to marry a more spacious mode to enrich an over-focus on tasks and busy doing.

Alongside this John has written two books, alongside Mark Cole, which critique the taken for granted assumptions about what counts as good organisational management and leadership.

John’s website: http://www.johnhigginsresearch.com

The report: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/597729cbcf81e0f87c7f6c61/t/677b9b9a26a22a7351dce717/1736154022120/SpaciousnessREPORT_90pp_FULL.pdf

Articles: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/create-mental-space-to-be-a-wiser-leader/

https://hbr.org/2025/02/how-to-give-yourself-more-space-to-think

Gallup’s 2025 State of the Global Workplace research reveals a drop in global engagement for only the second time in twelve years. In particular, it shows a sharp drop in manager engagement. This is particularly concerning at a time when all organisations need unity, cohesion and goodwill to combat increasingly challenging market conditions.

Shetal Joshi has been a lifelong advocate for the soul of business since the start of her career in the late 1990s. As Head of Internal Communication and Employee Engagement, she’s a firm believer in the value of active listening and hearing what’s on people’s minds as they go about their day-to-day business.

In this episode, Jen, Dom and Cat chat with Shetal to discover more about the soul of business and its link to colleague engagement, purpose and high performance.

About Shetal Joshi

Shetal Joshi is a seasoned internal communications and employee engagement expert with over 20 year of experience shaping strategic communication frameworks across global organisations.

Currently serving as the Head of Internal Communications and Employee Engagement at Ørsted UK, Shetal has established internal communications as a strategic enabler, driving employee trust, culture and belonging. She partners closely with executive teams, leading global transformation and change projects, and has been instrumental in enhancing the visibility of senior leaders and strengthening employee connections.

Prior to her role at Ørsted, Shetal led internal and external communications at RAPT Dev London, where she developed strategic communication initiatives to engage frontline employees and external stakeholders. She also spent over 18 years at BT Group, where she held senior roles in internal communications, change management, and brand alignment, supporting major campaigns and diversity initiatives.

Shetal is an Accredited Life Coach with the Association of Coaching and a Mental Health First Aider, demonstrating her commitment to personal growth, resilience, and wellbeing. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communications (IoIC) and has contributed to the development of the IoIC Charter for AI. Shetal’s expertise in influencing executive narratives, stakeholder engagement, and employee voice makes her a trusted advisor in navigating change and fostering organisational alignment.

In addition to her professional achievements, Shetal is a former Board of Trustee Member for Sands, The Baby Loss Charity, where she supported diversity and inclusion in maternal health. She was honoured with the Sheila McKechnie Amplifying Voices Award for her advocacy work in highlighting disparities in Asian baby loss.

Shetal brings a wealth of knowledge in leadership communications, change management, and employee engagement, making her an insightful and inspiring speaker.

Find Shetal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shetal-joshi-fiic-62318b1/