A Dog Called Diversity

Discover the power of Employee Network Groups as Shivani Sondhi, leader at Vodafone, shares her insights on fostering workplace inclusion. Embark on Shivani's personal journey, from her beginnings in the UK to ending up in Luxembourg, and learn how she's driving change within Vodafone's multicultural landscape. This episode uncovers the challenges and profound rewards of leading an...

From corporate marketing to community activism, our phenomenal guest Melissa Histon brings to life a journey that is as inspiring as it is illuminating.  In this episode Melissa  shares her fight against breast cancer, a successful shift from the corporate world to photography, and a life changing project in Nepal that documents the harsh reality of women and children trafficking. The trip to Nepa...

Have you ever wondered how much a company truly understands you as a customer? This episode features the candid insights of Debbie Levitt , a customer experience specialist known as the Mary Poppins of CX/UX.  In her work at Delta CX ,  she challenges the status quo of marketing strategies. Debbie's experiences in diverse cultures have armed her with a unique perspective on the importance of...

Imagine growing up in a world where you're encouraged to assimilate, to downplay your heritage, and to hide your identity. This was the reality for our guest, Tricia Montalvo-Tim , a successful corporate attorney and board director who spent two decades battling the emotional toll of feeling like an outsider in her own community and workplace. In her conversation with Lisa Mulligan , Tricia s...

Welcome to 2024! In this episode Lisa welcomes you to 2024 and shares: Her word for 2024 Three books she read over the Christmas/New Year break What's coming up for The Culture Ministry and A Dog Called Diversity, and  Guests she is looking for, for A Dog Called Diversity, and  Sponsorship opportunities Here's the link for the books Lisa discussed: 10x is Easier than 2x: How World-Class...

Experience the journey of Dr. Lucy Burns: a medical doctor, a mother, and a woman living with muscular dystrophy. Throughout the episode, Lucy offers unique insights into her life and career, along with her own personal discovery of living with a disability and ultimately using it to shape her professional path. The birth of her child also brought her impairment into focus, pushing her to innovate...

Have you ever wondered how growing up with grandparents who were Holocaust survivors might shape one's worldview? In our latest conversation, we sit down with Rachel Peric, the dynamic executive director of Welcoming America, to explore this very question. Rachel shares her deeply personal journey and how her unique upbringing painted her perception of diversity, inclusion, and the importance...

Ever wondered what it's like to live with bipolar disorder? Join us as our guest, John Harter, shares his journey from his initial diagnosis at seventeen to creating a fulfilling life all while managing the condition. We dive deeper into John's personal coping strategies, revealing the essential role sleep plays in managing his bipolar disorder along with the ongoing support from his fri...

For today's episode, discover the inspiring story of Graci Harkema , a brave advocate for diversity and inclusion. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo amidst civil unrest, she was adopted by an American family and moved to the United States for a new life. Experience her early struggles of grappling with her identity in a predominantly white area, her journey of self-discovery within...

Today, get ready to be moved by the extraordinary tale of Korrin Barrett and her fight against ulcerative colitis along with a life-threatening health crisis that unfolded unexpectedly and changed the course of her life forever.  Throughout the episode, host Lisa Mulligan and Korrin dive deep into her daunting diagnosis to surviving a medical catastrophe with only a mere 10% chance of survival to...

Today we are thrilled to bring you Duncan Hewett , author of the book ‘ Accelerating Women ’ and the mastermind behind the transformative program Taara , aimed at supporting women re-entering the workforce in India.  This episode is packed with many thought-provoking discussions. It uncovers the significance of having substantial representation in leadership and the impact feedback has on enhancin...

THE RESULTS ARE IN! The Culture Ministry's 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Salary and Market Survey Listen in to hear the results from the 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Salary and Market survey. During this episode you will learn: 👉 Key insights and learnings for organisations and Diversity & Inclusion professionals 👉 Which organisations are participating in Diversity & Inclusion wo...

