As we come to the end of 2024, we reflect on the journey of exploring equity, diversity, and inclusion in India through our "IND&I" podcast series, highlighting actionable insights and powerful messages shared by our incredible guests. Manasi Bharati revisits some of the series’ key moments - from addressing workplace inequities and mental health to tackling the motherhood penalty and inclusive recruitment practices. This episode ties together the themes of intention, equity, and shared responsibility that have defined the series. Join us as we celebrate India’s legacy of diversity, acknowledge the challenges ahead, and make a collective resolution to champion inclusion in 2025 and beyond. We extend our thanks to all our guest speakers: Tanvi Nair, Dr. Ritu Anand, Animesh Kumar, Parveen Shaikh, Sukanya Ramachandran, Anupama Kapoor, Amith Prakash, Damini Ghosh and Shirshendu Pandey. We also want to thank our team members who made this series possible – Jai Thade, Manasi Bharati, Prachi Laddha and Manshi Mehta. Let’s continue the conversation and build workplaces and communities that are truly inclusive.

This episode delves into one of the most crucial topics - workplace legislation surrounding ED&I. Whether you’re an employer, HR leader, or a diversity advocate, legislation is essential to creating workplaces where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive in an equitable, inclusive and accessible environment. The host, Manasi Bharati, along with our guest speakers, Shirshendu Pandey, a talent and organisational development professional and author, and Damini Ghosh, a legal, regulatory and public policy expert talk about the evolution of legislation in India, its gaps and the inclusion of new policies in the future. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬: Shirshendu Pandey is a talent development expert who brings a wealth of experience in competency-based learning and innovative training solutions. Having led impactful L&D initiatives in the financial services sector, he has a keen understanding of how to tailor learning strategies that drive both inclusion and growth in diverse work environments. Damini Ghosh is a corporate legal professional with a strong background in commercial law, compliance, and contract management. Damini’s extensive experience working across corporate and legal frameworks gives her unique insights into the critical role that legal compliance plays in fostering inclusive and equitable workplaces in India, especially for persons with disabilities.

This episode delves into the Motherhood Penalty and bringing people back to work We discuss the concept, effects, and actions to combat the motherhood penalty within the Indian workplace and the necessity of bringing people back to work. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝗔𝗻𝘂𝗽𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 Anupama Kapoor is a passionate advocate for gender equity, diversity, and inclusion with over 20 years of experience across sectors such as Financial Services, Banking, IT, and Aviation. Her expertise lies in building inclusive workplaces by integrating gender lenses with business strategies. Anupama mentors women professionals for sustainable careers and consults organisations to mainstream marginalised communities. Having worked across Asia Pacific, the US, and India, her multicultural insights drive her vision for fostering social inclusion and women's economic empowerment. 𝗦𝘂𝗸𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗻 Sukanya has over 15 years of experience with Wipro and has held various roles in HR business partnering, talent management, executive compensation, variable pay design, and geo compensation and benefits. Over the years, she has particularly enjoyed working on areas such as long-term incentives, mobility, succession planning, geo compensation, and variable pay design. She currently manages - DEI and People Sustainability, Culture office. Notably, Sukanya was recognised as one of the Top 100 HR professionals under 40 by Jombay in 2019. She has received training in Merce IPE methodology, is a certified assessor by XLRI, and is an expert in long-term incentives certified by AON Hewitt.

In this episode, Rethinking Recruitment: Skills-Based Hiring and Socio-Economic Equity, we discuss the importance of breaking away from traditional hiring practices and how adopting skill-based recruitment can open possibilities for people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. We delve into how this approach helps bridge the socio-economic gaps in India, empowering organisations, the economy, and the society. Tune in to hear the practical steps for and benefits of broadening the talent pool beyond degrees and prestigious institutions. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝗔𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗵 A seasoned professional with 2 decades of experience, Amith is responsible for championing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) for employees across Asia-Pacific at Randstad Enterprise and strategic clients in the region. As an ED&I Specialist, Amith works toward positioning ‘diversity as a differentiator and inclusion as the integrator’ with a focus on talent attraction, retention and growth. Amith’s past experience includes working with a Japanese automobile manufacturer as part of their corporate communications and public policy team and subsequently with one of India largest IT MNC's as their global lead for diversity and inclusion. Amith is a certified ‘Design Driven Leader’ from MIT, ‘Engagement Expert’ by Dale Carnegie & Aon-Hewitt and an Accredited Management Teacher from All India Management Association, New Delhi. Amith has been recognized as one of the ‘Top 100 Leaders in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’ by the World HRD Congress in 2021 and amongst top 100 HR leaders for 2023 and 2024 by HR Success Talk. Amith’s favourite adage is – ‘We are what we do repeatedly. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit’.

