Diversity Alliance Talks

In this first edition of Diversity Alliance's Women's Month campaign "Building a Stronger Female Future", we are addressing defying the odds to live the life you want to lead and sharing how women can start to climb the career ladder, launch a business or go freelance.

This week Gabby Austen-Browne, the Founder of Diversity Alliance is in conversation with Natalie Duvall, Culture Manager at Red Bull and Co-Founder of March Muses,  the UK leaders in Christmas decorations of colour.

They covered;  

🌈  How Natalie set up her business March Muses

🌈 Performative allyship and why other businesses are failing with diversity 

🌈  The practicalities and challenges of launching a businesses 

🌈  Trying to access boardrooms, seeking Investment and Natalie's' winning appearance on Dragons Den 

🌈  Advice for women trying to move up the career ladder, go freelance or who want to launch a business  

WATCH THE BITESIZE INTERVIEW HERE

Meet our contributor, Natalie Duvall the Co-Founder of March Muses: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-duvall-20672765/?originalSubdomain=uk 

Natalie's book, podcast and video recommendations to our viewers and listeners to better educate yourself: 

https://blackmumsupfront.buzzsprout.com/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0016510/dragons-den-series-19-episode-14 

https://sheerluxe.com/life/how-talk-children-about-race 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-61263246 

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/this-is-how-parents-feel-about-schools-reopening-delayed_uk_5edf4b9bc5b6bd09bd98def8 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/catherineerdly/2021/10/29/diversity-and-representation-in-retailwhy-the-products-we-see-matter/ 

The Five Minute Journal, from Intelligent Change (One of Gabby's fave brands)

Visit our website to sign up to our weekly newsletter: www.diversityalliance.co.uk

® 2022 Diversity Alliance. All rights reserved.

Gabrielle Austen-Browne the Founder of Diversity Alliance is in conversation with Dermot Devlin a Disability Awareness Campaigner, activist and Founder of My Way Access.   

Dermot set up My Way Access back in 2009 - which is a recognised disability rights and disability blog, focused on ensuring disabled people have equal and inclusive rights across accessibility, services, and health.  In this conversation, we explore the purpose and mission behind My Way Access and how it's changing the lives of people with disabilities.  

Dermot also shares his experiencing speaking at the Harkin Summit in Belfast in June which just won ‘Best Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at a Conference’ at the Excellence Awards 2022 for the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO). 

Watch a bitesize version of this episode on youtube with transcription 

Meet our contributor,  Dermot Devlin - Disability awareness Campaigner and activist and Founder of My Way Access

Visit our website: www.diversityalliance.co.uk

® 2022 Diversity Alliance. All rights reserved.

In this episode Gabby Austen-Browne, Founder of Diversity Alliance is in conversation with Alasdair Moore the Co-Founder and Director of The Intrepid Collective.  Al is also on the Executive Committee for Checking-In, a network of LGBTQ+ professionals and their allies within the hospitality industry and plays rugby for the King’s Cross Steelers, the world’s oldest gay and inclusive rugby club. 

In this episode:

🌈 Alasdair shares his own experiences growing up as gay cis-gender male in the UK under the weight of Section 28 

🌈  What it takes to stay informed and be an Ally 

🌈  How he has increased his knowledge and awareness around  LGBTQ+ inclusion  

🌈  Practical advice and tips around the measures that event hosts and organisations can take to deliver a product or experience that includes all attendees, all guests and build stronger relationships with the LGBTQ+ community

🌈  PLUS why content is key! And why it needs to engage with event audiences in a more meaningful way, shining a light on genuine lived experience  

WATCH THE BITESIZE INTERVIEW HERE

Meet our contributor, Alasdair Moore the Co-Founder and Director of The Intrepid Collective:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahcmoore/

www.theintrepidcollective.com 

https://www.checking-in.co.uk/ 

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/kingscrosssteelers 

Alasdair's book recommendations: "Chasing the Scream" by Johan Hari  and "Straightjacket"  by Matthew Todd

Visit our website to sign up to our weekly newsletter: www.diversityalliance.co.uk

® 2022 Diversity Alliance. All rights reserved.

What can the events industry learn from the transgender community to improve understanding and lead with inclusivity? 

Founder of Diversity Alliance, Gabrielle Austen-Browne, is in conversation with Samantha Jayne Nelson, an Offshore Installation Manager at Shell.

They covered:

🌈  How we can be allies to the trans community

 🌈  How to involve allies in discussions around diversity, equity and inclusion 

🌈  Advice to C-suite and leadership on how they can contribute to inclusive workplaces for people from all backgrounds  

WATCH THE BITESIZE INTERVIEW HERE

Meet our contributor, Samantha Jayne Nelson an Offshore Installation Manager at Shell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-jayne-nelson/ 

Samantha's recommendations to better educate yourself on the trans community and trans experience: 

🌈  https://brenebrown.com/

🌈  https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/being-transgender-at-work

Visit our website to sign up to our weekly newsletter: www.diversityalliance.co.uk

® 2022 Diversity Alliance. All rights reserved.

Event professionals have the opportunity to create inclusive and accessible events that truly reflect the diversity of communities 🤝

WATCH THE VIDEO

Visit our website: www.diversityalliance.co.uk

® 2022 Diversity Alliance. All rights reserved.

