The 21st Century Change Agent

I cannot believe that I am saying this, BUT but this is the final guest episode for season one of this podcast! This episode is the celebration of this whole season. So today we will be bringing all those intersections and levels and layers that make us, that we have been dissecting and digging deep into throughout the season, together.

2020 has been a year of finally giving DEI conversations the airtime they deserve, however we cannot always wait for a crisis before engaging in these conversations. But, before we see any progress, we need to come to terms with how we got to where we are today. We need to understand the ineffectiveness of one-off initiatives like hiring a head of D&I and implementing a standalone unconscious bias training. So, what will it take for us to to get where we need to go?

For that, I invited two expectational guests to join me: Stacey Gordon and Dr Shelton Goode. Stacey is a Founder and Chief Diversity Strategist at Rework Work, she is also a highly regarded public speaker, a Linked In Instructor and has just written a book called Unbias, that comes out on 31st March and is available for pre-order.

Dr Shelton Goode is the Founder and President of Icarus Consulting, he has held Chief Diversity Officer roles at various companies, has been named the TOP 10 D&I trailblazer by Forbes and has written a number of books, of which the latest is due to be published. 
 
On this episode you will hear:

1) The current state of D&I: Is there a conscious effort to make an impact?
2) Not 'another thing': How do we mainstream D&I?
3) The D&I training & education
4) The 'diverse' role of a Chief Diversity Officer.
5) Reimagining workplaces: What does the world beyond this look like?

Liked the conversation? Let me know by rating & reviewing this podcast and engage in the conversation on Twitter by using #changeagentpodcast.

You can follow and reach out to Stacey via:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/staceygordon
Website: www.reworkwork.com
Stacey's book: unbiasbook.com

You can follow and reach out to Shelton via:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sjgoode
Website: www.icarusconsult.net
Shelton's books: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07L7FCGJP

Get in touch with Baiba via:
Twitter: @BaibaZiga and @Consulting_LHC
LinkedIn & Instagram: Baiba Ziga
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.lakehouse-consulting.com (subscribe to a weekly newsletter with handpicked articles, podcasts, videos and books)

Baiba is a People and Culture Transformation Consultant, with a mission to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces through building cultural intelligence and better equipping organisations and their leaders. Get in touch with Baiba to talk about how she can help your organisation with cultural intelligence and leadership development on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion topics.

Liked the conversation? Let me know by rating & reviewing this podcast and engage in the conversation on Twitter by using #changeagentpodcast.

You can follow and reach out to Lily via:
LinkedIn: lily-fothergill-24bb64a1/
Website: https://thinkhalf-full.com/

You can follow and reach out to Pranam via:
LinkedIn: pranamlipinski/
Website: https://workwithgenz.com/

Get in touch with Baiba via:
Twitter: @BaibaZiga and @Consulting_LHC
LinkedIn & Instagram: Baiba Ziga
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.lakehouse-consulting.com (subscribe to a weekly newsletter with handpicked articles, podcasts, videos and books)

Baiba is a People and Culture Transformation Consultant, with a mission to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces through building cultural intelligence and better equipping organisations and their leaders. Get in touch with Baiba to talk about how she can help your organisation with cultural intelligence and leadership development on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion topics

Thank you so much for tuning in for this special episode as part of Women's History Month. On this episode I am joined by Sally Mousa an international speaker, moderator and a global media presenter. Sally has lived in the Middle East for over a decade now, where she has been a presenter and producer on some of the region’s top platforms. As an Arab-Australian, Sally is passionate about powerful stories that break barriers, explore diverse narratives and are part of wider conversations driving change world-wide.

International Women's Day and Women's History Month in general, dates back to a demonstration at end of February 1908 NYC, after which 3 German delegates proposed such day is organised every year. The following year on March 19, 1911, IWD was marked for the first time, by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Women demanded that they be given the right to vote and to hold public office. They also protested against employment sex discrimination. 

In Russia for instance 8th March is a national holiday there. On March 8, 1917 in the capital of the Russian Empire, Petrograd, women textile workers began a demonstration, covering the whole city. It is often said that this marked the beginning of the Russian Revolution. Women went on strike for "Bread and Peace" – demanding the end of World War I, an end to Russian food shortages, and the end of czarism. 

