In this Responsible Business Conversation (brought to you by Integrated Thinking Solutions) Namhla Saba is in conversation with Rehema Isa, a visionary business strategist.  In this conversation we explore what authentic inclusion truly means and how leaders can cultivate cultures that welcome, value, and amplify differences rather than manage or mute them.

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are no longer optional; they are essential to long-term value creation, resilience, and innovation. 

Yet despite bold commitments, many organisations still face a quiet, unspoken truth: inclusion that asks people to conform in order to belong.
It’s a trap that’s easy to miss. The door may be open, but the space isn’t always ready to make room for "different". People are invited in — but only if they adapt, assimilate, or soften their edges to fit the dominant culture.

Inclusion that demands sameness is not inclusion at all; it’s assimilation. And while assimilation might create short-term comfort, it erodes trust, dulls creativity, and stifles innovation.