About the Guest
Mo Kanjilal is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leader, Tedx Speaker, Author and Entrepreneur. During a corporate career climbing the career ladder, she worked in multi-national technology corporations. She faced discrimination and had to fight her way to Senior Leadership roles. She led diverse, global teams across a range of technology sectors. She co-founded Watch This Sp_ce, a multi-award-winning diversity and inclusion company. The company shows people the inclusion journey to new ways of working that include people and engage employees.
Mo is a Tedx and conference speaker, and co-Author of The Inclusion Journey, published by Kogan Page. Mo’s story of fighting her way to the top of a corporate career and then giving that up to found her own business has seen her speak at many events and in the media. She has spoken at conferences, on TV and radio, and featured in corporate videos.
She is a Charity Board Trustee at The Clock Tower Sanctuary, a charity for young people experiencing homelessness. She is a Mentor for the Girls Network charity and a Non-Exec Director for a healthcare social enterprise. From a South Asian background, she speaks about anti-racism, understanding differences, and how to empower people to feel valued and respected.
This Episode Covers
- The Importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I): DE&I is essential for fostering innovation, creativity, and organisational growth. It's not just a moral obligation but a business imperative that benefits both individuals and companies.
- The Role of Leadership: Effective leadership involves actively listening to diverse perspectives and encouraging open, honest communication. Strong leaders make informed decisions while ensuring everyone feels heard and respected.
- The Value of Inclusivity: Inclusivity goes beyond compliance or box-ticking - it creates environments that welcome diversity, support individuals' unique needs, and allow everyone to thrive together.
- Addressing Personal and Systemic Biases: Individual and organisational biases can hinder progress. Identifying and addressing blind spots is crucial for creating a fair, equitable experience for everyone.
- Advantages of an Inclusive Workplace: Diversity within the workplace leads to better decision-making, increased innovation, higher employee retention, and overall stronger organisational performance.
- Challenges and Opportunities in Driving Change: Tackling fears of change or resistance to DE&I efforts requires thoughtful conversations, education, and actionable steps. By focusing on solutions and progress, organisations can create meaningful and lasting impact.
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