The 'Digitalization & Diversity' Podcast

The first episode for Season 2 is launching on April 5th 2022 on Spotify, Apple and Google Podcasts.

The guests on the show will provide insights on how they use technology and digitalization to grow their passions, which diversity dimensions they contribute to, and how they see the topics of digitalization and diversity converging in their work and in their personal lives. The new season will be focusing on more unfiltered conversations, new energy, discussions on more controversial and challenging topics, and diverse perspectives on socio-economic issues that are not so openly spoken about.

Make sure to follow the DD podcast on Instagram and LinkedIn for latest updates.

How diverse is the cosmetics industry? Does digital media fuel colorism? How should one react to microaggressions?

In the finale of Season 1 (Ep 10), I chat with Shweta Aggarwal, an anti-colorism activist, on the issue of colorism globally. Shweta shares her experiences with colorism across the world. We discuss how skin-tone bias can affect opportunities and potentially trigger other unconscious biases. In this episode, we break down microaggressions, how they look and feel, and the need for using more inclusive language in our daily lives.

We dig deeper into the root causes, and further talk about diversity in the cosmetics industry when it comes to producing diverse products. We discuss the change that is needed today, the role of industry in producing more accessible and affordable products, whether digital media is actually fueling colorism, and how digitalization could potentially help the cause.

Shweta is an anti-colorism activist with a colorful life. Born in India, raised in Japan and living in the UK, Shweta also has been blessed to experience a variety of careers, starting with a career in IT to running a Bollywood dance company for more than a decade to now writing a memoir on colorism in India. Shweta is passionate about instigating change in the narrative ‘fair is beautiful’.

Links and mentions:

Instagram: @theblackroseway

Listen to the podcast on other platforms: https//adyakumar.com/links

Connect with me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.dd.collective

What does diversity in fashion mean? Does clothing have gender? How do you empower people to live their true self especially in the corporate work environment? How can you use digital media to educate and inspire?

In S1 Ep 9 of “The Digitalization & Diversity Podcast”, I talk with Stéphane Bonutto, a finance manager at an industrial company, a diversity coach, speaker and a diversity model, about his journey towards embracing gender-neutral clothing.

We discuss his personal story, the events that led him to challenge the societal norms both in his private life and in the work environment, and how he brings his most authentic self to work today.

Stéphane shares the unconscious biases and reactions of people to him and what diversity means to him. We talk about the extent to which diversity needs to be fostered and challenged especially at the workplace when it comes to fashion and clothing. Stéphane had some great ideas on how we can ensure that the work environment is adapted to accept the differences and make space for diversity in all forms.

It was a thought-provoking conversation to learn about how you can use digital media to educate others on important diversity concepts and inspire people to bring their most authentic self everyday.

Stéphane Bonutto was born in Greece from French parents with several European roots (French, Italian, and to a lesser degree Netherlands and Belgian). He grew up in France close to Paris, went to study to Lyon and to Germany, where he started to work. He has lived in Germany for most of his life, but also several years in Switzerland and Italy.

Stéphane is passionate about music, design and style. 

Regarding music, he is fond of classical music and French music. Regarding design, he is passionate about classic cars, especially the Citroën brand. Regarding style, it is clothing. He sees a relation between these 3 areas, since they enable one to express one’s own sensibility, feelings and transport important messages. He relates them through their individuality, avant-garde and elegance.

Stéphane is also passionate about promoting diversity, to empower people to live their true self, in life in general and especially in their work environment.

Links and mentions:

Instagram (@the_heads_count):  https://instagram.com/the_heads_count/

Youtube (where Stephane is acting):   (381) Timo Schniering feat. Naomi Garcia – Strong Enough (Official Music Video) – YouTube

Listen to the podcast on other platforms: https//adyakumar.com/links

Connect with me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.dd.collective

What is personal branding? Why is it important today? How do digital platforms improve the inclusion of diverse perspectives? Should you use social media platforms, start a blog or a podcast, or get on one of the TikTok trends?