Gabrielle Austen-Browne the Founder of Diversity Alliance is in conversation with Lou Kiwanuka, the owner and founder of The Ops Nest. 

Lou is committed to developing mechanisms that develop people in events within the global business event operations sector.  Offering face-to-face and online training, community, consultancy and the opportunity to collaborate with the best minds in the business.  The Ops Nest brings organisers, contractor and venues together.   

In this episode, Lou shares her journey into building the The Ops Nest and her family dynamic which has shaped her purpose personally and professionally.   We learn why The Ops Nest is focussing on accessibility and what they have been doing to highlight this through various resources, training, talks and groups. Lou shares the positive change that has come about by identifying and addressing ‘Opstacles' that create solutions for accessibility in the events industry.  

Watch the bitesize YouTube episode here with transcript

 Meet our contributor,  Lou Kiwanuka the owner and founder of The Ops Nest: https://courses.opsshaper.uk/ 

Access and add to Kampsite here: https://theopsnest.kampsite.co/   

Visit our website to sign up to more resources: www.diversityalliance.co.uk

® 2022 Diversity Alliance. All rights reserved.

Gabrielle Austen-Browne the Founder of Diversity Alliance is in conversation with conversation with Ryan Curtis-Johnson the Director of Communications at The Valuable 500.  In this episode they discuss, what the events industry needs to do if it wants to be truly accessible for people with disabilities. 

They talk about the negative stigma around people feeling comfortable and confident enough to disclose their disability, especially within business. The reasons why companies and events aren't taking accessibility seriously. How to make accessibility fit into event budgets and why it's important to educate ourselves around disability to be fully informed and the importance of disability representation. 

Meet our contributor, Ryan Curtis-Johnson the Director of Communications at The Valuable 500: https://www.thevaluable500.com/ 

Watch a bitesize version of this episode on youtube with transcription 

Visit our website: www.diversityalliance.co.uk   

® 2022 Diversity Alliance. All rights reserved.

TRIGGER WARNING: This audio contains sensitive content talking about suicide and suicide prevention.

Gabrielle Austen-Browne the Founder of Diversity Alliance is in conversation with Mike McCarthy, a former BBC and SKY News Journalist, and presenter. 

Mike shares how the death of his son, Ross has spurred him on to co-found of The Baton of Hope, the biggest suicide awareness and prevention campaign the UK has ever seen.  

Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the country. Mike and Gabby's conversation centres around the support required to reduce this heartbreaking yet avoidable statistic.

Meet our contributor, Mike McCarthy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-mccarthy-82863b87/ 

To learn more about and support The Baton of Hope: https://www.batonofhopeuk.org/ 

If you need someone to talk to, reach out to these recommended charities:  

mensmindsmatter.org   

Andy's Man Club 

samaritans.org  

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) 

Visit our website: www.diversityalliance.co.uk  

® 2022 Diversity Alliance. All rights reserved.

Trigger Warning: This audio contains sensitive content talking about suicide and suicide prevention. 

Gabrielle Austen-Browne the Founder of Diversity Alliance is in conversation with Tom Fisher the Head of Sector Marketing Operations at Clarion Events. In this raw, honest and vulnerable conversation - Tom shares being diagnosed with severe depression and bipolar, and by how opening up on social media he has impacted 200+ lives through the power of online videos.  

In this episode we discuss how to listen to and communicate with people who are suicidal, feeling down or just not feeling themselves.  The importance of leading with empathy, vulnerability and compassion in the workplace, and what other organisations can do to support men's mental health.  Finally, for this campaign for Honouring Men Month we learn how to support and empower men in the events industry.  

If you need someone to talk to please talk to these recommended charities: 

🔵 Men's Minds Matter mensmindsmatter.org  

🔵 Mind mind.org.uk  

🔵 Andy's Man Club #ItsOkayToTalkandysmanclub.co.uk  

🔵 Samaritans samaritans.org  

🔵 Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) https://www.thecalmzone.net/

Meet our contributor, Tom Fisher the Head of Sector Marketing Operations at Clarion Events: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fishertommy/ 

Visit our website to access more resources: www.diversityalliance.co.uk  

® 2022 Diversity Alliance. All rights reserved.

Gabrielle Austen-Browne the Founder of Diversity Alliance is in conversation with Josh King the VP of Growth at emc3.  In this conversation they discuss how asking for help is a sign of strength not weakness and how to manage life and work when you are constantly on go.  Plus how inclusive cultures can help teams to thrive.  

Josh is an experienced marketer, creative and growth strategist who has worked with some of the world’s most innovative and influential brands over the last decade including LinkedIn, Google and HubSpot.   

During the interview Josh mentioned some books that have motivated and inspired him.  

Here they are for your reference.  

1. Inbound Marketing by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah  

2. Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger  

3. Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy  

4. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek   

5. How to win friends and influence people & How to stop worrying and start living by Dale Carnegie    

Meet our contributor, Josh King the VP of Growth at emc3: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshkingemc3/ https://emc3.com/ 

Visit our website to access more resources: www.diversityalliance.co.uk    

® 2022 Diversity Alliance. All rights reserved.