In The ZOUD

What happens after someone speaks? In this episode of In the ZOUD , we explore a different kind of silence - one that draws on conversations with women in senior leadership roles,  We examine the silence that can follow after a contribution is made in senior leadership meetings and around Board tables. It's not about agreement or disagreement. It's about what silence may communicate when...

Why do people with something important to say decide not to say it? In this episode of Silence Won't Do It , Sylvia Stevenson explores one of the most uncomfortable questions in organisational life: what happens when silence becomes a choice? Using everyday workplace experiences, Sylvia challenges the assumption that culture is created only by leaders. She explores how repeated experiences sh...

Financial pressures, restructures, workforce challenges and increasing demand have become familiar realities for many organisations. Most people know there is turbulence. The question is whether leaders are communicating enough about how they intend to navigate it. In this episode of Silence Won't Do It , we explore the leadership challenge of communicating during uncertain times. Using the a...

I recently heard the phrase "financial pandemic" and it got me thinking. In times of uncertainty, organisations naturally focus on visible costs such as budgets, vacancies, productivity and performance.  But what about the hidden costs?  What about the emotional cost paid by people who are filtering concerns, masking frustrations and carrying experiences they don't feel able to expr...

What happens when people stop talking? Not because they agree, or because everything is fine, but because they've stopped believing anything will change? Over the coming weeks, I'll be launching a new 7-part podcast series called Silence Won't Do It, part of In the ZOUD – the Zone of Uncomfortable Debates.  We're living through a period of significant change. Organisations are...

In the final episode of the 7 Things My Mother Gave Me series, I reflect on one of the Jamaican sayings my mother often used to remind us about the difference between noise and substance. “Empty barrel mek di most noise.”  Literally, it means that an empty barrel makes the most noise. Behind the saying is a deeper lesson: the loudest voices are not always the ones with the greatest substance. Real...

In Day 6 of the 7 Things My Mother Gave Me series, I reflect on a Jamaican proverb my mother once used in a moment I will never forget. “Di higher di monkey climb, di more im expose.”  Literally, it means that the higher the monkey climbs, the more it exposes itself. Behind the saying is a powerful reminder: the higher we rise in life—whether in leadership, visibility, or influence - the more our...

In Day 5 of the 7 Things My Mother Gave Me series, I reflect on one of my favourite Jamaican proverbs my mother often used when I came to her with a problem. “Wen chubble kech yuh, pikni shut fit yuh.”  Literally, it means that when trouble catches you, even a child’s shirt will fit you. Behind the humour of the saying is a powerful reminder: in difficult moments, we often discover strength we did...

n Day 4 of the 7 Things My Mother Gave Me series, I reflect on a Jamaican proverb my mother often used - one that took on deeper meaning when I became a mother myself. Growing up as the youngest of five children in a family spanning five generations, I heard this saying many times. But only later did I understand its meaning. The proverb speaks to the importance of shaping values early—while chara...

In this first episode of the 7 Things My Mother Gave Me series for International Women’s Day, I reflect on a simple Jamaican proverb my mother often used while I was growing up: “One one cocoa full basket.” Little by little, the basket fills. In this short reflection, I explore how this wisdom continues to shape how I think about growth, relationships, and the theme at the heart of this year’s Int...

In Day 2 of the 7 Things My Mother Gave Me series for International Women’s Day, I reflect on another Jamaican proverb my mother often used while I was growing up:  “Han wash han mek dem clean.”  When hands wash each other, they both become clean. This simple saying carries a powerful reminder that none of us moves through life entirely on our own. Progress, opportunity, and growth often happen th...

In Day 3 of the 7 Things My Mother Gave Me series for International Women’s Day, I reflect on another Jamaican proverb my mother often used while I was growing up: “Wha sweet nanny goat ah go run im belly.” What tastes sweet to the goat today will upset its stomach tomorrow. For a long time, I didn’t fully understand what she meant. But over time, I began to see the wisdom behind it. This proverb...

2025 showed us something uncomfortable: when pressure hits, a lot of equity, diversity and inclusion work disappears. Not because it was wrong, but because it was never strong enough to survive real challenge. In this video, I share why 2026 has to be different. This isn’t about slogans, statements or performative action. It’s about staying in the work when things get awkward, political or risky....

Welcome to the final episode in our three-part series.  If Part Two explored psychological safety, this conversation focuses on what comes next. Today, we move from reflection to action - and from intention to sustained change . Conversations matter. Insight matters. But without follow-through, even the bravest dialogue risks fading once attention shifts. In this episode, we ask: What does real ac...

Welcome back to Part Two of our three-part series.  If Part One was about honesty, Part Two takes that honesty into a very different space. Today, we’re diving into psychological safety - not from the usual angle of staff experience, but from a perspective we rarely stop to examine:   What does psychological safety feel like for senior leaders? We spend a lot of time encouraging teams to speak up,...

In Part One, we dive straight into how identity, symbols and lived experience shape the culture of our public services - often in ways we don’t name out loud.  Using the debate around the St George’s flag as our starting point, our panel challenge us to face what these moments reveal about trust, belonging and the reality of inclusion today. This is where the story begins - and why it matters. Fea...