In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of RecTalk, host Nitin Sharma sits down with Cordelia Osewa-Ediae — a respected Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) leader and advocate — live from the IHR Live Lounge in London.

Cordelia opens up about her incredible personal and professional journey — from growing up in Nigeria and running a fashion business, to building a meaningful career in the UK and becoming a voice for inclusion, empathy, and cultural understanding in the workplace.

They dive deep into:

• The realities of loneliness and community when moving to a new country.
• The cultural differences between collectivist and individualist societies — and how they shape belonging.
• How Cordelia found her “why” and began championing DEI long before it became a corporate buzzword.
• The importance of listening, empathy, and curiosity in driving genuine inclusion.
• How personal experiences — including moments of kindness and allyship — can completely reshape our biases.
• The weaponisation of language around immigration, identity, and “otherness,” and why leaders must think critically about narratives that divide.
• Why real progress often happens quietly — through “quiet doing” — rather than through social media noise.

Cordelia’s story is one of courage, compassion, and constant self-education. She reminds us that inclusion starts with connection, that community is built through shared humanity, and that leadership means being open to learning, unlearning, and relearning.

Who this episode is for:

✅ HR and Talent Leaders navigating DEI in modern workplaces.

✅ Recruiters and business owners building diverse, inclusive teams.

✅ Anyone feeling isolated in a new environment and seeking connection.

✅ Leaders wanting to create safe spaces for open, respectful dialogue.

✅ Listeners passionate about challenging bias and driving meaningful change.

🔗 Connect with the guest

Cordelia Osewa-Ediae: https://www.linkedin.com/in/c-osewa-ediae/

🔗 Connect with the host

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Discover recruitment tools and services at Rectools.io:

https://www.rectools.io/

Find out about the Recruitment Curry Club:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/

New episodes of RecTalk, Founder Diaries and Talking Talent drop every Wednesday and Friday.

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