Ewan Pearson

Leila is joined by Ewan Pearson – Managing Director at Grant Pearson Brown Consulting Ltd and Executive Chairman at Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC).

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT

· Ewan’s extremely diverse career story to date, having had numerous professions as a medical doctor, school teacher, investment banker, stockbroker and latterly a professional adviser in communications (both spoken and written)

· How Ewan’s longest career path so far has been in communications despite English not being one of his strongest areas academically

· The impact that nerves can have on anyone – as Ewan learned from a difficult experience during his wedding speech!

· Ewan’s belief that the infamous comment “You’re not ready yet” is used much more regularly regarding women applying for promotions, and in a much more negative sense

· “It’s absolutely important that you are yourself”: the importance of authenticity in communication coaching (particularly with females as they feel more pressure to pretend to be something they are not)

RESOURCES & INFORMATION MENTIONED

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewan-pearson-9a04ab/

https://www.gpb.eu/

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Janice Lao

Leila is joined by Janice Lao – Group Director Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, 2009 Sustainability Leader of the Year award winner.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT

· How Janice’s upbringing differed from the traditionally conservative and withdrawn nature of Chinese culture

· How Janice’s upbringing prepared her for British culture when she was studying here

· Janice’s efforts to educate her children on ‘unconscious bias’

· “As long as you have a brain, you have a bias”: how unspoken agreements are often key to you and your colleagues, friends, etc. keeping each other in check

· The importance of Inclusion in the hotel industry

· How being bullied as a 13-year-old helped lead Janice to accept who she was

· Thoughts on how best to overcome imposter syndrome: “Don’t ever give your life for anyone”

RESOURCES & INFORMATION MENTIONED

www.janicelao.com 

Twitter/Instagram: @janiceillao

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janiceillao/

Continue the conversation on LinkedIn

Frauke Behrens

Leila is joined by Frauke Behrens – Yoga Instructor.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT

· How Frauke left her former career behind in order to become a professional yoga teacher in order to do something for herself

· Frauke’s recovery from severe illness, which led her to change her approach life completely

· Frauke’s use of “servant leadership” to help both her yoga students and her former employees

· The importance of chakras, which are the body’s equivalent to “power points”

· Frauke being a particularly strong example of how it is never too late to try something new

RESOURCES & INFORMATION MENTIONED

https://fraukeyogafuerteventura.com/home

Instagram @fraukefuerteventura

https://www.facebook.com/frauke.behrens.79

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Dianne Greyson

Leila is joined by Dianne Greyson - Managing Partner at Synergised Solutions, Director at Equilibrium Mediation Consulting and author.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT

· A ‘transformation bias’ product that Dianne has recently co-created, which is designed to tackle inherent bias

· The recent release of Dianne’s book, Business Culture Review, where she analyses how companies treat employees, etc.
· The importance of engaging with employees as fellow human beings and not just “resources” in order to understand their issues properly 

RESOURCES & INFORMATION MENTIONED

www.equilibriummediation.com
[email protected]
www.linkedin.com/in/dgreyson 

Twitter: @EMClimited and @synergisedsolutions

Continue the conversation on LinkedIn

Susan Robson

Leila is joined by Susan Robson - Principal Consultant at National Grid, Chair of Women in National Grid (WING), Financial Times & HERoes #1 Future Leader for Champions of Women in Business 2018.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT

· Sue’s work as part of Women in National Grid (WING), ranging from face to face training and mentoring for women in the business to supporting the development of an intersectional and more inclusive culture

· How “saying yes to things” and being open to opportunities has led to her progressing to new roles in her career

· How Susan is finding herself more drawn to innovation in purpose-driven activities such as carbon neutrality and wider goals in sustainability

RESOURCES & INFORMATION MENTIONED

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-robson-09/

Twitter @SusanRobson9

Continue the conversation on LinkedIn

Caroline Pugh – CEO/Founder at Oya Partners and Advisor to Chairman of Africa Rising 

Leila is joined by Caroline Pugh – CEO/Founder at Oya Partners and Advisor to Chairman of Africa Rising.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT

· Caroline’s career journey so far, from working with Barack Obama to working with the Mandela family to combat the HIV virus in Africa

· Growing up as an only child in rural Virginia, and how this shaped her curiosity and desire to set out on her own unique journey/path through life

· The challenges behind starting your own business and living as an entrepreneur

· Caroline’s belief in the importance of networking to the cause of D&I: “women need to support more women”

RESOURCES & INFORMATION MENTIONED

[email protected]

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

Instagram @caroline_pugh

Continue the conversation on LinkedIn

Kris Macchiarola - President at KMACC Solutions

Leila is joined by Kris Macchiarola: President at KMACC Solutions, Author of No Approval Needed, Consultant at Versea Holdings Inc. and Tribe Leader at S.H.E. Tampa.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT

·         Kris’ exciting recent book project, for which she interviewed nearly 60 women in their 40s on a confidential basis from all over the world

·         Kris’ book covers humanist topics, relevant to both men and women, with a number of powerful stories such as marriage, affairs, libido, etc.

·         The importance of using your failures to drive future successes

RESOURCES & INFORMATION MENTIONED

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-macchiarola/

Facebook #NoApprovalNeededBook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1072450256268730

www.krismacc-author.com

www.kmaccsolutions.com

Continue the conversation on LinkedIn

Paul Sesay - Founder of Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers (Inclusive Companies), the National Diversity Awards and National Mentors

Leila is joined by Paul Sesay: Founder of Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers (Inclusive Companies), the National Diversity Awards and National Mentors.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT

· How being taken under his role model’s wing led him to relocate to Liverpool when he was younger, and the resulting impact on his career

· How Paul’s frustration at a lack of conviction in the diversity and inclusion practices space led him to start his own business

· The important role that community organisations used to play in supporting those from diverse backgrounds

· How role models can influence our development, often without their realisation of how inspirational they have been

RESOURCES & INFORMATION MENTIONED

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-sesay-93260013/

https://nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/

https://inclusivetop50.co.uk/

Continue the conversation on LinkedIn

Jennifer Brown - Founder, President & CEO at Jennifer Brown Consulting, award-winning entrepreneur, Diversity & Inclusion Speaker, Consultant & Author.

Leila is joined by Jennifer Brown: Founder, President & CEO at Jennifer Brown Consulting, award-winning entrepreneur, Diversity & Inclusion Speaker, Consultant & Author.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT

· How Jennifer helps people move from understanding the ‘why’ (reason for taking action in D&I within an organisation) to taking action with the ‘what’ (what exactly should an organisation do along these lines?)

· Jennifer’s own personal journey, from damaging her voice as an opera singer in training to reinventing herself as a corporate trainer

· Jennifer’s passion for using her voice and putting aside any “momentary discomfort” she might feel in order to lead/inspire others

· The need for all executive business leaders (including white males) to embrace their backgrounds and personal stories in order to further the diversity cause

RESOURCES & INFORMATION MENTIONED

https://jenniferbrownspeaks.com 

https://jenniferbrownconsulting.com 

Twitter: @jenniferbrown 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferbrownconsulting 

Continue the conversation on LinkedIn

Chris Gray – Managing Director at Accenture

Leila is joined by Chris Gray: Managing Director at Accenture, Director of the North West Business Leadership Team, HRH Prince of Wales Ambassador for Responsible Business and Chair of Business in the Community in the North West.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT

· How Chris focuses on spending time with his own team, both abroad in India and at home in Manchester

· Chris’ belief that everyone is diverse in their own way

· How much Chris values the internal LGBTQ+ network at Accenture and views it as his way of giving back after benefitting from the same support as a gay individual earlier in his career

· Chris’ work on leveraging the “network effect” of his position in the North West Business Leadership team to support female leaders in the north west

· The workforce changes that are happening as a result of the ‘post-digital’ world

RESOURCES & INFORMATION MENTIONED

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjgray1/

Twitter @cjgrayuk

Continue the conversation on LinkedIn