The Belonging Conversations

Driving DEI, Innovation, and Belonging in the Modern Workplace with Sheryl Miller

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/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachedbysheryl/] Website: https://www.reboot.global/ [https://www.reboot.global/] UK ERG Leaders Summit: https://www.ergleader.com/https://www.ergleader.com/ [https://www.ergleader.com/] Connect with Ben: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-de-pfeiffer-key-729626a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-de-pfeiffer-key-729626a/] Website: https://bendpk.com [https://bendpk.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belongingconvos/ [https://www.instagram.com/belongingconvos/]

Craig Prentice on Building Positive Workplace Culture and Mental Health Advocacy

Craig shares his journey in both hospitality and recruitment which brought him to create mum, a talent partner in hospitality almost five years ago. He highlights the importance of creating a positive culture and looking after people in the workplace and the significance of matching talent to businesses based on shared values and creating a mutual positive experience. Craig also shares his personal experiences around mental health and the need for boundaries and self-care. His journey showcases the importance of self-awareness and finding the right environment to thrive. We explore the importance of culture, wellbeing, and inclusivity in organisations and highlights the need for businesses to articulate their values and bring them to life to attract and retain the best talent. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction and Craig's Early Career 09:22 Transition to Recruitment and Founding mum 16:37 Navigating Personal Challenges and Turning Things Around 21:47 The Importance of Culture and Values in the Workplace 31:28 Finding the Right Environment and Creating a Positive Experience 40:38 Creating a Positive Culture and Looking After People in the Workplace 43:53 The Importance of Boundaries and Self-Care for Mental Health 46:47 The Power of Self-Awareness and Finding the Right Environment 49:51 Prioritising Mental Health and Wellbeing 01:18:25 Supporting Mental Health Initiatives in Hospitality Connect with Craig: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigprentice/ mum http://www.workwithmum.com Walk for Wellbeing http://www.walkforwellbeing.org Hospitality Action https://www.hospitalityaction.org.uk/ Connect with Ben: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-de-pfeiffer-key-729626a/

Autism: A Journey of Self-Discovery & Self-Diagnosis with Karl Allcoat

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-allcoat/?originalSubdomain=uk]  Connect with Ben: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-de-pfeiffer-key-729626a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-de-pfeiffer-key-729626a/] Website: https://bendpk.com [https://bendpk.com]

The Intersection of Social Justice and Neurodiversity with Dorothea Jones

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothea-jonesma/] Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothea-jonesma/] Email: dorothea@inclusivation.com [dorothea@inclusivation.com] Connect with Ben Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-de-pfeiffer-key-729626a/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/belongingcoach/]

Social Mobility with Jon Hering

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-hering/] Blackbullion: https://www.blackbullion.com/ [https://www.blackbullion.com/] Connect with Ben Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-de-pfeiffer-key-729626a/] Instagram: @belongingcoach  [https://www.instagram.com/belongingcoach/] Website: https://bendpk.com [https://www.instagram.com/belongingcoach/]