This day has more and far broader meaning than just to celebrate women or womanhood. Women back then rose up not only for themselves, but for everyone. So it is important to reflect on the progress made and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women, who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. Because these women have created an over 100 year old movement for women's rights, civil awareness, anti-sexism, anti-discrimination and promoting equal rights.

Though the world has made unprecedented advances, no country has achieved gender equality. 

Women’s full and equal participation in all facets of society is a fundamental human right. Yet, around the world, from politics to entertainment to the workplace, women and girls are largely underrepresented. From access to education and rights to land ownership, to political participation and equal remuneration, women still lag behind men even in countries where there have been significant efforts to address gender inequalities.

On this episode you will hear:

1) "If you think Muslim women are oppressed, you don't know Muslim women!"
2) Being a good girl: The Unentitled Mindset
3) Realising the power of feminine energy
4) What makes a great leader?
5) Choose to challenge - it is a privilege!

Liked the conversation? Let me know by rating & reviewing this podcast and engage in the conversation on Twitter by using #changeagentpodcast.

You can follow and reach out to Sally via:
E-mail: 
LinkedIn/Twitter: sallymousa

Get in touch with Baiba via:
Twitter: @BaibaZiga and @Consulting_LHC
LinkedIn & Instagram: Baiba Ziga
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.lakehouse-consulting.com (subscribe to a weekly newsletter with handpicked articles, podcasts, videos and books)

Baiba is a People and Culture Transformation Consultant, with a mission to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces through building cultural intelligence and better equipping organisations and their leaders. Get in touch with Baiba to talk about how she can help your organisation with cultural intelligence and leadership development on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion topics.

Thank you so much for tuning in for the second half of my conversation with Celia Daniels, a trans gender woman, an entrepreneur, speaker and a global human and trans rights activist. This is a special episode as part of the LGBTQ+ History Month in the UK and the upcoming International Women's Day.

**WARNING: some of the content covered some people might find upsetting and trigger trauma, as we will touch on such elements as sexual harassment and self harm. If you do experience any of these, please seek help in one of the following organisations:

For the UK listeners: 
www.switchboard.lgbt | 0300 330 0630
www.samaritans.org | Tel: 116 123
www.sane.org.uk | 0300 304 7000

For the US listeners:
www.mhanational.org | 1-800-985-5990
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org | 1-800-273-8255

The word “transgender” – or trans – is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity is different from the sex assigned to them at birth. Although the word “transgender” and our modern definition of it only came into use in the late 20th century, people who would fit under this definition have existed in every culture throughout recorded history.

The trans community is incredibly diverse. Some trans people identify as trans men or trans women, while others may describe themselves as non-binary, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, agender, bigender or other identities that reflect their unique personal experience. Some take hormones or have surgery and transition medically, while others may change pronouns and appearance and transition socially.

While trans people are increasingly visible in both popular culture and in daily life, they still face severe discrimination, stigma and systemic inequality. Some of the specific issues facing the trans community are: lack of legal protection, poverty, stigma and discrimination, violence, lack of healthcare coverage and others. 

This is an important story to be told and heard as part of the LGBTQ+ History Month, the upcoming International Women's Day and as part of every day conversations, as these conversations need to be normalised. 

On this episode you will hear:

1) Third Gender recognition - is that the ultimate goal?
2) Do LGBTQ+ Youth need to be protected from themselves?
3) The societal gender norms and language we use
4) Corporate D&I: Are you doing it for PR or social justice?
5) Being a trans ally

Liked the conversation? Let me know by rating & reviewing this podcast and engage in the conversation on Twitter by using #changeagentpodcast.

You can follow and reach out to Celia via:
E-mail: [email protected]
LinkedIn/Twitter/Instagram/Facebook: celiasandaniels

Get in touch with Baiba via:
Twitter: @BaibaZiga and @Consulting_LHC
LinkedIn & Instagram: Baiba Ziga
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.lakehouse-consulting.com (subscribe to a weekly newsletter with handpicked articles, podcasts, videos and books)

Baiba is a People and Culture Transformation Consultant, with a mission to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces through building cultural intelligence and better equipping organisations and their leaders. Get in touch with Baiba to talk about how she can help your organisation with cultural intelligence and leadership development on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion topics.

