Why Care?

In this episode of Why Care?, host, Nadia Nagamootoo, has an inspiring conversation with the Permalloo Sisters - Shelina Permalloo, MasterChef winner and celebrated chef, and Pamela Permalloo Bass, a diversity, equity, and inclusion expert with extensive experience in the NHS. Together, they share stories of their Mauritian heritage, navigating identity as British Mauritian women, and breaking barriers in their respective industries. From exploring the richness of Mauritian cuisine to advocating for inclusion in the workplace, this episode is a heartfelt exploration of family, culture, and leadership.

Key Takeaways

Cultural heritage can be a source of strength and connection in navigating personal and professional challenges.

• Shelina and Pamela’s stories showcase how embracing heritage can drive creativity, resilience and a sense of purpose.

• Food and hospitality serve as powerful tools for preserving culture and fostering community.

Breaking barriers requires persistence, leadership and a commitment to inclusion.

• Pamela emphasises the need for inclusive leadership to address systemic inequities and create meaningful change in organisations.

• The Permalloo sisters highlight the importance of pushing boundaries and creating opportunities for others, paving the way for future generations.

Highlights:

• Growing Up as a Mauritian in the UK: Shelina and Pamela discuss their upbringing, family dynamics, and the influence of their Mauritian heritage on their identities.

• Breaking Cultural Stereotypes: Pamela reflects on challenging traditional gender roles and cultural expectations, while Shelina shares her journey to embracing her heritage through food.

• Advocating for Inclusion: Pamela highlights the importance of addressing systemic inequities in the NHS and fostering cultural awareness in leadership.

• The Power of Food and Hospitality: Shelina describes how Mauritian cuisine connects people and celebrates diversity, becoming her way of preserving and sharing her roots.

• Resilience and Leadership: The Permalloo sisters explore the importance of resilience, challenging the status quo, and leading with purpose in their fields.

• The Reality of Success: Shelina shares the duality of her success, from celebrating Mauritian culture through food to facing criticism and navigating her unique position as a visible figure.

Guest Bio

Shelina Permalloo is an award-winning chef, author, and winner of MasterChef 2012. Known for her passion for Mauritian cuisine, Shelina uses food as a way to celebrate her heritage and connect people. She has published two cookbooks and runs culinary workshops whilst championing diversity in the food industry.

Pamela Permalloo Bass is a diversity, equity, and inclusion expert with over 30 years of experience in the public sector, including extensive work in the NHS. A dedicated advocate for cultural awareness and equity in leadership, Pamela works to create lasting, systemic change in organisations.

Links

• Shelina’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelinacooks/?hl=en

• Shelina’s First Book - “Sunshine on a Plate”

• Shelina’s Second Book -  “The Sunshine Diet”

• NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard 2023: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-workforce-race-equality-standard-2023-data-analysis-report-for-nhs-trusts/

• Roger Kline (August 2015): Beyond the Snowy White Peaks of the NHS Report

• Roger Kline & Joy Warmington (January 2024): Too Hot to Handle Report

• Pamela’s Website: https://www.pamelapermalloobass.com/

• Pamela’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/pamela-permalloo-bass-50749534

• Nadia Nagamootoo: LinkedIn | Instagram

• Avenir Consulting: https://linktr.ee/avenirconsultingservices

In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo speaks with Michael Gunning, an elite swimmer and trailblazer for diversity and inclusion in sport. Michael shares his incredible journey from becoming one of the few Black swimmers to compete internationally, to using his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ representation and equality. He opens up about navigating labels, breaking barriers, and the importance of representation in sports and beyond. Michael also discusses his recent projects, including the Swim United campaign, his work with Pride House, and his new, groundbreaking TV series, Beneath the Surface. This conversation clearly demonstrates his resilience, purpose, and the power of sport to drive societal change.

Michael’s story highlights the importance of representation, resilience, and breaking barriers in sports.

Advocating for inclusion requires persistence, education, and collective action.

Highlights:

In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo sits down with Claire Collins, a coach and Henley Business School Professor of Leadership, to discuss the impact of toxic work environments. Claire shares her journey from a biomedical career to becoming a law firm chief executive and, following a highly successful academic career, finding her purpose in coaching professionals who are dealing with workplace bullying. This conversation delves into identifying toxic behaviours, understanding the effects of gaslighting, and building resilience. Claire provides invaluable insights into navigating such environments, regaining confidence, and fostering better organisational cultures for all.