Today's episode follows the journey of Curtis Baker , a champion of diversity and inclusion, from humble beginnings in small-town Tennessee to his current role as a Regional Inclusion Leader at Dow in the Asia-Pacific region. Curtis’s experiences around culture shock, navigating his coming out journey and finding the courage to be authentic highlights the importance of ongoing conversations a...

Have you ever wondered what it's like to create a groundbreaking device that could change the lives of millions? Meet BE Alink , today's guest and the innovator behind the Alinker , a revolutionary three-wheeled walking bike designed to challenge traditional perceptions of disability and make mobility devices cool and accessible.  In this episode, BE takes us through the process of desig...

Charlotte Wilkinson has been a friend of The Culture Ministry for a while now. In fact she helped name this very podcast! We are thrilled to have Charlotten on the podcast this week. She is a leader in the field of Diversity and Inclusion in Singapore. With her global cultural insights and a strong grasp of data and metrics, Charlotte brings a fresh perspective to D&I noting that different fac...

Life threw Andrew Kinder a curveball in the form of a young onset Parkinson's diagnosis. Listen as Andrew courageously shares his personal journey from the first symptoms, through the diagnosis, and his current treatments. He candidly reveals how he grappled with the mental and emotional impact of his diagnosis, and the delicate balance of maintaining workplace transparency while keeping his...

Ever wondered about the global side of diversity, equity, and inclusion? Our guest, Diya Khanna , has a unique perspective. With experience living in Singapore, Canada, and the US, Diya's diverse background has helped ignite her passion for DEI, giving her a deep understanding of inclusivity within different cultures.  With 15 years of DEI experience, she now runs Global Idea, a consulting bu...

In this episode, Julie Cockerill , a former corporate HR leader turned ADHD advocate, shares her transformative journey. Her story offers a comforting sense of shared experiences, as we delve into the world of ADHD, her personal and professional journey, and how she leverages her corporate background to create a workspace inclusive of neurodiversity. Our discussion ranges from the relief Julie exp...

Picture this: a corporate space where being human isn't just tolerated, it's celebrated. Where topics like menopause aren't whispered in hushed tones but discussed openly. Our guest, Kate Billing , the Executive Development Director of Blacksmith and the founder of the Menopause Awareness and Action Community on LinkedIn , is an advocate for this very shift towards a more human-cent...

When the corporate world lost its charm, our returning guest, Devon Peterika , stepped into the world of entrepreneurship full time. She has traded in her comfort zone to take charge of a cause close to her heart: finding the right companies and roles for Diversity & Inclusion, Human Resource, and healthcare professionals. Devon Michelle Recruiting was born.  Devon Peterika's story is mor...

Katie Viviers has used mentoring throughout her career to progress from working as a genetic counsellor to the CEO of a private specialist centre. Listen in as she walks us through her career and how the support of her long-standing mentor made the transition from clinical work, to a leadership role possible. Katie’s experience with a number of mentors, sheds light on the invaluable dynamics of me...

Ever wondered why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is crucial for an organization's growth and development? Well, we've got the right person to discuss it.  Meet Maria Morukian - a DEI consultant from Washington D.C. Maria's bicultural and multilingual upbringing, coupled with her family's experience as refugees, fueled her fascination with diverse cultural value systems....

For this very special 100th episode, Lisa Mulligan dives deep into the story behind her podcast 'A Dog Called Diversity' by speaking on things like how it started and how it's all going, along with touching on episodes that have been most special to her, while also answering her most asked question on how she goes about finding her guests for the show. Podcasts like 'A Dog Call...

Our guest this episode, Cathy Burke, is a seasoned leader, gaining much of her experience at The Hunger Project , a organisation that helps communities realize their own vision of a future free from hunger and poverty. In conversation with Lisa Mulligan, Cathy gives us a glimpse into the lives of resilient women she encountered in villages worldwide, who left an indelible mark on her life and lead...

Get ready to be inspired by Curvy Sam, founder and community manager of Curvy AU, a flourishing online Facebook community for plus size people. With over 17,000 members and a variety of body-positive events, Curvy AU supports self-acceptance and access to well fitting fashion. In this episode, Lisa and Sam talk about: Personal shopping experiences, unmasking the harsh truth about the lack of suita...