Thank you so much for tuning in! On today's episode I speak to Celia Daniels, a trans gender woman, an entrepreneur, speaker and a global human and trans rights activist. This is a special episode as part of the LGBTQ+ History Month in the UK and the upcoming International Women's Day.

**WARNING: some of the content covered some people might find upsetting and trigger trauma, as we will touch on such elements as sexual harassment and self harm. If you do experience any of these, please seek help in one of the following organisations:

For the UK listeners: 
www.switchboard.lgbt | 0300 330 0630
www.samaritans.org | Tel: 116 123
www.sane.org.uk | 0300 304 7000

For the US listeners:
www.mhanational.org | 1-800-985-5990
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org | 1-800-273-8255

The word “transgender” – or trans – is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity is different from the sex assigned to them at birth. Although the word “transgender” and our modern definition of it only came into use in the late 20th century, people who would fit under this definition have existed in every culture throughout recorded history.

The trans community is incredibly diverse. Some trans people identify as trans men or trans women, while others may describe themselves as non-binary, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, agender, bigender or other identities that reflect their unique personal experience. Some take hormones or have surgery and transition medically, while others may change pronouns and appearance and transition socially.

While trans people are increasingly visible in both popular culture and in daily life, they still face severe discrimination, stigma and systemic inequality. Some of the specific issues facing the trans community are: lack of legal protection, poverty, stigma and discrimination, violence, lack of healthcare coverage and others. 

Celia and I had an over 2 hours long conversation about her journey of living in a closet and eventually coming out, being transgender in the corporate America, building family and finding acceptance within herself and her community. And, I felt it was important for this story to be told and heard in full as part of the LGBTQ+ History Month in the UK this month, the upcoming International Women's Day and as part of every day conversations, as these conversations need to be normalised. 

On this episode I felt privileged to simply hold the space for Celia to tell her story.

On this episode you will hear:

1) Finding gender identity across geographies, races, religions and societies
2) 5 dimensions of the belonging journey
3) The power of unlearning
4) Trans and corporate America
5) "I did not choose this life..."

Liked the conversation? Let me know by rating & reviewing this podcast and engage in the conversation on Twitter by using #changeagentpodcast.

You can follow and reach out to Celia via:
LinkedIn: celiasandaniels/

Get in touch with Baiba via:
Twitter: @BaibaZiga and @Consulting_LHC
LinkedIn & Instagram: Baiba Ziga
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.lakehouse-consulting.com (subscribe to a weekly newsletter with handpicked articles, podcasts, videos and books)

Baiba is a People and Culture Transformation Consultant, with a mission to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces through building cultural intelligence and better equipping organisations and their leaders. Get in touch with Baiba to talk about how she can help your organisation with cultural intelligence and leadership development on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion topics.

Thank you so much for tuning in! On today's episode I speak to Dr Suzanne Wertheim on  everything language, and specifically in terms we use it in our day to day as well as professional settings. I thought it was a very timely conversation to have, as we are starting to debate and pay more attention to the words and language we use, and the emotional and historic meaning they carry.

Language is a social practice or tool that we use to communicate to each other; and it can be written, spoken, signed, 'speaking' through our eyes etc. As we communicate, one thing we often overlook is the power the language we use carries. 

People speak roughly 7,000 languages worldwide. Although there is a lot in common among languages, each one is unique, both in its structure and in the way it reflects the culture of the people who speak it.

Our linguistic choices can amplify a message. Or they can muddy it, and lessen its impact.

My today's guest is Dr Suzanne Wertheim, a researcher, consultant, and educator on issues relating to language and culture from San Francisco. The current focus of her work is on bias in both everyday interactions and organisational systems. Specifically in the ways that language expresses bias. Dr Wertheim also provides legal consulting on the language of bias and discrimination.

On this episode you will hear about:

1) Cultural and social impact on language engineering.
2) Evolution of language and how has our intake of information changed.
3) Erasure: missing historic narratives
4) Media: the power of dividing & uniting
5) How do we change narratives without dehumanising people?

Liked the conversation? Let me know by rating & reviewing this podcast and engage in the conversation on Twitter by using #changeagentpodcast.