This episode delves into the significance of mental health in the workplace, particularly within the Indian context. We shed light on alarming statistics revealing high levels of burnout, anxiety, and depression among corporate and government employees in India. We uncover key factors contributing to workplace mental health issues, such as the unpredictability of daily life, high power distance, and the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health. We also emphasise the two-way relationship between inclusion and mental well-being, highlighting the importance of addressing mental health not only for the benefit of employees' personal lives but also for the overall enhancement of workplace dynamics and productivity. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗸𝗵 With over 22 years of experience in the educational and development sector, Parveen brings a wealth of expertise in psychological interventions – from mental health counselling to life skills training to career counselling to assessments. Her strong aptitude for strategy building and team development, has enabled her to successfully conceptualise and implement a wide range of impactful initiatives and she has a proven track record of creating and delivering end-to-end psychological products and operations, thereby making a meaningful difference in the lives of countless individuals. She has worked with with diverse organizations including corporates, schools, colleges, NGOs, and government bodies. 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗞𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗿 Ex-President of HR & Transformation at Zee Entertainment With extensive experience in orchestrating large-scale transformations in multiple sectors, including Media & Entertainment, Financial Services, FMCG, and Non-Profits, Animesh is well-versed in leading strategic change initiatives. His expertise lies in post-merger integrations, scaling companies, and guiding businesses through the digital revolution. He also specialises in working with family-managed businesses and promoters, employing a trust-first approach and a nuanced understanding of change management. His approach is centred around building trust, aligning visions with strategic directions, and introducing best practices in governance and operations to ensure sustainable growth and transition towards institutional excellence.

India's rich diversity is both its strength and its challenge. Despite the nation's long-standing mantra of "Unity in diversity," the journey toward true equality, particularly in the workplace, has been complex. While efforts have been made to ensure equality, the focus on equity—ensuring fair opportunities for all—has often been lost. In this episode, we explore the multifaceted challenges of addressing inequalities across education, religion, and gender in the Indian workplace. Our guest speakers, Tanvi Nair (She/Her/Hers), an outspoken advocate for gender inclusion and a DE&I catalyst, and Dr. Ritu Anand, a pioneering leader in HR and diversity, share their insights and experiences on fostering a more inclusive and equitable work environment in India. Join us as we explore how organisations can bridge the gap between equality and equity, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their background, has a fair chance to thrive. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘃𝗶 𝗡𝗮𝗶𝗿 (Pronouns - She/Her/Hers) is a Business Analyst by profession with a Master of Science (M.Sc.) focused in Statistics from Pune University. She is an out and proud Trans woman, a TEDx speaker, and refers to herself as a DE&I Catalyst. She works extensively in gender sensitization and creating awareness about the importance of inclusion. 𝗗𝗿. 𝗥𝗶𝘁𝘂 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱 is a Pioneering Thought Leader in Human Resources, Leadership & Diversity. As the former Chief Leadership & Diversity Officer and Senior Vice President HR at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Dr. Anand has been instrumental in shaping the organisational culture and talent strategies that have propelled TCS to global recognition. Her contributions to the HR field have been widely recognised, including being named one of the Top 20 HR Influencers by HR 40under40 and one of LinkedIn's Top Voices of India for two consecutive years.

In the prologue episode of our IND&I podcast series, "ED&I in India—A Historical & Cultural Context," we explore the unique journey of equality, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) in the Indian context. Join our experts, Jai Thade and Manasi Bharati, as they delve into the roots of inclusion in India, exploring the deep cultural and historical factors that have shaped the journey of equality, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I). This episode sets the stage for our series, offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of fostering an inclusive environment in one of the world's most diverse nations.

In this episode of the series, Lloyd Emeka talks with Luke Windeatt-Dickens, Director of Global Enterprise Solutions, GoodShape. GoodShape are a health management platform that helps employers support their employees’ physical, mental and social wellbeing. During our conversation, we discuss fostering inclusive cultures within the context of SMEs and start-ups, how this can be achieved and some of the key learnings derived in recent years. To conclude our conversation, Luke also shares some perspectives with regards to equity, diversity and inclusion and how this might develop over time.

In this episode, Lloyd Emeka talks with Janet Tidmarsh, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Whitbread. Whitbread are a leading hospitality business responsible for brands such as Premier Inn and Beefeater.  In recent years, Whitbread has received external recognition and awards for their work within the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) field.  During our conversation, we discuss some of the contributory factors that enabled Whitbread to successfully implement EDI initiatives, key learnings derived so far and the progress they are continuing to make within this area.  We conclude our conversation with some thoughts and perspectives on future directions for the EDI field.

During the last three years, COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter have highlighted and arguably exacerbated various social inequalities that have existed for a long time.  Organisations have a role to play in addressing these inequalities and this has led to an increased focus on creating inclusive cultures and fostering a sense of belonging. In this episode, Lloyd Emeka talks with Camilla Bruggen, Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Wavemaker and Dr Maria Adamson, Associate Professor of Organisation Studies, Queen Mary University of London about creating an inclusive culture within organisations.  During our conversation, we discuss some experiences and derived learnings from creating an inclusive culture during COVID-19, cross-cultural perspectives and nuances within diversity, equity and inclusion, and how this can be incorporated within global DEI strategies.