In S1 Ep 8 of “The Digitalization & Diversity Podcast”, I collaborate with Sarona Wolter, host of “Hypewomen_the podcast” to discuss the impact of different digital platforms and social media on diversity. 

We talk about personal branding, using social media and getting over the Imposter Syndrome when starting out. We discuss how digitalized communication today is affecting the inclusion and participation of different groups, and all the opportunities that are being created for diversity.

We get “real” about the kind of stereotypes and biases that People of Color face, and how do you answer the common question “Where are you from?”!! We talk about how people today can be more aware and conscious of diversity related topics and biases. We end the conversation with inspiration and advice for someone who wants to start out into the digital platform space.

Sarona Wolter is a South African law graduate turned social media strategist. Born out of a need to connect with people from various backgrounds, as well as having to pivot her career and mindset since moving from South Africa to Germany, Sarona developed a gift of communicating with people and became a somewhat ‘accidental’ communications specialist. During the lockdown in 2020, her curiosity and love of connecting with people led her to create a podcast for women called Hypewomen the Podcast. It has since been downloaded in over 70 countries around the world.

Sarona loves creating thought-provoking content in various forms, from blogging to podcasts to social media posts. As a creative content strategist, she tackles topics that connect people around the world.

Links and mentions:

Website: www.thehypewomen.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypewomen_thepodcast/ 

Facebook group: Hypewomen the Podcast; https://www.facebook.com/groups/914641629300348

Listen to the podcast on other platforms: https//adyakumar.com/links

Connect with me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.dd.collective

How diverse is the tech sector when it comes to diversity of age? What factors discourage women and girls from a career in tech? How can we improve the representation of women in a growing digital economy?

In this episode, I chat with my close friend Ilse Alejo on her story and how she started her own business at a very young age, drawing inspiration from leading women in her life. We talk about the challenges stemming from the perceived stereotypes in the professional environment, the reasons for underrepresentation of women in a growing digital economy and the age diversity gap in the tech sector. 

We discuss diversity trainings and the need for more empathy and personalization to make them effective. We end the conversation with Ilse’s favorite pieces of technology that improve her life, the importance of having a network of women to learn from their experiences, and future plans for her professional career.

Ilse Alejo is from Mexico and now lives in California. She is a software engineer currently working at Facebook. Before joining Facebook, she was running her own company in Mexico where she developed software for companies, mostly MVPs for entrepreneurs. Ilse is passionate about travelling and enjoys reading.

Links and mentions:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilse-alejo-guti%C3%A9rrez-581b5b51/

Listen to the podcast on other platforms: https//adyakumar.com/links

Connect with me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.dd.collective

How will the ESG trend impact diversity in the future? How can digitalization foster sustainable development and change diversity in our society? How digitalized are companies in Finland?

In this episode, I chat with Milla-Mari Vastavuo on her journey into the field of sustainability and her current work in the biofuels industry based in Finland. We talk about the ESG trend, the regulatory changes in the EU, and how it will impact diversity in the future. We talk about the important of balancing all three aspects of Environment, Social and Governance factors when prioritizing sustainable development goals, having transparent discussions and communication about targets.

We also discuss the challenges in measuring social targets, whether quotas foster real equality or not, how digitalization helps to communicate with diverse groups of people, and ultimately how do we make the diversity movement sustainable. We end the conversation on some reflection on career paths, goals and individual journeys.

Milla-Mari Vastavuo is a Senior sustainability specialist at UPM Biofuels, a forest products company based in Finland. She holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental management from Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering. Before joining UPM in 2018, she has lived in Japan and in the US.

Links and mentions:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/milla-mari-vastavuo-a0909a76/

Listen to the podcast on other platforms: https//adyakumar.com/links

Connect with me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.dd.collective

How does digitalization influence diversity in the consulting sector? How can diversity benefit digital innovation? How can we better make use of technology today?

In this episode, I chat with Jiya Chadha to understand the diversity dimensions of the consulting sector. We talk about her journey and how her childhood curiosity led her to pursue a degree in electronics engineering and later move into the consulting sector.