You can follow and reach out to Dr Wertheim via:
LinkedIn: suzanne-wertheim-ph-d-1508464/
Twitter: @WorthwhileR&C
E-mail: [email protected]

Get in touch with Baiba via:
Twitter: @BaibaZiga and @Consulting_LHC
LinkedIn & Instagram: Baiba Ziga
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.lakehouse-consulting.com (subscribe to a weekly newsletter with handpicked articles, podcasts, videos and books)

Baiba is a People and Culture Transformation Consultant, whose mission is to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces through building cultural intelligence and better equipping leaders. Get in touch with Baiba to talk about how she can help your organisation with cultural intelligence and leadership development on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion topics.

Resources and Further Reads:

https://news.stanford.edu/2019/08/22/the-power-of-language-how-words-shape-people-culture/

https://medium.com/and-beyond/the-power-of-language-bd910567f8e5

https://news.stanford.edu/2019/06/25/analyzing-tweets-republicans-democrats/

Thank you for joining yet another episode of The Change Agent podcast. Today I have a very juicy conversation for you on the future of artificial intelligence or AI. I invited Maria Axente, a Transylvanian AI Ethicist, who is currently part of the PwC UK team working on Responsible AI and AI for Good to join me in ironing out everything AI and Machine Learning.

I hope I am not alone when I say that when I think of AI or ML, a picture of something similar to Terminator or I,Robot comes to mind. And, not too long ago the world was talking about how Ai is being built to make our jobs and us as humans redundant. But, we also know that media likes a big bold title and a sensation. However the development of novel data-driven technologies, such as ML and AI, invariably create novel ethical challenges and dilemmas, which is something we often see being raised and questioned in the industry and across social media, with most recently Netflix releasing The Social Dilemma. 

What is the Future of AI and AI Ethics, how can we use AI for good and create social benefit, and when and how our current world and the one we are building can come together and share this Earth cohesively? These are just some the questions I explored in a conversation with Maria.

On this episode you will hear about:

1) Are the sci-fi worthy AI narratives true?
2) The need for upskilling the society.
3) "The universe made me do it" or the unintended consequences.
4) "White washing" of AI and the road to democratising AI.
5) Can AI pioneers such as Google self regulate?

Liked the conversation? Let me know by rating & reviewing this podcast and engage in the conversation on Twitter by using #changeagentpodcast.

You can follow and reach out to Maria via:
LinkedIn: mariaaxente
Twitter: @maria_axente

Get in touch with Baiba via:
Twitter: @BaibaZiga and @Consulting_LHC
LinkedIn & Instagram: Baiba Ziga
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.lakehouse-consulting.com (subscribe to a weekly newsletter with handpicked articles, podcasts, videos and books)

Baiba is a People and Culture Transformation Consultant, whose mission is to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces through building cultural intelligence and better equipping leaders. Get in touch with Baiba to talk about how she can help your organisation with cultural intelligence and leadership development on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion topics.

Resources and Further Reads:

https://hbr.org/2021/01/managing-the-unintended-consequences-of-your-innovations

https://chrisdburr.github.io/blog/automating-ethics/automating-ethics/

https://montrealethics.ai/research-summary-decolonial-ai-decolonial-theory-as-sociotechnical-foresight-in-artificial-intelligence/

https://montrealethics.ai/the-whiteness-of-ai-research-summary/

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02003-2

Welcome to the first episode of February 2021! For this episode I got together with Cephas Howard, who has spent the past 12 years at LEGO developing physical and digital games, under the most recent title of Head of Innovation and Digital Play. Cephas is now a Chief Play Officer at The Play Institute where he furthers the development of products, insights, methods and practices relating to Play. How can we bring play back into our lives, both personal and professional? This is what I explored with Cephas.

The 9-to-5 culture doesn’t really exist anymore. Little by little the boundaries that protect our leisure time are being eroded. Even more so now, when we perform most of our daily activities from the same space. This kind of work-life imbalance alongside with the anxieties that the pandemic has brought are seeing depression and stress related illnesses increase. According to a new report by King’s College London and the London School of Economics, depression now costs European workplaces the equivalent of $120 billion a year. The greatest economic loss is through absenteeism and lost productivity.