Key Takeaways

Claire’s journey emphasises the importance of resilience and seeking support when faced with workplace bullying.

Organisations play a vital role in preventing toxicity and supporting employees in challenging situations.

Highlights:

Guest Bio

Claire Collins is a Professor of Leadership at Henley Business School, University of Reading, and a coach specialising in supporting professionals facing toxic work environments. With a diverse background spanning biomedical science, law firm leadership, and academia, Claire brings a wealth of experience and insight to her coaching practice. She is deeply committed to helping individuals regain their confidence, navigate workplace bullying, and build resilience. Claire’s current work focuses on empowering those in toxic environments and advocating for supportive organisational cultures.

Links

In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo speaks with Tarek Kamil, a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Cerkl. Tarek shares his fascinating journey, from leaving a stable career in software engineering to launching multiple tech ventures aimed at making the world a better place. They dive deep into how AI is transforming workplace communication, the importance of personalised experiences for employees, and the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech. Tarek also emphasises the value of taking risks, minimising regret, and embracing discomfort to drive personal and professional growth.

Highlights:

Key Takeaways

Tarek’s journey emphasises the importance of using technology to solve meaningful problems and create value.

Embracing discomfort and minimising regret are key themes in Tarek’s entrepreneurial philosophy.

Guest BioTarek Kamil is the CEO and Founder of Cerkl, where he leads a team dedicated to transforming how organisations communicate through AI and big data. With over a decade of experience, Tarek has built platforms that leverage machine learning and behavioural analytics to personalise content delivery, ensuring that the right message reaches the right audience at the right time. His mission is to use AI to revolutionise modern communication, driving engagement, saving resources, and enhancing efficiency for organisations globally.

Links

In this episode of Why Care? host Nadia Nagamootoo speaks with Sarah Mulindwa, who has uniquely combined her background in nursing with her passion for fashion, to become an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Sarah shares her journey from the healthcare sector to the fashion industry, highlighting the challenges and rewards of such a significant career transition. She also discusses her work in sexual health education and the importance of representation and diversity in both fashion and healthcare. This episode is a must-listen for leaders wanting to find out what more they can do to make sexual health more widely spoken about, and how to make menopause part of normal conversation.

Highlights

Key Takeaways

Sarah’s journey highlights the power of reinvention and the impact of bringing diverse perspectives to different industries.

Promoting diversity and sexual health requires both awareness and action, driven by compassionate leadership.

Sarah’s journey highlights the importance of addressing both career transitions and health challenges like menopause in the workplace.

Guest Bio

Sarah Mulindwa is a former nurse turned fashion industry professional and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. With a background in healthcare, Sarah brings a unique perspective to her work in fashion, focusing on breaking down barriers and promoting representation. She is also deeply involved in sexual health education, striving to make information and resources more accessible to all. Sarah's journey is a testament to the power of reinvention and the importance of compassion in leadership.

In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo welcomes Rosie Nixon, former Editor-in-Chief of HELLO! Magazine and author of three novels - The Stylist, Amber Green Takes Manhattan and Just Between Friends - plus the Be Kind book, all about showing different types of kindness. 

Rosie shares her journey from the glamorous world of magazines to facing burnout and ultimately finding a new path focused on empowering midlife women. They discuss her innovative Reinvention Retreats, the importance of taking a pause, and how to redefine success in midlife. Rosie also opens up about the pressures of maintaining a public persona and the pivotal moment that led her to prioritise her wellbeing and personal fulfilment.

Highlights:

Key Takeaways

Rosie Nixon’s journey emphasises the importance of recognizing and addressing burnout, and the power of reinvention in midlife.

Navigating career pivots and promoting wellbeing requires intentional action and supportive environments.

Guest Bio

Links

Highlights:

Key Takeaways

Denise Hamilton’s DEI strategies focus on practical implementation and evolving language and practices:

Navigating DEI challenges requires a compassionate and proactive approach:

Guest Bio

Links

In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo welcomes Dr. Sandra Upton, an esteemed DEI expert and author of Make It Last. They dive deep into Sandra's journey, from academia to consulting, and explore her eight-step DEI Propel framework designed to create sustainable and impactful DEI strategies within organisations. Sandra shares her insights on overcoming resistance, building effective DEI governance, and ensuring long-term success through practical application and continuous learning.

