Inclusive Growth Show

What if your biggest workforce segment is the least connected? In this episode, Toby Mildon speaks with Peter Durkin, CMO at Blink, about the hidden risks of overlooking frontline employees—and how organisations can turn connection into a strategic advantage. They explore why traditional communication tools fail deskless workers and why solving this challenge requires more than just new technology...

Are you always putting others first at work? You might be heading for burnout — and not even realise it. In this powerful episode, Toby Mildon speaks with Pam Burrows , known as The People Booster , about her unique CARE model for wellbeing. Pam shares her own burnout experience and how leaders who constantly serve others without taking care of themselves can harm not only their health, but their...

What does it take to lead with inclusion in a complex, global organisation? In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Podcast, Toby Mildon speaks with Rebecca Pearson, Chief Sustainability and People Officer at Bupa, about her incredible 31-year journey from frontline employee to executive leader. Rebecca shares how active listening, employee-led initiatives, and a values-driven culture underpin Bup...

Why are disabled individuals still excluded from leadership? In this episode of The Inclusive Growth Show , Toby Mildon speaks with Pravjoth Gill, a disability advocate and recent HR graduate, whose dissertation explores the misrepresentation of disabled people in leadership roles – and what inclusive HR practices can do to change this. Pravjoth shares how her lived experience and intersectional i...

Why short-term diversity efforts fail - and how to fix them In this episode of The Inclusive Growth Show , Toby Mildon is joined by Juliane Schlüsener, a systemic organisational developer, researcher and coach. Together, they explore how organisations can drive sustainable equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) by going beyond surface-level initiatives and embedding change across systems, structure...

Are employee-owned organisations the key to inclusive, high-performing teams? In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Show , Toby Mildon is joined by Jeremy Gadd, Partner at Telos Partners and former senior leader at the John Lewis Partnership. Together, they explore what it really means to be an employee-owned organisation and why this model is gaining traction across the UK. Jeremy draws on over...

Could you spot the signs of radicalisation in an employee’s home life?  In this moving and eye-opening episode, Toby Mildon talks to Sarah Hardy from Exit Hate , a charity helping individuals disengage from extremism and supporting affected families. Sarah shares her personal journey after her teenage son was radicalised by a far-right group and how that experience impacted her work, wellbeing, an...

You deal with conflict at work every day, and rising polarisation makes this harder. This episode gives you a straightforward way to strengthen your inclusive leadership and keep your team steady when views clash. You’ll hear: How political, economic and tech pressures shape your people’s behaviour. Why psychological safety and brave spaces matter. A clear four-step method to manage difficult conv...

How do we move from performative diversity to real inclusion? In this episode of The Inclusive Growth Show, host Toby Mildon welcomes inclusion enabler and new associate Fiona Daniel. Drawing on her extensive career and deeply personal experiences, Fiona shares why real inclusion begins with asking, “Do I see myself here?” This conversation goes beyond the surface, challenging exclusionary myths a...

Are you using your voice to its fullest potential in the workplace? In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Show, Toby Mildon sits down with Clinton Jordan , a vocal coach and performer who has sung with the likes of Mariah Carey and Tina Turner, and even performed at a royal wedding. Clinton now dedicates his work to helping professionals find their true voice and use it to lead with confidence a...

Breaking down barriers to real disability inclusion. In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Show, host Toby Mildon speaks with Ruben Carol—Mildon’s newest associate consultant—about his powerful journey from stroke survivor to actor and disability inclusion expert. Ruben brings a wealth of experience working with major organisations such as Transport for London and C2C Rail to remove barriers and...

Why values-led leadership creates truly inclusive growth In this inspiring conversation, Gillian Drakeford shares her journey from management trainee to leading IKEA UK & Ireland, and her deep insights from helping IKEA expand into China. She reveals how formative experiences shaped her leadership style, including a key moment when asking “why” was discouraged — an attitude she actively challe...