In another study by Brigham Young University, teams that played a collaborative (video) game together for just 45 minutes were able to increase their productivity on a task by 20%.

So there is an undeniable correlation between play and increased productivity, innovation and sense of community and reduced levels of stress. So why are we not seeing more companies weaving play into their cultures? 

On this episode you will hear about:

1) At what point do we lose our superpower to play?
2) "Business has to be fun!" But is it?
3) Video games: engineering for addiction?
4) Is play really the opposite to work?
5) What makes Denmark a 'happy' country?

Liked the conversation? Let me know by rating & reviewing this podcast and engage in the conversation on Twitter by using #changeagentpodcast.

You can follow and reach out to Cephas via:
LinkedIn: cephas-howard-3008475/
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://play.institute/

Get in touch with Baiba via:
Twitter: @BaibaZiga and @Consulting_LHC
LinkedIn & Instagram: Baiba Ziga
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.lakehouse-consulting.com (subscribe to a weekly newsletter with handpicked articles, podcasts, videos and books)

Baiba is a People and Culture Transformation Consultant, whose mission is to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces through building cultural intelligence and better equipping leaders. Get in touch with Baiba to talk about how she can help your organisation with cultural intelligence and leadership development on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion topics.

Resources and Further Reads:

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/work/how-harness-the-power-play-transform-your-work-culture.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2019/03/03/boost-productivity-20-the-surprising-power-of-play/?sh=a4aba0c7c05b

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-power-of-play-at-work_b_12011462

Welcome to an episode #11! For this episode I got together with Michael Ray, author, speaker and a fatherhood advocate to talk understand: What is the mould of a modern dad? What is the blueprint that men should be following and modelling today? And ultimately, how much has the role of fathers truly advanced over the past half-century?

Fatherhood is facing an interesting time right now. On one hand there still is the historical model of a father as a man who works with his hands; who will build a dollhouse for his daughter with a screwdriver in his right hand and a cold beer in his left. On the other, fathers are being tasked more than ever to define where they stand on feminism, on gender roles, and on politics.

Traditional family structures have shifted over the past several decades as fathers engage in more child caregiving. Yet, fatherhood inclusive practice and perspective remains limited: policies and programs perpetuate stereotypes of a father’s role, namely that of the financial provider. Fathers also face increased “sociocultural pressure” to be involved in caregiving and pushback from workplaces for trying to do so, such as through taking paternity leave. Reimagining the fatherhood narrative will require shedding fatherhood stigmas and adopting what is true today: fathers are capable, eager to share parental duties, and are more engaged than ever. 

On this episode we covered:

1) What is the narrative of 'fatherhood' today?
2) We have gender neutral policies, but what about our practices?
3) Are domestic activities gender-specific?
4) Redesigning the family unit
5) Ensuring better allyship for mums and dads

Liked the conversation? Let me know by rating & reviewing this podcast and engage in the conversation on Twitter by using #changeagentpodcast.

You can follow and reach out to Michael via:
LinkedIn: michael-ray-574079183
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.michaelray.com.au

Get in touch with Baiba via:
Twitter: @BaibaZiga and @Consulting_LHC
LinkedIn & Instagram: Baiba Ziga
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.lakehouse-consulting.com (subscribe to a weekly newsletter with handpicked articles, podcasts, videos and books)

Baiba is a People and Culture Transformation Consultant, with passion for cultural intelligence and leadership development. Get in touch with Baiba to talk about how she can help your organisation with cultural intelligence and leadership development on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion topics.

Sources quotes & further reading:
https://podfollow.com/dilf/episode/170c5b14eab3092c5c380d5d088e6906747bb381/view

Welcome to The 21st Century Change Agent podcast!

Here your host Baiba Žiga will be taking you on a lockdown journey across the world and speaking with change agents. These are ordinary everyday people doing extraordinary work. They are pushing the needle and already rewriting the narrative for a better future.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion topics can get complex, so we are here to break them down theme by theme and explore them in depth together with you. On Season 1 you will hear real stories about Disability, Systematic Racism, Gender Equality, Bias, The Power of Language, Parenting and much more.

Get on the bus and enjoy the trip!