Our new podcast series tells the story of real behaviour change, relating to the development of inclusive and anti-racist behaviours. We follow the journey of mindset change from a scientific lens of a behaviour change specialist, to stories of impact at individual, business and leadership levels, and finally to understanding how important communication and language is, especially in engaging people on this journey. Our second episode focusses on why consideration of communications and collective buy in is an essential piece of any behaviour change initiative. IDC’s CEO talks to Lisa Burroughes, Behaviour Change Expert and Coaching Psychologist, to explore this topic. Lisa is an organisational development professional and coaching psychologist. Over the last 15 years she worked as a consultant with a wide range of organisations to deliver lasting behaviour and culture change. Central to her approach has been helping managers communicate the message in a clear and compelling way.

In Diverse Company's new podcast series will tell the story of real behaviour change, relating to the development of inclusive and anti-racist behaviours. We will follow the journey of mindset change from a scientific lens of a behaviour change specialist, to stories of impact at individual, business and leadership levels, and finally to understanding how important communication and language is, especially in engaging people on this journey. We’re starting off this journey with a conversation between Johanna Beresford, CEO of In Diverse Company, and Sion Williams-Eliyesil, a Social and Organisation Psychologist. Sion currently works as a Doctoral Researcher at UCL for the Institute of Innovation and Public Purpose and also works for the Qatar Foundation as a Culture and Integration Expert.

It's the LGBT History Month in the UK, and we're discussing the relevance of teaching about it in primary schools. Our Head of Psychology, Caitlin Bethell, talks to Dani Aukett, an LGBT primary school teacher about how she's been able to bring about some change in the curriculum and embed and usualise talking about the terminology and what it means to be LGBT. She opens up about her own journey of being a lesbian and talks about the importance of early education on inclusion. _ Dani Aukett, our guest today, is an LGBT primary school teacher, based in Hertfordshire. She has been teaching for 8 years and has a passion for ensuring the diverse nature of society is reflected and fully embedded in the curriculum.

Our in-house ladies - Johanna Beresford, Dinah Williams, Aavanti Chopra and Antonia Fagbohun discuss (in three parts) all things feminism - its history, whether it's inclusive especially of women of colour, the role of white fragility and white male patriarchy and how we as a community can move forward. At a time of the #blacklivesmatter movement, find out how feminism has evolved over the years and what it means for the people of the 21st century.

Our in-house ladies - Johanna Beresford, Dinah Williams, Aavanti Chopra and Antonia Fagbohun discuss (in three parts) all things feminism - its history, whether it's inclusive especially of women of colour, the role of white fragility and white male patriarchy and how we as a community can move forward. At a time of the #blacklivesmatter movement, find out how feminism has evolved over the years and what it means for the people of the 21st century.

Our in-house ladies - Johanna Beresford, Dinah Williams, Aavanti Chopra and Antonia Fagbohun discuss (in three parts) all things feminism - its history, whether it's inclusive especially of women of colour, the role of white fragility and white male patriarchy and how we as a community can move forward. At a time of the #blacklivesmatter movement, find out how feminism has evolved over the years and what it means for the people of the 21st century.

In this montage track, our Client Director Dinah Williams asks Yasmin Sheikh, Ally Owen and Jane Evans what inclusion, diversity, belonging and sense of identity (among other related things) mean for each of them.

Today we share the sixth and last episode of our season 2 of In Conversation With. We speak with Georgie Holt, Managing Director at a global podcasting company, Acast. Georgie Holt is a media and communications expert and gender equality advocate. With a 20-year career which spans some of the world’s biggest news and magazine brands, she is leading voice in her field. In her two most recent roles she has been the Publisher of two of the UK’s biggest women’s media brands, Cosmopolitan and Stylist, where she has campaigned for better representation of women in media and advertising. Her main priority in these roles was creating a more truthful and respectful visual landscape for women and is working with some of the world’s biggest advertisers, creating campaigns that can achieve this. Here, she has an open and honest conversation around the pressures from media around body image and self acceptance. She also talks about the challenges she, as a woman, faced in the media industry.

Today we share the fifth episode of our season 2 of In Conversation With. We speak with Ete Davis, CEO of a marketing and advertising agency, Engine. He is also the co-founder of We Are Stripes, a UK based initiative whose mission is to to create opportunities, for people from diverse backgrounds, within the creative industries, and also an advisory board member for Creative Equals. Here, he talks about data that shows it’s harder in recent times for an individual, particularly from the Black community to get opportunities to increase economic status. He portrays what he thinks the responsibility of governments and corporations is. In addition, he also mentions what each individual can do to help with this problem - networks and sponsoring - and this is something every senior individual can do regardless of race.

Today we share the fourth episode of our season 2 of In Conversation With. We speak with Andy Clayton, a speaker, author, coach and entrepreneur. He leads Petra Coach Europe, the UK’s leading Scaling Up coaching company, helping entrepreneurs and high-growth companies to develop and deliver high-growth strategies. He is also autistic - it wasn't until late into his successful career that he discovered he has autism. In this podcast, which was recorded before the world was hit by the current pandemic, he talks about leaders showing their vulnerabilities and the fact that those with neurodiverse qualities can be great, successful leaders.