Highlights:

Key Takeaways

Sandra Upton’s DEI strategies emphasise practical implementation and proactive leadership to achieve lasting impact within organisations. Her approach integrates well-researched principles with real-world application to ensure DEI efforts are both effective and sustainable.

Dr. Sandra Upton is a leading expert in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with over 25 years of experience. She has a robust academic background and has served as a faculty member and Dean at a private college in the United States. Dr. Upton is the author of Make It Last and the creator of the DEI Propel framework, which helps organisations develop and sustain effective DEI strategies. She is also the founder of Upton Consulting Group, where she continues to impact numerous organisations through her DEI consulting and training services.

Welcome to the Season 5 premiere of the Why Care? podcast! In this episode, host Nadia Nagamootoo sits down with the incredibly talented Tegan Summer, a distinguished writer, producer, and lyricist whose work has graced Broadway and the West End. Get ready for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation about the transformative power of theatre and the importance of diversity and representation in the arts.

Highlights:

Key Takeaways

Theatre as an equaliser and its role in fostering empathy and understanding across diverse audiences.

Guest Bio

Tegan Summer is a celebrated writer, producer, and lyricist with a rich history in theatre. His work spans various genres and mediums, from Broadway to the West End, and he is known for his dedication to bringing underrepresented stories to the stage. Tegan's upcoming projects continue to push the boundaries of traditional theatre, highlighting his commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Key Links

This is a unique Why Care? episode - a live fireside chat where I am the one being interviewed! The interviewer is my dear friend, Darin de Klerk, as we discuss all things Beyond Discomfort at my Book Launch event, which took place on 21st March 2024. During our intimate conversation, we tackle the challenges of leadership development and the significance of valuing diverse perspectives. I share some insights into the soul of my new book, my personal journey growing up as a minority in the UK, navigating power dynamics, cross-cultural partnerships, and experiences with identity. We also cover more about leading with the heart, the concept of trauma and privilege, navigating discomfort, activism, allyship, and the power of empathy.

Darin De Klerk and I first crossed paths together in 2015, and I am genuinely honoured and privileged that one of my closest friends was able to join me live on stage at such a significant event in my career. Darin is a highly esteemed Business Psychologist and shares my passion for DEI. This is reflected in his years of experience as the Director of YSC Consulting, a leadership strategy consultancy.

At the start of the discussion, Darin offers a warm and entertaining welcome to my guests, detailing more about how our working relationship has blossomed into such a supportive, inspiring, and close friendship. He then shares more insights into my passion for DEI, my professional journey, and lists some of my achievements to date, as a Chartered occupational psychologist, certified coach, podcast host, and now a celebrated author. This year has flown by so fast, it was truly humbling to gain recognition for some of my awards, such as being listed as HR Most Influential Thinker, 2023, and HR Champion of the Year at the European Diversity Awards.

I elaborate on some of the key concepts of my book and what originally sparked my motivation to finally put pen to paper. I reflect on some of the core challenges I encountered facilitating conversations with leaders globally and creating inclusive leadership, such as leaders actively pushing back. These emotional barriers stem from differing belief systems on inclusion. I realise that more needs to be done to address these barriers, encourage leaders to adopt an inclusive mindset, and set out on a journey of understanding, to be able to initiate organisational change.

Key Points:

-Emotional Approach: As a psychologist, I advocate adopting a reflective approach to help leaders understand emotional barriers. I also encourage introspection, and exploring their own beliefs to understand who they are and gain more self-awareness. This can help enhance their receptiveness to learning about leadership, inclusion, and other people and active allyship.

-Personal story: I share more about my backstory, which shaped my journey with DEI. As a first-generation UK-born Mauritian, I encountered prejudices and faced struggles with identity, belonging, and feeling like an outsider. These experiences fueled my commitment to ensuring everyone feels like they belong.

-Leading with the Heart: I challenge the traditional norms surrounding a strong, archetypal leader. Instead, I urge leaders to shift away from traditional leadership models and lead with the heart versus the head. This means valuing individuals for their uniqueness, strengths, and weaknesses and embracing their differences.

-White Privilege and Invisible Traumas: As I share an extract from my book, about the challenges of cross-cultural partnerships, I reflect on the concept of white privilege, its cultural associations, and how the world treats people differently due to their diversity.

-Willingness to Act: I stress the importance of self-awareness and willingness to act as allies. This can help leaders integrate diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Links:

Purchase your copy of my book: Beyond Discomfort: Why inclusive leadership is so hard (and what you can do about it)