Neuro-inclusion isn’t just good practice - it’s smart business. In this episode of The Inclusive Growth Show , host Toby Mildon chats with Andy Ryan, neurodiversity specialist and a new associate at Mildon. With a background in social care and a passion for reshaping how organisations view neurodivergence, Andy shares his journey into inclusion and offers practical ways to build neuro-affirming wo...

Is your organisation truly inclusive, or just ticking boxes? In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Podcast, Toby Mildon introduces new associate Dr. Christopher Owen - an expert in intersectional systemic oppression and founder of the consultancy Coliberate. Together, they explore what it really means to drive equity, diversity, and inclusion from the inside out. Christopher shares insights draw...

Discover how inclusive leadership unlocks hidden potential in the workplace. In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Podcast, Toby Mildon sits down with Cynthia Fortladge, global award-winning consultant and new associate at Mildon. Cynthia shares her deeply personal journey from the C-suite to becoming a prominent voice in gender diversity and inclusive leadership. Through candid conversation, Cy...

Is your organisation truly accessible – or just meeting the bare minimum? In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Podcast , Toby Mildon has a compelling conversation featuring Luis Canto E Castro, a disability inclusion and accessibility consultant and new Associate at Mildon. Luis shares his journey from South Africa to the UK, the personal and professional experiences that shaped his advocacy, a...

What if love, not fear, was the foundation of your workplace culture? In this enlightening episode, Toby Mildon is joined by Simon Phillips - founder of The Change Maker Group and co-host of the Love Lead Change Podcast - to explore the transformative concept of a love-based organisation. They unpack the difference between love- and fear-based cultures and why empathy, psychological safety, and hu...

What happens when inclusion efforts stall at awareness? In this compelling episode, Toby Mildon sits down with experienced EDI practitioner Emma Underwood to explore why equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is facing what Emma calls a “global earthquake.” Together, they unpack the current challenges in the sector, the ethical tensions at play, and the need for a more skilled, credible EDI prof...

Is your organisation missing out on a powerful and overlooked talent pool? In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Show, Toby Mildon speaks with Dr Andrew Jenkins, an expert in employment and age discrimination, to explore why older workers could be the key to solving the UK’s persistent hospitality staffing crisis. With insights from Andrew's extensive research and real-world examples - incl...

Menopause and mental health: why silence in the workplace is no longer an option. In this compelling episode of the Inclusive Growth Show , Toby Mildon is joined by Haley from Menospace and Victoria from Minds That Work to explore the powerful intersection of menopause and mental health in the workplace. Haley shares her personal and professional journey into menopause advocacy, while Victoria ref...

What if flexible working wasn’t just a perk, but a pathway to inclusive growth and business success? Toby Mildon is joined by Molly Johnson-Jones, co-founder and CEO of Flexa , to unpack the real story—and real research—behind flexible careers. From being unfairly dismissed due to a disability to launching a platform that empowers over 3 million professionals, Molly shares her inspiring journey an...

Are we doing EDI right – or just going through the motions? In this powerful follow-up episode, Toby Mildon is joined by Poornima Luthra , Associate Professor at Copenhagen Business School and thought leader on inclusive leadership. They explore the growing backlash against Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), especially in light of shifting US policies, and what it means for leaders navigating...

Are your inclusion efforts grounded in a meaningful 'why'? In this engaging episode, Toby Mildon speaks with Sarah Bettman—an executive coach and DEI strategist—about the importance of aligning equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) with organisational values, leadership integrity, and cultural dynamics. Sarah’s journey from paramedic to DEI expert brings a unique lens to privilege, syst...

“You can’t transform without diversity.” In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Show, Toby Mildon speaks with Aaron Barnes , former Managing Director of Parcelforce and now a consultant in operational excellence and leadership development. Aaron shares his powerful journey of confronting and transforming a lack of gender diversity at senior levels in Parcelforce. When faced with the challenge of...

How can we empower employees to address discrimination in the workplace? In this episode of The Inclusive Growth Show , Toby Mildon sits down with Catherine Millan , founder of Be What You See Consultancy , to explore how active bystander training is helping organisations create inclusive and psychologically safe workplaces . Catherine shares her personal experiences with ADHD, dyslexia, and workp...