We discuss how digitalization is an inclusive topic and presents a level playing field for those who are curious and strive to be innovative. This also applies to the consulting sector, providing greater flexibility and enabling more opportunities for people with diverse profiles to get into the field. We also discuss how important it is to have diverse teams, with different backgrounds and mindsets to encourage innovation and how we can better harness the value of data and technology today. We end the conversation on some food for thought on how can we better contribute to digital innovation on a personal level.

Jiya has had over six years of experience as a consultant in Accenture with a focus on innovation & supply chain transformation. She is very passionate and intrigued by new innovative ideas and filed an AR based patent in her first year at Accenture. In her free time, Jiya loves travelling, exploring culture and cuisine and understanding the history of each city she visits.

Links and mentions:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiya-chadha-26096763

Listen to the podcast on other platforms: https//adyakumar.com/links

Connect with me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.dd.collective

How advanced is digitalization in the public sector? Why are some countries more digital than others? Why are diversity targets important?

In this episode, I discuss with Christoph Wegener the digitalization trends within the public sector. We discuss the differences in digital maturity across countries, the importance of diversity in development cooperation, and the initiatives that companies should undertake to improve diversity. 

We also talk about the benefits of implementing diversity-related standards, the impact of gender quotas, and how companies can measure targets. We end the conversation on some reflection on how we can be more diverse and diverse-minded today.

Christoph Wegener currently works in consulting for the public sector in Germany. He has a background in development economics and tourism management, and has lived in the UK, Netherlands, South Africa, Korea and Thailand for study or work. Christoph is excited about new technologies and eager to prepare and strengthen the public sector for smarter and more sustainable concepts.

Links and mentions:

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

Listen to the podcast on other platforms: https//adyakumar.com/links

Connect with me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.dd.collective

How have corporate functions like Sales and Marketing evolved with the trend of digitalization? How can we better use digital tools for networking? How can we keep up with Gen Z?

In this episode, I chat with Risha Malhotra to understand the digitization trends within the corporate functions of Sales & Marketing. We talk about her early career and how today she helps companies leverage data analytics effectively. We also talk about her passions from being an artist to setting up her personal brand ‘Mindful Businesswoman’.

We discuss how we can better communicate with diverse age groups, how we can feel more comfortable with data being shared through the use of digital tools and apps, and how we can become more data-driven. We end the conversation on some useful tips on better leveraging networking platforms like LinkedIn and her venture into the digital artwork space.

Risha Malhotra is passionate about mindfulness and living with intention. She currently helps companies use analytics effectively as part of her corporate job at Salesforce. Additionally, Risha is an artist and the focus of her art is to bring inspiration and abundance to the audience through capturing and transforming mindful moments. Her passion for helping people grow has led her to start her own brand – Mindful Businesswoman. Risha also coaches people 1:1 –  if you would like to schedule a call with her on how to bring more mindfulness in your life, then drop her a message on any of the below channels.

Links and mentions:

Instagram: mindful_businesswoman ; mindful.artist.official

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/risha-malhotra/

Opensea.io (NFT) : https://opensea.io/MindfulArtist

Listen to the podcast on other platforms: https//adyakumar.com/links

Connect with me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.dd.collective

Do Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) initiatives create an impact? How can the latest digital trends improve diversity? How can we better interact with diverse age groups?

In this episode, I discuss with Julieta Barrientos the invisible barriers that might exist at the workplace “the glass ceiling effect”, how D&I initiatives have evolved and how they affect the workplace, and how the latest digital trends are creating an inclusive environment. We also talk about the benefits of digitalization in the HR function, and the impact of using different technologies and solutions. We end the conversation with some advice from Julieta for Gen Z who are already entering the workforce on how they can redefine diversity.

Julieta has a background in Business administration with a strong interest in psychology and she been working for 5 years at one of the leading dairy companies in Mexico, with experience in HR transformation and Organizational Development. She is passionate about helping people discover their potential.

Links and mentions:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieta-barrientos-suazo-256a60bb/

Listen to the podcast on other platforms: https//adyakumar.com/links

Connect with me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.dd.collective